When I was presented with a job offer to become a member of the CML Offshore Recruitment team, I set about the task of planning whether relocating to the Cayman Islands was the best move for me. To many, deciding to relocate and following through with the plan can be daunting. In this blog, I would like to share my relocation experience with you.

The Decision to Make the Move

I was living in London and was very settled at the time, having lived there for eight happy years. I was also recently engaged, so it was important to consider my significant other.

Once I began confiding in my close friends, to my surprise, I discovered I was not short of people to talk to who had either visited Grand Cayman or, indeed, had lived and worked over there. I also had ongoing help and support from my potential new work colleagues, who patiently answered every question I asked (and there were plenty!).

My first concern was money-related as I wanted to ensure I could a). Afford to make a move and be financially stable, and b). I had a good idea of the cost of living versus London, and c). I had a good grasp of what life was like on the island, especially given that I had not previously visited the Cayman Islands.

I was recommended to create a monthly budget, research the cost of living, and also work out how much it would initially cost to begin the process. After being told my salary, I quickly gained confidence that I could afford the living costs in Grand Cayman. It also helped that I had been saving beforehand.

Significantly, the more positive experiences I heard, the more excited I became about accepting the job offer.

Life After Relocating

Since my relocation, I have discovered some of the advice I received was inaccurate. One of my favourite faux of advice was from a previous work colleague who had visited the Cayman Islands in the past. As someone who loves to eat out, I was told the Cayman Islands had poor-quality restaurants. I have to say this could not be further from the truth!

So far, I have visited Morgan’s Harbor, Kaibo Beach Bar & Grill, Yoshi Sushi, and also Eatz Cafe over the past week (not to mention the Triple Crown Burger at The Triple Crown Pub, which was immense!), I can assure you there is an outstanding array of great quality restaurants to visit. Grand Cayman has a booming restaurant industry.

Once we arrived in Cayman, we needed a number of things to organize. The most important things to organize were: finding an apartment, buying electronics, collecting mobile plans, sorting out a gym, and searching for a 2nd hand car.

Top 10 Tips for Relocating to the Cayman Islands

1. Read CML’s guide to living & working in Cayman as an introduction to life on the island.
2. Read CML’s Cayman Cost of Living guide to have a better idea of spend
3. Create a budget
4. Only travel with your essentials (aka lots of swimsuits!)
5. Pay for excess baggage in advance so you don’t exceed your spending allowance.
6. Get Whatsapp to speak to family and friends back home
7. Shop for a suitable apartment
8. Visit the Cayman Islands DVL to obtain a valid driver’s license as soon as possible.
9. Join a club or NPO to help you create a social network
10. Buy mosquito spray! You’re going to live on a tropical island!
11. Just do it. It’ll be the best decision you ever make.

Other Useful Websites to Help You Move!

1. Click me to learn more about Cayman
2. Click me to find popular restaurants
3. Click me to purchase second-hand cars and items
4. Click me to discover businesses in the Cayman
5. Click me to set up an online mobile plan

CML Offshore Recruitment has helped many to relocate to the Cayman Islands. We would be happy to share our experiences and advice with you. Contact us at info@cml.ky to book a consultation and learn more about the relocation process.