Best Exchange Rate? Any last minute tips? Please..

[vw40]

So one more day left and I haven't packed a thing. I don't even know where my camera battery charge is. Yikes! I wanted to go back and re-read all the trip reports and write down all the valuable information in them. I should have been doing it all along. The only thing I have written down are the names of the restaurants and bars I want to visit. : ) Guess the rest of I'm going to have to try to pull from my memory. One thing I do need to know is....where can we get the best exchange rate? I remember reading that somewhere but I can't remember. Thank you!!!!!

[gerryg123]

The cambio near the roundabout .....

[MissBlue]

any cambio - they're all good, legit, and give the best exchange rate. (except the one at the airport - they soak you on the rate. still, i exchange a small amount there upon arrival just to have some $J in pocket, but it's really only useful for a small amount to tide you over until you get where you're going and get to a 'real' cambio.)

there's the one gerry mentioned, inside the HiLo grocery store at the Sunshine Plaza/Roundabout, one on the cliffs (Banmark, near Summerset Road), and one on the beach road (Time Trend, near Bourbon Beach) - probably others too, but those are three i'm familiar with.

bring ID just in case; they say it's a 'rule' that you must show ID when exchanging... more times they do not ask, but sometimes i've been required to present it. Also they will usually give you large bills - I ask them to break it down into smaller denominations, as sometimes it's difficult for shops and vendors to make change for $J 500's or 1000's.

don't worry about all that stuff you never got around to writing down - it would all just go out the window anyhow... all your notes would sit forgotten and untouched once you get there and start having fun doing whatever, hehe. as you see things, you'll recall them from what you've read and it'll be all good.

Enjoy and have fun!

[Jim-Donna]

Very good advice on getting smaller bills!

[Ohio_Buckeye_1]

I second everything MissBlue said.

I now just don't exchange my $JA at end of trip, anymore. That way I can avoid the airport one completely, and when I return next trip have enough $JA for food/drink/bathroom stop, and wait until I can get to normal cambio.

Re the ID - I've found at the one across from Times Square, if I give them my passport on first day, they said they didn't need it after that. But I went daily, and they remembered me - nice ladies there. They seemed to have it in computer, but only for limited time - because on some trips, if it had been more than 6 months since prior trip, they couldn't find my info and needed passport again first day.

Similar at the one by the roundabout and the Banmark at the motorcyle rental place on west end - there they made a copy of my passport ID page on first visit. Then not needed after that.

[SweetSue]

What she said... What he said...!!! The cambio by the roundabout that I know is not inside the HiLo but is a free standing building in the next lot over going towards the Scotia Bank. They do the same thing - take ID/passport the first time and just my name on subsequent visits. Sometimes,if it is less than 6 months between visits, not at all.

[gerryg123]

The cambio that's a little shack right next to Scotia bank at the Roundabout is usually the least crowded. The nearby cambio in the market often has a line.

Some reaches, they've never asked me for ID at all. Then again, everything about me spells T-O-U-R-I-S-T, lol.

[just_Bob]

What she said... What he said...!!! The cambio by the roundabout that I know is not inside the HiLo but is a free standing building in the next lot over going towards the Scotia Bank. They do the same thing - take ID/passport the first time and just my name on subsequent visits. Sometimes,if it is less than 6 months between visits, not at all.

Hi Lo exchanges money now too on Sunday. DON'T EX AT THE AIRPORT

[MissBlue]

LOL, i'm totally not surprised Ohio Buckeye - i usually find myself nodding my head in agreement with prettyy much everything you say as well!

I'm not keen on telling someone "do this" or "don't do that" -- although exchanging at the airport is not a good rate - still, imho it's perfectly fine to do for some immediate cash, as long as you understand how it works.... as long as folks have accurate info, they can can choose for themselves what works for them.

[vw40]

Thank you everyone!!