US$ or J$?

[Ratty2141]

Is it better to have US or Jamaican dollars with us for dining around in Negril?

[VVHT]

Both are accepted. Make sure you have plenty of small bills - US $1, $5, $10 & $20s/ Jamaican $100, $500 & $1,000s. Several times I had trouble getting change for J $5,000 bills.

Is it me or do the Jamaican $500 and $5,000 bills look similar?? Especially at night when you are settling up your bar bill??? LMAO!

Enjoy,

VVHT

[ukran1ans]

After doing the math, my take on it is this. If you're staying a week or less just bring US dollars (and mostly small bills) because the few dollars you save isn't worth the hassle of exchanging. If longer, it's worth it but only if you can get a great rate to exchange (I use my Debit card from ALLY bank at a bank ATM and get only a 1% fee, so that I get $148J/$1US when the international exchange rate is $150J/$1US) because I found that you start losing out exchanging money with local vendors and the smaller restaurants (where you can lose $100-$200US in exchange) over the course of a longer trip.

[j&k]

you will save a little money if you use $JA. If using USD make sure your bills are in good shape. As VVHT mentioned the money can be confusing if you have had a few! Ripped, faded or old bills can be a problem.
Enjoy
Peace

[Bnewb]

And, for most of the advice above I would only give if you're American & staying mainly in the tourist areas.

[Wilky]

And, for most of the advice above I would only give if you're American & staying mainly in the tourist areas.

Are the new Jamaican dollar notes in circulation yet. I saw that at the beginning of the year they were going to introduce a new color coded dollar system and a $2,000 bill, just checking thanks.

[fargoman]

I used the machine inside NCB bank last week at Boardwalk Village Center. I got $40,000 and it came out in $5000 bills. The drive thru one wasn't working but there are 2 inside the lobby.

[Bnewb]

Are the new Jamaican dollar notes in circulation yet. I saw that at the beginning of the year they were going to introduce a new color coded dollar system and a $2,000 bill, just checking thanks.

Nope, not yet.

[Ratty2141]

Thanks everyone!

[pine tree john]

If you are a budget traveler , it pays to have both , do the math . Use what currency works best for you .