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Dollar Euro Restaurants
#245721
01/24/2021 04:50 PM
01/24/2021 04:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 23 Ilinois - USA
ChivalrousJr
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 23
Ilinois - USA
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Hello everyone!
We are getting slowly closer to our departure date - trying to not get too excited in fear that the universe will put a wrench in the plans (the COVID testing stress is not helping, but I digress...)
I attempted to search the forums for an answer, but my search resulted in over 400 hits. The ones I quickly scanned did hint at my answer, but were either not timely or not very specific.
If you have recently been to Orient Village, Marigot, Grand Case or Cul de Sac and dined out; this question is for you, please.
In prior years, the majority of restaurants would accept US Dollars for Euros (cash) at a one-to-one exchange when paying with cash (US Dollars.) Depending on the exchange rate, this is an approximate 20% discount when paying with cash (in US Dollars.) Is this practice still being observed? If yes, is it in the majority of restaurants or a select few?
While I typically use my credit card when travelling (no fee, foreign currency transactions,) I would gladly bring along more cash to use for dinning out in order to enjoy the built in discount for cash.
As always, your insights and responses are appreciated.
Warmly, S&M (yep, our initials.)
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: ChivalrousJr]
#245751
01/25/2021 08:59 AM
01/25/2021 08:59 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
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As mentioned most businesses have the CASH rate posted and 99% of the time it's better than the euro and CC rate but it's for cash. Not restaurants but the Super U is $1.15/euro and the Cadisco fuel station in Orient is still a marvelous $1/1 euro which is a BIG advantage for USD cash. I saw a $1.10 rate but forgot where To get the best credit card rates the charge has to be billed in euro and let the bank convert. If billed in dollars the establishment will convert and bill the card....and neither beat cash if there is a cash discount posted Well worth a visit to an ATM to get dollars....and your bank will convert. Just make sure you have a bank that reimburses for ATM fees. I used on in SImpson Bay (Winward) that charged a $7.50 fee per transaction
Last edited by boucharda; 01/25/2021 09:02 AM.
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: Trinigerl]
#245761
01/25/2021 10:25 AM
01/25/2021 10:25 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,729 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,729
Central Florida!
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Chivalrous--I disagree with your statement that "In prior years, the majority of restaurants would accept US Dollars for Euros (cash) at a one-to-one exchange when paying with cash (US Dollars.)" My impression in the past was just the opposite--that very few restaurants were giving 1 to 1. We have not been to SXM recently, unfortunately. Based on the responses here, it seems like it is still the case, that very few places are actually giving 1 to 1..
Carol Hill
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: Trinigerl]
#245788
01/25/2021 03:15 PM
01/25/2021 03:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
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We were there Dec 23- Jan 5 the lolo's in Grand Case were 1.1, Tropicana and Rainbow Beach were 1.15 -1. Pinel were 1.25-1 and so to were Sun Beach in Orient. The CC rate is ~ 1.22 -1 Correct and oops on my part. We had lunch at Talk of the Town a few times the last two weeks and it was always 1:1....
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: ChivalrousJr]
#245825
01/26/2021 08:42 AM
01/26/2021 08:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,011 Westchester /NYC
Colour1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,011
Westchester /NYC
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We found that depending on the dollar to Euro exchange, it was better to pick up some Euro's at the ATM at the airport!!
Sand Gravity, got to love it!
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: Colour1]
#245845
01/26/2021 01:16 PM
01/26/2021 01:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
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No clue why you would get euro from an ATM at the airport (or anywhere) since 1) the rate of exchange is determined by YOUR bank so it is a wash where you get cash. The ATM bank is just dispensing the euro and 2) with USD there are many places that discount for cash transactions in USD. If you are REQUIRED to pay for a service in euro then that is a different situation
The only ATM difference would be the charge by the ATM bank for the use of their service ($3-$7.50) and there are a lot of cards that reimburse that fee anyway
CC charges should always be in the currency of the country you are in (euro) so, again, it will be YOUR back doing the conversion and not the merchant
Last edited by boucharda; 01/26/2021 01:17 PM.
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: boucharda]
#245849
01/26/2021 01:52 PM
01/26/2021 01:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646
Brookfield, CT.
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[quote= The only ATM difference would be the charge by the ATM bank for the use of their service ($3-$7.50) and there are a lot of cards that reimburse that fee anyway
CC charges should always be in the currency of the country you are in (euro) so, again, it will be YOUR back doing the conversion and not the merchant[/quote]
I wondered about that, too. When we go to Anse Marcel or any of the French locations, we generally use our credit cards and ask to be billed in the Euro and the charges always seem to work to our favor as opposed to accepting the Island day rates used by so many places.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Dollar Euro Restaurants
[Re: boucharda]
#245859
01/26/2021 05:00 PM
01/26/2021 05:00 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 539 Sugar Land, Tx
IslandBoi
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 539
Sugar Land, Tx
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I think that is a fixed currency related to the dollar as opposed to other currencies. yep, that was my assumption
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