Only posting 11 times I didn't think... Next time ill use the word FRUGAL lol
Only posting 11 times I didn't think... Next time ill use the word FRUGAL lol
Slimjim, rather be discussing all the good times Negril offers instead of increased costs but 2 yrs ago was about 1.08 to the US now 1.46 so increase is more than 20%. Cdn $ was not actually doing too terrible against other currencies till relatively recently, we (as most other currencies) were losing to a rising US $. Of late we have been decreasing against pretty much every $ due to our excessive correlation to the price of oil. However you are right for J$ as 2 yrs ago was about $96 and now 85 so not so bad really. But the pricing of rooms in US that you pay ahead of time is quite painful, especially when credit cards tosses in a lousy exchange and 2.5% charge because they can. Either way still rather be in Negril than pretty much anywhere!!
hey, it is not the exchange of Canadian to Ja but having to pay in U.S. while in Jamaica, that makes as much sense as charging visitors to Canada U.S. , soon comeOriginally Posted by Rasthai
The value of our Canadian dollar does put a damper on things but that will never stop us from spending our time and money in Negril. As I said in a previous post we are staying at an AI this trip but mainly to accommodate one of my wife's sisters health concerns. She doesn't want to have to walk or travel around to much to eat and drink. That being said we will still go out to eat and drink at other places and she will come when she feels up to it but if she can't we know she will be taken care of at where we are staying. This year we will just make sure we have an ample amount of American and Jamaican money with us to pay the bill in what ever currency the bill is in. We always did that in the past and figured out on our first trip to Negril that was the smart thing to do. Not all us Canadians are tight with our money lol. Spend it while u have it cause u can't take it with u when u die. We work hard and we play hard and nothing good is ever really cheap. Nothing can ruin a vacation in paradise more than worrying about how much something costs and the things we enjoy seem to cost more in Canada than they do in Jamaica. To quote a board member here he writes the most enjoyable trip reports ever "If you are thinking about gong to Negril just push the button and do it man because you won't be disappointed" Cheerssss and My dear sweet Negril we will see you in 70 days
I truly didn't mean to start such a debate, and I really don't like seeing bitterness. We would still go to Negril no matter what the cost above anywhere else, and I would never even consider Cuba or Mexico for my own reasons. However, some people simply looking for a 'Sun Spot' might. Just pointing out that I don't like seeing USA dollar pricing in shops, bars, restaurant and even taxi men will quote you "10 dollars" to travel beach or west from the taxi park. I'm far from a cheapskate. Ask any of the service people who received generous tips for services rendered all over Negril. I witnessed one American give a server 150 Ja on a 78 dollar U.S. tab. Now that's a tight-wad. Someone posted stats that 1.2 million Americans visited the island in 2014 vs. 400 thousand Canadians. Think about this. USA has 350 million people (or more). Canada has 35 million. Per capital; who loves Jamaica more?
Last edited by Big_frank; 01-24-2016 at 08:52 PM.
Honest question: where in Negril do you have to pay in $US, and they don't accept $JA?
Are you speaking specifically about having to book your hotel in $US? If so, it's more about the fact that the American dollar is stable right now, while Jamaican dollar is not. If they listed in $JA they would have to adjust the prices like every week. Plus it makes it easier for prospective customers to know how much it's gonna cost to stay there.
Why? Easy for an American to say.. Please explain why a small hotel operator must charge in US bucks. The US dollar is not stable, far from it. It has been increasing against virtually all currencies. Not great for US exporters. Not great for people other than Americans who visit Negril. But it is great for hoteliers. They get a raise in margins every time the US buck goes up because most of their expenses are in JMD.
Anyhow, like I said, it is what it is and let the consequences sort themselves out.
For me, I'll spend less time.
My Books:
Walk Good - Sunset Negril - Night NurseAvailable @ www.amazon.com - search 'Roland Reimer'
Drifter 141. You are correct ; and make a very good point. Hotels of course must be in USA dollars.
Per capita spending doesn't reflect OVERALL spending by a long shot. That seems a rather silly point to make, IMO. I think the idea of a "loyalty discount" to Candadians would be insulting to other visitors who also spend freely in Negril. That seems as biased, or quite possibly moreso, than things being priced in USD
I have not brought a U.S. dollar to Negril in about the last two years! Why would I pay percentage in a double exchange? The bank rate for Canadian to Ja. Dollars is 85 today. I pay and negotiate everything in Ja. With the exception of rooms! This is a rip off to some one without US dollars, which is one of the reasons my last three trips I stayed at an AI booked with transfers from Canada. Some of the smaller hotels with lower occupancy rates would be genius to offer a Canadian dollar rate! Leaving for a non AI trip in two weeks and am in the process of negotiating transfers in Ja. Right now, I am not bring US and am only going to have Ja. This has been how I roll for a while.
Trip #59 most of February
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