Had 8 'must try' restaurant names on my list for our recent two week visit. Got to 3 of them. Actually 4; but we walked out of one place because of the ridiculous prices. I can't pay 23 Canadian dollars for a cheeseburger platter.
U.S. dollar pricing, almost Negril-wide, is kind of disheartening and borderline insulting to loyal Canadians whose dollar has dropped so much in recent weeks. There should be some kind of loyalty adjustment for this huge segment of Negril's tourism formula. I am serious.
Negril business people pay their electric bills, taxes, water bills etc. in Jamaican dollars. They pay their staff in Jamaican dollars and yet price in USA dollars. I know it's not planned but some view it as a slap against visitors from other nations.
I heard about one person who booked a room and made a deposit with their credit card and freaked when they learned the card/bank/exchange worked out to a dollar 49 Canadian for each American dollar. Think about that. A 100 dollar room is suddenly 150 dollars plus 16.5 per cent Jamaican tax.
I know Rob and others have said there are plenty of Canadians in town; and we met many of them who were also complaining bitterly about USA dollar pricing; and if this situation continues; I can see some less committed winter travelers defecting to Cuba and Mexico and the Dominican which are decidedly cheaper than Jamaica. (No substitute for Jamaica though). For instance; one bar charged 5 U.S.dollars for two Red Stripes, but 500 dollars Jamaican which is 4.20 U.S. So which is the better deal? The Jamaican price of course. But I digress.
Only got to Ras Roddy's. Hammonds bakery, and the German Bar on our list. It's almost futile to make a detailed plan for your Negril vacation. So many variables, sand gravity, un-planned diversions.
We met up with one of Linda's co-workers and his wife who were impressed with our 450 square foot suite at Seastar Inn. They paid a great amout more to stay at Rooms.
We also missed out on the Ice Cream truck that is cruising the roads and lanes around Negril playing Yankee Doodle Went to Town on it's loudspeaker; but couldn't connect. Is that something new?
We did have some great meals though; but at several reliable places we had already tried like Canoe and LTU and Out of Town Pastry.
Hammonds was the best bargain. 340 dollars for two patties and a box drink. My wife Linda grabbed a table outside while I lined up inside for our food. She spoke with a businessman who told her the reason Juicy Patties a couple of shops down closed is because of a health inspection issue. Another person told her the same thing. I don't know enough about the 'runnings' to know if this is true or not, but it is interesting. No? Rob;feel free to remove this last bit if it's libelous in any way.
Originally Posted by murph
