Limo Mon's Palms review

[rastagirl777]

"My problem with the Palms (and other places, for example Push Cart) is that they charge U.S.$ for the drinks at the bar."
That's the case in most places on the beach and more and more places on the cliffs. I don't ever remember seeing that 10-15 years ago. As a matter of fact I remember some years back the US/JMD exchange rate changed so rapidly in a period of three months (went from something like 65-1 to 80-1 between November and February!) that they were busy changing prices on everything at HiLo. That's when it dawned on me - so many people out there DO NOT change their money to local currency and then suggest other do not either like its a big deal.

The result - higher prices, US priced menus....I too try to avoid places like that. Of the five or six beach places where I looked at menus for drinks and food only one (Wild Parrot) posted their prices in JMD.

On the cliffs you are more apt to see prices posted in JMD but there are places such as PushCart, Rockhouse, Ivans and LTU that price in US. At LTU where I'm known I always get my bill in JMD. At Ivans, after doing some quick math in my head, I found their exchange was fair. Haven't eaten/drank at Rockhouse in years - and was only at Pushcart once for their Grand Opening.

[Limo Mon]

My problem with the Palms (and other places, for example Push Cart) is that they charge U.S.$ for the drinks at the bar.
I don't patronize anyplace that charges U.S. for food/drinks. I think it's an insult to Jamaicans
and people who aren't from the States.
I understand accomodations being in U.S. dollars- because that is always paid by credit card.
But when I'm walking around Jamaica with J$ in my pocket and go to buy a drink - when it's priced in US, I'm getting whacked for a double currency exchange. (CAN$ -> Jam$ then US$ ->JAM$) so I simply don't patronize.

Come to think of it, I find it ironic that a place called 'Push Cart' charges in US$

Years ago all prices where in J's and if you didn't exchange for J's you where getting beat up on exchange rate.
Now they beat the J's up, I find Now it might be best to take lots 5's and 10's (u.s. dolars) . Some places now give you U.S. change back its when they say no us change and exchange it back to J's.

[Limo Mon]

"My problem with the Palms (and other places, for example Push Cart) is that they charge U.S.$ for the drinks at the bar."
That's the case in most places on the beach and more and more places on the cliffs. I don't ever remember seeing that 10-15 years ago. As a matter of fact I remember some years back the US/JMD exchange rate changed so rapidly in a period of three months (went from something like 65-1 to 80-1 between November and February!) that they were busy changing prices on everything at HiLo. That's when it dawned on me - so many people out there DO NOT change their money to local currency and then suggest other do not either like its a big deal.

The result - higher prices, US priced menus....I too try to avoid places like that. Of the five or six beach places where I looked at menus for drinks and food only one (Wild Parrot) posted their prices in JMD.

On the cliffs you are more apt to see prices posted in JMD but there are places such as PushCart, Rockhouse, Ivans and LTU that price in US. At LTU where I'm known I always get my bill in JMD. At Ivans, after doing some quick math in my head, I found their exchange was fair. Haven't eaten/drank at Rockhouse in years - and was only at Pushcart once for their Grand Opening.

Seen few places with Jamaican prices most U.S. some both.

[Rob]

But when I'm walking around Jamaica with J$ in my pocket and go to buy a drink - when it's priced in US, I'm getting whacked for a double currency exchange. (CAN$ -> Jam$ then US$ ->JAM$) so I simply don't patronize.

Years ago all prices where in J's and if you didn't exchange for J's you where getting beat up on exchange rate.
Now they beat the J's up, I find Now it might be best to take lots 5's and 10's (u.s. dolars) . Some places now give you U.S. change back its when they say no us change and exchange it back to J's.

Man, both of you, please let me know where you "get beat up" on the Jamaican exchange rate when they have the prices in US$. Normally the prices are reduced when paying in JA$, say 82 to 1 when the actual rate is 85 to 1. This means anyone paying Jamaican$$$ will pay less than the US$ price. If you know of any place charging 86 or higher to 1us$ when paying in JA$, please tell me now! I will take all the US$$$ I can find and deal with them! Anyone can make money on that exchange!

[Limo Mon]

Man, both of you, please let me know where you "get beat up" on the Jamaican exchange rate when they have the prices in US$. Normally the prices are reduced when paying in JA$, say 82 to 1 when the actual rate is 85 to 1. This means anyone paying Jamaican$$$ will pay less than the US$ price. If you know of any place charging 86 or higher to 1us$ when paying in JA$, please tell me now! I will take all the US$$$ I can find and deal with them! Anyone can make money on that exchange!

If my coffee was 1.50 u.s. and the rate I found some places where at was 80 to 1. That would mean it should cost 120J's ?
They say no its 140 J's its only 75 when convert it back then they show me on the calculator but can't explain it to me it happened more then once on my last trip. No names but the sea was windy monday.

[Limo Mon]

Rob if you realy want me to give a list of where they beat the J up I can do that ?

[rastagirl777]

"Seen few places with Jamaican prices most U.S. some both."
You need to check the West End more. Here I'd say more places price in JMD than in USD.

I'm a firm proponent of changing your money to local currency no matter what. First I've seen what NOT doing that does to a local economy (here in Jamaica) and why things have gotten so much more expensive in Negril in recent years. Second - think about - would you go to Europe, not change money and expect that they will take your US or Canadian dollar?

When in Rome, as they say...

And I'm with Rob - bring on that list!

[Kahuna3]

Man, both of you, please let me know where you "get beat up" on the Jamaican exchange rate when they have the prices in US$. Normally the prices are reduced when paying in JA$, say 82 to 1 when the actual rate is 85 to 1. This means anyone paying Jamaican$$$ will pay less than the US$ price. If you know of any place charging 86 or higher to 1us$ when paying in JA$, please tell me now! I will take all the US$$$ I can find and deal with them! Anyone can make money on that exchange!

Here's what I meant by getting 'beaten up':
I always carry Jamaican with me, so I convert my CAN$ to JMD$ when I arrive. I get the `cambio`rate when I convert from C$ to J$, so I take a hit on that – not a big deal - I accept it because you always pay when converting currency, the rate is in favor of the service provider.
BUT, when beer in Negril is priced in US (and only US, not double listed in JMD and US) and I only have J$, the bartender gets his little calculator out and does a conversion from US to J$ – at his favourable rate (and rounding up) so I get hit again on the transaction. It`s a double tap on every US$ transaction because of the CDN-JMD-US conversion.
OK - maybe it's not anything to cry about, but it's the principle of it. I guess it's a pet peeve of mine to see prices in Negril listed in US$. I find it jarring, so I don't frequent those establishments.

[Limo Mon]

Here's what I meant by getting 'beaten up':
I always carry Jamaican with me, so I convert my CAN$ to JMD$ when I arrive. I get the `cambio`rate when I convert from C$ to J$, so I take a hit on that – not a big deal - I accept it because you always pay when converting currency, the rate is in favor of the service provider.
BUT, when beer in Negril is priced in US (and only US, not double listed in JMD and US) and I only have J$, the bartender gets his little calculator out and does a conversion from US to J$ – at his favourable rate (and rounding up) so I get hit again on the transaction. It`s a double tap on every US$ transaction because of the CDN-JMD-US conversion.
OK - maybe it's not anything to cry about, but it's the principle of it. I guess it's a pet peeve of mine to see prices in Negril listed in US$. I find it jarring, so I don't frequent those establishments.

Well said, this is the same beating I'm talking about , But with U.S. dollars. When you travel to another country and exchange money you expect a little beating thats how they pay the bills to keep the place open. But when the country beats up its own dollars dosen't seem right.

[Limo Mon]

"Seen few places with Jamaican prices most U.S. some both."
You need to check the West End more. Here I'd say more places price in JMD than in USD.

I'm a firm proponent of changing your money to local currency no matter what. First I've seen what NOT doing that does to a local economy (here in Jamaica) and why things have gotten so much more expensive in Negril in recent years. Second - think about - would you go to Europe, not change money and expect that they will take your US or Canadian dollar?

When in Rome, as they say...

And I'm with Rob - bring on that list!

Its not that there are not places like you say on cliffs, I'm A beach Mon and our 8 days last week they beat up the Jamaican dolars.
I'm sure the cliffs wont belong before its like the beach area. Even Conch Hill had U.S. pricing.

short list: Palms, Sea wind, B Barn, Angela's, and your cliff area Blue cave castle as well Xtabi.