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Hey boardies,
I believe I recall reading about an ATM at Sangster that was outside that could be used by folks arriving to the island. If this is so, can you provide me some directions on where it is at? In relation to the Groovy Grouper would be a nice landmark. I tried a search to no avail. Thanks
When your coming out the door go to your left there are 2 ATM's in little building at the end near the fence..
Be prepared for the largest service fees on the island.
As a word of caution check with your bank about charges you would get for using your card abroad, Some American banks charge and some don't, All UK banks will charge either a usage charge or an currency charge, in the case of Natwest/RBS group both.
Thanks South Jersey gyal. Hey Craig, what are we talking? I'm good with a couple of bucks to save some time. Thanks for the quick replies.
Time is money. For most its worth the extra fee.
Get U.S. and exchange it at the cambio
I have US, was just trying to skip the cambio as well as Scotia. Too many beggars near Scotia makes for a less than pleasant experience. I haven't used a cambio yet, which one would you recommend?
We use this ATM all the time.
I believe it is a NCB machine.
The fees are the same as all NCB ATMs.
I do get a better deal on fees at Scotia Bank ATMs when I use my B of A card.
Booger...there's a cambio in the West End called the Banmark...located near the Hungry Lion.
There's also an ATM beside the HiLo...very convenient.
Thanks Bnewb. I'll hit the cambio near Hungry Lion on my way in.
Thanks Russ and Sabrina for the insight.
if talking Cambio's I use the one inside HILO as I find it very good, and the girls are so nice and always have a smile and joke with me
Having been there 40 plus times ...I say: don't use an ATM, I have encountered a $6 fee plus a fee on my bank account back home! Yes two fees each transaction! If you're doing $100 a day it really adds up. The bankmart that newb mentioned is good and there is the other kind of hidden one down town and there is on on the beach road( Makes no sense but NO Signs out front) it's in front of Bourban Beach and across from Times Square. We stay at Bar-B-Bar so it;s out our front door, cash $100 or $200 a day and you're golden no banks on Sundays or holidays. Use the cambio in the airport for a starting $100 or $200.
I always get my bank to give £100 in US$ in low notes, which gives me money for tipping and enough to get the first few days out the way before heading to cambio
I know what the general concensus is on changing money on the street, however on my last 5 or 6 trips. I have changed a couple of hundred US for starters with the BIG guy who hangs out by the cabbies at the Sangsters arrival door. He has proven to be honest/accurate in our dealings everytime mon! He gives as good as cambio exchange rate, just ask a cabbie where the BIG money changing guy is at, they will direct you. I Also, #1 get the cash out of my wallet inside the terminal, #2 put my wallet away, #3 hold the cash to be exchanged tightly in my fist. Then ask him what his exchange rate is, multiply by #hundreds to be exchanged, carefully count money given in exchange. Again I have always been dealt with fairly.
This is NOT to be confused with the exchange guy's that hang out by the Valuemaster in Negril. NEVER and I mean NEVER deal weith these teifs. They will try to rip you off everytime! I haven't been ripped off, because I can multiply and count as well as they can, and I am not intimidated by them, I get very loud and DEMAND an accurate exchange or my money back. Just not worth the hassle with these guy's.
I've used the airport ATM often. My Credit Union issued card does not get charged a fee. And I have never seen a fee on my receipt from NCB.
However, the Scotia Bank charges me a fee. A couple bucks US$. I will continue to use my ATM card and hope all the banks don't follow Scotia Bank's lead with fees. I love the convenience.
There are ATM's scattered around Negril that are not associated with a bank. Cool Money, or something like that. I've seen fees of $6.00 on them. So if you have your own bank's fee on top of that --- that definitely gets expensive.
I used the ATM in the airport on my way out...only because I saw they sold Pandora in one of the shops, so I had to get a charm, and the service fee was $6.00 that's just to use the machine...whoa that's a litttle outrageous!
not sure what my bank will charge me!
What are the fees at Scotia? Never used it before per transaction?
Gail, I had a charge that was just under $2 per transaction, if I remember correctly.
The $6 fees I've seen are the machines not associated with a bank -- like Cool Cash machines.
"Having been there 40 plus times ...I say: don't use an ATM, I have encountered a $6 fee plus a fee on my bank account back home! Yes two fees each transaction! If you're doing $100 a day it really adds up. The bankmart that newb mentioned is good and there is the other kind of hidden one down town and there is on on the beach road( Makes no sense but NO Signs out front) it's in front of Bourban Beach and across from Times Square. We stay at Bar-B-Bar so it;s out our front door, cash $100 or $200 a day and you're golden no banks on Sundays or holidays. Use the cambio in the airport for a starting $100 or $200. "
Counter-point to the above: I use the ATM all the time - now I'm not pulling out as much money as you are...and my bank charges a percentage as a "foreign transaction fee" so if I pulled out the equivalent of $100USD (I use the machine by HiLo, only if that's down do I go to Scotia and I always pull out in JMD) my fee would be $3.00 - similar to what some of the cash machines (non-bank) in the states charge. Its worth it to me for the convenience. It is up to the individual if it is worth it to them and worth checking with their bank how their foreign transaction fees work...I say if you are paying a percentage you are A LOT better off than a flat fee and I think ATM's are the god-send of the international traveler!
As far as Cambio selection, it depends on where I am in town - I'll use Banmark if I'm closer to home, HiLo if I'm running errands downtown.
I've never even thought to use the airport cash machine....if you are bothered by the beggars by Scotia, I'm not sure how comfortable you'd be at the airport ATM? Wouldn't know for sure never having used them but lots and lots of people around that's for sure. Since I usually arrive late afternoon in Negril and I'm anxious to get home I use USD the first evening I'm there and hit the Cambio in and amongst the errands I'm running the following morning.
I never ever use any airport money-exchange place...they SERIOUSLY jack you on the exchange rate be it in Montego Bay or Paris.
Experiences can be so different. I don't agree with the warning not to use ATM's
As I've mentioned, my particular Credit Union does not charge fees - international fees or ATM fees.
As recently as April, NCB did not charge fees with my card. Scotia Bank, however, has recently put a fee on my transactions there -- about $2. So I tend to avoid them.
I avoid the machines with the $6 fee, like Cool Cash machines not associated with a bank.
I have not encountered beggars by the NCB ATM at the airport, and have used that machine at least 15 times. That's not saying it doesn't happen, but there are usually a LOT of airport workers using that machine, in my experience, that might discourage that.
I have probably made over 100 uneventful ATM withdrawals over the years in Jamaica, and the only problems I have encountered are machines that are out of cash or out of order.
So, if anyone is considering using a debit card for ATM withdrawals, first find out if your bank charges a fee. Then decide if any fees are worth the convenience. From my experience, using them is safe if you observe the same precautions you would in the US.
Credit cards, on the other hand, carry some risk if you don't regularly check your statements. I have had 3 fraudulent charges on mine that I suspect came from Jamaica. They were reversed with a phone call or completing a dispute form. But it's not worth the hassle for me any more to have to be that vigilant, since I know the risk is higher these days. That is not to say I won't use one - I still do. Just not as often.
Again, everyone's experiences are different. I'm just putting mine out there so people have a different viewpoint to base their decisions on.
amen!Quote:
Originally Posted by kim&betty
Scotia was charging $3 usd per transaction...
That says it all about my memory, hee hee.
Thanks Lola.
STOP PAYING ATM FEES!!
First off, I avoid trips to the ATM by bringing $500-$700 in cash for a multi-month trip, when I need more I use my Charles Schwab ATM card. I’ve been using this card for more than a year and it has been incredible. So far I used it in the US, Mexico, Canada and Jamaica and have not payed 1 penny in fees.
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/...nding/checking
ABSOLUTELY ZERO ATM FEES charged by Charles Schwab and they reimburse 100% of any charges made by the bank of the ATM you use anywhere in the world. This includes transaction fees, conversion fees, surcharges, just because fees, etc. ZERO!
Check it out. This is my main card for my upcoming RWT. Sorry, US citizens only.
I have Bank of America and somehow there is a connection as I have yet to pay any fees.