As I got off the plane in Montego Bay, Jamaica last year I was of mixed emotions: I was 3 parts filled with that joy you feel when you land in a new country and 1 part uneasy, as I was the proud owner of a grand total of zero of the “local currency”.
Against my better judgement I went to the window and said “$54,000 of your finest Jamaican dollars please”. To which the clerk replied “That’ll be US $600 please”. Having done my homework I already knew this was a poor conversion.
My wife and I walked outside to wait for our shuttle bus to Negril and while we waited enjoyed a cocktail and a Red Stripe. Disregarding the appropriately exorbitant price charged, I was shocked when they rejected my Jamaican dollars and asked for US dollars. I just presumed this was an airport thing being some sort of an international business.
Once in Negril though, things did not change a whole lot, the hotel only accepted USD for payments, prices at restaurants were in all in USD and locals flogging their “handiwork”, “fresh baked goods”, beers or cigars, all preferred USD.
“What am I going to do with all these Jamaican dollars I’ve just bought??”
Thankfully most people, when requested did accept Jamaican dollars. Contrary to the rate I paid, the exchange rate is pretty close to 1:100, but you can bet that if some sort of conversion from JMD to USD was going to occur you were not going to come out in front. As often it was much easier to pay in USD, it became a race against the clock to spend all $54,000 of my Jamaican dollars before I left in 4 days time.
Related: 9 Reasons to Visit Jamaica
I will note that the local supermarkets did price everything in JMD, but you could still pay in USD at a rate of 1:100, you would just get your change in JMD. As it was reasonably difficult (and expensive) to leave the tourist areas (mainly 7 Mile Beach), I do not know what it is like in more local communities, I expect JMD is the norm but do not actually know. I would love if someone could enlighten me with a comment or a link.
As you now see, “local currency” was used in inverted commas because it’s hardly the preferred currency anywhere. After chatting with other travelers who have been to the Caribbean they have said that their experience has been similar in that USD is the preferred currency. This was certainly the case, if not more pronounced in the Bahamas.
Have you ever had a similar experience? What other currency gotchas have you come across in your own travels?
Click here to read about how to get past the touristy facades of the resorts in Negril and eat with the locals.
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This is great information to know for a trip to Jamaica. Having the right currency is important there. Thanks for sharing your experiences.