www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am arriving on a Saturday afternoon to our beloved CR. Problem being that unlike previous trips, my usual banks will be closed.Where would the bretheren recommend to go to get some colones?Have heard the casinos exchange.Which has the best rate?Thanks for the help.

Colonial Casino always does well for me.

A bunch of guys can help you with this, but I doubt I'm one of them.

I bring all cash down with me when I go to CR because I don't want any electronic trail to CR. Which is to say it would suck getting robbed from the airport to SL which is highly unlikely.

I keep my cash in the safe and maybe exchange a hundo a day at the SL. The SL might not have the #1 rate, but I don't think your getting screwed to a degree of any relevance.

We all do things differently, and this is how I've always handled my money in CR.

Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

BAC-San Jose bank, on the departure level next to the exit ta stamp counter at the north side of the terminal, will most likely be open on Saturday afternoon.

If you wait until you get to town the Colonial Casino as recommended by Zebra usually has a good rate. DO NOT USE THE CASINO CASHIER AT THE HDR their rate sucks.

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

He could "dress up" and go to "The Park" and, perhaps, get some....don't let those guys pay you in $$$ request you get C. hahahahahahaha

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Agree Jan. 17-23rd they were exchanging at a rate of 550:1 US

What's the SL exchanging at nowadays? Last time I was there in October it was 550-1.

Does SL only exchange for thier guests?Or anybody? Last exchange rate I saw was 575 to the dollar. Pura Vida!

That rate is the bank sell rate and even that is higher then quoted locally. Sounds like some currency exchange place or U.S. Bank. The sell rate of 575 means you must give them 575 colones for each dollar you buy. In CR the spread between sell/buy at the banks is about 10 to 12 colones.

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

The official current rate of exchange (acacording to Banco Nacional) is 556/566. You get ¢556 per dollar sold, and you have to pay ¢566 to buy a dollar. http://www.bncr.fi.cr/BN/index.asp?c=home

With that said, the rate at the SL is probably 530-535. The last time I was in CR, December, the rate at the SL was about ¢20-25 below the official bank rate. In the past, they would only be about ¢10-15 below the official rate, but it seems like now it is higher judging from my last trip.

yesterday I exchanged my usa bankroll for colones at the bank across the street from the Morazan hotel, Bank of CR I think. They have a window there just for currency transactions. Gave me a rate of 567.5c to 1usd, the whole transaction took about 3 minutes of my time. Much better rate than the 540 to 1 my hotel was offering.

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

In October last year I got 535c/Dollar at the SL. I was not a guest there and you just have to go to the front reception desk.

I also think that if you are a guest at the SL and charge food and drinks to your room they use 550c/Dollar.

Also if you are not a guest but eat or drink at the bar you get the better rate of 550c/dollar from the bartender.

So go to the SL bar have drinks and pay in dollars and you will get change back in colones at a rate of 550c/dollar.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Seems like a lot of trouble to get colones. Even if you gave her a fifty by the time you subtract the cost of drinks how much are you really exchanging? Just go to a bank or the Colonial casino cashier and get a good rate with out the hassle.

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

Brother ID--Your point is well made especially for guys in residence in CR. However for us turistas and who are most likely going to be in the Gulch anyway, it's not too great a burden to go to SL for, say, Happy Hour or to dip into the Chica pool, and change some money at the same time. The more info, the more sources available, the happier we'll be.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

If you are in the gulch as you say chances are you will making a stop or two at the HDR. So how much more convenient is happy hour at the SL as opposed to walking 100 feet to the the Colonial where you do not have to buy a couple of drinks to get colones for your dollars?

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