Best Exchange Rate? Any last minute tips? Please..

So one more day left and I haven't packed a thing. I don't even know where my camera battery charge is. Yikes! I wanted to go back and re-read all the trip reports and write down all the valuable information in them. I should have been doing it all along. The only thing I have written down are the names of the restaurants and bars I want to visit. : ) Guess the rest of I'm going to have to try to pull from my memory. One thing I do need to know is....where can we get the best exchange rate? I remember reading that somewhere but I can't remember. Thank you!!!!!

The cambio near the roundabout .....

any cambio - they're all good, legit, and give the best exchange rate. (except the one at the airport - they soak you on the rate. still, i exchange a small amount there upon arrival just to have some $J in pocket, but it's really only useful for a small amount to tide you over until you get where you're going and get to a 'real' cambio.)

there's the one gerry mentioned, inside the HiLo grocery store at the Sunshine Plaza/Roundabout, one on the cliffs (Banmark, near Summerset Road), and one on the beach road (Time Trend, near Bourbon Beach) - probably others too, but those are three i'm familiar with.

bring ID just in case; they say it's a 'rule' that you must show ID when exchanging... more times they do not ask, but sometimes i've been required to present it. Also they will usually give you large bills - I ask them to break it down into smaller denominations, as sometimes it's difficult for shops and vendors to make change for $J 500's or 1000's.

don't worry about all that stuff you never got around to writing down - it would all just go out the window anyhow... all your notes would sit forgotten and untouched once you get there and start having fun doing whatever, hehe. as you see things, you'll recall them from what you've read and it'll be all good.

Enjoy and have fun! :)

Very good advice on getting smaller bills!

I second everything MissBlue said.

I now just don't exchange my $JA at end of trip, anymore. That way I can avoid the airport one completely, and when I return next trip have enough $JA for food/drink/bathroom stop, and wait until I can get to normal cambio.

Re the ID - I've found at the one across from Times Square, if I give them my passport on first day, they said they didn't need it after that. But I went daily, and they remembered me - nice ladies there. They seemed to have it in computer, but only for limited time - because on some trips, if it had been more than 6 months since prior trip, they couldn't find my info and needed passport again first day.

Similar at the one by the roundabout and the Banmark at the motorcyle rental place on west end - there they made a copy of my passport ID page on first visit. Then not needed after that.

What she said... What he said...!!! :D The cambio by the roundabout that I know is not inside the HiLo but is a free standing building in the next lot over going towards the Scotia Bank. They do the same thing - take ID/passport the first time and just my name on subsequent visits. Sometimes,if it is less than 6 months between visits, not at all.



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The cambio that's a little shack right next to Scotia bank at the Roundabout is usually the least crowded. The nearby cambio in the market often has a line.

Some reaches, they've never asked me for ID at all. Then again, everything about me spells T-O-U-R-I-S-T, lol.

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Originally Posted by SweetSue

What she said... What he said...!!! :D The cambio by the roundabout that I know is not inside the HiLo but is a free standing building in the next lot over going towards the Scotia Bank. They do the same thing - take ID/passport the first time and just my name on subsequent visits. Sometimes,if it is less than 6 months between visits, not at all.



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Hi Lo exchanges money now too on Sunday. DON'T EX AT THE AIRPORT

LOL, i'm totally not surprised Ohio Buckeye - i usually find myself nodding my head in agreement with prettyy much everything you say as well!

I'm not keen on telling someone "do this" or "don't do that" -- although exchanging at the airport is not a good rate - still, imho it's perfectly fine to do for some immediate cash, as long as you understand how it works.... as long as folks have accurate info, they can can choose for themselves what works for them.

Thank you everyone!!

How much of a difference is it to get money from the airport versus the cambio? We've been to Jamaica 6 times but have never exchanged money, always used US $. Was thinking we would exchange some $$ on our upcoming trip in two weeks.....baby steps. :)

it's something like 20 $J less, per each $1.00 US (about 11 cents less per US dollar), than a 'good' cambio will give you. That can indeed add up if you're exchanging hundreds of US dollars - but imho it is totally worth it to exchange a small amount so i have $J in my pocket before i get on the road; so i exchange about 25 $US right there before exiting the airport. Other ppl would never exchange there -- really just your personal preference.

Ditto MissBlue :cool: There's usually just 1 stop made along the way from MBJ to Negril - the restroom/food/drink stop - and $25 is plenty for 2 ppl.

Except if you're right about it being 20J less per $1US at the airport (65/1 instead of 85/1) - that would be about US23.5 cents less per US1 dollar changed (or $23.50US less for a $100US - to me, that would not be insignificant). Sorry, I'm an engineer and like math - LOL.

Funny - if you notice I, too, mostly relate what I have run into. "I have found" or "My experience was". And only occassionally give actual advice, "I advise" or "I suggest" or "If I were you".

I've read enough posts of people suggesting Negril, or some hotel, to friends or after years of begging a friend to come along to Negril with them, they do - and later post their friend hated it because had completely different expectations. I now just tell people who ask what I have experienced and why I go back time after time - not that they should go. And put in caveat of what I just posted here. Usually just do same on msg boards, too.

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Originally Posted by luvmylabs

We've been to Jamaica 6 times but have never exchanged money, always used US $. Was thinking we would exchange some $$ on our upcoming trip in two weeks.....baby steps. :)

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luvmylabs - It's a good idea, here's why:
Although every place will take $US, you should use $J for off-resort spending. Is a much better deal because when JA businesses convert the price of drinks/food/souvenirs from $J to $US, a lot of them do so to their benefit - on both price and change. It's because every business gets to set their own exchange rate - they don't have to use the official one.
For instance on price. Red Stripe on menu might be listed something like either $J150 or $US2 (although $US2 is $J170 at official rate of about 85/1). Or entree for $J1000 or $US13.50 (although $US13.50 is about $J1150). If you take out your calculator, you will find that business is using $75J/1US - not cambio rate of about 85/1.
Same with the change - you pay for that $US13.50 bill with a $20, you are due $US6.50 change ($J550 at 85/1). But they always give change in $J and using their 75/1 rate will give you just $485.
You lose on both ends - price and change. Only if you are carrying a calculator will you notice it. Over the course of a week or two, spending $US100 or more on food/drink every day - it really does add up.
I've seen where some reviewers complain and say they are cheating them doing this. NO - it's just that the business gets to set the exchange rate. Know it and avoid it by carrying THEIR currency.

Actually on last couple trips, I figured out another way to save on the exchange I had not thought of previously. I had them leave my hotel bill in $J before paying my balance due with my Credit Card. Credit card exchange rate fluctuates daily and is one of the best given.

Thanks so much for doing all the math, explained it very well. Also, thanks for the tips. We'll definitely exchange some money this trip.

Also, don't deal with the hustlers offering to exchange money in front of the cambios .... No one has ever had a good experience doing this, they trick you.

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Originally Posted by just_Bob

Hi Lo exchanges money now too on Sunday.

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:D :) :cool:
Wow! - Thanks jB. That solves one of my only 2 hassles with Travelers Checks - having to plan ahead for Sunday.

Now, if they were also open on holidays...
Especially the holidays unique to JA when I don't know the cambio is going to be closed. I try to ask on first visit or two to cambio if there are any holidays coming up they won't be open - but occassionally have still been caught off guard.
Probably matters more to me than others, as I go every morning as part of my daily routine (forces me to keep to budget).

thanks Ohio Buckeye - of course you're correct on the math, i wasn't paying careful attention when i typed that, but i should have. cause I agree, accuracy counts. i don't know for sure if it is precisely 20 $J difference, that's what i recall from last time i exchanged there - which was a year ago, so that was kind of to give a general idea - by now i'm sure the OP will have found out what it really is, LOL, cause they are flying, or already flew, today -

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

Also, don't deal with the hustlers offering to exchange money in front of the cambios .... No one has ever had a good experience doing this, they trick you.

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Good word of caution Gerry G. These guys basically hang out by the Value Master, Coral Seas Plaza and the Hi-Lo

Good advice from everyone. Regarding ID, we also take travelers checks, along with debit card, etc.......Folks have said that it is a hassle yet we really have had no problems at all. Once we give them our license (generally don't take our passports on us) and after that, we are good to go. They remember us at many of the places and it makes it so convenient. Good luck and enjoy paradise!!

We are staying at sunset at the palms. They do exchange there I think. Is this a good place to exchange. How much on
average do most of you exchange for a week. Never thought of this but makes perfect sense. Love this board!