www.CostaRicaTicas.com

There has been a surge of counterfeit traveler's checks popping up in the U.S here of late. No doubt, they will soon be scrutinized in CR much like the one hundred dollars bill beginning with "CB" in the serial number are now.

In Europe I had no problem with Travelers checks. IMHO they aren't worth the trouble in Central or South America.

Must have been awhile since you were there. Banex was bought out by HSBC and all the branches converted. Do you know if the policy at HSBC is the same?

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Also with travelers checks or any other thing you sign. Your signature needs to exactly match your passport siganture. They are very picky here about signatures. I never sign my middle name and have trouble matching my passport signature. It has been a real issue several times.

BKTUNA
I am never going home

There not that bad to cash in San Jose if you know where to go... Hit the bank on the second floor of the INS (up from Del Rey) building and make sure you have a Passport when you go and they will cash any amount. I also cashed them is the Horseshoe casino with out any hassle.

I agree on all counts, except...

Antartica DOES have a permanent human population!

Stupid freakin' researchers!

Never used them, but they seem to be a pain in the balls, bring cash. I've seen signs in a few places that state they do not accept traveller's checks.

Funny this came up again on the very day that I tried cashing them at a bank for the first time. I had only brought some Travelers Checks because I thought I was booked in the nice part of Scotland Apts. and I knew they accepted them, plus years ago I always cashed them at the Presidente no hassle. Long story short I show up Tuesday mid-day After Confirming The Previous Day and the phuckers don’t have apt for me and I have a ton a luggage and a Significant Other in a van for the winter. Never Again - Phuck Scotland Apts.

Well I ended up in Santa Ana which I love, another story and paid cash (at their suggestion and good discount) for a week at this sweet mid-priced aparthotel. After a couple nights I decide I’m gonna hang here for awhile. Didn’t actually have to but I went to the BCR today to cash $500 of TC, I had an a little over an hour before an appointment, plenty of time right - Not. The Line was not too bad at the bank only about ten minutes. When it was my turn the guy says sure we will charge you $7.50, OK I says do it and slide em under the glass and get out my passport. Then he proceeds to look them over a good ten minutes, puts Each cheque under his light multiple times and says ‘momento’ and disappears for long enough that I thought I might have to blow off 5 C-notes to keep my appointment - at least I still had my passport. The guy comes back and asks for that, and I say ‘if this is too much trouble‘… Then I see the checks were marked on the front with some kinda initials, phuck I gotta go through with this. So I push in passport and He Dissapears Again!

Comes back with some kinda receipt and hundred dollar bills and I think now I’m ‘bout done. He passes TC out to me and tells me just sign on the line where Their Name should go. Well I know damn well I probably should have just kept the phuck shut but told him how I knew to sign. He asks the girl next to him and she musta not known so - Yep off he goes again. “Si signor esta correcto so I sign the front bottom line and again on the back with passport number, thank God they were hundreds. I never did date ‘em hahaha. OK here we go he meticulously counts out 5 hundred dollar bills, then takes one of them out and meticulously counts and re-counts, then re-counts again the change so they get their $7.50. Passes out $492 no quarters and asks “algo mas senor?” Gracias a Dios No and Just made my appointment. Luckly all this took place a five minute walk from my apartment which did I mention I love Santa Ana.

Moral of this story: Never Again. I was not desperate for the cash (gawd forbid if I was) but I decided to stay on in this great place and they offered a substantial discount and no tax if I paid cash, so I will come out well ahead. But they don’t accept the damn Travelers Cheques hahaha.

Never Again will I leave home With them like the other guy said it is an antiquated system. But it is great to be in CR. They were de-icing the plane when I left Seattle LOL.

Pura Vida - This Is the Muy Tico Section, right?