Travelers Checks versus Debit Card

Hi all - My husband and I are coming back to Blue Cave Castle in February. I just discovered my bank doesn't offer travelers cheques any longer. I'm told that they are a thing of the past and I should bring my Visa debit card to the Cambio or the Hi-Lo if I need to get some cash. Any suggestions about this? I don't like to carry lots of cash but I have to support the local economy as best I can and I know folks on the West End perfer Jamaican cash. I sure would appreciate any insight you may be able to offer. I thank you and Jah-Jah bless.

AAA members get travelers checks with no fee. Otherwise using a debit card at one of the ATMs in town works fine. We have always brought travelers checks and cashed them for $J at the FX Trader by the HiLo, never had a problem.

You can get money out at any of the ATM/bank machines here as needed with the Visa debit card with no problem.
The link below from the Things To Do section provides a list of locations around Negril of ATM/bank machines....
http://negril.com/nt/nt071312.htm

ATM card is the easiest, best exchange rate and least costly way of getting JA dollars. Especially if you use a bank that doesn't charge large transaction fees.

My bank charges .7% on the amount. 100 US at today's rate is ~ 9,300 JA. Cost would be 70 cents US

I posted a very similar inquiry yesterday but no one really answered this part of the question:

Can you use a debit card (e.g. Visa Travel Card) to get cash at a cambio?

I agree with using ATMs when possible but I have always used trav. checks as a backup.

Toomany...according the FXtraders (one of the cambios here) website...you can get cash via debit card. But, let us check further or hopefully someone that has done this will provide info shortly.

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Originally Posted by MrsPurina

Hi all - My husband and I are coming back to Blue Cave Castle in February. I just discovered my bank doesn't offer travelers cheques any longer. I'm told that they are a thing of the past and I should bring my Visa debit card to the Cambio or the Hi-Lo if I need to get some cash. Any suggestions about this? I don't like to carry lots of cash but I have to support the local economy as best I can and I know folks on the West End perfer Jamaican cash. I sure would appreciate any insight you may be able to offer. I thank you and Jah-Jah bless.

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The ATM's have 24 hour access, some of the hotels have them and the ones in town are easily accessible. The cambios however do not often give the same exchange rate as the ATM and are open much fewer hours. Travelers checks are definitely becoming a thing of the past and many bank chains do not any longer offer them as well I know I seen one boardie have trouble cashing Traveler checks last year when we stayed at same location and he was left struggling one night out with no way to get cash after having spent what he had on him even though he had tons of traveler checks. If you are worried about using your linked to bank account you can just get a VISA pre paid card from most any stores near home and use that.

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Originally Posted by shellyk

The ATM's have 24 hour access, some of the hotels have them and the ones in town are easily accessible. The cambios however do not often give the same exchange rate as the ATM and are open much fewer hours. Travelers checks are definitely becoming a thing of the past and many bank chains do not any longer offer them as well I know I seen one boardie have trouble cashing Traveler checks last year when we stayed at same location and he was left struggling one night out with no way to get cash after having spent what he had on him even though he had tons of traveler checks. If you are worried about using your linked to bank account you can just get a VISA pre paid card from most any stores near home and use that.

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What she said.....!

I've never had a problem using my CIBC Visa Debit card at the machine next to Hi-Lo or the one in Times Square. I just inform my bank prior to departure that I'll be in Negril Jamaica and for how long.

Don't remember where I heard this from,but someone told me to be careful with prepaid cards because they sometimes are rejected when trying to use them out of the country they were purchased from! There are cards that are specified for travel to other countries. I will be researching this further myself because I would like to have one. Just food for thought! Wouldn't want to be caught not being able to the card purchased.

We do credit card and traveler's cheques. Treehouse has always cashed them for us. I like the idea that the checks would be replaced is lost or stolen. But you have to pay for them now, unless your bank people cut you a favor, and even AAA no longer gives them for free. That was my first realization last year that things were changing. But when we got home it was a real surprise to find out home hard it was to cash them back in - no stores would take them - even the big super markets etc. I had to go back to the bank and cash them back in.

I have had problems with the prepaid debit cards. Will never use those again! Have used my debit cards at the cash machines with no problems but NEVER use them for shopping or dining. Have gotten the traveler's checks from AAA and also like using those, as the places I frequently stay at will cash them for me, and it's better than bringing a lot of cash, though I still bring cash in smaller bills. Will only use my credit cards in case of emergency.

I find debit cards to be most convenient and offer the best exchange rate. With my bank, I do have to notify them that I will be out of the country or else my card won't work. The only downside is that I have daily limit on how much I can take out of the ABM, which is usually around $22,500 JA. If it happens to be an excursion day and we later hit a nice restaurant for dinner, I can burn through that pretty quickly. On average, I probably hit the Scotia Bank ABM every other day.

Mrs. Wilson, we got our travelers checks for our December trip from AAA with no fee.

Debit Card here, I'd recommend the HiLo or Times Square ATM. At Scotia Bank you'll be hassled by beggars and people wanting tips for point to the door for you. It's annoying and can be a little unnerving for some people.

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

Debit Card here, I'd recommend the HiLo or Times Square ATM. At Scotia Bank you'll be hassled by beggars and people wanting tips for point to the door for you. It's annoying and can be a little unnerving for some people.

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This is true. If I go to the Scotia Bank at the roundabout, I usually have a taxi wait for me, so that I can make clean getaway.

OT: One time I waved down a red plate on the West End Rd. to take me to the ABM at Scotia Bank. While I was inside the bank, a couple motorcycles/mo-peds were parked behind my taxi. I guess I didn't really notice this as I was making a mad dash to the car and avoiding the beggars. Apparently, my driver didn't notice either. He backed out of the parking space and knocked over one of the motorcycles. Soon, the taxi was surrounded by all the locals that spend their day sitting on the side of the bank, drinking Red Stripe. My driver got out of the car to deal with the owner of the bike and left me alone in the car. The hassle was pretty intense. Of course it was hot, so the windows were rolled down as random guys came up to the car, "Hey mon! Your driver hit my bwoy's bike! give me some money so I can buy a beer!" I tried telling them that I didn't have any money, but they just saw me leave the bank. Out of frustration, I gave a couple hundred J's to the guy who appeared to be the ring leader and he told everybody else to back-off. My driver finally got back in the car holding a shiny plastic cap that came off the motorcycle he hit. He said,"I have to replace this part. It will cost me $15 US!". I just chalked it up to another Negril adventure.

So yeah, the ABM machine at Time Square is definitely hassle-free and is owned by Scotia Bank. I haven't used the one at the HiLo, but I'll check it out next trip since it's pretty convenient to the West End.

Ras Walleye -- I'm calling AAA here today to check. Last year they wanted to charge me and I was not happy. Left and got at the bank instead, now curious....

Thanks to all of you for responding. I know I have options. I truly appreciate your help.

Scotia charges a fee, but some Debit cards will reimburse it (Schwab does). A plus is they have 4 machines outside (2 dispense USD as well as JMD) so if one is down usually another one is available.

The Royal Bank (?) next to the Cambio is Visa network only

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Originally Posted by Mike_D

This is true. If I go to the Scotia Bank at the roundabout, I usually have a taxi wait for me, so that I can make clean getaway.

OT: One time I waved down a red plate on the West End Rd. to take me to the ABM at Scotia Bank. While I was inside the bank, a couple motorcycles/mo-peds were parked behind my taxi. I guess I didn't really notice this as I was making a mad dash to the car and avoiding the beggars. Apparently, my driver didn't notice either. He backed out of the parking space and knocked over one of the motorcycles. Soon, the taxi was surrounded by all the locals that spend their day sitting on the side of the bank, drinking Red Stripe. My driver got out of the car to deal with the owner of the bike and left me alone in the car. The hassle was pretty intense. Of course it was hot, so the windows were rolled down as random guys came up to the car, "Hey mon! Your driver hit my bwoy's bike! give me some money so I can buy a beer!" I tried telling them that I didn't have any money, but they just saw me leave the bank. Out of frustration, I gave a couple hundred J's to the guy who appeared to be the ring leader and he told everybody else to back-off. My driver finally got back in the car holding a shiny plastic cap that came off the motorcycle he hit. He said,"I have to replace this part. It will cost me $15 US!". I just chalked it up to another Negril adventure.

So yeah, the ABM machine at Time Square is definitely hassle-free and is owned by Scotia Bank. I haven't used the one at the HiLo, but I'll check it out next trip since it's pretty convenient to the West End.

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LMAO. Only in Negril.

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Originally Posted by Lola

Scotia charges a fee, but some Debit cards will reimburse it (Schwab does). A plus is they have 4 machines outside (2 dispense USD as well as JMD) so if one is down usually another one is available.

The Royal Bank (?) next to the Cambio is Visa network only

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Scotia charges me no fee if I use my BofA card. I checked my statement and did the math as well. My rate over New Years was $91 and some change as well to the US dollar.

Agreed Booger. I've been using my BofA debit card at the Scotia ATM for years now and don't get charged ATM or foreign transaction fees. I take a Capital One credit card to pay for the hotel and any other large expenses as Cap1 does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases.

I used both over the holidays.

My debit card, which is a Mastercard, only permitted me to withdraw $ 200 US per day at the ScotiaBanc ATMs. That's barely enough to cover the Red Stripe!

I was charged a fee of about 0.8% by Mastercard. My financial institution covered the ATM fee.

I also converted TCs at the Cambio on the road by Bourbon Beach at a slightly lower rate than cash. But I could exchange an unlimited amount at a transaction.

As MrsPurina said, TCs are getting harder to find. My Credit Union no longer carries them and the local bank from which I bought them said that they won't after they run out. But all 3 tellers at this bank said that they had not sold TCs since they had been there (up to 3 years), so maybe the TCs will be there for a while for me.

TCs just give me some piece of mind when staying at accommodations which do not have a safe.

In order to conserve cash, I also used a credit card at the Hi Lo and the exchange rate was 85 to 1 US. The going rate at the time was 90. So, there you go.

I only take cash. Last time I mentioned it on here I was pretty much told I was an idiot that was waiting to be robbed. So far I have been an idiot 11 times without being robbed.

So I'm not going to even mention it here.

D'OH!

There are 2 types of withdrawal limits:

The ATM's have a transaction maximum, as there is only so much that will fit through the ATM dispensing slot ☺

Your bank also has a daily withdrawal maximum.

You can make multiple ATM withdrawals on the same day, up to your bank's daily limit. The ATM's that charge a fee, will charge for each withdrawal.


Tip: If you want a few smaller JMD bills, withdraw X,900 or XX,900 and you will get a 500 bill and four 100's as part of the withdrawal.

I have also seen the ATM's limit the withdrawals at times. Mostly have seen this at the ATM by Hi-Lo where I could only get $15,000J at a time, so I just made two transactions. I also paid two separate fees! ARGH.... One night around New Years this year I could not get money from any ATM, and I hit up everyone known to man including the one down past the AI's which was at the airport I believe. Now that sucked as I had to hit the room and grab a Benjamin as I had a tab to pay at Eddie's. My wife, who I left at Eddie's with a trusted few was like WTF? when I returned. Lesson learned, get your money before you start your party.....

I also take cash, mainly its hassle free compared to TC's, Debits etc.. I make sure where I stay at has in-room safes and I use the cambio either in Mobay as I'm heading for Negril or in town. I've found that even cambios don't take TC, at least not American Express. I've also noticed alot of businesses don't take Amex type credit cards either because they charge a higher rate to merchants than Visa or MC.

I have used American Express travelers checks in Jamaica for 15 years. Negril, MoBay, Ochi and never had a problem. I usually but not exclusively use the FX Trader cambios.

To answer the original question, I don't think the cambios (except maybe FX Trader) take debit cards.

Cash always works, travelers checks might work but you should expect a lower exchange rate, and anything you can use at an ATM works.

When you call your card provider to tell them you'll be in Jamaica so not to issue security holds on your card, also ask them if they can bump the daily withdrawal limit on your card. I had mine bumped from $300 US to $500 US and it made things easier. The ATM itself may have a transaction limit, but that way you can at least do another transaction.

This may be obvious, but if you're at an ATM getting Jamaican money, remember that if you ask for $300 you'll get $300 JA, which is $3.30 US and will pay the same transaction fee as if you ask for $30,000.

[QUOTE=wrtiii;82529].

Cash always works, travelers checks might work but you should expect a lower exchange rate, and anything you can use at an ATM works.

Years before they would give lower rate for travelers checks, last 3yrs gave me same as cash.

Lola thank you especially for the tip. I finally found some travelers checks but I will also be using the ATM so I have options.

I'm with RasWalleye on this ... we just returned from our trip to Negril. We took American Express Travelers Cheques... AE has a locator tool on their website for where to purchase them based on your zip code. I think I paid a small fee to purchase them at Citibank near me. For me, it's worth it for the peace of mind. Without getting too caught up in the exchange rates offered and as a matter of convenience, we were able to use the cheques and get cash at a couple of small stores on the beach road, and we were able to exchange for cash at Treehouse Resort. And as has been constant for as long as I can remember, the FX Trader Cambio by the HiLo honored them at the same rate as any other exchange -- no additional fees or different rate for traveler cheques. They also have a new set-up and their facility is separate from the grocery store...allows for more privacy in transaction. We found it strange that the cambio by Kuyaba "didn't have enough money" to exchange a $100 TC...? "Come back tomorrow..." Wishing you safe and happy travels...

We are in Negril right now, and have been using AmEx TC at cambio by HiLo with no problems. $91.50 yesterday (same as cash)

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Originally Posted by Lola

Tip: If you want a few smaller JMD bills, withdraw X,900 or XX,900 and you will get a 500 bill and four 100's as part of the withdrawal.

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Good tip!

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

Debit Card here, I'd recommend the HiLo or Times Square ATM. At Scotia Bank you'll be hassled by beggars and people wanting tips for point to the door for you. It's annoying and can be a little unnerving for some people.

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I would say it is a unique experience using the ATM at Scotia Bank, maybe worth doing once. The Times Square ATM is much safer and you don't have to battle the crowds and beggars. Never tried the Hi-Lo ATM, I'll try next time.

I'd skip the travelers checks and go with debit cards from two different accounts from different banks, both with enough cash to get you through the trip should something happen.

When we were there last time, Shamrock cashed a couple of $50 TCs for us to get us through. We arrived on a Sunday, and the cambio was closed!

WOW you guys are all so awesome. I knew I would find answeres from the Boardies! Thank you again. I'm not leaving for a few weeks so I'll keep checking back to see if anyone else jumps in with more tips. This is really great and I truly appreciate all of you for responding to my thread.