Jamaica Dollar
Jamaica has the Jamaican dollar as its currency. Each dollar is divided into 100 cents, but due to inflation, cents are not often used. The currency is issued by the Bank of Jamaica and it comes in the form of 1, 10 and 25 cent pieces, which are legal tender, but not really used. The Jamaican dollar is not a strong currency. When it first came into being, it was proud to reach the level of J$0.77 to one US dollar, but now it takes around J$ 70 to buy just one US dollar and this is at a time when the US dollar is not strong, so 1 cent, in Jamaican money is really worth very little.
Coins in the form of $1, $5, $10 and $20 are used, as well as notes of $50, $100, $500 and $ 1,000.
The currency is symbolised using the $ sign and when compared to other dollars, it is recognised by the letter J, so it is written as J$. On international markets, the currency is denoted as JMD.
History of the Jamaican Dollar
The Jamaican dollar came about as a replacement for the Jamaican pound, which had been the currency in use until 1969, when the new Jamaican dollar was introduced. Jamaica had come under British control and so its currency was on a par with the British pound. However, when Jamaica won independence in 1962, the government decided initially to keep the Jamaican pound, but after a few years it wanted to decimalise the currency, since the pound in use at that time was not a decimal system. When it decided to decimalise, it made sense to try and ensure that the currency became a more 'US' type currency and so the introduction of the Jamaican dollar came into being.
Getting Hold of Jamaican Dollars
Since Jamaica has been established for some time as a tourist destination, you can expect to find a lot of tourist facilities on the island. This includes a good number of ATM machines, so you will not have a problem getting hold of dollars. Most of the ATM machines will accept international cards. However, you should notify your credit or debit card provider that your card is going to be used in Jamaica, before you arrive in the country, just so they know that it is being used appropriately. Sometimes, if a bank suspects that your card is being used fraudulently, it will actually put a stop on it, which is hassle if you are in your home country, but a major disaster if you are using it abroad.
Traveller's cheques will be accepted throughout the island. It is easier if you take these into the country as US dollars, since this makes the exchange a lot easier. One thing to be aware of if you bring traveller's cheques is that the banks tend to close at 2 pm, Monday to Thursday, but on Fridays they stay open till 4. If you do miss the bank: don't panic, since there are lots of Bureaux de Changes, where you can also exchange money.
Don't be tempted to change dollars on the street, since you will more than likely just be ripped off.
If you do want to take in some cash, then take some US dollars just to keep you going.
Credit cards and debit cards are also widely accepted, particularly in the tourist areas.
Safety Issues
Jamaica, at times, gets a bit of a bad press about its safety levels, with people saying that it is very dangerous and that there are lots of murders and serious crimes. However, many thousands of people travel to Jamaica every year and experience no hassle at all. They simply have a good holiday!
There is a considerable crime rate in Jamaica, but most of the crime is associated with local gangs or resolving local disputes. Often the tourist areas are well away from the very poor parts of the island and as a result, tourists are kept well away from any areas where they could experience violence.
The capital of Jamaica, Kingston, does have specific problems in terms of violence. Travellers should avoid walking in 'downtown' Kingston at night, because it really isn't safe. But if you are out and about during the day, it is important to just stay alert and avoid areas that are very poor.
Try not to leave valuables lying around, even in your hotel room. Most hotels have some kind of safety box or safes available and you should make sure that all your goods are carefully locked away in there, since if they are left in the room, they may go awry.
Travellers are also advised not to wear very flash jewellery or to use public buses, where crimes often take place. But if you are careful and don't take any silly chances, then the likelihood is that you will simply have a brilliant holiday or stay in Jamaica! Just be aware that sometimes the rum can be lethal, when combined with heat and may go to your head, so don't overindulge (too much).
One other important thing that travellers should be aware of is that same sex relationships are against the law in Jamaica and gay bashing is not unheard of. But the difficulty is that if someone were violent to you because of your sexuality, the police would not be sympathetic after all if you are gay or lesbian (in their eyes) then you are breaking the law to start off with. So, if you are gay or lesbian in Jamaica, just be aware of the fact that you need to be very discreet and if you do want to demonstrate that you have the right to be gay or lesbian, remember that in Jamaica, you do not have this right!
Using Jamaican Dollars
In Jamaica there is always something to see or do or another glorious beach to explore, so one thing is for sure: you will never get bored.
Jamaica has a very healthy water sports culture, with lots on offer for people to try out or experience on the water. However, if you are going to try our hand out at jet-skiing or snorkelling, even horse riding, then you need to ensure that you have adequate insurance cover, just in case something goes wrong.
These activities are usually quite safe and you will simply have a good time, but there is always a risk of an accident and if your insurance policy classes the activity you have undertaken as not a standard activity, then you could well find yourself liable for any medical costs. These can be substantial even though the medical care is not of the same quality as westerners may expect to find.
So, before you get on those jet-skis, just check that if you do have an accident, there will be no huge financial bills as a result and that any bills will be paid for your healthcare.
Many people think simply of beaches and Kingstown when they think of Jamaica, but the reality is that there is a lot more to this island than just beaches.
The Jamaican wildlife scene is stunning, with the most amazing birds to be seen. There is also a wide range of fish around. Jamaica even has its own rainforests, with almost completely self sufficient eco-systems.
The plants are also quite spectacular and Jamaica is one of the best places in the world to see different trees, ferns, really spooky insects and butterflies. So it really has a lot more to offer than simply beaches.
That being said, the beaches are also truly amazing and the water so clear that you can see fish and the marine life below, which is one of the reasons why snorkelling is so popular in Jamaica.
It is not the cheapest destination on earth and in the tourist areas, prices are much, much higher than elsewhere on the island and if you want to get US goods, then you'll find that these are substantially more expensive, because they have had to be imported.
Food and drink are reasonable though and you basically can choose from quick food on the go, right up to fine dining. The pace of life on Jamaica is very slow and relaxed, so fine dining may be a little more laid back than in some fine European restaurants, but the quality of the food is comparable!
Jerk chicken is almost the national dish in Jamaica and is quite spicy, but it is worth giving it a try if you eat meat. The official national dish is ackee and salt fish, which is a rather strange combination of ackee (a fruit that is local to Jamaica), combined with fish that has been cured with salt.
You will also find on Jamaica that there are lots of fruit and vegetables that you may not have seen or tried before, so eating out can be a great experience! Just take care not to wash everything down with rum or cocktails….
Overview
Jamaica is a place that has often been represented as somewhere that is awash with drugs and simply a tourist destination for people who are into either lying on a beach for two weeks or water sports. But it really does have a lot more to offer and is a fantastic place to visit. Not least for the people, who are laid back, generous and who seem to have got life a little bit sorted! On the whole most Jamaicans are quite warm and friendly, but like anywhere else in the world, it is not possible to make sweeping generalisations.
The slow pace of life can be difficult for people who are used to living life in the fast lane and it can sometimes take a day or two just to get used to the fact that people don't really hurry like they often do in other parts of the world. But then, this is Jamaica and they don't really need to!
If you want to find out more about Jamaica and all its different sides (and you are willing to ignore some hotels being reviewed i.e. advertised), there is an interesting website called Jamaica Insider. It can be viewed at
http://www.jamaica-insider.com/hotels/sandals_resorts.shtml
This report surprised me in places. I had always had this vision of Jamaica being a nice relaxed and friendly place where you could have a great holiday with no worries. I wasn’t aware that gay people didn’t exist in their eyes, and I certainly didn’t know anything about the crime that seems to take place there.
I do agree that if you are careful and – more to the point – sensible, you should have a great time. But as someone with gay friends I’m not sure I could visit somewhere that didn’t approve. I’ll have to find another island that is more forward thinking!
— Ben · Sep 15, 07:42 PM · #