Key Takeaways
- The premier Grand Cayman lifestyle resort, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, remains the choice of discerning luxury travelers after ten years of excellence.
- Multiple awards, impeccable service, and outstanding amenities plus a great location and additional exclusive perks just for ALGV travelers solidify its place in the Luxe by ALG Vacations® collection.
Ten years ago, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa – named after the blazing sunset views – opened to become Grand Cayman’s first ever lifestyle resort, bringing to the island a modern, relaxed open-air aesthetic that centered unobstructed sea views and high-design botanical aesthetic center like nothing else in the Cayman Islands. Highly personalized service with distinctly human touches, contemporary takes on local culture, specialized amenities, and an eco-friendly focus made this decidedly unstuffy resort a leader in what barefoot elegance and unpretentious luxury meant to travelers to this famed diving destination.
A decade later, this summary is apt as ever, as the Kimpton Seafire continues to lead in the lists for the best hotel experiences in the world … which is why ALG Vacations® has given it an honored place in the Luxe by ALGV collection.
What Makes It Luxe?
There are a lot of factors that go into ALGV’s determination of whether a property belongs in the Luxe program. For one, the designation has to be backed up by multiple global recognitions of the highest standards.
The Kimpton Seafire meets that qualification easily, with awards from the Forbes Travel Guide, AAA Five Diamond status, and a Forbes Five-Star rating for its spa and the resort. Their cocktail bar – a gorgeous space called Library by the Sea that invites conversation and storytelling – recognized among North America’s 50 Best Bars for three consecutive years.
This bar also benefits from the open-air design of the resort, where water vistas greet every turn. In fact, nearly all 264 guestrooms boast views of the sea, and 24 levels that soar above the famed Seven Mile Beach the resort is set directly on. On the grounds itself, are winding gardens, secret sanctuaries, social gathering places, and pristine pools. 
Luxury Inclusions & Luxe Amenities
More aquatic allure awaits guests when snorkeling gear from Red Sail Sports, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, water tricycles, floating rafts, and sailboats are included in the daily US $95 resort fee, as well as complimentary access to the Splash! at Seafire water park (for ages 4 – 12). Children also receive complimentary dining if under the age of 5. 
For adults, the list of luxury included amenities continues. Included valet parking makes renting a car for independent exploration an exciting vacation option, and daily fitness classes that can include beachfront yoga, Boxfit, paddle board yoga, and Beachfit classes are also part of the offer. Cruiser bikes also let you take the fun off-site. On the other hand, yoga mats are provided in every room for private practice, and wellness enthusiasts love the 1,770-square-foot Techno Gym fitness center, if not for the equipment, for the views. The miles slip away with partial ocean views from the cardio machines, and the landscaped lawn spreads out before the windows of the other stations.
Of course, rest and relaxation is incredibly important for a balanced stay, which brings us back to the Kimpton Seafire’s stunning spa. It’s ranked among the most sustainable spas in the region, and has the only hammam treatment room on the island. Seven treatment rooms, Eucalyptus steam rooms, a vitality spa garden, and ice bath round out this haven.
And then, there are the little details that add magic to every stay.
A Kimpton signature is complimentary morning coffee and tea in the lobby, mindfully designed as a gathering space, and a hosted evening social hour. Every day from 5 – 6 PM, complimentary wine and hors d’ouvres are served to adult guests, and kid-friendly snacks are provided, creating a convivial time for all visitors to get to know one another and have a more enriching experience with new friends.
But one of the best benefits of booking Luxe by ALGV properties are the additional bonuses reserved only for and available only through those who book with these stays with a travel advisor.
For the Kimpton Seafire, ALGV guests receive a welcome amenity when they arrive, plus a personalized card from their travel advisor from the hotel. They’ll also be able to check in early if possible, and are automatically put on the list for a room upgrade if available.
Additionally, Luxe vacationers receive the added value of a complimentary breakfast for two daily at Ave Restaurant, overlooking Seven Mile Beach.
This restaurant is helmed by executive chef Massimo De Francesca, who uses fresh local seafood and produce to create a menu that veers coastal Mediterranean. This lauded chef, who trained in Toronto and Italy, turns breakfast into a highlight with global favorite dishes, such as shakshuka with house made focaccia, croissant waffles with ricotta and strawberries, prosciutto and Manchego Benedict, Mango mimosa French toast with mango cream on brioche, breakfast burritos, and Spanish omelets with chorizo and sourdough. Selections from the lighter side include keto protein bowls with coconut-quinoa, acai smoothie bowls, and more. Traditional American breakfast options are also on deck.
Plus, all suite bookings receive the services of a personal assistant to help with pre-arrival planning and anything you might need while on site. These categories start with one-bedroom ocean view suites and expand onto the Presidential.
Luxe Lodgings at The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
For those looking for the best of the best, especially if traveling as a family or with friends, the category to book is the 2-Bedroom Presidential Suite Oceanfront. This prime accommodation offers, as promised in the name, direct oceanfront views, and is located on the top floor with a private wraparound balcony with 180° views of the Caribbean Sea in every direction.
An outdoor kitchen for private dining and entertainment with its own living area add to the indoor/outdoor living style of this unit, and a luxurious kitchenette, dining area, and indoor living space round out the gathering spots of this 4,220-square-foot suite.
The primary bedroom has one king bed and the additional bedroom has two queen beds for flexibility.
Alternatively, those traveling with family or friends or want a bit more seclusion have the option of roomy bungalows and beach houses located just steps from the sand and cloistered between tropical swimming pools. There are two beach houses, and four bungalows of the same inviting, modern design, and have upscale kitchenettes, a dining room set for six, and a spacious living room. These all offer outdoor patios with seating amongst lush greenery, while the two-bedroom beach houses each also offer a private pool.
Luxury of Access
Finally, there’s nothing more luxurious than easy access to the best attractions of the destination. Location, location, right?
From Kimpton Seafire, it’s easy to get to the world-famous Stingray City for interactions with the friendly southern stingrays and the Cayman Turtle Centre, where you can swim with yearling green sea turtles. Some of the most pristine snorkeling is close to the resort’s beaches and accessible from shore, and scuba divers make Grand Cayman a bucket list destination for the wall and wreck dives. Bioluminescent tours are nearby for after the sun sets, and the Crystal Caves plunge you into the wonders that lie hidden in darkness no matter the time of day.
For the social crowd, there’s Rum Point’s lively bar and grill and Camana Bay, the island’s ultimate shopping destination with local and international designer fashions and duty-free shops. Those looking for a more relaxed pace can find it nearby at the North Sound Golf Club, the only 18-hole championship course in the Cayman Islands, Pedro St. James National Historic Site and its “castle,” the Cayman Crystal Caves, and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, which is home to the Blue Iguana Habitat.
The Bottom Line
For luxury travelers looking for a Caribbean escape that is relaxed, low-key, and casual without sacrificing the utmost in service and amenities, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is a sleeper hit any travel advisor should recommend. When booking this property with any of the ALG Vacations® brands, travel advisors and their customers receive the added benefits of Luxe Amenities and help from the Luxe Concierge to make a stay here even better than its already stellar reputation.
