Officially in the single digits - any last minute tips or advice??

We're officially into the single digits (by about an hour :))!! Any last minute tips or advice from all of you Negril veterans? (Keep in mind this is our first non-AI trip) We are sooooooo excited!

One love bus is booked for the 21st, airport transfers are booked, credit card companies notified, need to order my JA$, passports copied, confirmations printed....

When at Country Country, tell Jason, one of the security guards, that Melody says hi! He's usually watching the beach.

Construction looks slow. I'll post some photos eventually but they don't show much. The pool isn't even dug yet.

Have a marvelous time!!!

Change for J$ at a Cambio on the rock. Better rate, no service fee. Expensive to get J$ in the US.

I agree %100 with, Guirigay. We took Canadian $ and exchanged once in Negril, don't exchange at the airport you get the shaft there. Maybe take a couple $100 in American dollars for the ride to Negril, and a few bucks for your pocket for the first day. Other then that use J$. Have an awesome trip, wish I was going with!!!

Check and make sure the passports you copied are still valid. Always check with Airline and confirm your flight before you leave for the airport.

Enjoy,

VVHT

Bingo! What Walleyed said on the whole $ bit....

I make copies of EVERYTHING....i.e. passport, DL, credit cards, etc.

I also make sure to take a print out of the good Negril Map (the one that lists hotels, restaurants, etc)

HAVE FUN 2Nutz!!!!

Tizzy.....next time you should photocopy your iPhone ;)

And I guess I will photocopy my camera :)

HAhahaha You are especially brilliant today Marley

Whew yall just reminded me I need to make reservations at Parking Spot hope its not too late LOL, I always forget until the last minute then end up having to pay for valet. lol

I exchanged my money here once (just a few dollars). The rate was terrible! For future trips take some J's home with you. This is what I do so that there is no scrambling to exchange money the first few days. Have a blast.

FYI on Country Country and $...
The front office will exchange up to $100 a day at a decent rate.
When we were there, they were off by only 2ja (rate 88-1 they gave 86-1).
We never had to hit a cambio or route cab it there/back (which add's up).
For us, it was worth the convenience to just exchange there.

Also, don't forget lots of bug spray (no screens!)

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Originally Posted by Melody

When at Country Country, tell Jason, one of the security guards, that Melody says hi! He's usually watching the beach.
Have a marvelous time!!!

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Thanks Melody - we'll say definitely say hi and I'm sure we'll have a good time!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guirigay

Change for J$ at a Cambio on the rock. Better rate, no service fee. Expensive to get J$ in the US.

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Especially since we live in Canada LOL. How is the exchange rate at the Scotia ATM? That's my bank here at home, so I thought we'd just withdraw there??

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Originally Posted by walleyed99

I agree %100 with, Guirigay. We took Canadian $ and exchanged once in Negril, don't exchange at the airport you get the shaft there. Maybe take a couple $100 in American dollars for the ride to Negril, and a few bucks for your pocket for the first day. Other then that use J$. Have an awesome trip, wish I was going with!!!

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I already have some USD and I was planning on getting some JA here, but maybe I'll just wait. Is the rate really that much better there??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VVHT

Check and make sure the passports you copied are still valid. Always check with Airline and confirm your flight before you leave for the airport.

Enjoy,

VVHT

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Good point - the copies are of the current passports. DH got a new one, so I had to redo them. Always reconfirm the flight before leaving, but they always seem to change it while we're on our way to the airport :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kim in socal

FYI on Country Country and $...
The front office will exchange up to $100 a day at a decent rate.
When we were there, they were off by only 2ja (rate 88-1 they gave 86-1).
We never had to hit a cambio or route cab it there/back (which add's up).
For us, it was worth the convenience to just exchange there.

Also, don't forget lots of bug spray (no screens!)

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Good to know, thanks! Bug spray is ready to be packed, hopefully we won't need it too much!

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'll do a trip report when we get back, hopefully something interesting will happen so it won't be too boring. I can promise lots of pictures though :)

No worries we love Trip Reports of all kinds.....Short ones, Tall ones, Big ones, small ones lol

Have FUN 2Nutz!!!! HeeeeeeeeeeeHe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TizzyATX

Bingo! What Walleyed said on the whole $ bit....

I make copies of EVERYTHING....i.e. passport, DL, credit cards, etc.

I also make sure to take a print out of the good Negril Map (the one that lists hotels, restaurants, etc)

HAVE FUN 2Nutz!!!!

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Maps are ready to go, I've even hilighted the places that all of you talk about! I'm going to make a list of credit cards & phone numbers, just in case:eek:

Hey 2Nutz - I will be reaching my first non/AI next month 2...Mi cant wait!!! and I usually take an insulated cup as I always needed it at AIs with there small cups it helps with the running back n forth 4 refills who has time 4 that your on vacation mon!...lol

Oh BTW, where can I find a map?

Not a bad idea to throw in an extension cord. I have yet found a room that has enough outlets...or outlets in the right spot! Already got mine in my luggage thanks to Family Dollar. Have a great time!

When are you leaving and do you have a smartphone? There's an app called TripIt. I scanned all passports and travellers cheques as jpegs, then you can attach to your trip in the app. I have private taxi numbers, bank/credit card ph numbers, consulate, hospitals, restaurants etc all saved to my trip. SO handy for anything you may need. If your smartphone goes missing all you have to do is borrow a computer to log on for all your emergency info.

I just returned Sat. I did get more bug bites than in Feb. there was a drought in Feb. and now after rainy season makes sense that it's more of an issue. My bites were mostly on my legs/ feet so likely sand fleas from the beach. I didn't see any bugs in the room. Opened the window louvers during the day and closed them before sunset.

I used the Scotiabank ATM at Time square. Don't know what the exchange rate was but hear it's one of the best methods. I cashed some travellers cheques at the cambio across the street - its hard to read the faded sign but it's right in front of Bourbon Beach, close to a red coca cola sign hanging along the road. Exchange rate there was 88 - 1.

Curious why you copy your passport? My wife and I leave in 3 days. Is there really a need to exchange money? We planned on taking US dollars. Lots of 1's 5's 10's.

Thanks in advance. Hope u enjoy your trip 2 nuts.

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Originally Posted by love2travelchic

Hey 2Nutz - I will be reaching my first non/AI next month 2...Mi cant wait!!! and I usually take an insulated cup as I always needed it at AIs with there small cups it helps with the running back n forth 4 refills who has time 4 that your on vacation mon!...lol

Oh BTW, where can I find a map?

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Would never leave home without the insulated mugs!! Here is the link to the map http://www.talkofthetownnegril.com/N...ap_2_15_11.pdf

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Originally Posted by yetta

Not a bad idea to throw in an extension cord. I have yet found a room that has enough outlets...or outlets in the right spot! Already got mine in my luggage thanks to Family Dollar. Have a great time!

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Yup - always take the extension cord. There are never enough outlets for all the chargers etc.

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Originally Posted by Melody

When are you leaving and do you have a smartphone? There's an app called TripIt. I scanned all passports and travellers cheques as jpegs, then you can attach to your trip in the app. I have private taxi numbers, bank/credit card ph numbers, consulate, hospitals, restaurants etc all saved to my trip. SO handy for anything you may need. If your smartphone goes missing all you have to do is borrow a computer to log on for all your emergency info.

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I actually use tripit but didn't know it did all that as well. Thanks Melody - great idea!

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Originally Posted by Aaron Mindy

Curious why you copy your passport? My wife and I leave in 3 days. Is there really a need to exchange money? We planned on taking US dollars. Lots of 1's 5's 10's.

Thanks in advance. Hope u enjoy your trip 2 nuts.

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My understanding is that if you have a copy and lose the original it makes it easier to get a replacement?? Not sure if that is the case or not, and I hope I never have to find out :)

There's no point for Canadians to exchange to US dollars unless your transfer driver only accepts US. I like to spend JMD as much as possible, you get a better deal at many establishments as they can give whatever exchange rate they want (even if advertised in US dollars, the goods are always based on the local currency - they may tell you they prefer USD but it's b/c they can make extra money giving whatever exchange rate they want. In the long run, it's always better for their economy to use local currency. I will only use JMD for route taxis as they are intended for locals.

I copy my passport and put it in a different bag so that I have my copy if my passport gets lost.

2nutz - I bought a local Lime phone at Mega Mart, including sim card and $100 J in minutes for $999 J. (under $11 CAD) I added another $200 J throughout the week and called home a few times as well as several local calls and texts - cant beat that price and was great!

For CC, at Sobeys, I bought a package of little coffee filters that hang in your cup from a little stick that rests on the top of your cup. Fill the filter with your Jamaican ground coffee, pour your boiling water through (kettle in your room) and you have wonderful fresh coffee by the cup in your room - and it takes up literally no room in your suitcase and adds no weight! :)

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Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel

I actually use tripit but didn't know it did all that as well. Thanks Melody - great idea!

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I add a plan (pick any day/time during my stay), do one called "passports", scroll down to the bottom where you can add a photo, then attach the scanned Jpeg copy of passports, save and done. Do the same for "banks", just copy all the contact info for lost cards from my bank's website and paste in a plan, then attach a scanned Jpeg copy of my travellers cheques. Same with consulate info, just copy and paste from the web. Even when the trip is over, I can still access that same stuff, if I want, I can even move those particular "plans" into another trip, but it's always there in my TripIt, unless I delete it when it's no longer valid.

If you are a late riser you might miss out on the free breakfast. They cut if off at 10:30am on the dot and will not accomodate after that.

We tend to be up way too early, so I don't think we'll miss breakfast...

Melody - I already have some USD - we ski in NY state a lot, so I tend to have some on hand. Other than the driver, we plan on using JMD for everything else. I'm going to look at Sobey's for the coffee thing, what a great idea! Is it with the coffee?? We have a small coffee maker that we take, but that sounds so much easier!

Mindy I usually take lots of USD 1's 5's & 10's and it works out fine for me...and 2Nutz was correct about the copy of passport in case you lose your original....I usually leave my original locked in the safe and carry the copy with me...

[QUOTE=Aaron Mindy;74493]Curious why you copy your passport? My wife and I leave in 3 days. Is there really a need to exchange money? We planned on taking US dollars. Lots of 1's 5's 10's.

Advice for your trip...Relax and have a GREAT time !
Also...tell us about it when you get back... ;-)

Thx love 2 travel. Appreciate the reply.

2nutz where are you staying in negril?

LOL Lorax - I don't think that will be a problem! It's Negril, how can we not?? I've been enough other places to know that Jamaica is the ONLY place I really relax :)

Aaron Mindy - we're at Catcha the first 5N then at Country Country for 5. Where are you staying?

2nutz, those portable coffee filters were hanging in the coffee aisle, a flat see-through package about 4"x4".

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2nutz we are staying at hide awhile from the 8th until the 14th. We will be at catcha on the 11th for 100 candles.

Thanks for the pic Melody :) I'll look for those at Sobey's!

Too bad we'll miss you Aaron Mindy - we don't arrive until the 14th. Have a great trip and enjoy the 100 candles, from what I hear it's fabulous!!

Stop by South Carolina & pick me up!!! I won't be too much trouble... I'll carry your bags for ya!!! :) Have a blast!!!

Bring Christmas lights for your balcony, we were were in Jamaica over the holidays and the cool guests had lights. Its easy to stick a string or two in your bags.

Have a great time you two nuts

I think it makes sense to exchange money only in Jamaica. If you do it in Canada, you are buying a FOREIGN currency and it is more expensive. If you do it in Negril, they are buying a FOREIGN currency from you.

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