Currency in the Caribbean

[willma]

Hi, we are sailing the Eastern Caribbean next month. First time in the area. Will we need specific currencies for the islands we will be visiting?

These include St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent, all of which use the E Caribbean dollar.

Will US dollars be okay?

[lab_love123]

Yes, typically you can use US dollars. Change is usually given back in local currency though, so it is beneficial to have smaller bill denominations ($1, $5, $10) so you don't have to get quite so much change back in a foreign currency. 

[Aplmac]

38 minutes ago, lab_love123 said:

Yes, typically you can use US dollars.

Change is usually given back in local currency though,

so it is beneficial to have smaller bill denominations ($1, $5, $10)

so you don't have to get quite so much change back in a foreign currency. 

.

What the man said ^ -exactly what the man said!

 

U.S. Dollar is King in these islands and are gladly accepted

often in preference to local currency, and every household maintains a little stash!

[leaveitallbehind]

Just to reinforce what has already been said - the US $ is the currency accepted for travelers in the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.  In other words, basically everywhere in the Caribbean.  Local currency is not required or expected. The one exception is Martinique, where the Euro is preferred, but not mandated.

 

If you do not want local currency as change, just request US $ in advance and the merchants will give it to you instead.  Most merchants in our experience provide it without being asked.  But as suggested, having smaller US $ available for your purchases (if in cash) makes it easier for the exchange without the need to break larger bills.

Edited March 25, 2019 by leaveitallbehind

[navybankerteacher]

36 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Just to reinforce what has already been said - the US $ is the currency accepted for travelers in the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.  In other words, basically everywhere in the Caribbean.  Local currency is not required or expected. The one exception is Martinique, where the Euro is preferred, but not mandated.

 

...

Euro is strongly preferred, if not actually mandated, on St. Barth’s.

[leaveitallbehind]

51 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

Euro is strongly preferred, if not actually mandated, on St. Barth’s.

Thanks for the info.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, navybankerteacher said:

Euro is strongly preferred, if not actually mandated, on St. Barth’s.

True.  They love Euros about as much as they dislike mass market cruise ships :).  One compelling reason to vacation on St Barts is that the island is never overrun with cruisers.  Yes, I am an avid cruiser and love that form of travel.  But if I want to spend a week vacationing on a Caribbean island we head to places like St Barts or Anguilla where cruise ships are not welcomed.  I think it was about 2 years ago that a larger mass market ship did call at St Barts.  The cruisers complained that when they tendered into town all the rest rooms were out of order (a shop owner said there was an issue with the water company).  Within minutes after the last tender departed from the island the rest rooms mysteriously started to work :).

 

Hank

[angie7911922]

You can use U.S. dollars in all of the places you have listed. St. Barth's does prefer the Euro, but you can use the US dollar there as well.

[taglovestocruise]

What little local currency I end up with, usually a few dollars,   I always leave it on the desk as a little extra for the cabin steward. Unless it's paper euros which I save. 

[John Bull]

12 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

 

 

If you do not want local currency as change, just request US $ in advance and the merchants will give it to you instead.  Most merchants in our experience provide it without being asked.  But as suggested, having smaller US $ available for your purchases (if in cash) makes it easier for the exchange without the need to break larger bills.

 

Just a little rider to leaveitall's post.

 

Yes, shops & services which accept USD and deal mainly with tourists will give change in USD as a matter of course - stalls, tourists' bars & shops, vans, etc.

But many shops which deal mainly with locals (and where you tend to get better value) but which also accept USD will only give change in local currency - that's how their cash registers work, and check-out staff have no choice. 

That's one good reason for having enough low-denomination dollar bills.

 

Hardened bargainers will know that another good reason  is that it's hard to bargain a low price when the only bills you've got are the same as, or higher than, the asking price. 

 

JB 

[OCruisers]

Never had a problem using the US Dollar in any of your ports.  

Just take enough small bills so you won't need change.  

[willma]

Thank you everyone. That’s really helpful. 😀