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Where are some of the places to get the best exchange rates in San Jose and the Metropolitan area?



Thanks,
glduke

I want to say any bank in town.

I like the bank inside the INS BUILDING.....enter the building, walk to the right, up the escalator to the 2nd floor, walk 10 yards to the right; glass door with armed guard who will let you in. [Banco National???].

Use your Credit Card as much as possible (hotels..restaurants..rental car and purchases in general). That will likely get you the best exchange rate. For cash I think an ATM will probably be as good as it gets.

I'm with you Cajunman. I really don't think there is THAT big of a difference between the major banks. At least not in terms of exchange rates. How different do they get? Maybe 5 colones per dollar? What is that? Less than a buck per hundred? The typical credit card transaction fees are usually much more than that. If the exchange rate difference is even 10 colones, that is a lot.

Personally, I think the much bigger issues are convenience and any transaction fees, both those on the CR and US end of the transaction, particularly if you use ATM's. Of course, ATM fees can be avoided by going inside the bank and waiting in line, but sometimes those lines are reasonably quick and sometimes they're agonizingly slow (OTOH, sometimes you have to wait a while at the ATM outside too). So a better question might be which banks provide the most EFFICIENT service rather than which ones will give you a few colones more on the dollar. After convenience, the second issue (for me anyway) is transaction fees. Of course, those can also be avoided if you're exchanging US currency for Costa Rican. But how much hard currency do you want to carry down with you? If you want to have the added security of using a credit or debit card (with their password protection and/or loss limits), that typically comes at a price entirely apart from whatever exchange rate you get. So my second "better" question might be which US banks have the lowest TRANSACTION fees on cash advances or foreign withdrawals.

Bring cash with you. The cashiers cage at the Colonial casino will give you an excellent exchange rate & there are no lines to deal with.

But, they will only exchange $100 usd at a time if you're not playing in the casino. It's next door to the delrey so it's very convenient & easy.

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

I always have good luck changing my dollars at the bank located in the departure area of the airport. The lines are never long and the rate is excellent.

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NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

DG

DG, I also really like to take that walk upstairs to the bank booths to exchange some dollars for colones virtually every trip when I first arrive in CR. However, I don't use them on the way OUT of the country. I always spend down my colone supply as much as possible and keep what ever is left over to use on my next trip (in case I come back in on a Sunday or arrive late). Do you know the hours at those booths? They've been open every time I've gone to them (and never more than 1 person ahead of me at the window and usually not even that), but I imagine they must close some time.

Also, that is great for getting that initial supply coming in, but still leaves the question of where to go to exchange money during the rest of your trip. Or do you exchange your entire stash at that one stop?

Prolijo, according to their website they are open from Monday to Monday (?) from 5:00am a 10:00pm

https://www.bac.net/bacsanjose/esp/banc ... apala.html

I agree with Zebra - the bank inside the INS BUILDING. Very safe, clean, great rates - bring copy of your passport.

We'd say "Open every day". Another one in the "Muy tico" file.

Hmmm I don't know if this is still around but there are guys walking around town near the main blvd. in San Jose that exchange dollars to colonies. I know it's common sense to avoid them (not all, some of them give you counterfeit) but just a heads up. I use ATM (the fees blow), when needed. It's always best to take cold hard cash, and exchange it at the bank or hell most places already accept dollars.

i exchange at the DR-not the best rate but its pretty good and very convenient.

Actually the DR is the LAST place I would exchange currency...Not only do they give you a lousy rate, I have heard reports that they will pawn off counterfeit colones to unsuspecting gringos AND putas! AVOID if you can!

The Colonial is my choice...have exchanged up to 200 dollars at a time.

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Very good inforamtion. I arrive Saturday at 9:30PM at the airport. I've heard the rate is not good at the airport. What would be the best plce to exchange Saturday night late and on Sunday? Last year one night I exchanged at the SL. I could not tell you the rate (too much to drink) but I'm sure (?) it was fair. So is there a good/better place to exchange on Sunday?
Thanks
Bobshere