Blake... XE & most online converters are giving the bank rate, not the actual exchange rate. You are not losing 5%. That is how the banks & cambios are able to offer the exchange service. The 5% is their operating expense. I was most recently in Negril a couple of weeks ago & - depending on where you exchange - the rate was $1US = $86 - $86.50J. Hope this helps.Originally Posted by Blake
Cambios generally give the best rate, especially compared to the airpor. IF you see an xe rate of 89/1 that might be what it would cost to go from Jamaican to USD, not the other way around.
Once again, that is the bank rate. That meaning the XE or other converter site rates. It doesn't mean that's what the banks pay out. It's what the bank gets when they exchange $$$. Maybe interbank rate would be a better term. When you take your US$ to a bank or cambio & get J$ in exchange, you will get slightly LESS than the bank rate. This is how they make their money & can offer their service to you. I hope this helps. I guess it never hurts to explain it again :-)
I will also add, as have many others, DO NOT exchange from the guy hanging out in the parking lot. He makes his $$$ by ripping you off.
Last edited by Yvonne; 08-04-2012 at 01:20 PM.
Its also fun to play with Jamaica money! We traded $160.00 & got like 14,000 JMD! We felt rich!!!!
You never see it coming ... and the next thing you know ... UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
This was very helpful to me as well it will be my first trip... I couldn't help but notice ur tickers are close to mine... I'll be going nov.10 anyone else?
16th
So close anticipation is crazy
Yea I can't wait either.
I'm going in order to finish up my scuba certification+take a vacation before my busy season for work.
I went to Jamaica last year for my moms wedding and love almost everything about Jamaica... except for the imitation Italian they served at the wedding :-p.
I wish there was Google Street View for Negril... Does anyone know of any good places to get cigars while in Negril? I will probably bring a few but want to also support the locals and grab some Jamaican ones.
We brought plenty of US $1's and $5's for tipping. We also exchanged several hundred US to JA every couple of days and when we went out one of us would carry JA and the other US$. Typically we would carry more JA than US though. I'm going to estimate the 2 of us spent about $100 a day on food, drinks taxis and tips but we are not big eaters. If I had to break it down a typical day looked something like this for us:
Breakfast - $20
Afternoon drinks - $30
Afternoon snack $5
Evening drinks $30
Dinner $20
Transportation - $10
We didn't always have breakfast and kept our room fairly stocked with snacks which we would use to hold us over during our drinking sessions. If we didn't have breakfast typically we would have a bigger dinner. The breakdown may have changed day to day but I'd be willing to bet the overall total was still fairly consistent except for the day we stayed in to nurse my hangover and the day we went to the beach but these two days probably offset each other.
Beth Ann might be able to confirm or correct my estimates
Blue Cave Castle '12, '13 '14 '15 '16 Catcha Falling Star '13 Boardwalk Village '14 '15
Best to change your money in Jamaica but not at the airport! It also seems to me that the best deals happen when you spend Jamaican dollars. Makes it easier on the brain too, not trying to do conversions in your head! lol
Peace
Elvino
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