11 trips so far and we have never taken anything but cash.
11 trips so far and we have never taken anything but cash.
July 1993*, Feb 2003, Aug 2005, April 2007, Feb 2008, Feb 2009, April 2010, Nov 2010, Nov 2011, Nov 2012, March 2013*, Nov 2013, Nov 2014, March 2015*, Nov 2015*, April 2016*, Oct 2016, Nov 2017*, May 2018*, Nov 2018*, Oct/Nov 2019*, Dec 2020*, Dec 2021*, May 2022* (Portland), Dec 2022* (Irish Town/Strawberry Hill), Dec 2023*, Dec 2024*, Dec 2025*
I used to get Jamaican cash from the bank here, but now I just use my bank card and withdraw cash as we need it in Jamaica. I always use the Scotia ATM's (no fees for me - they're my bank here at home), we haven't had a problem yet. I don't like carrying a lot of cash with me...
I didn't know you could get JA dollars anywhere but JA. I have several thousand JA from my last trip. I bring it to pay for the taxi although not needed.Originally Posted by 2nutz4travel
Took travellers checks last year and had a hard time cashing them at beach road cambio. Had no problem in town next to Hi Lo. Big headache. This year we are bringing cash
For me the only downside of spending cash is the failure to have a record of where it goes. That's why I use nothing but my debit card at home. I haven't had cash since I carried it for a phone call or taxi.
As a retired ship captain it's second nature for me to keep a log.
I have a complete expense report of all my trips as well as money spent to upgrade my yard, business expenses, money sent to the kids etc.
Linston's Zion Hill Taxi
Captain Dave
What kind of problem did you have? I used that cambio my 2 trips last year and the one in April. One time I went, they told me to come back a couple of hours later...I guess they didnt have enough cash.
I can get travelers cheques free at my bank and I like to take about $150 worth in case the ATM machine isn't working (hasn't yet happened to me, but have read it happens a lot).
I have a Scotiabank account that I opened exclusively for Jamaica trips. It's a basic savings account and I get charged $1.25 each ATM withdrawal (even at my home branch), but that's all I get charged when withdrawing in Jamaica too. I believe Bank of America is affiliated and there are no (extra) fees withdrawing from the Scotiabank ATMs in Jamaica either.
I only use Jamaican dollars there now.
Have they discontinued any of the coins? I have some huge coins from past visits. They must be making then out of hub caps by now.
I haven't seen any large coins so maybe they are discontinued.
I went in every couple days to cash travellers checks. one day they said they were not cashing checks today, another day I had to come back later only to get half what I wanted cashed. Another day they said they had no money yet but took another person with cash to exchange. that one really got me going
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