? about money once you're there..

Ok, so I've just read the thread on how much money people usually bring with them for off resort excursions, shopping, etc. and I get that it really does vary depending on what you plan on doing and how many little trinkets you plan on purchasing. Some wrote how they will walk the beach and stop along the way at little shops or places to get a drink & or something to eat. If it is suggested to bring lots of small bills as it is difficult to get change, how do you carry your money? My thinking is if I'm waking the beach I am in my swim suit with a cover up and my hubby will have his suit on too. I'm sure he's not going to want to carry his wallet & I'm not going to take a purse or anything like that. What if we decide to go swimming along the way? Even the cat cruises? We need to have money to tip those guys, and if I read correctly, it says to wear your swim suits as you can go in the water at some point. Do we hand over soggy money to them? I'm having a hard time visualizing how to have a $100.00 (or any amount really) worth of ones or 5's handy in case an occasional tip is needed or something is purchased at the spur of the moment...... Hope that all makes sense. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

Looking forward to being Swept Away in 204 days!

~Deb & Rick~

Every year when we first get there we hit up one of the vendors to get a new "Bob" bag. It's like a backpack only not as big and bulky. It's a great way to carry anything you need or anything you are going to pick up during your walks. We walk a lot when we go and never leave without our bag. We leave the bulk of our money in the safe and decide how much or little we are taking per walk. Seems like every walk we take there is always a need for a few bucks...whether it is the little local boy who just made a bunch of rings and is selling them for 2 dollars, a great deal on some rum cream, buying fruit from a local woman carrying them on her head or who knows what. When we stop to swim, it's usually in a very deserted area so we just drop Bob on the beach and jump in the water. We don't venture out too far so we can keep an eye on it, but nobody has ever bothered us or our bag. There have been times we've walked without Bob and usually end up regretting it. We'll say we are just going to take a small little stroll and not need it, then half hour later find something we wish we would have had cash for.
People bring a bag when they go on the Cat Cruise. We stuff a towel in Bob, our camera and some cash.
You will definitely want to have small bills wherever you go. Most places don't have change for the big bills and it makes it easier to pay with the small ones.

Just like a water park, money in Jamaica is somtimes soaked! Just carry what you are going to need for the particular trip, not $100.

Hey, wet money dries! Just take, maybe, 20 at one time and just stick it in your bathing suit pocket. If you have an inside one, use it. Everybodys money who is walking the beach is wet. "No Problem"

We keep our money in our safe in the room and we will keep like $20 broken down into small bills in our camera case which we keep in our beach bag that we being to the beach each morning with our books, camera, sunscreeen, room keys. So when we decide to go walk the beach we just grab our camera and cash. Hope this helps.

You could always put some cash in a ziplock baggie that your hubbie could put in the pocket of his swimtrunks (needs to be a pocket that can be fastened if you're getting in the water) if you don't wish to take a beach bag with you but we always have a bag for camera & lip sunscreen, etc. .... Most people take a bag with their towels & cover-ups & camera on the cat cruise so that shouldn't be a problem. It's safe enough to leave it on the boat while you swim.

Figure to have some small bills at the airport. The baggage handlers expect $2 per bag. Figure what you want to tip your driver who takes you to the resort as he is not a couples employee. We usually give him $10 or so. Once at the resort you only need to carry money to the catamaran (in a beach bag with your camera or just put it in a bathing suit pocket. They don't mind wet money as yes...you do go swimming so take a towel), spa, and beauty salon for tips. There are times that small souvenirs are sold on the resort but no need to carry money all the time for this. If you go for a walk down the beach there are small shops and tables set up along the way to buy little things so be prepared if you want to buy. Your husband will not have to carry his wallet as no ID or credit cards are needed along the beach. Fold up a little money and put it in the small pocket of his suit with your room key. If by chance you find something that costs more than you have just ask them to hold the item. They will be glad to do this and when you come back for it you can pay then. Remember that all things are negotiable on price. The Jamaicans expect it so don't worry about offending anyone when you look for a deal. Carrying a wad of $1 and $5 bills everywhere you go is not necessary. Most things you do require no extra money.

They make all types of water proof plastic pouches with clips that will hook to the inside of hubbies suit! You can also get those waterproof hard plastic cases with a lanyard attached to place around your neck. These come in the size of deck of cards or a tube shape.

Some mens suits do have zippered pockets. We have been known to put money there. If it gets wet no problem, vendors are used to it! It will dry ;-)

Maybe this is going a little overboard, but I had fun doing it. I just got finished using my vacuum sealer to seal a bunch of individual folded small bills in plastic so I can carry them in my bathing suit on the beach and cat cruise. Waterproof tips.

I usually have one of those little "waterproof" plastic cases, that are on a string or whatever, that you can wear around your neck. While I have yet to find one that is actually waterproof, it keeps the money from getting totally soggy, maybe just slightly damp :)

I went on Amazon and got a waterproof lanyard pouch for me/my boyfriend to use while we're in the pool, in the ocean or on the cat cruise. It's small enough that it will just fit our room key and some money if needed.

Wet money spends as well as dry. Some men's suits also have a sealed dry bag in the back pocket (at least a couple of my Speedo Trunks do).

Thanks for the awesome ideas everyone! Guess I'm so overly excited about our trip that I didn't think of some of the obvious ways to carry money once we are there. The more I read about CSA on this site, the more I am thinking that 1 week will not be long enough! There is SO MUCH I want to see and do while we are there ~ I can not wait! 189 days 7 hours 56 min. and 40 seconds!! :D

Looking forward to being Swept Away in October ~

~Deb & Rick~