www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I usually just get cash at the DR when I'm in town, but this time I want to get cash on the way in at the airport. The exchange rate through the ATM is much better for me than going through foreign exchange here.

What I want to know is whther there is a convenient ATM at the airport, and if so is it one with a card slide or one that takes the whole card in? (I try to avoid those in foreign countries)

I don't recall if the machine is a swipe type or not, but there is at least one I have used right in the baggage return area.

_________________
"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Upstairs @ the airport is a bank which changes currency at an excellant rate. Upstairs , not by the luggage pickup.

_________________
its the land of hoodoo , voodoo & all kinds of wierd shit.

In know the one your talking about I stop at it everytime Im in town. I'm almost 99% sure it is the insert type, but I have never had any trouble with it.

I used the bank upstairs on my last trip, and got an excellent rate, do not exchange at the money exchange by baggage claim. take the time to stop off at the bank upstairs

All of the ATMs I've used at the airport (upstairs and downstairs) are the insert type...just like the ladies. Haven't run into any problems with either.

_________________
Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

I'm not totally against the insert type, provided they're tied to a bank I can go into to get my card back when there's a problem. It's murder trying to get someone to service these standalone thingies even in NA, be they either tied to a bank or independent.

having had my card eaten before when abroad I'm a bit paranoid now.

I once had an ATM in front of the INS BUILDING short me by $80. The bank inside the INS BUILDING said they could do nothing about it. Fortunately, my bank in the states reimbursed me immediately.

That experience, plus the concern that the machine might "eat" my card has caused me to not use the ATMs in CR. I always go inside the bank, where a teller can do a manual withdrawal for me using my card.

I know, I know.......many guys here will say to use the machine at the Del Rey [??] or the Colonial [??]. They may be right, I don't doubt them. I just like going inside the bank to do the transaction. Besides.....I get to flirt with the cute Tica tellers. .........Once, I did manage to get a date with one.

Zebra

There is a Scotiabank ATM off to your left as you come down the rumble floored walkway as you leave the gate and gift shop area. It is an insert type....but has never failed to give me a jackpot every trip.

_________________
My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

I withdrew this weekend and I got 514 per dollar after ATM charges. The problem is that I always find 100000 is the max withdrawal.

I have frequently withdrawn more than 100000 colones. That might be something your bank has set as the limit.

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

..open an account in Costa Rica at one of the private banks. Then withdraw at your own pace.

While this is a great idea, it is much easier said than done. Especially for newbies, casual and/or infrequent CR travellers. If you fall in the above category, opening up an account at a local CR bank is NOT a viable option.

Respectfully,
MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

MG is exactly correct on this. Opening an account in a private bank is a nightmare for a non-resident who does not have a CR Corporation. The paperwork demands are burdensome and in some cases expensive to fulfill.

Many accounts also have monthly fees that would make the account economically impracticable for the non frequent visitor.

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

It's true that many ATM's in CR set a limit of 100,000¢ (~$200) on withdrawals. This is probably because they charge you an ATM fee for each withdrawal. If you can't get more than $200 out at a time, you're likely to use it more than once.

Last week I was able to take out $400 from the ATM in the little mini-mall on the right side down the hill from DR as you walk past New York Bar. You can also enter it from Ave Central. Sorry, I don't know the name.