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.
