Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Jamaicaor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Don’t rely on Amex in Jamaica. It worked for my resort booking but not in local restaurants, taxis, or ATMs. Visa worked everywhere, and Mastercard was widely accepted too. Meals cost $10-20, and my daily spend was around $85. Amex is fine for big hotels but not practical for normal use. Bring Visa for a smoother trip.
In Kingston, my Amex didn’t work in supermarkets or at ATMs. Resorts and some upscale restaurants accepted it, but most locals wanted Visa or Mastercard. Meals were $8-12 USD in casual places, and I budgeted $70-90 daily. Visa worked flawlessly everywhere, even for tours. Amex is too limited here, so bring a backup.
Amex is really limited in Jamaica. Hotels sometimes accept it, but most local shops in Ocho Rios or Negril said no. ATMs also refused it. I carried a Visa debit card and had no problems withdrawing cash or paying in restaurants. Meals averaged $12-15, taxis $10-20, so I spent about $80 daily. Amex was frustrating to use outside resorts. Visa is the safest option for Jamaica travel.
I used my Amex in Jamaica at a resort in Montego Bay without issue, but outside of that, smaller restaurants and shops didn’t take it. ATMs from Scotiabank and NCB also didn’t accept Amex. Visa worked everywhere, from grocery stores to tour operators. Meals cost $10-20 USD, and daily budgets averaged $70-100 depending on activities like Dunn’s River Falls. Amex is fine for resorts, but Visa or Mastercard is needed for everyday spending in Jamaica.