Cash, Traveler's checks, debit card?

[Al Drake]

You will have a very hard time changing those $5000 bills.

On more than one occasion I've paid with a $1000 bill when buying a beer ($300) and then had to wait while someone took the money and came back with the change because they didn't have it on hand. I think anything bigger than $1000 wouldn't be worth the trouble.

That being said, there's something fun about walking around with $30,000 in cash. I always enjoy the ATM receipt that shows my balance in $JA... makes me feel like a rich person, if only for a moment. (Of course, I don't walk around with that much $JA... it ends up back in the room locked in the safe.)

I think if you consider how long you might wait for your change maybe you will decide to have another beer and something to eat. It pays not to have change in some cases. I remember when there were only 20's and walking around with a brown bag or two filled to the top after exchanging US dollars.

[booger]

You will have a very hard time changing those $5000 bills.

On more than one occasion I've paid with a $1000 bill when buying a beer ($300) and then had to wait while someone took the money and came back with the change because they didn't have it on hand. I think anything bigger than $1000 wouldn't be worth the trouble.

That being said, there's something fun about walking around with $30,000 in cash. I always enjoy the ATM receipt that shows my balance in $JA... makes me feel like a rich person, if only for a moment. (Of course, I don't walk around with that much $JA... it ends up back in the room locked in the safe.)

Maybe be at the smaller watering holes. I would much prefer the $5000 J bills when leaving the cambio and so would my back.

[Rambo]

we leave home with traveling cash (American)...
use personal check for balance of room charges...nice long "float"...lol
cash 100.00 US traveler checks at Hi-Lo, get Jamaican change ie (200-300 US at a time)
rent room safe for rest..........

[HarryS]

Using a $5000 bill to make a $300 purchase may be accommodated, but in many cases won't be easy for the businesses, especially the smaller ones. It's like walking into a convenience store and buying a small inexpensive item in the USA with a $100 bill.

If we all start using these $5000 bills it will be a large burden on the businesses who are not used to keeping large amounts of change around. Especially during the slow season I just don't think the small businesses have the cash on hand to keep giving thousands of dollars in change. I think thats the reason that the cambios and ATMs give $1000 bills. (I'm also a business owner myself and while I don't turn money away, if I get lots of large bills early in the day and can't get to a bank it becomes a problem, you can only keep so much change on-hand)

I'm also not trying to hand a bartender $5000 for a small tab then having to wait for my $4700 back, or even $4400 if I have a second drink... leaves way too much room and time for "error".

It's also not just the smaller businesses - I had to wait for change from $1000 for my last beer at Catcha before heading to the airport, so they weren't trying to keep me drinking - they knew I had to go.

[booger]

Using a $5000 bill to make a $300 purchase may be accommodated, but in many cases won't be easy for the businesses, especially the smaller ones. It's like walking into a convenience store and buying a small inexpensive item in the USA with a $100 bill.

If we all start using these $5000 bills it will be a large burden on the businesses who are not used to keeping large amounts of change around. Especially during the slow season I just don't think the small businesses have the cash on hand to keep giving thousands of dollars in change. I think thats the reason that the cambios and ATMs give $1000 bills. (I'm also a business owner myself and while I don't turn money away, if I get lots of large bills early in the day and can't get to a bank it becomes a problem, you can only keep so much change on-hand)

I'm also not trying to hand a bartender $5000 for a small tab then having to wait for my $4700 back, or even $4400 if I have a second drink... leaves way too much room and time for "error".

It's also not just the smaller businesses - I had to wait for change from $1000 for my last beer at Catcha before heading to the airport, so they weren't trying to keep me drinking - they knew I had to go.

If you flew out before 5PM I can see why you had to wait. Catcha only does cash transactions typically after 5PM when they open up to the public. During the day they run a tab for their guest. Unless something has changed outside of my numerous stays.

I do agree with your input regarding the impact the larger bills have on smaller businesses. Good point.

[x l ent]

My Travelers Checks are my backup, most the time...But the first exchange I use some of them if I'm walking to the Cambio. For some reason, every time I walk to a specific Cambio, a guy pops out of nowhere on a bike to try to exchange my money before I get inside. Not scary, but I never see him coming. (MAGIC!)

[HarryS]

If you flew out before 5PM I can see why you had to wait. Catcha only does cash transactions typically after 5PM when they open up to the public. During the day they run a tab for their guest. Unless something has changed outside of my numerous stays.

I do agree with your input regarding the impact the larger bills have on smaller businesses. Good point.

That's correct. We checked out and settled the tab at 11am, but since we had a late flight (6pm) they allowed us to stay on the property until our taxi arrived at 2pm.

[ed kennedy]

DO not use credit cards.....bring travelers checques and cash them in periodically at the cambios.....many instances of inappropriate charges on cards....

[captaind]

My CC company will not honor any charge from Jamaica unless I call first and approve it.

Only use it to pay for large items ie. water pump from Appliance Traders or my bill at SeaStar.

[Ohio_Buckeye_1]

I bring just a couple hundred $US in cash and my left over JA$ from prior trip to get me from airport to Negril.
I bring 1 CC (the one with no foreign fees) and use it for big purchases - like hotel and car rental (World MC covers the CDW - HUUUGE savings).
I bring my ATM - but just as backup and try not to use it. I've used it in the past but got local ATM fees + my bank fees + 3% foreign exchange fee (~$17 total on $300 withdrawal - way too much for me). So non-Canadians w/out Scotia - be careful on ATMs. Try it once, then login to your bank next day or two and check your fees. I recently switched banks - so will try the ATM next reach and see if fees are more reasonable (this one at least has no 3% foreign exchange fee).

For my daily spending cash - I cash Travelers Checks for JA$.
I like doing it daily because forces me to stay on my budget - once that daily "allowance" is gone, my drinking is done.
(NOTE - have to be careful to plan for weekends and holidays when cambios/banks are closed).
But I also always keep the prior referred to backup stash of 1-days spending - just in case.

TCs used to be free at AAA but they started charging a few years ago (at least in Dayton, OH) - luckily they are still free at my bank.
I use Banmark when staying on the West End and the one in front of Bourbon Beach when staying on the beach - never a problem.
Actually, they only need me to bring my Passport on first visit each reach - after that, just my license - very convenient.

I've used them at cambios all over the island - Negril, Ochi, Treasure Beach, Port Antonio, Mandeville - and no problem.
BUT last trip (March 2013) we spent the last 3 days in MoBay before flight back.
Not one cambio there would take them - even with passport and 2 IDs. They all said I have to go to a bank for TCs.
If you've never been in a JA bank - that meant a several-hour wait in line. So never again trying to use TC in MoBay.
If that practice spreads to Negril, I'll have to figure out another method.

One final point, whatever method you do...I strongly advise NOT having the cash for the whole trip in one place.
Check posts here and other trip sites like TripAdvisor, and you'll find posts of even people leaving valuables in hotel room safes being thiefed.
That's why I like the daily w/drawal - my money is on me, not in the room (except a little stash) - and that way no more than $200US is ever at risk of loss, theft, drunken mistakes, etc.
A loss of that amount would suck - but my vacation would not be ruined.