? for our board hosts

A couple of years back, we got the bright idea to open a Jamaican bank account - one in USD and one in JAD. Once we got the accounts opened, and the cards activated - trust me, a story and a half in that little exercise, we thought we were on our way. Transfer $100 to chequing and $100 to the Jamaican account - easy peasy. NOT!!! Turned out Scotia Canada and Scotia Jamaica are not connected that way. The transfer fees were ridiculously high! Shylock would have been impressed! Possibly outraged! :) Our financial advisor hit on the idea of carrying a cashiers cheque. Cash in the hands of the holder. No problem - just be cautious travelling with it. (and do note that we are not talking about huge amounts of money here - a couple of thousand to cover expenses there, and leave some for next year). Got to the bank, gleefully deposited our cashiers cheque and went to take out money for our 15 day vacation based on what we deposited, and .... NOT!!!!! 30 BUSINESS day hold on the whole account, not just the deposited amount. They're very serious about money laundering in Jamaica, trust me. We have a new plan for this year's round of Bank Pong. Who will win this one? Probably the bank. Ahhh, but it's the game - it's all about the game. P.S. the next year's trip was covered by the cashier's cheque; not quite the plan we had in mind, but our vacation fund was in pretty good shape when we left!

Irie Always, you can't stay for 2 months. What will we all do back here if you're missing? All those quiet Saturday nights - you know you'd miss us all! We'd all have to either come down the cheer you up (do you REALLY want us ALL bunking in with you???), or club in to get you a cheap flight back for one of our usual low calorie, low key dinner get togethers! I mean, who'd make the banana cake? And Bloody Caesar's? We need to talk! :) You'd miss the impromptu karaoke!!!! But for you? We'd all go 500 miles!!!!!!

Big Frank - silly question. Is Ernest's (?)still open in NF? Down the street from the VIA station? Good jerk chicken there!!! Thinking of going to NF this year, and hope to go there ... used it for travel snacks for the train back to Montreal. Jerk chicken and festival FRESH make my trip awesome!

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Originally Posted by SLP

Sandman - I too was a teacher and the first time I went was in July, a real scorcher too LOL. Now I'm retired and come for Christmas and NY but I can choose my dates. I have never stayed at a resort though. I always go to smaller hotels. I buy my own food etc. But can stay longer this way.

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I couldn't imagine going in the summer. Besides, I love our summers where I live, time for hanging at the lake.
My wife has at least 10 more years of teaching before she can consider retiring, or slowing down and subbing. So for the next several years it will be a 2 weeks Christmas trip or a week to somewhere other than Jamaica.

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Originally Posted by M&G Montreal

A couple of years back, we got the bright idea to open a Jamaican bank account - one in USD and one in JAD. Once we got the accounts opened, and the cards activated - trust me, a story and a half in that little exercise, we thought we were on our way. Transfer $100 to chequing and $100 to the Jamaican account - easy peasy. NOT!!! Turned out Scotia Canada and Scotia Jamaica are not connected that way. The transfer fees were ridiculously high! Shylock would have been impressed! Possibly outraged! :) Our financial advisor hit on the idea of carrying a cashiers cheque. Cash in the hands of the holder. No problem - just be cautious travelling with it. (and do note that we are not talking about huge amounts of money here - a couple of thousand to cover expenses there, and leave some for next year). Got to the bank, gleefully deposited our cashiers cheque and went to take out money for our 15 day vacation based on what we deposited, and .... NOT!!!!! 30 BUSINESS day hold on the whole account, not just the deposited amount. They're very serious about money laundering in Jamaica, trust me. We have a new plan for this year's round of Bank Pong. Who will win this one? Probably the bank. Ahhh, but it's the game - it's all about the game. P.S. the next year's trip was covered by the cashier's cheque; not quite the plan we had in mind, but our vacation fund was in pretty good shape when we left!

Irie Always, you can't stay for 2 months. What will we all do back here if you're missing? All those quiet Saturday nights - you know you'd miss us all! We'd all have to either come down the cheer you up (do you REALLY want us ALL bunking in with you???), or club in to get you a cheap flight back for one of our usual low calorie, low key dinner get togethers! I mean, who'd make the banana cake? And Bloody Caesar's? We need to talk! :) You'd miss the impromptu karaoke!!!! But for you? We'd all go 500 miles!!!!!!

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Seriously, my scotia account costs me $4.50/month to have. Well worth it for hassle free, and free withdrawals. Forget the Jamaica account, just get one at home.

M&G: I think you are talking about Edwin's which sadly went out of business a couple of years ago. Never ate there but heard good things.

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Sadly with our $$$ in the tank ...
We will not be going ...miss ya Negril

Since the beginning of November, I've actually been wonderfully surprised at the number of Canadians around town...but, as Canadians we've unfortunately been dealing with these nasty fluctuations for years and years...it's never going to change in my lifetime...

It sounds like one thing will change in your lifetime Bnewb.....Canada legalizing POT!

Yeah....we are definitely feeling the pinch this year. We were going to have an extended stay of like three weeks but we've cut that back to 15 days. I won't be changing money in Canada I will use the ATM's or the Cambio to get my Jamaican Money. The room definitely is the kicker having to pay in American funds. Might be the last time we rent a room at the NBCC. Hate the idea of giving up the kitchen but not sure its worth the extra money its going to cost us because of the exchange rate.