Billy Bunter Posted September 1, 2014 #1 Share Posted September 1, 2014 We are going on the Celebration next year to the Caribbean. We'll be calling at St Maarten and St Barths. The official currency is Euros and Dutch Florins. Does anyone know if it's okay to just take US dollars instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruzseeka Posted September 1, 2014 #2 Share Posted September 1, 2014 We are going on the Celebration next year to the Caribbean. We'll be calling at St Maarten and St Barths. The official currency is Euros and Dutch Florins. Does anyone know if it's okay to just take US dollars instead? Philipsburg, St Maarten definitely accept US$ - excellent shopping here and all prices quoted in $. Usually said you get the best prices here and there are a lot of duty free shops and market. Sorry don't know about St Barths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomagot Posted September 2, 2014 #3 Share Posted September 2, 2014 us dollars are good all over the caribbean...st barths use euros but they will accept us dollars everywhere other local caribbean currencies are: barbadian....barbados dollars st lucia, st vincent, st kitts, antigua, dominica, grenada....eastern caribbean dollar aruba....aruban florin curacau, bonaire, dutch st martin....carbbean guilder french st martin...euro cuba...cuban convertible peso roatan...honduran lempira panama...balboa mexico...mexican peso costa ricca...colon columbia...columbian peso us dollars are accepted everywhere across the caribbean...sometimes you may be given change in local currency if its a small amount Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somerset Cruiser Posted September 2, 2014 #4 Share Posted September 2, 2014 As said the $US is acceptable all over the Caribbean. If you get your self plenty of small notes you will never get any change, everything is rounded up. When getting a price for a Taxi etc always confirm the price is $US and not the local $ I read at the weekend that the £ is going to weaken against the $ and it recommended buying now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeCountyMan Posted September 2, 2014 #5 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Best to take more US $ Dollars than you think will be needed. We miscalculated a few years back and I had to go to a local bank (St.Lucia, if memory serves) to get more. That required two transactions - the amount of US $ Dollars requested was converted to their local currency at the prevailing exchange rate, than that amount was converted again into Sterling to be charged to my plastic card. It's also a very good idea to take a lot of small denomination bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomagot Posted September 2, 2014 #6 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Best to take more US $ Dollars than you think will be needed. We miscalculated a few years back and I had to go to a local bank (St.Lucia, if memory serves) to get more. That required two transactions - the amount of US $ Dollars requested was converted to their local currency at the prevailing exchange rate, than that amount was converted again into Sterling to be charged to my plastic card. It's also a very good idea to take a lot of small denomination bills. good advice here most taxi drivers/local tour operators/beach bars etc will not accept 100 dollar bills and hardly anyone will change them for you not even the ship as they dont hold a lot of small notes also most atms will dispense local currency (not us dollars) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruzseeka Posted September 2, 2014 #7 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Best to take more US $ Dollars than you think will be needed. Good advice. Although it's easy to do DIY in the Caribbean and there are plenty of taxis/buses/tours available dockside so there's no need to do expensive ship's excursions, we found it's also quite easy to underestimate how much you need. Each day in addition to taxi fares we had to factor in the cost of sun loungers and umbrellas which could be anything between about $15 - $25 per day (if you're unlucky can be $35 - good idea to wander along the beach from the busiest part and negotiate for better deals). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bunter Posted September 2, 2014 Author #8 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Thanks everyone for the advise. Really useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovecruise22 Posted September 2, 2014 #9 Share Posted September 2, 2014 As everyone said US dollars are fine. Just a little recommendation, for st maarten have a think about Bernard tours. They were fantastic! We had an amazing day and got to see so much Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Lad Posted September 3, 2014 #10 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Me and the cook are doing the Caribbean Quest on Celebration in November, so excellent thread, and excellent information. TVM.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeCountyMan Posted September 3, 2014 #11 Share Posted September 3, 2014 good advice here most taxi drivers/local tour operators/beach bars etc will not accept 100 dollar bills and hardly anyone will change them for you not even the ship as they dont hold a lot of small notes also most atms will dispense local currency (not us dollars) Geomagot - good shout about ATMs. I did see one that was in US $ Dollars - but they are rare apparently. We took no bills above $20, mostly it was singles, fives and tens. Another point - if anybody needs to use a local bank, I suggest taking TWO forms of photographic ID. That's what was demanded of me - and I only had my passport as normal means of identification. Fortunately, by chance, I had another acceptable document, but most punters (as I did) assume their passport is enough. That might have been that specific bank of course - I was unable to find out if it was the norm or not - but better be safe than sorry ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomagot Posted September 3, 2014 #12 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I did see one that was in US $ Dollars - but they are rare apparently. yep...the only atms in caribbean that dispense us dollars is in the british virgin islands (tortola) and us virgin islands, where us dollars are the offical currency Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bunter Posted September 4, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted September 4, 2014 As everyone said US dollars are fine. Just a little recommendation, for st maarten have a think about Bernard tours. They were fantastic! We had an amazing day and got to see so much Sent from my iPhone using Forums Thanks for that...will have a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
790294 Posted September 10, 2014 #14 Share Posted September 10, 2014 As everyone said US dollars are fine. Just a little recommendation, for st maarten have a think about Bernard tours. They were fantastic! We had an amazing day and got to see so much Could not agree more we plan to use them again next year:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUISIN LINDA Posted September 11, 2014 #15 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I don't think you can use US$ in Cuba :eek::eek: We were told they will exchange them, but the rate is not good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomagot Posted September 11, 2014 #16 Share Posted September 11, 2014 you can exchange your dollars at the desk in the terminal in havana .....cuban currency isn’t available to buy outside cuba locals are desperate for us dollars and will change money for you (it gives them better spending power...they can use $'s to buy luxuries...like a bathroom basin!)...but again you need to watch the rate they are offering...its complicated because they have a local currency/economy and a tourist currency/economy, their local currency can only buy everyday essential items....so that would be useless for the average tourist tbh i would rather put the hard cash in the pockets of the locals rather than give it to the state run exchange desk in the terminal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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