exchange rate-- US--JAMAICANDOLLAR

[Richie B]

With the exchange rate near even (US $/ JA $) is there any advantage to exchange funds. I have always changed my US dollars after arrival, but the exchange had never been this close before.

[Rum-polephoreskin]

According to the website I went to there is a slightly higher value to $1 U.S. than $100J.
$1 U.S. to $101.722 J.

[original spanky]

i am thinking for the 1% or so difference it might be best just to bring a bunch of 1/s 5/s and 10/s. otherwise you'll have a lot of 1000j and change not always available

[smith744]

it's been said:::>>> "..when in Rome, DO as the Romans do.."

so,
me personally, I use Jamaican currency EXCLUSIVE-ly on my trips. [[ period ]]

it makes *things* a LOT easy-er, and I avoid a few headaches, and have one-less thing to worry about.

for example,
suppose i go into one of one of those roadside shops, or small bars:::

for a pack of CravenA,
or one-CravenA,
or a lighter,
or a Pepsi,
or rum bun,
or some cookies/biscuits,
or a small bag of plantain chips,
or one bottle of Heineken
or a small handfull of *sweeties* (i.e., penny-candy)

or suppose i stop the paper-man, to purchase a Gleanor, Observer, or Star newspaper.

99.9% of the Ja-folks KNOW the current/daily exchange rate, so conversion is NOT an issue.

it's the change-due that can be a headache

:-(

firstly,
as mentioned above, does the vendor have the change (i.e., the newspaper-man) ---- or am I gonna tip him for a newspaper..???... --- I DON'T think so...!!..

am I gonna tell the shopkeeper to "..keep the change.." for US 50-cents worth of whatever..??..

nope --- not me..!!..

IF, i buy this & that at the China-man store, he's gonna give me change in Jamaican currency (i.e., coins & paper money).

so,
I'll be walking around with one pocket with US currency, and the next-pocket has Jamaican currency (..???..)

No-Sir..!!... --- not me .... too-too inconvenient & a hassel

so,
i use Ja-currency EXCLUSIVE-ly..!!..

plus,
there's a Ja-saying (paraphrased):::>> "..every mickle, makes a muckle.."
[[[ i may have typed it wrong, but in general it means, watch those pennies ---- 'cause 100-pennies equals one-dollar ]]]

in short fashion, those nickles, dimes, dollars add-up.

Within & around Negril (and other tourists-areas), things are priced for the tourists. Prices are frequently quoted in US-currency, allegedly to make things easier for the foreigners, who for the most part don't wanna take the time to familiarize themselves with the Ja-currency and conversion thing-ys.

Of course,
as we all know,
*convenience* has a price, na tru

When you leave the tourists areas, you won't see stuff quoted/priced in US-currency.

A *thought*:::>> with the current (almost) Ja$100 = US$1.00 rate, things are somewhat simplier ------ a pocket stuffed with ten Ja$1,000-bills is just as fat as one with ten US$10-bills.

don't forget there's a Ja$500 bill ----- i.e., US$5.00

and,
those Ja-coins can really come in handy ----- especially the Ja$20

In Closing:::::::
me-personally, am NOT gonna be running around the Jamaican countryside, outside the tourists areas with a pocket full of US-currency.

NO Sir..!!..
not me
can't dew-wheat..!!..

for some weird-reason,
my street-sense (and my gut) tells me it's not a good idea.

[Richie B]

Thanks for the replies, esp. Mr Smith haha good point about change. Tings cofusing enough wid out two pockets of currency --Respect. Soon come 30 days

[Marko]

well at 100 to 1 that should make it easy for everyone this winter......
though mi liked it better when it was 1.78 to 1 in the 80's.......lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

[Richie B]

well at 100 to 1 that should make it easy for everyone this winter......
though mi liked it better when it was 1.78 to 1 in the 80's.......lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

Yes Marko, dat was betta--- 90's were not bad either