Xtabi is an X for me

[HarryS]

Here's where I think they went wrong - If they knew there was a problem with their credit card machine, they should have let you know as you were seated. That would have given you the opportunity to make other plans.

If they didn't know, and you were just unlucky and it happened just before you paid, then it's just one of those "things" that happen in life.

In a place like Jamaica, there is an expectation that these things happen and that the infrastructure for things that we take for granted at home, like reliable internet access or phone service, is unreliable. I hate to say it, but going to what is essentially a third world country and putting yourself in a position that you don't have easy access to cash is irresponsible, and that might have something to do with the response you received. I'd be worried about worse things than a restaurant bill going unpaid if I was down to my last $100 in cash, anywhere. They may have been thinking, "Who travels all the way here and can't go get $100?", because in their minds, we're all rich travelers, and you must be up to no good.

You could always do what I do - I work out a spending budget before I leave, then I try to bring 50% more so that I don't have to worry about things like this.

Edit: Maybe I owe an explanation for my strong words about travelling "light" when it comes to having easy access to cash...

About ten years ago, I was kicked off a Caribbean cruise for bad behavior, dropped at the dock in Puerto Rico with my luggage, no hotel room, flights, nothing.

Had a credit card, but I couldn't have been more unlucky - while I was on the cruise they flagged my card for fraud and cancelled it. Had about $40 in my bank account I could get to with my ATM card. Had to use it to buy a calling card to call family back home, and had to ask them to wire me cash so I could get home. Not fun, and I won't travel "light" like that again.