Question: Using Cash, Credit, or Traveler Checks in Jamaica?

[DLyteful]

So for all of the girls (and guys) that have been to Jamaica. What do you suggest using the most in Jamaica? We would like to take travler checks but will that be a problem?

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[J&M]

Hi

 

Won't be long for you now

 

We paid by Credit Card to Chandlyn and cash to Photoshop ( so there was no 5% fee)

 

Never had any problem with the CC statement

 

Oh yeah I did call Visa a few weeks ahead to let them know I'd be using it in a different country..

[DLyteful]

Quote:

Originally Posted by J&M Hi Won't be long for you now We paid by Credit Card to Chandlyn and cash to Photoshop ( so there was no 5% fee) Never had any problem with the CC statement Oh yeah I did call Visa a few weeks ahead to let them know I'd be using it in a different country..

Not long at all

So do you think traveler checks are not a good idea?

[J&M]

Actually I never really thought about using them Just thought CC was easier and safer then alot of cash. I do remember reading though that they do take them

[Heidi]

We paid Chandlyn with credit card - everything else we took cash. Make sure you take TONS of 1s for tips. We took 100 ones and used them ALL! (airport / excursions / maid / taxi drivers / transfer driver)

 

If I could re-do payment choices, I would've done the excursions with credit card too - would've been easier. But everywhere else (in markets in town / souvineer (sp?) shops by excursions / etc) you need cash.

[Agape Gems]

We used travelers checks to pay Chandlyn and to book excursions. I did that so that I wouldn't go over budget. MIL also had travelers checks and found out that the hotel will only cash them into JA money, and their exchange rate is pretty bad.

 

We used cash for everything else- tips, shopping, taxi rides, food off the resort... like everyone else said, take tons of $1s b/c you will need them as soon as you get off the plane in Montego Bay and its really hard to get change anywhere (at resort and in town)

 

Didn't use any CCs

[Kandys]

MoWife, I think your thank you cards is a great idea! Such a nice personal touch.

[DLyteful]

Ok girls, thanks for the info. I think I'll skip the travlers checks and go with credit cards and cash. I'll be sure to take lots of 1's and Mo the little thank you card envelops are a super cute idea. I actually have a ton of little giftcard type envelops that I never use.

[Birdie07]

We also paid Chandlyn with credit card and sadly photoshop b/c we didn't know ahead of time about the 5% charge. We did take cash for tips. One note on the craft markets. My mom (not the most money savvy) didn't get the lecture on bargaining or saying no and when we went through there at Dunn's river she got away from us and got talked into 100 dollars worth of stuff! Not worth it. Anyways she said she didn't have cash and he said it was fine he took CC. He was gonna meet our guy that we bought stuff from at the Riu front gate. However I did not feel safe giving her CC info to him so we paid cash for her things. So they DO take CC I just don't think I would do that. On a side not we ended up paying 50 bucks for these wooden things with our names engraved b/c we said we didn't have cash with us. Then we got to our bus and another couple got the same things and they paid 2 dollars b/c thats the only cash they had and he took it! So just say all you have is 5 bucks and they'll take that and you won't pay 50 bucks for something! GRRR!

[kater]

I don't have any experience with Jamaica yet, but as a frequent traveler to foreign countries I have found that traveler's checks can be a giant hassle. It is often difficult to find places which will cash them, and as mentioned, you can't often choose the currency. You could also get charged for cashing them. I have since avoiding them and used cc everywhere...very handy!