Welcome to the Battle of the Caribbean Kimptons
We love an effortless travel experience, but choosing where to unpack your well earned points is not always easy. If you are looking to use your IHG One Rewards points, like we did, you've probably researched the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman and the Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa in Honduras. We have been loyal IHG fans for years now so we had accrued enough points to redeem stays at these locations. Being new to the world of points we knew how to earn them but this was our first time redeeming!
Having stayed at both amazing properties, I can tell you that the experiences are unique. Below is my head-to-head breakdown to help you figure out which property matches your travel style.
The Battle Rounds
First off both locations are fantastic, so you will have a great vacation either way, but let’s see how they compare in the following categories.
The Location & Vibes
Kimpton Seafire: Located on the beautiful stretch of the famous Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. The resort is a short 20 minute taxi ride from the airport. Despite being a cruise ship port of Grand Cayman, the area where the Seafire sits is quiet. We were told this depends on the number of cruise ships that week how busy the beach can get but all designated Kimpton beach was isolated. Except for a few chickens!
Immediately at the Seafire we could tell we were in for a luxury stay. The front desk warmly welcomed us and offered us drinks. Tip: If you are a Kimpton loyalist you may know the Secret Password (shared on social media) entitles you to some sort of free gift or amenity. Staff were ever present throughout the premises eager to assist or say hello. Most remembered our names by the end of the week.
Kimpton Grand Roatan: Located in the protected West Bay in Roatan Honduras this property is hidden in the lush jungle. The resort is a moderate shuttle ride of about 25-40 minutes. We opted to pay for the hotel shuttle for the convenience. Since we shared the shuttle it was only $55.
The staff at the Grand Roatan, while warm and friendly, were less available. Compared to the prompt service at the Seafire. We chalked this up to the more laid back nature of the resort.
The Beach & Ocean Access
Seafire: The white sands of Seven Mile beach are a few short steps from the pool. The water here was 89 degrees and the most amazing turquoise. There was never a shortage of chairs or umbrellas. Simply flip the red flag on your umbrella and staff will appear ready to take your order. Throughout the day someone will come by and offer complimentary little snacks, like frozen grapes or fresh fruit (both locations offer this amenity). For our first relaxation only vacation, where we stayed “put”, this was next level.
Roatan: This is where Roatan dominates. The world-class barrier reef is located directly in front of the resort. The rock outcropping forms a little bay that protects the area creating calm waters perfect for snorkeling. A poolside office is where they house gear for snorkeling, ask to use the clear sea kayak or arrange any activities. The staff gave tips on where to spot turtles. We found their suggestions very helpful. We snorkeled 2-3 times at varying times of day to see different sea life. Truly a highlight of this trip was spotting a sea turtle and nurse shark in the same afternoon.
One interesting thing to note is that locals sell their wares up and down the beach often stopping hotel guests near the water’s edge. This is how we scored the famous banana bread from an older gentleman carrying a bucket full. Also how I bought chicken empanadas from man carrying a large cooler on his shoulder!
The Rooms & Accommodations
Roatan: Thanks to our IHG status we were upgraded to a suite. Little did we know that we had been upgraded to a luxurious spa suite! A staff member took us and our bags by golf cart to the Spa building. The suite had an extensive balcony, soaking tub and outdoor shower with complete privacy. What a welcome surprise! The room was a dream. Tip: Always open champagne bottles outdoors (we had a small mishap haha).
Seafire: We booked a king room with ocean view (almost all rooms have ocean view). The bed was very comfortable. The staff performed nightly turn down service leaving little cookies on our pillow and refilled the provided water bottles. There were welcome chocolate covered strawberries and handwritten note thanking us for our stay. One afternoon, after coming back from the beach, they had delivered a complimentary beach tote to our room simply because I mentioned liking them to the concierge! The decor was modern with vibrant pops of color throughout the rooms. I feel that all the little details are considered at the Seafire.
Dining, Drinks & Nightlife
I have to preface this section with a personal bias, I love a good breakfast. If a resort does breakfast right that is all I need. Lunch and dinner can be somewhat of an after thought.
Roatan: The breakfast spread is excellent! The variety blended with local flare is exactly what you expect from a Kimpton. Tip: Order the fresh handmade tortillas and the staff will expertly assemble your delicious Baleadas! Eggs and beans in a fresh tortilla cannot be beat!
For lunch options by the pool you have both the Seacat and the Drop Off. The Drop Off has different themes for the evenings like Taco Tuesdays with live music. Dinner is hosted at Alera where breakfast is also served. We had good food at all three options. Honestly though the bucket banana bread from the locals and the chicken empanadas were more memorable.
Seafire: Wins the food round. The breakfast is similarly priced to the Roatan and just as good. My daily go-to was easily the cornflake encrusted french toast! They also brought us complimentary goodies on more than one morning to celebrate our anniversary.
A unique option is the Seafire Pantry it offers high quality baked goods, desserts and lighter fare if you are on the go or want snacks in between meals. The beach and poolside options consist of Coccoloba and Nana Cabana. We had great tacos from Coccoloba!
Lastly if you like a cocktail the Library at the Sea crafts fun literary themed drinks. I don’t drink alcohol but my husband rather enjoyed his Edgar Allan Poe inspired cocktail. It looked like more ice than drink for the price but what do I know?
The Spas & Amenities
Roatan: The Kao Kamasa Spa is built around natural stone and volcanic elements, leans heavily into holistic wellness. Extra bonus is if you book a treatment you get access to the spa’s secluded pool all day. Think lush jungle retreat. Not sure if you can consider the reef an amenity but I cannot stress enough how snorkeling daily truly made our trip.
Seafire: The spa is grand, with mosaic tile and luxury high end treatment options. What a perfect way to complete a day in the sun than posh pampering? The gift shop/boutique is worth noting here for it’s variety of goods. One day we needed sunblock. The next we needed tylenol. But mostly we needed souvenirs and Brian wanted a Seafire branded swim shirt for our day out on the catamaran. This store was a true gift shop whereas at Grand Roatan it is more suited for boutique lovers looking to buy perfumes, jewelry or highly priced woven beach totes.
One fun amenity at Seafire was the cabana rental. It was not cheap, but for the day you had a reserved cabana with two dedicated lounge chairs, a fully stocked yeti cooler, a bottle of champagne, and appetizer + fruit plate. The cherry on top was the in cabana service call button. When pushed it paged a staff member to arrive at your cabana! I felt almost too bougie to push the button. But I did. Would I splurge on one in the future? Unlikely, but glad we did it.
The Value & Loyalty Points Breakdown
Which property gives you a better "bang for your buck" when redeeming an IHG free night certificate or massive points haul?
I think this is where Grand Roatan takes another swing!
Roatan: Nightly points used 24,000 Points/Nightly cash amount 194.00 USD (resort fee included)
Cash bill at the end of our stay was under 1k
Seafire: Nightly points used 70,000 points/Resort Fee: 80 USD
Cash bill at the of our stay was just over 2k
Note: We rented a cabana on the beach for one day and did an excursion, but I do feel that the price of food at Seafire comparatively is reflected in our overall costs.
The Verdict: Who Should Book Which?
Book Kimpton Seafire if: You want flawless 5-star service, a world-class cocktail scene, effortless luxury, and a perfect walking beach. For a special occasion I would pick this one!
Book Kimpton Grand Roatán if: You want an adventure-forward trip, bucket-list snorkeling/diving, closer contact with nature, and a slightly more laid-back, intimate atmosphere. My husband would pick this location for the turtle sighting alone!
