Officially in the single digits - any last minute tips or advice??

There's no point for Canadians to exchange to US dollars unless your transfer driver only accepts US. I like to spend JMD as much as possible, you get a better deal at many establishments as they can give whatever exchange rate they want (even if advertised in US dollars, the goods are always based on the local currency - they may tell you they prefer USD but it's b/c they can make extra money giving whatever exchange rate they want. In the long run, it's always better for their economy to use local currency. I will only use JMD for route taxis as they are intended for locals.

I copy my passport and put it in a different bag so that I have my copy if my passport gets lost.

2nutz - I bought a local Lime phone at Mega Mart, including sim card and $100 J in minutes for $999 J. (under $11 CAD) I added another $200 J throughout the week and called home a few times as well as several local calls and texts - cant beat that price and was great!

For CC, at Sobeys, I bought a package of little coffee filters that hang in your cup from a little stick that rests on the top of your cup. Fill the filter with your Jamaican ground coffee, pour your boiling water through (kettle in your room) and you have wonderful fresh coffee by the cup in your room - and it takes up literally no room in your suitcase and adds no weight! :)

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Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel

I actually use tripit but didn't know it did all that as well. Thanks Melody - great idea!

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I add a plan (pick any day/time during my stay), do one called "passports", scroll down to the bottom where you can add a photo, then attach the scanned Jpeg copy of passports, save and done. Do the same for "banks", just copy all the contact info for lost cards from my bank's website and paste in a plan, then attach a scanned Jpeg copy of my travellers cheques. Same with consulate info, just copy and paste from the web. Even when the trip is over, I can still access that same stuff, if I want, I can even move those particular "plans" into another trip, but it's always there in my TripIt, unless I delete it when it's no longer valid.

If you are a late riser you might miss out on the free breakfast. They cut if off at 10:30am on the dot and will not accomodate after that.

We tend to be up way too early, so I don't think we'll miss breakfast...

Melody - I already have some USD - we ski in NY state a lot, so I tend to have some on hand. Other than the driver, we plan on using JMD for everything else. I'm going to look at Sobey's for the coffee thing, what a great idea! Is it with the coffee?? We have a small coffee maker that we take, but that sounds so much easier!

Mindy I usually take lots of USD 1's 5's & 10's and it works out fine for me...and 2Nutz was correct about the copy of passport in case you lose your original....I usually leave my original locked in the safe and carry the copy with me...

[QUOTE=Aaron Mindy;74493]Curious why you copy your passport? My wife and I leave in 3 days. Is there really a need to exchange money? We planned on taking US dollars. Lots of 1's 5's 10's.

Advice for your trip...Relax and have a GREAT time !
Also...tell us about it when you get back... ;-)

Thx love 2 travel. Appreciate the reply.

2nutz where are you staying in negril?

LOL Lorax - I don't think that will be a problem! It's Negril, how can we not?? I've been enough other places to know that Jamaica is the ONLY place I really relax :)

Aaron Mindy - we're at Catcha the first 5N then at Country Country for 5. Where are you staying?

2nutz, those portable coffee filters were hanging in the coffee aisle, a flat see-through package about 4"x4".

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2nutz we are staying at hide awhile from the 8th until the 14th. We will be at catcha on the 11th for 100 candles.