Is it better to have US or Jamaican dollars with us for dining around in Negril?
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Is it better to have US or Jamaican dollars with us for dining around in Negril?
Both are accepted. Make sure you have plenty of small bills - US $1, $5, $10 & $20s/ Jamaican $100, $500 & $1,000s. Several times I had trouble getting change for J $5,000 bills.
Is it me or do the Jamaican $500 and $5,000 bills look similar?? Especially at night when you are settling up your bar bill??? LMAO!
Enjoy,
VVHT
After doing the math, my take on it is this. If you're staying a week or less just bring US dollars (and mostly small bills) because the few dollars you save isn't worth the hassle of exchanging. If longer, it's worth it but only if you can get a great rate to exchange (I use my Debit card from ALLY bank at a bank ATM and get only a 1% fee, so that I get $148J/$1US when the international exchange rate is $150J/$1US) because I found that you start losing out exchanging money with local vendors and the smaller restaurants (where you can lose $100-$200US in exchange) over the course of a longer trip.
you will save a little money if you use $JA. If using USD make sure your bills are in good shape. As VVHT mentioned the money can be confusing if you have had a few! Ripped, faded or old bills can be a problem.
Enjoy
Peace
And, for most of the advice above I would only give if you're American & staying mainly in the tourist areas.
Are the new Jamaican dollar notes in circulation yet. I saw that at the beginning of the year they were going to introduce a new color coded dollar system and a $2,000 bill, just checking thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bnewb
I used the machine inside NCB bank last week at Boardwalk Village Center. I got $40,000 and it came out in $5000 bills. The drive thru one wasn't working but there are 2 inside the lobby.
Nope, not yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilky
Thanks everyone!
If you are a budget traveler , it pays to have both , do the math . Use what currency works best for you .
I carry both. If the prices are in $J that’s what I pay with. If the prices are $US that’s what I use.
Any recommendations for a Cambio enroute to or in Negril? I prefer one with some privacy during the transaction as I was followed after changing a few hundred US. There used to be a good one next to the old Hi-Lo, but it closed. The one across from Kentucky Fried has no privacy.. speaking of which I changed money in Lucea with the Asian owner at the grocery store.. that definitely had no privacy. I felt terrible as there were Jamaicans bartering with him over a bottle of water.
The most private cambio in Negril is just out past the Texico station heading toward Sheffield. Banmark Cambio has booths that keep all transactions private as possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seamuis
Thanks Rob!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Rob, where is the closest cambio to rockhouse? Is the Banmark on the west end still there?
Banmark is closed. Nearest cambio is FX Trader in King's Plaza.Quote:
Originally Posted by jan24
There is a very private cambio inside the pharmacy at the boardwalk plaza where the new Hilo is now located
is there a scotia bank cambio at the new hi lo ?
No, the only Scotia Bank "cambio" is the bank itself. There are no Scotia cambios.Quote:
Originally Posted by original spanky
Check with RH…they will exchange money for guests at a decent rateQuote:
Originally Posted by jan24
this is the main reason why I and any other Canadians would choose another vacation destination.. the money policy in Jamaica makes no sense. Why do they even have Jamaican currency?
I use Jamaican currency everywhere in Jamaica. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by poolguywindsor