Money....Jamaican or US?

[Mary Kay Donegan]

Hi Everyone!!! We will be traveling to Negril in April. My question is....is it better to exchange US to Jamaican or not? What is the easiest way with less hassle for everyone? Is it true that if we dont exchange, to bring all small bills? Where is the best place to exchange money? Airport? Thanks!!

[noproblem]

Accompong: your link didn't work, so I will ad my 2 cents...(pun).. I find it much better to exchange because not all establishments take U.S currency and most times if they do you will get JA in change. U.S five's and and ones are good for taxis and beers but ones can be bulky to carry. Having JA currency just makes less hassle. Case in point: I was trying to purchase tickets to a show once and all I had on me was U.S. The vendor began to haggle with me about "his exchange rate" LOL. I ended up paying about five U.S per ticket more than I needed. If I had JA on me that day I would have saved ten bucks.. Don't exchange at the Airport the rates are normally too high. There is a cambio in the circle that normally has good exchange rates. Some of the hotels will exchange as well but check the rates. Never take an exchange from the guys offering outside the cambio.

[Ras Walleye]

Accompong's link doesn't work.
DO NOT CHANGE MONEY AT THE AIRPORT! The rate is horrible.
DO NOT CHANGE MONEY ON THE STREET! You are just asking to be short changed.
Use a reputable cambio. We have used FX Trader for years. They have locations island wide. There's one on the strip in MoBay and one by the HiLo in Negril. There are others as well but FX is our favorite.
You can also use ATMs. Some give $US, some give $J, some give either.
$US is accepted everywhere but it is usually easier to pay in $J.
My rule of thumb is if the price is listed in $US pay with $US, if it's listed in $J pay with $J.
There is a link to a handy conversion chart on the home page of negril.com.
Small bills of either currency are always helpful for tips and taxi's.
Enjoy!

[Weathermon & Mi Lady]

Jamaican dollars, hands down...when in Rome, pay in Euros, when in Negril, pay in Jamaican Dollars. Cambio on the road across from Times Square is where I usually exchange. I also use the ATM at Times Square, it gives a choice between Ja dollars and US as do those by Scotiabank.

[sunray]

Great Post Ras! Says it all. The small bills are a good tip! (pun intended) You should just save that post to reuse every time this question comes up.

[gregandkelly63]

In twelve trips to Jamaica I have never exchanged money. I always pay in US dollars and have never had a problem. I take plenty of one's and fives and never have to get change back from a purchase. If there is change coming I just add that amount to whatever tip I leave.

[Mtig]

Go to the cambio when you get there and get some Jamaican dollars. Definitely a better deal to pay. It's at negril centre. 5 dollars each way by cab.

[booger]

Any place will take US, however they are free to set their own exchange rate. Weathermon mentioned a good ATM to hit at Time Square. Every single time I have used it I have not had to deal with beggars or crack heads, I cannot say the same for the ATM's at the Scotia Bank. As far as cambio's I'll throw out the Banmarc up on the West End. Nice private stalls so nobody see your business. The only downside is it gets HOT in there, so do not go in there hungover. Ask where you are staying too, as I have found it is usually around 5JMD less than the cambio, however ultra convenient. I would lose that in taxi fare headed to a cambio or bank.