I know about the fx trader "cheat sheet", but it never seems to match the on the ground cambio rate. Can someone who is in negril (as we type) please give me the current exchange rate? Thanks in advance!
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I know about the fx trader "cheat sheet", but it never seems to match the on the ground cambio rate. Can someone who is in negril (as we type) please give me the current exchange rate? Thanks in advance!
believe it's 83/84 right now.........Masta Smith was just there........him knows for sure
Cool Runnings, Marko
It could be that your cheat sheet didn't match because the rate can change daily. It will also vary from cambio to cambio and any given vendor, bar, restaurant, etc. can also use their own rate. The cheat sheet is a good guideline for a general conversion. There is nothing that you can take that will work universally.
I'm wondering why the American dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar in Jamaica but not in North America ? lol If I exchange 900 canadian I get 922 USD and if I exchange 900 CAD to JDM I get less than if I exchanged 900 USD to JDM by about 2000 JDM I guess its not by much .. by about 20 dollars I just assumed that if the Canadian dollar is stronger than the American dollar than would be consistant everywhere?
we found the same thing in feb when we were in Negril. And from what we were told it is because in JA the american dollar will ALWAYS be the stronger dollar(it is easier for the local folk to exchange and is accepted everywhere, which is not the case with the Canadian dollar.Quote:
Originally Posted by Manda81
As a funny side story we were switching hotels half way through our trip and we were tipping our maid and my husband had a canadian 10 on him and we left it in the room and as we were leaving the maid caught up to us and informed us that it was no good to her and gave it back. We gladly "exchanged" it for her and she explained it was a lot harder for her to find someone to change it and she would not get as much if she did.Go Figure!!
If she took a 10 dollar CAN bill to the Cambios and exchange it for American would she not get more ?
So I thought maybe I should exchange canadian to american than american to JDM but if I return home with American funds I lose money in the exchange as our dollar is higher ..(at the moment) .. I think I'll just stick to Canadian to JDM and take the 20 dollar cut in exchange.
oops nevermind you said American will always be stronger in Jamaica... disregard the previous question
Remember every time u xchange money there is a fee, so the best is to exchange your national currency into Jam.$-never mind any other way because then you lose.
I'd say take Canadian and exchange to Ja when you get there, especially right now-
any left over Ja you keep for your next trip down. A few Amercian would be good until you hit the exchange at Cambio, as it is the preferred currency after Ja.
I take a mix of Canadian and American.You can change both at the Cambio,but you can also use the US dollars just about anywhere.If I don't spend it all,I take the leftover Canadian money home.
Scotiabank Jamaica has posted exchange rates on their website. For Sept. 1 they buy CDN $ at J85.09 and buy US $ at J83.40. The Canadian dollar is higher than US right now, but is not as well known or accepted as US dollars. Whatever you do, STAY AWAY from people on the street offering to exchange money. They hang around the cambios and banks, and many are thieves! Also don't change money at the airport cambio, they really give a low rate compared to the banks.
In my limited experience of 4 trips in the year I find that the ATMs are the best rate and costs.
I guess because the ATM allows my bank at home to take the current exchange rate as per the universal exchange rate that day?
mi use the ATM's in Negril and get J's so I don't get into that exchange thingy all the time.........
the exchange rates at both Scotia and NCB are excellent on dem ATM debit withdrawals.........
just bring a roll of $1US for tips etc and some small bills and use the ATM's.........
just figure out which ATM debit card you want to use down der as they take all of dem at Scotia and NCB.........
personally I use BofA debit cards at Scotia and get J's and only see a nominal charge on mi bank statements....
plus you don't have to worry about all dat cash you carrying.........and storing in dat safe.......
personally mi think bringing a clump of dollars and/or traveler checks down der is kinda old school..........
mi remember da old days when you had to take a cash advances on your credit cards to get cash.....that did stink
and if you go into HiLo or most stores and hand dem US dollars or Canadian.......
you get a horrible exchange when you buy......
plus the change of course is that horrible exchange rate too.........so don't do it
a smart person will change der money when they enter HiLo at the Cambio der.....and use dat
HiLo has made a small fortune when tourist pay with US or Canadian dollars..........so don't do it
Cool Runnings, Marko
Manda, if you plan on using your ATM or VISA cards in Jamaica but sure to call the numbers on the back of the cards and tell them where you are going and for how long. The cards may be refused if you don't. I bank here with Scotia and always let them know. It has not been a problem. I also take US for the hotel and ride to Negril but use Travellers Cheques in CDN which are easy to exchange at any cambio (faster then the bank). You will need your passport when cashing them as proof of identity.
I prefer using Jamaican dollars and it's easy to get used to them.
I do know for a fact, with the source I will keep to myself, but American Dollars are worth more... as they are "collected", that is..certain people pay top dollar in Jamaican for US Bills, the bigger the better.....
this money from ALL over is "funneled" toward a single point, which in turn is added to other "collections", and also is bought at top dollar and I assume it all leaves the Island...........
this is all the US cash that is used on the streets daily, and much comes from the sale of "illegal products".....so a dollar US that you spend will touch
many hands before it leaves the Island, not through normal banking facilities...
why can't I just tip in JA Money ?? This hassle of having 3 different currencies on me is a pain ... Is it insulting to tip in JDM ?
I've certainly found that tips in either US or JA currency are equally appreciated. I bring a lot of singles and fives so I have them at the ready on arrival, but tip in $JA once I've acquired some.
True or False...
I heard from 2 different sources that all the Chinaman store US $ exchanged/received never goes to a JA bank.
We were told that they accumulate it and then take it to China where the US dollar is in high demand.
Maybe just an urban legend but these sources were sure of it and not happy about it...
Kim - something tells me the Chinaman does not tell anyone how he conducts business, so I would rank this as one as an urban legend...
Here is the link to the F/X Trader daily rate: http://www.gracekennedy.com/fx-trader-rates
I have used the F/X Trader at the Hi-Lo at Sunshine Village for years and years.
Tips accepted in either JA or US, but it can be hard to get JA $100 or $50 for small purchases or tipping. When you go to bank/cambio/ATM to get JA dollars, you will usually receive in JA $1000 bills. Many times when paying for services in JA funds, the smaller establishments/route taxis/beach vendors will not have enough JA change ... this is when having US dollar bills comes in handy. Examples - if you take route taxi to downtown Negril which costs $100JA and if they cannot make change for $1000 JA, they will be happy to accept $2 US (about $170 JA); want to buy local newspaper from paper vendor (costs about $50 - $75 JA) , they will take $1 US. Even the restaurants/bars run out of JA smaller bills, so having some smaller US paper currency comes in handy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Manda81
Jamaica establishments/banks will not accept foreign coins. You will receive some JA coins as change ($1,$5,$10 and $20 JA) - if you have some JA coins left at end of your stay you can add them to final tip that you make in JA. If you do any shopping at the smaller grocery stores/retail stores, they will be glad to take the JA coins when you are paying your bill (just like $100 JA bills can be scarce, so too can the JA coins).
Can I request JA 100 at the cambios ?
you can try........sometimes dem a likkle stingy with dem 100's and 50's.........lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Manda81
it's like trying to get 1's from the cashiers here in the states....
they run out pretty guick sometimes....
the banks are a lot easier to get 100's from..........but then you dealing with lines usually........
Cool Runnings, Marko
yup.........mi leave the coins for the maids.....and they add up pretty quick for a nice tipQuote:
Originally Posted by BCBud
not much you can do with dem back in North America..........lol........lol
though they mysteriously show up in mi swim trunk or short pockets when mi reach back home....lol
as long as none of dat funny stuff shows up after the trek......all is good......lmao
Cool Runnings, Marko
I have to admit that the print on the coins is so small I can't even figure out what they're worth. I add them to the tip for the maids as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marko
HAHAHA!!! I just turned up some from the depths of the change section of my wallet. They made me smile and combined with the few bills we have left from last trip we have enough for our first round of stripes next time!!!!
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Quote:
Originally Posted by jon c.
that's strange....
'cause there're ONLY 4 coins
..and they're all sooooo different
i can identify each coin in the dark,
..blindfolded
e.g., the $10 & $20 are 'bout the same size
..but they're sooooooooooooo different
.....e.g., edges
Attachment 4156
plus the $20 is multi-colored
...if you need to look at 'em
anyhooooo
it don't take but 'bout 2-minutes to *learn* the Ja-coins
p.s...::>> for all of you's who don't want to fool-with the Ja-coins,
..do this for me please:::>> take 'em to MissSonia
..and tell her to hold 'em for me, for when i next-reach
again::>> don't trouble ya-selves with those Ja-coins
leave 'em for ME..!!..