visit regrets and $ ramblings

[wrtiii]

Frank, I understand that things got much more expensive for you - wow, right now the Canadian dollar is down to .708 US, so one US dollar costs you $1.45 CD even at the best rates. But I don't see how it matters which currency you're paying in, JM or US. Can't you convert CD to US easily at a fair exchange rate before your trip, and just bring enough cash to pay at least your full hotel bill?

BeachTramp's example is what I'm talking about. She had to pay either $3. US or $360. JM. But with the US to JMD exchange rate right now at 121.2, she actually got a slight bargain (3 cents US) paying in JM. So I don't see why that would matter to her financially (although the obvious "tourist trap" atmosphere for anyplace with menus not in the local currency might change how you feel about the place).

For non-US residents, using a credit card to pay USD in a different country does present a problem, because they typically charge you for exchanging your currency to the local currency, then again from the local currency to USD. But that's a problem with the credit card companies, not with the hotel.

What exchange rate are the cambios in Jamaica charging to change CD to US?