Money

[Marko]

popular question on here for years and years..........
mi basically bring a roll of $1US and some 100's US and one or two ATM cards.........
the exchange rate is great at the NCB and Scotia Bank........
the highest Cambio rate 2 weeks ago was 86.60 at the Cambio by ValueMaster across from Burger King Strip Mall......
the Cambio at Bourbon Beach was payig 86 and yes there is one there in the front by the road........
never made it to the Cambio at HiLo as this guy was a beach bum........sand gravity is wicked der.......

all our spending habits are different......if you Masta Smith you only need $20 a day........
and if you are a party animal...you need about $150-$200US a day to enjoy life in paradise.......lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

[Homebrewer]

I always bring cigars with me to Jamaica

whatever happened to the Royal Jamaican and Mario Palomino brands anyway? I haven't seen those in a few years.

[Ras Walleye]

Sadly the Jamaican cigar industry has suffered extreme losses from past hurricane seasons.
Oh for the days of a real all Jamaican Macanudo.
Buyer beware many of what are sold as Cuban are fugazys...

[SweetSue]

But if the cambios in Jamaica are giving 85/1, and xe is 89/1, you're losing $4 JMD per dollar you convert, losing roughly 5% of your value.

I guess it beats pulling out a currency calculator every purchase....

Cambios generally give the best rate, especially compared to the airpor. IF you see an xe rate of 89/1 that might be what it would cost to go from Jamaican to USD, not the other way around.

[Limo Mon]

So I searched for any relevant threads and couldn't find anything and google is being extremely unhelpful because all of the answers are across the board.

I'm looking to find out whether it's better to convert my USD into JMD or to use USD while on a trip to Negril, Jamaica.

I will NOT be staying at an all Inclusive(I've stayed at one in Montego bay before and barely used any money) and it will be for 6-7 days.

Also it seems like everyone on google has a different opinion of how much money you should bring. Is $100 USD per day a decent amount for 1 person? I do plan to eat out pretty much every meal and drink a fair amount. I don't want to do all inclusive because I prefer the local food and it seems they have very little of it at any of the all inclusives I've read about or been to.

It's my understanding that it will be hard to break bills, how would you divide the $600-700?

IF using USD is more favorable then I'm thinking I'll just show up with $200 in Ones, $200 in fives, $200 in tens, and $100 in twenties.

Is there a negligible difference between using USD and JMD? Is JMD more favorable even after paying the cambios to exchange the money?

Thoughts? Opinions? Wish these forums had a poll option.

Limo Mon tip would be take 10's 20's spend them on your meals and drink , but always ask how much in J's and pay with whats best. My last trip i exchanged my us for J's and they beat me up on exchange of there own money. Save large bills to exchange for J's. Some will give back us change for big bill but ask.

[Limo Mon]

1 last tip bring more money you can never have enough.

[phineasfreakears]

A good rule of thumb is to estimate how much you think you will need, then double that. The expenses add up faster than you think: cab fares, midnight jerk chicken runs, excursions, cycle rentals, tips, rum punches, gifts, etc, etc. Also, there always seems to be someone hanging around the cambios who are willing to give you a slightly better exchange rate. I have exchanged money with them, but beware if you go through them, as some will attempt to short change you. Do your math, and know exactly how much you have coming before you give them your cash. it can get confusing when you are dealing with a high exchange rate. I take my credit card size calculator with me everywhere.

[sunray]

A good rule of thumb is to estimate how much you think you will need, then double that. The expenses add up faster than you think: cab fares, midnight jerk chicken runs, excursions, cycle rentals, tips, rum punches, gifts, etc, etc. Also, there always seems to be someone hanging around the cambios who are willing to give you a slightly better exchange rate. I have exchanged money with them, but beware if you go through them, as some will attempt to short change you. Do your math, and know exactly how much you have coming before you give them your cash. it can get confusing when you are dealing with a high exchange rate. I take my credit card size calculator with me everywhere.

NEVER change money with someone hanging around a cambio. They are only there for one sole purpose; to rip you off!

[Ras Walleye]

NEVER change money with someone hanging around a cambio. They are only there for one sole purpose; to rip you off!

This can not be emphasized enough. Only use a cambio, cash machine or bank.

The rule of thumb is, lay out all the clothes and all the money you are bringing to Jamaica. Now, put away half the clothes and get twice the money. Jamaica soon come, money soon go.

[Maryann]

Even when I stay AI, I usually budget $100 a day for myself, though usually don't spend it all. I take lots of 1 and 5 dollar bills and use those for tips. Also take travelers checks and cash as I need to, and use J's when purchasing things whenever possible. I avoid using my debit and credit cards because I have come home twice with "fraudulant charges," so I just don't bother anymore unless it's an emergency. I've been lucky because most of the places I like stay will cash my travelers checks, which saves me a trip to the cambio/bank.