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With the Canadian dollar tanking at 72 cents U.S. and fractions; have you noticed a drop in Canadian visitation, which in my observations is very important to Negril? Are bookings down? Have any boardies decided to cancel or reject a visit this season? Just curious. Linda and I are booked. Just wondering if it will be busy. The January roll call is ridiculously short compared to Feb; but it's usually that way; right?
Over the last three years February is twice January for us
Cap
Cap; we always choose January. It's perfect for us. A little less busy than Feb and March but everything is in full swing; so to speak.
Still going in late-Jan to early-Feb, tanked dollar notwithstanding. Used to change CAD to USD and then some into JAD when we got there, but with the Canabuck tout tanke, we're changing CAD into JAD, and using JAD.
I wondered if our freakishly warm December has swayed people not to go south this year?
I'm betting our Canadian thermometer will tank in January/February for sure ..... I need to keep my feet warm! :)
-30. +30. Any questions? :)
Ware not from Canada but we used to go the first couple of weeks in January and the last 2 years we go in Feb. The reasoning is he used to be a self employed landscaper and moneywise it didn't matter when we went. Now he works maintenance and we get taxes back so the trip is when we can file our taxes in Jan and get them back early Feb. If I had my choice January was better
I've always gone in February, because after a couple months of the brutal Minnesota winter, I have to go south. Now, since attending the last few boardie bashes in April, and
meeting such an awesome group of people, I'm having to go then also. I have met great Canadian peeps in February, and April.........and Georgia, and Wisconsin, and New York and D.C. and on and on.
And lets not forget all the locals that I have come to know. Something about Negril....special indeed!!
M&G my friends; we have a strategy for this visit. We will withdraw Jamaican dollars at the CIBC bank machine in the plaza next to Burger King near Negril River.
Big Frank, your going to be my neighbor at the White Sands, I'll be looking for yah !!
Sorry jojo p; we love White Sands but are staying west-end
What ??? Okay, I will hunt you down at the West end then :)
I'm here now. I, too, looked at our dollar and then said screw it! I always change CDN into JA and have for years now. Why do a dual exchange? I have seen a couple of Canadians on the beach BTW.
It's not the daily expenses such as food and drinks that are such a big problem for us Canadians as they can be paid in a straight conversion Can. to JA. but rather it's accommodations that are in U. S. Dollars that are the big hit.
Because Mrs Sandman is a teacher, we are limited to when we can travel. The only time we can go for 2 weeks (not including summer) is through the Christmas break. And with the amount of travel to get to Jamaica from where we live we won't come unless we can do 2 weeks. The low Canadian dollar is just another hit for us, whenever we travel it will be "peak" season. (Christmas, February,Easter breaks).
Saying all that, we rarely use american dollars when we travel south anywhere. Besides Cuba, every country we have traveled to has Scotiabanks. So I just load up my "vacation" account and withdraw the local currency as needed, and don't have to worry about exchange rates or withdrawal fees.
The dollar in regards to booking the resorts is what is going to hurt us for 2016. We already were booked for this December. But next year we might have to reconsider and see. As the resorts we goto usually charge in US dollars and we can't justify the exchange difference. We are going to look at some different hotels on this reach and price them and compare to see if we there is one that might fit into our budget for December 2016.
As for this year we are for sure bringin mostly Jamaican currency and a little US as its so much better to use the Jamaican currency.
4 days till arrival!
i've been using scotia atm for years . . . as a canadian, makes no sense to do two exchanges . . . i agree, the accommodation is what's most expensive . . .
i agree with you big time about paying for accommadations in u.s., but we are going back in feb. but will have to tighten up on spending for for a few extra day , soon comeQuote:
Originally Posted by Lefty
Lefty and jamaicarob. I hear you on the resorts charging in U.S. dollars. To us here in Canada, a dollar is still a dollar, but add that exchange which works out to almost 40 per cent more when you factor in bank charges, conversion, etc.; that once attractive 99 dollar rate is suddenly 150 bucks a night (tax included); and in some cases; the room isn't worth a hundred and 50 bucks a night. But that said; Negril beckons and that's all there is to it.
I agree there but I still take CDN exchange it and pay in J dollars. But, yes, it's more this year. Maybe it will change - fingers crossed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty
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.
All I can say is that we are sure glad we took up a 5 year - pre-paid plan for accommodation, 2 years ago, when $$ was at par. Sure helps as Big_frank points out, especially when you are staying 3 weeks.
One of these days, another 2 years perhaps, we look forward to spending January and February :cool:
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!
I couldn't imagine going in the summer. Besides, I love our summers where I live, time for hanging at the lake.Quote:
Originally Posted by SLP
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M&G Montreal
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.
.
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.
Yes Bnewb: We have to live with it and the exchange rate has been even worse. The great underlying truth= Negril is worth every single penny. Oh wait; we abolished the penny. Every single nickel.
My heart is broken, Frank! Their Jerk Chicken was great and it was a fun place (for the 45 minutes I waited there for my wrap). Bummer. Thanks for letting me know! And you're right - it was Edwin's. I got the "E" part right ....Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_frank
What we gotta do, my fellow Canadians, is "monetize" (God, I hate that buzzword) ourselves. We need to win the lottery! Somebody has to win the 6/49 or the Lottomax (55 million would sure ease my travel worries about $$$ .... Even $55 million Canadian!!! :)). But .... that would take the "fun" out of planning! And the Bank Pong game ...