Bringing $$ to St Barts

[Jackjudd7]

We are heading next month and I am sure most our puchases will be with our visa, AMEX etc. Is it wise to have american dollars exhanged for Euros before we arrive? Thanks

Do you need to have a lot of cash? We are getting a rental car so wont need cabs but I assume cash is nice for tipping.

 

[JEK]

I usually have a few leftover from the last trip and then get more €s from the ATM when I need them. Use them primarly for tipping and small purchases.

 

[Jackjudd7]

thank you

 

[andynap]

The answer is DO NOT exchange dollars before you leave. I don't know of any restaurants that take Amex- don't know about shopping tho. All take Visa. The car agencies take Amex.

 

[JEK]

I find more and more shops/restos taking AmEx with the CHIP. No transaction fees either. Of course all the hotel restaurants will take any Amex.

 

[andynap]

How many people have CHIP except Canadians and the Europeans??

 

[JEK]

Anyone with a US AmEx Platinium or Centurion card can have one. CHIP and sign, but it worked for me all over the shops and restaurants.

 

[JEK]

It will not work for gas after hours, as it has no PIN.

 

[andynap]

I don't include you in lots of people

 

[JEK]

I think many people have a Platinium card. Also I believe Well Fargo and Bank of America have C & P cards. Diners as we know from Kevin and a few more.

 

[andynap]

I said people not who issues the cards.

 

[KevinS]

I don't bring a large amount of $$$ to SBH for day-to-day needs. I also don't buy €€€ from my bank in the US. Most US banks will give you a terrible exchange rate. The foreign currency booths at airports aren't much better.

What I do is to get €€€ from the ATM in SBH, and pay for most meals and shopping in cash. (Be sure that you know what fees your bank will charge you for using a foreign ATM - Mine is 1% to Visa, and $5 per transaction to my bank.)

If you're planning on using the ATM then be sure that you know your PIN code as a number, as there will be no letters on the keys. For example, if you know your PIN as FRED, you'll have to remember that it is 3733 on an ATM in SBH.

I use Amex or my Diners C+P card in hotel restaurants. In many places Amex is either not accepted, or is accepted at an artificially high exchange rate. Rule of thumb - If the merchant wants to convert an Amex sale to $ instead of charging you in € then you should consider switching to Visa and paying in € - Ask if the charge will be in Euros.

 

[JEK]

Lots of discussion recently about posters using a variety of C & P cards on the island.

 

[JEK]

In many places Amex is either not accepted, or is accepted at an artificially high exchange rate. Rule of thumb - If you the merchant wants to convert an Amex sale to $ instead of charging you in € then you should consider switching to Visa and paying in €.

My experience this last trip was that the AmEx with the PIN was accepted in the handheld machine (i.e. no coversions) and without fees and a market rate. Seems the CHIP makes some sort of a difference. This was at a couple of shops and a couple of restos.

 

[Jackjudd7]

I appreciate all the helpful tips. I think Ill just stick with my visa and get out small amounts of cash from the ATM when needed.

 

[MIke R]

I bring very little cash..I bring my leftover euros from the last trip and hit the ATM when I need scratch and use my Visa for all else...


as to the notion that "I think many people have a Platinium card"...really???...not in my world..and Amex Platinum card sales make up less than 5% of overall sales in all three of my shops....and this particular demographic pays 400/500 bucks a day for a family of four to ski, and then they pay 5 bucks for a slice of pizza, and are often seen in St Barts shirts and hats, ....so it surely is them who would have the card

 

[andynap]

I appreciate all the helpful tips. I think Ill just stick with my visa and get out small amounts of cash from the ATM when needed.

Good idea. Remember for restaurants there is no line on the credit card slip for tips if you wish to leave one so I leave euros.

 

[JEK]

I bring very little cash..I bring my leftover euros from the last trip and hit the ATM when I need scratch and use my Visa for all else...


as to the notion that "I think many people have a Platinium card"...really???...not in my world..and Amex Platinum card sales make up less than 5% of overall sales in all three of my shops....and this particular demographic pays 400/500 bucks a day for a family of four to ski, and then they pay 5 bucks for a slice of pizza, and are often seen in St Barts shirts and hats, ....so it surely is them who would have the card

Yeah, I'd use my Master Card at your shop too. I save the AmEx for travel -- that's were the real benefits lie.

 

[MIke R]

yeah I get that

I would still question that Amex Platinum is commonly held by many....

 

[Pkulick]

My last trip I used American dollars for tipping. Was that wrong? I should have tipped in Euros instead? Just a precursor to my trip this June 1.