Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Cayman Islandsor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Don’t rely only on Amex in Cayman Islands. While luxury hotels, some big restaurants, and rental car agencies accepted it, everyday places didn’t. Visa worked flawlessly, from grocery stores to boat trips. ATMs wouldn’t take Amex at all. I spent about $150-200 daily covering meals, taxis, and tours. Amex is okay as a backup, but Visa or Mastercard is the safe choice for Cayman travel.
Cayman Islands aren’t bad for cards, but Amex is limited. Resorts and some upscale restaurants took it, but taxis, shops, and local dive operators refused. ATMs from Butterfield Bank didn’t work with Amex. Visa was smooth everywhere. Meals averaged $25-35, and I budgeted $160-180 daily including excursions. Amex works in select tourist spots, but Visa/Mastercard are much more practical if you want to avoid problems.
I carried Amex in the Cayman Islands and used it at my Seven Mile Beach resort without issue, but when I tried to pay at local rum bars and smaller cafés, they declined it. ATMs didn’t recognize Amex either. My Visa debit worked perfectly for cash and card payments. Meals averaged $20-30, with excursions costing $80+. I spent around $170 daily. Amex is fine for high-end purchases, but Visa is essential for everyday spending in Cayman Islands.
I visited Grand Cayman and found Amex accepted at some resorts and bigger restaurants, but many smaller shops and dive operators refused it. ATMs also didn’t support it. Visa and Mastercard were much more reliable. Meals were pricey - $25-40 USD at casual restaurants, and boat tours ran $50-100. I budgeted $150-200 daily. Amex is okay for paying at luxury hotels, but for daily activities like snorkeling trips or beach bars, Visa or Mastercard is the card you’ll need.