www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have tried to search for this but could not find what I was looking for. If I am bringing quite a bit of cash with me, should I get traveler's cheques or just carry the cash to the hotel and put it in the safe? I will not be walking around with more than $40.00 after I get here but I will have quite a bit of cash with me when I land. Is it a problem to get the cheques cashed? Can I do it anywhere other than a bank? I'm not sure which way to go here. Thanks for the help gentlemen.

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El Gringo

Really would not recommend either option.

Travelers checks are not readily accepted in Costa Rica. You almost are forced to exchange at national banks who are not happy accepting them.

Carrying a large amount of cash, even for the limited time from your home in the U.S. to the hotel in C.R., has inherent risk associated with it.

ATM's are widely available in Costa Rica. I think you would be better served leaving your cash in your account and withdrawing it as needed from an ATM.

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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

People still use travellers checks?! Now there's an 80s term I haven't heard in a while

Your visa/mastercard bank debit cards work in most ATMs in the world.

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heredia porn king

Hey buddy, what hotel are you staying in???

I just bring the cash and put in the safe. But you will carry more than fourty dollars at a time.

I bring all the cash I will need for the trip in a money belt. Once I check in I only carry on me what I will need for the day. Never had a problem.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

Ok fellas. I appreciate the help. See ya next week!

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El Gringo

I always carry travelers checks internationally, as do most veteran travelers.For many reasons.
1)International banks routinely value US dollars not on the face value but on the series and condition of the money.Wrong series of bill,or it got crinkled in your wallet during the flight, that fifty will be exchanged as if it was $45 or less.In some cases the bank will not accept it, at all.This is a regular routine in SEA. Latin America is not quite as bad.But your $50 travelers check is accepted willingly at any major bank anywhere in the developed world.And always worth $50. Even more fun for you guys that insist on cash.The US government sends out directives each week to banks worldwide.Telling them which series is most frequently counterfitted lately, etc. But the series most frequently counterfitted changes with each memo. So you could easily arrive in country with your money in great condition.An acceptable series. But the day before your arrival the good old USA says the series is now the one most frequently counterfitted.So you may find one bank after alot of searching, that will exchange your cash.And it will be greatly devalued.

2) your checks get stolen, they are insured and completely replacable.When in Spain, a guy in the tour group got mugged in Madrid.AMEX replaced his checks in less than 24 hrs.They were delivered to the hotel.

I can't at all imagine why you guys insist on carrying so much cash.
Though because of CR's proximity to the US, they are more liberal about the money than any bank in Europe or SEA.If you brought all cash to LOS you may be very screwed.But in CR you are taking a slight risk.

Traveler Checks are the safest. Always take some to CR. Don't listen to these people that live here year round with bank accounts. SEAHAWK

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DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO

If you like waiting in line for up to an hour at a bank to cash your traveller's checks, go ahead. That's assuming the bank will accept them in the first place. I seriously dount any casino, hotel, or restaurant will exchange them, but I could be wrong. Banks are PAINFULLY slow in CR and you get frisked (by a man ) each time you enter one. Maybe some people like that part.

There is minimal risk to bringing cash. I doubt that you will get mugged between the airport terminal exit and your taxi. As soon as you get up to your room, stick it in the safe and only take out what you'll need each day. You can exchange at any hotel or casino. Don't bother with banks. I don't think waiting 35 minutes in line is worth the $2 I'll save. The hotels will give you less but not much less, maybe 2%. Call it a convenience charge.

The other option is to use your ATM card. There are ATM's all over the city. Del Rey has 2 that work on different systems so it whatever system your bank is on should work. Also, you can withdraw in colones, so no need to exchange. Note that some US banks charge a fee for international withdrawals, as much as $5. I think I remember somebody mentioned BOA (Bank of America) as having high fees. But I don't know for sure.

Orange is exactly correct. Even most private banks will not cash travelers checks unless you have an account with them. That forces you to use government banks which usually are very crowded and entails a long wait.

Another problem is that almost all banks will not change them unless you have your original passport with you. This defeats the purpose of the agreement between governments to allow you to carry a photo copy so as to reduce theft of U.S. passports.

It is not unheard of, in Costa Rica, for bank tellers to communicate with thieves lurking outside of the bank. If you draw a large amount of cash you have increased your risk of becoming a target. Having a lot of cash and an original passport increases that risk.

You can avoid that of course by only exchanging small amounts each time but that means spending a lot of your time waiting in bank lines. I really see very little upside in bringing travelers checks to Costa Rica. Yes they work great in 1st world countries but CR is not a 1st world country.

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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

My bank charges $5 a withdrawal in CR (Bof A).Did not realize that and made 10 withdrawals when I spent most of November in CR. I have never waited more than 15 minutes to cash my travelers checks. At any of the CR banks.I have also yet to find a CR bank that will not accept them.But do as you will.

Bank of America is without a doubt the bank with the most onerous fees. Why anyone uses them mystifies me.

Perhaps you might help out those that prefer travelers checks by posting which private banks you have used in Costa Rica that exchange your travelers checks.

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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

On a side note here, in regards to banking - I had another "Muy Tico" moment this past week.

I walked into one of the Banco Nacional branches down the street from the HDR to cash a check that was drawn on that bank. I usually carry a 4.5" lock blade that I clip on the inside of my jeans pocket. The security guard ran the wand up and down around me, and every time he passed my pocket, it beeped real loud. (Actually, I had completely forgotten that I had a knife on me until I heard the wand go off).

He never asked me to empty my pockets. He simply waved me through, and asked me to please remove my hat while I'm in the bank !!!

God I love Costa Rica !!!!

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

The allowing you to pass after his wand alerted is indeed a muy tico moment.

Having you remove your hat, which all banks in CR do, really makes sense. It makes it much easier to ID someone on the surveillance tape. I think it would make sense to have U.S. banks adopt that policy.

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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