money exchange

Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: money exchange

Only 24 days to go!!! Do I need to exchange dollars for CI money or is the dollar accepted. Dumb question?? Thanks

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2034 Location: Illinois

We haven't changed our money in about 25 years. We charge everything.

Everyone takes US dollars, but you get Cayman dollars in change. Remember that $1.00 CI is $1.25 US, or going the other way $1.00 US is 80¢ cayman.

I usually travel with some travelers checks, but haven't used them in a few years. You might want money for tips etc.

Shelly :-)

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject:

ruhamah22,

After a little bit, you get used to translating CI-US and back, kind of like talking a foreign language. Basically, don't worry about changing $$ unless you want to.

DS

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject:

Most hotels will exchange $100/day if you feel like you want to exchange. We always exchange our cash, just because it makes things more convenient, so that we aren't always calculating in our heads....I'm an accountant, so it seems too much like work on vacation...talk about lazy.... Smile

We usually arrive on Saturday, so we get by on U.S. dollars, credit cards or small exchanges from the hotel until Monday, and then we go to the bank in Georgetown on Monday to exchange what we think we'll need for the week.

It's not necessary, just personal preference...

Jen

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject:

I can be a bit off-puting when you order a $4 beer, hand the bartender a $100US bill and get $76 CI back. I chuckled out-loud the first time that happened. Smile

Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

I would add two comments:

1 - We found prices to be cheaper in CI. Especially at touristy beach bars.

2 - We got a better exchange with Travellers Check as opposed to US $'s at the local bank.

However, we did charge gorceries.

Newbie Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 8

IS THERE ANYTHING I MUST KNOW ABOUT UNITED STATES TO CAYMAN MONEY EXCHANGE ?

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum, albie Smile

,

I moved your question into this thread since it pertains to your question. In fact, there are other posts about the money exchange in this section of the forum, as well as a helpful conversion chart.

Bottom line is, the exchange rate never changes, and there's no need to change money before you get there. US$ accepted everywhere (and credit cards) and if you pay in cash, you'll get Cayman money as change.

Char

Frequent Flyer Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 98

I had some British pounds left over from a trip and they wouldn't take those at the grocery store. Exchanged them for CI at a bank downtown.
Lots of places post prices in both US and CI. You might want to know your bank's or credit cards policy and charges on int'l exchange for charges and ATM use (I took out $300 CI, it cost me $360 US, plus a $7.20 US fee from my bank). This is a pretty safe country -- you can bring as much cash as you feel comfortable carrying, if you don't want to pay those little fees from your home bank. (Just take normal precautions).

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 4:01 am Post subject:

In years living on the island only two places haven't accepted US$.

First was a kindly old landlady who wanted the rent paid in CI$.

Second was the US Consular Agency. They don't take US$ or CI$ cash - only US$ bank cheque drawn on a US Account. Hope no one loses their passport here.

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