Cash/credit card?

[NoWorries4 me]

Another reason to stay away from CC is the conversion charges made by your company. I just got my statement and was charged $26 conversion for charging the room fee at our hotel!

[marley9808]

Hey Mindfulgirl! Have a safe and fun trip.....we also arrive Sunday, woo hoo!

I typically bring some Js from my previous trip and a little cash and then just hit up the ATM to get Js. That is just how I do it and it seems to work just fine
But one word of advice, if you plan to use your debit or atm card, call your bank first and tell them you are traveling to Jamaica and need to be able to use your card. Many cards now have international blocks on them and unless you call and authorize you won't be able to use them at all outside the country.

Have fun, maybe we will see you around!

[Limo Mon]

My advise would be to take travelers cheques and cash them for Jamaican currancy at the cambio. As for Sunday Most are closed. Your hotel should exchange your money on Sunday not a great rate, get just enough to make it to Monday. DON'T EXCHANGE MONEY ON THE STREET even if they give you A better rate. DON'T EXCHANGE MONEY ON THE STREET you will get ripped off. Also take 5's 10's 20's keep them for later use and some 1's. When your out figure out which is best US or J's. Enjoy your stay. Limo MOn Soon Come

[booger]

I use credit cards for my hotel charges and hit up the ATM for local currency. I also bring down some cash to exchange at the cambio. The cambio down the street from where you are staying is called Banmarc. Any red plate cab can get you there.

[Hussyband]

Ditto on the marley advice about calling your bank. My bank shut my ATM card down one year the very first purchase I made.

I am with the cash crowd myself though. I take a couple of credit cards, but I generally go almost all cash while there.

The place next to hi-lo had rates which were significantly better than the exchange rates I saw in the USA or at the airport our last trip at the end of nov.

[Fred Stripe]

Go buy a prepaid credit card for like $1500.Dont use your bank card that has all your money in it and yes,avoid using the card for payment.Go to the HiLo(not the airport) and get Jamaican money.Much easier.

[nutz4travel]

We bought some JA $ here before leaving and withdrew some from the ATM at the Scotiabank (I have a Scotia account here so no fees). The exchange was slightly better from the ATM, but not enough to make a difference. I used my main CC at the hotels, I don't pay any conversion fees, so that works out well. I also took another CC with a low limit to use, I only actually used it at the Mega Mart in Mo Bay. Cash is much easier, many places require ID when you use a CC. I'm not used to using cash at home, so I found it a bit of a pain to use cash. The ATM's also limit the amount you can take out, one day it would only let me take $25K (Jamaican), another day it was $15K (same ATM)...

[HuskerJohn]

We have always used traveler's checks or cash. A small amount of U.S. for tips, transfers and day trips. Rooms are always paid with a credit card. I've never used a ATM in the 15 years we've been going to Jamaica. My bank has stopped selling travelers checks. So......looks like I will have to use a debit card and ATMs now. I have two questions......................

1. What are the ATM fees at the HiLo and the Scotia Bank.
2. Are there any ATMs on the West End?

This will probably work out better than travelers checks in the long run. My bank charged 4% and I usually was lazy and cashed a lot of them a M&L grocery at a terrible rate.

By the way......................We have less than a month til We Fly. Whooooopie!!!

[booger]

Husker John,
If you bank with Bank of America you have no fees if you use the Scotia ATM's. If you do not have an account you can open one for free.

[Homebrewer]

my bank started charging for Travllers Checks but my credit union doesn't, I use TC or the ATM if necessary