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I have some questions for the regulars and property owners...
Never done the EP thing, but we're going to get a taste of it in April, Soon Come! My question is about the resorts along the beach that also have their own restaurant... I'm looking at places such as Charela, Tree-House, CountryCountry, etc. Can a person just wander up from the beach for lunch or dinner? What is preferred currency... $US, $JA, credit card?
As always, thanks for being so helpful!
Non guests are welcome pretty much anywhere except the AI's. For sure they are at the places you mentioned. $US or $JA either one is fine in fact most places show the amount of your bill in both. We don't go the credit card route but those are fine too - just make sure your card does not charge a foreign exchange fee.
always pay in Jamaican currency, soon come
Rondel village, Kuyaba, Bourbon Beach. Jamaican currency.
Why? In twelve trips I have never paid in anything in US dollars. No complaints from anyone yet!Quote:
Originally Posted by jamaicarob
Jamaican goes further. You do about 7% better using J.Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandkelly63
But that depends on the exchange rate.
Yes Treehouse accepts Jamaican and US currency and give you back US change . Stop by our Jerk Grill and see our Self Proclaimed Hollywood Chef AllanQuote:
Originally Posted by Chris B
We will definitely be doing that, Gail! Thanks for a reply from an owner's perspective.Quote:
Originally Posted by gailnegril
We usually exchange Canadian to US before going to Negril. Once there, we exchange a bit of US to Jamaican. We carry both. Every place seems to have different exchange policies/rates. Menus can be in US, Jamaican or both. Vendors on the beach deal in one or the other also. This way, we can pay in whatever seems better at that establishment.
Ok, so it would appear that we could ride the exchange rate and save as much as 7p/c using $J. Last time I used a cambio was in Europe back in 2000. So the next question, if you could all bear with me, would be how to get the best exchange rate. As I see it, I have a few options...
1 - I could use my local bank here at home, which may take a week prior to our departure
2 - Use the cambio at the airport when we arrive
3 - Use a local cambio in Negril; since we'll be spending our second week at Swept Away, I could walk over there from Palms and exchange. I'm not sure if there are other cambios nearby.
What's my best bet?
And as always, Big Up!
Use option 3 for best exchange rate. I know the airport is terrible and I doubt your bank at home would be anything great. We convert some US to JA when get down but end up using both while there. Some places you end up saving a bit so that's where we use JA. Other places it's pretty much a wash. On our last reach in May, many restaurants/bars were basing prices on 100 JA to 1 US. We never found a place that refused US. Don't convert more than you think you'll use. Otherwise you need to convert back or save for your next visit. We always bring some home but know we'll be back. We get our driver to stop at a cambio on the way from the airport and send him in with some cash. He knows who has the best exchange rate and even gets a little better deal than us as tourists. Just make sure he gives the receipt and count the money in front of him. Our driver is very honest and insists we do it that way. Have Fun!!
Great tips, NoWorries4 me... I checked the spot rate with our bank this morning... it was 93.6 compared to 112.4 at the MoBay cambio. It does look like the local exchange is going to be the way to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by NoWorries4 me
Why not take some CDN to exchange for JMD when there? Especially when CDN to USD exchange is low. Easy enough to do and saves paying exchange twice. I paid a $400 US hotel deposit and was charged $455 CAD in April. Would be even worse now. I opened a Scotiabank account and withdraw at their ATMs in Jamaica for no fees. I use JMD exclusively though, except for my hotel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jody
Of course no one will complain. You are overpaying.Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandkelly63
Doing the conversion isn't that hard. And if they are trying to take advantage, I can make up the difference with the tip. It's not rocket science. Plus I don't have to try to figure out where I'm getting the best exchange rate.
Most cambio's are just about the same on exchange rate... If you get 110 J to one US, and all of the restaurants and vendors have a 100J/1US (which they do, currently), then you're pretty far ahead of the curve paying in J.Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandkelly63
It's just not that big of a deal to me.
You are missing the point. They use 100JA to 1US for convenience not really to take advantage. Penalizing your hard working server via the tip is a terrible approach. FYI many place like Kuyaba have the tip included in the bill so that is also something people should ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandkelly63
No, you're missing the point. It's not that big of a deal to me. You do it your way. I'll do it mine.
And I know many places include the tip in the bill, you are not educating me on that. I've been there a time or two. :)
Obviously it is a big deal for you. Why would you not use the currency of the country? It's just disrespectful. Do you take Jamaican currency at your local estabishments inTennessee?
Would that be kinda like going to Possum Creek and using these? :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
Attachment 38442
Disrespectful? Are you kidding? Have you even been to Negril? Whatever an individual finds most convenient is the way to go. Your hotel is priced in U.S. dollars. Transportation from the airport is mostly quoted in U.S. Almost everything is priced in Jamaican and in U.S. Almost all the higher end restaurant menus are in U.S. And most smaller restaurant bills are presented in one currency and will have the conversion rate on the bill.
What is disrespectful however, is your comment about using Jamaican money in Tennessee.
Wrong...it's disrespectful. Obvioulsy your not a very well travelled individual.
Well, I know one thing that is pretty sure. All this works in Negril, MoBay, Ochi and other touristy areas but not so much in "country".Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
If you hand a shop owner in my area of St. Elizabeth a $20 US bill to purchase something, you will get some amount of Jamaican back (maybe) as most would have to make a rough guess or call someone who might know.
In 30+ years I have almost always used Jamaican Currency mostly out of necessity as I live in remote areas. Frankly, if places in Negril didn't make it easy for the non-initiated to spend their foreign currency, they probably wouldn't get as much business.
I live and work in a touristy area of So. Florida when not home in Jamaica and I almost never see anything other than US currency..... even from Jamaicans!
Just my opinion.
Nicollet,Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
No one in Negril, MoBay, Ochi, Port Antonio, Kingston, or nearly anywhere on the island will take disrespect if you use US$ currency. In fact, with the fluctuations in the JA$, many businesses are more than happy to receive US$. If they think you may be North American, you are very often asked by your cashier, "is this in US$ or JA$?'
Many of the bills on the POS systems at restaurants have multiple currencies listed so you can pay in the currency of your choice. I know this because I helped set many of them up. Obviously they are generally not giving the same rate as a cambio, but they do this not only for convenience but they also have to pay some of their bills in US$.
MegaMart actually has the best exchange rate of nearly any store, or cambio for that matter. That encourages payment in US$.
Although it may seem counter intuitive as most visitors home countries only expect payment in their home currency, Jamaica being a small island nation, much of what is needed to keep the island running is imported - steel, oil, foods, autos, etc. all need to be paid for in US$.
To all,
You are in no way disrespecting any business by paying in US$ or Canadian $ for that matter. Most if not all the businesses have a going rate for these currencies. Euros and British Pounds are a bit harder to exchange on the fly as most businesses have to find out what the going rate for these currencies.
Whatever Rob... some people have other opinons that you...YOU will not tell me what my opinion is...who do YOU think you are, you can't push me around like your BOARDIE BUDDIES.
Get over yourself!
The thing is, you're giving "your opinion" as if it is a fact, when it is just, like, your opinion, man (woman). It's not disrespectful in the major tourist areas, especially if they prefer to be paid in US dollars.Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
Nicollet,Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
I am not sure why you are taking such offence.
You are entitled to your opinion, just as I am and everyone else, but as TAH stated you were presenting it as a fact and an insult for that matter.
You wrote "Wrong...it's disrespectful. Obvioulsy your not a very well travelled individual." It is now nice to know that your harsh statement is just your opinion and not based on facts.
But facts being what they are, when menu prices are quoted in US$, room prices quoted in US$, transportation quoted in US$ and all these bills are presented with US$ amounts displayed, how can it possibly be disrespectful to pay in the currency requested. From a logic standpoint I cannot follow your line of reasoning that your opinion is based.
I presented facts here as well as my previous post. I dont have to "think" who I am, I know who I am. I have lived here daily for over 20 years, I created this website in 1995 and this message board in 1997.
I own and operate this site and the message board and I designed it to make sure that our visitors receive the most accurate information to make their vacation the best possible, it is one of my duties to correct misinformation that some people post.
There is no reason not to use Jamaican $, it is the official currency of the island. But to make visitors feel that paying in US$ is somehow disrespectful is simply inaccurate. Many businesses prefer it. That is a fact, not my opinion.
It is a fact and you;re wrong . Why do you think there are lineups out the door at the Scotiabank ....jamaicans trying to exchange their U.S money to the country' s national currency perhaps??????? You don't think all these trips to the bank are a pain the a$$ for locals????? Its not all about you when you are a GUEST in another country. RESPECT
They make more money by requesting (and receiving) payment in US. I'm 100% certain they are okay with the "pain in the ass". You realize that Rob lives in Negril, yes?Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
yes yes Rob....we ALL know about you... you make sure to remind us daily.
My so called ( in your opinon HARSH statement) is BASED ON FACT
Nicollet,Quote:
Originally Posted by nicollet
The Gold Nugget Cambio right next to Scotia gives a much better exchange rate than Scotia does. If someone is taking US$ currency into Scotia they are more than likely depositing it in their US$ bank account. Yes, Scotia offers both JA$ and US$ currency accounts. Negril.com, as a business has both types so we can deposit the money into the appropriate account.
I wait in those "pain in the a$$" lines myself. No business owner here is stupid enough to waste their time exchanging US$ for a worse rate when you can exchange it quicker and for more money at a cambio.
my point WAS the national currency is jamaican dollars. FACT. USE IT. Stop beating a dead horse Rob. We could debate this all day.
Yikes...
Wow....
I had no idea my original post for information would cause such a tempest in a tea kettle! I've also been to Negril on more than a couple of occasions, and, in fact have wandered afield on a few excursions away from the village and into the hills. So I am aware of how $J becomes the currency of choice when we wander off campus a bit. I've also been to a number of vendors 'pon d'beach (but only once for a meal at Cosmos), and know that $US are welcome, and in many cases, preferred. Jamaicans deal with this every day and know how to get the best exchange rate. I'm very fond of saying that Jamaicans LOVE our $10's... Alexander Hamilton was, after all, born on Jamaican soil; and they also appreciate his friend and commander, George Washington, and his not-too distant comrade, Andrew Jackson, who knew the value of a dollar or twenty. I've never known a Jamaican to take offense to payment in $US.
My original question was more to satisfy my curiosity about the restaurants along 7-mile... as I noted above, my experience has been extremely limited to one lunch a number of years back. I'm only trying to stretch my funds where I can, and the early responses about CC foreign exchange fees, best exchange opportunities, and such provided more then my money's worth...
Thanks to all that answered. In the interest of preserving civility and peace on the board, I'm going to call this horse dead... time to dismount!