www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I've found that most of the time the best deal comes by paying in the currency in which the price is quoted. If the price is quoted in one currency and you pay in another, you usually don't get the rate you can get from the ATM or the bank, although the difference is often slight. If you pay in the quoted currency, at least you know up front what you're paying. Many hotels in Costa Rica quote in Dollars and I usually pay them in Dollars. I've run into quite a few people and business owners over the years (including Ticos) who want Dollars, not Colones.

Costa Rican banks (at least some of them) will ask you if you want your account set for Dollars or Colones. I keep one of each so that I don't have to worry about giving the bank its "cut" when I swap currencies. It's easy enough to find people in Costa Rica who want both, so I almost never have to exchange. Paying in Colones right now is occasionally a pain because the Dollar is up and a lot of people don't want to give you full value for your Colones. I've been asked for 600 per Dollar recently, to which I say no thanks, I'll get you Dollars.

Thx for info guys.

My bank refunds ATM fees, but you never get the arbitrage rate.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

I have occasionally negotiated in dollars, then realized I only have colones with me... and when I go to pay there is a bit of an issue. If I use the typical 500:1 rate for convenience (and pay in colones) I find the girl is very aware of the difference. Throw in some extra colones and you may well be overpaying.. Advice here to always pay in currency you were quoted or you negotiated is very good advice. Even more so with taxis than girls.

Just work in colones...much better all around.

My wingmen exchanged dollars for colones at the Hotel Taormina the other day receiving an excellent exchange rate of 560-1. There was a $200usd max though.

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"cuz I'm a back-door man" Jim Morrison-1969

La Amistad quotes their room rates in USD. They then add 13 percent tax to the rate in USD.

If you pay with a credit card they will add a 6 percent fee. I believe then they will convert that total amount to colones when they run your card probably at a not too favorable rate. Then your bank will convert that back to USD to bill you. Conversions back and forth always cost you money.

I am not sure if a debit card will have the 6 percent surcharge at LA but there will still be currency conversions to run the card.

At La Amistad, pay in cash in USD.

Looking at the bill right now.

Receipt in dollars, charged in colones. Exchange rate of the conversion is CRC 570 to $1.

Cash ($) conversion is CRC 530 to $1 at the desk.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

deleted duplicate

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

looking at my bill from my last stay

Penthouse Rate= 134$ + tax
4OCT to 11OCT
7 days x 134 = 938$
13% tax = 122$
total = 1060$

i paid it in Cash (dollars) as i usually do...

Pay in Colones... 570CRC to 1$ the bill would be 604200 CRC
604200 CRC/550 (current bank rate) would equal 1098,54$
savings of 38,54$

credit card amount would be 1060$ x 6% = 1123,60$...
1123,60$ x 570CRC =640452 CRC
640452/550 = 1164,45$
savings of 104,54$

much better for me to pay Amistad bill in USD CASH.. saves more money for CIEN sessions..

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

Does hotel still offer CRT discount on weekly rental

Whaaat Hotel
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

911 Driver I believe the discussion was about the bill at La Amistad.

K,
These would be the preferred hotels for CRT discount:

Sportsmen's Lodge

La Amistad

Hotel Castillo, would like to see what they have done with the place.

Stay in any one, you will find good fellas to guide you
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson