currency question

[jgoldkopf]

1st time to Negril...is it better to use US or Jamaican currency? Staying at Cocolapalm feb 1 thru feb 8 , let me know if you'll be there.Any suggestions would be helpful

[Bossman]

Both will work fine. If you get comfortable with the exchange rate using Ja would be better.

[Bnewb]

If you are from the US...you can easily use either currency.
If you are from outside the US...convert your currency to Jamaican.

[Captain Oil]

The $US is highly prized and accepted all over Jamaica. However using $US is not the best practice. The exchange rate you get at a bar or restaurant will always be less than you get at a Bank or Cambio. For example, a beer on the beach can cost $200J. But if you pay in $US, they will probably charge you $2US. Might not seem like much difference but you just paid $250J for a $200J beer. A 25% upcharge ! ! Even if you use $US, ALL your change will given to you in Jamaican dollars. Dealing in two different currencies in the same transaction will be very confusing to all involved. To avoid all this, you might as well dive right in and get some JA dollars to start with.

Jamaican currency comes in a few denominations: $50J , $100J , $500J , and $1,000J and 5000J . The $100J and $1000J look similar so be careful when counting your money or paying a bill. To see what Jamaican money looks like, go to this website: http://www.jamaica-dream-vacation.co...-currency.html

[Prism]

If you decide to go with Jamaican money Oanda has a currency converter that you can print and keep in your wallet. It is the travellers cheat sheet. My first few times it helped a lot. I laminated it so it wouldn't get ripped or anything. https://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

[Nancy Marie]

Oanda has an app for phones as well.