Money

1. Currency Exchange

The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar (J$). Currency can be exchanged at airports, banks, hotels and bureaux de change. Banks and bureaux de change offer better exchange rates compared to the exchange counters at hotels. Banking hours are usually Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After exchanging money, ensure that the currency is spent before leaving the country. The import or export of local currency is not legal in Jamaica.

Credit cards are widely accepted at local stores, retail shops, hotels and restaurants. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are the most commonly accepted credit cards in Jamaica along with other cards like Cirus and Plus Logo. ATMs can be found all over Jamaica. Traveler checks in U.S. dollars are usually exchanged at no extra charge.

2. What a Dollar Will Buy You

You can buy a cheap local meal for around $2. A small bottle of rum in Jamaica costs about $6.5. Half a dozen mangoes will cost about $0.5 while a bunch of bananas will cost nearly the same. Half an hour of Internet access will cost about $0.5.

3. Telecommunications

The calling code for Jamaica is 876. Tourists are will have the ability to make telephone calls from most hotels using the direct dial service. Pay phones are dispersed throughout Jamaica and can also be used to make local and long distance calls.

Phone cards are available at local stores all over the island. The outgoing code for a phone call is 011. Fax facilities are also available on the island at local businesses that allow travelers to send and receive faxes for a small fee. Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular manages a reliable and efficient telecommunications network in Jamaica.

Mobiles operate at a frequency of GSM 900 in Jamaica. Digicel is the leading mobile service provider on the island. Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular offers mobile handsets with SIM cards on lease to travelers. A deposit, registration fee, daily access charge and hire charge is applicable before availing of this service.

4. Cab Fares

Though all cabs in Jamaica are metered, drivers rarely, if ever, use them. It is advisable to negotiate the price and the currency with which the payment will be made before utilizing the service. Some cabs do use the meter, in which case metered fares would be posted inside the taxi. You are advised to ask the driver for a copy if you do not see one.

The cab fares in Jamaica are quite expensive. $20 is the approximate fare for every 10 miles traveled; it can be even higher if you use a taxi licensed to a hotel. Cab fares increase by 25 percent if the utilization is between midnight and 5 a.m.

5. Currency Exchange Rates

The Jamaican Dollar (JMD or J$) is the official currency of Jamaica and 1 JMD is equivalent to about $0.015.

Currency Exchange Rates

JMD 1.00 = USD 0.015 GBP 0.008 CAD 0.016 AUD 0.02 ZAR 0.10 EUR 0.01 NZD 0.02

U.S. Dollar JMD U.S. Dollar JMD

$10 658.99 $100 6,589.92

$20 1,317.98 $200 13,179.84

$30 1,976.98 $500 32,949.60

$50 3,294.96 $1000 65,899.20

6. Taxes

A government room tax of 12.5% on hotel rooms is applicable along with a service charge of up to 10%. A departure tax of $27 usually is collected in cash at the international airport.

7. Tipping

A gratuity of 10% to 15% is standard in Jamaica while settling restaurant bills. Hotel maids, bellhops and porters should be tipped about $1 or $2. A tip of 10% for taxi drivers is sufficient.