The Best Job in the World Is Coming to Grand Cayman and Locals Are Ready

The Cayman Islands has long sold travelers on turquoise water and unhurried days. Now, with a Chief Relaxation Officer set to arrive soon, the people who know the island best, the ones who live and work there year-round, are sharing what that actually looks like on the ground.

The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa is one of two properties hosting the selected candidate. Staff at the resort offered their own answers to a question worth asking: How do you truly unwind here?

"Now more than ever, we can all use a moment of rest. When planned intentionally, a trip becomes an opportunity for true rejuvenation," said Rosa Harris, director of tourism for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

That philosophy takes a practical shape at The Westin Grand Cayman, where resort staff with front-row seats to the island's slower pace offered their picks for the most restorative spots, experiences and local escapes on and off property.

Most Relaxing Spots on Property

Not every guest finds the same corner of a resort that finally lets them exhale. At The Westin Grand Cayman, the staff who know the property best each point to a different spot, and the common thread running through all of them is water. When asked about the best spot to relax, each offers a different answer.

Yarlin Faurer, the resort's spa director, doesn't hesitate. "Hibiscus Spa, where soothing music and calming aromas set the tone, with the nearby spa cabana offering uninterrupted views of Grand Cayman's signature turquoise waters," she said.

Michael Zolcak, general manager of outdoor operations and spa, makes the case for lounging outside. "A private luxury cabana, best enjoyed with a frozen cocktail in hand, along with sunset views from Tortuga Beach Grill & Bar," he said. 

Front office manager Tiffany Claire Medalla points guests toward "shaded beach cabanas just steps from the ocean, where gentle waves and open sea views create a peaceful, private escape."

Food and beverage manager Norbert Szalay finds his answer closer to the entrance. "The lobby overlooking the beach, offering a sweeping, tranquil vantage point of the shoreline," he said.

How to Relax at The Westin Grand Cayman

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Finding the right spot is only part of the equation. The resort's staff also have strong opinions on what to do once you settle in, and not surprisingly, most of their recommendations center on the water just outside the door.

Zolcak suggests "a 90-minute beachside massage followed by lounging in an oceanfront beach pod, or simply relaxing poolside or on the beach with a book and cocktail in hand." 

Szalay takes a different approach, steering guests toward the table first. "A rejuvenating spa treatment followed by a leisurely Sunday brunch at Ferdinand's, ours is one of the island's best," he said.

Best Ways to Unwind On-Island

The Westin Grand Cayman sits steps from Seven Mile Beach, but the island beyond the resort offers its own case for slowing down. Staff recommendations stretch past the property line, pointing toward cultural landmarks, open water and a dinner experience that puts guests directly on the sand.

Faurer points to Pedro St. James, describing it as "a peaceful, culturally rich escape offering a glimpse into Grand Cayman's history." Zolcak steers active travelers toward the water, recommending "a Jet Ski Snorkel Safari or sunset sail with The Westin Grand Cayman's watersports provider, Red Sail Sports, both easily arranged on property."

Szalay adds kitesurfing at Barker's Beach, snorkeling at Cemetery Beach and a sunset Toes in the Sand dinner on Seven Mile Beach through the resort's AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, Beach House.

Anyone Can Apply the Advice

The Chief Relaxation Officer arrives with a two-week assignment and no rigid schedule, but the resort staff have spent enough time on the island to know the difference between a vacation and actual rest. Whether the selected candidate follows the staff's lead or charts a quieter path of their own, the people waiting on the other side already have a few ideas, and they speak from experience.

For travelers who don't land the role, the advice holds just as well. The Westin Grand Cayman and the island surrounding it offer the same combination of spa, beach and cultural escape to any visitor willing to slow down long enough to use it. 

More information on the Cayman Islands' Welcome to vaCay platform is available at visitcaymanislands.com.