www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi All,

Newbie here. Site is great. Very resourceful and muy informative.

I searched for credit AND cards but there is such a wealth of info to wade through that I couldn't find anything.

So what is the status of using CC in MPs and clubs?

What is commonly accepted? (Amex,Discover, Mastercard, VISA)

What is the upcharge?

Where can you use? Obviously not pick up places like DR.....but Pantera, HLH, SL?

Thanks for any input. I just find it easier to carry these around rather than cash.

Cheers,
OS

So how are you going to pay the chicas with, Amex? Just carry a little more and use it around. I normally take all my cash, lock in the safe and avoid using the CC’s. I only paid my hotel with Visa. But if you most, I rather use the CC’s at HDR than the smaller MP’s. It is just a matter of risk avoidance. My $.02.

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Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

Well....i was thinking that at places like Del Ray where I would take the chica out of the place for a while, I'd indeed need the cash for that (Right?) but for places where it happens on site (HLH), what do they accept and is it okay?

I understand the concerns about giving out a cc....as anyone can take the number if they see it. But it seems like with the amount of volume this board brings to them and all, it would be bad mojo to do so. I don't plan on hitting up the smaller places without cash. I will be on a short trip and won't wander too far off the beaten path. I actually plan on staying for 3-4 days in the area around Del Ray except for maybe a day or two Volcano climbing and exploring the city.

Cash is King in CR for the reason that it's less traceable for CR tax reasons. CC's are accepted nearly everywhere but you are more liable to get a discount for cash (and this includes some Sponsors). Word to the wise on this.

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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

I know there re exceptions to everything and I am sure that this statement "never never never ever run a tab or use a credit card to pay a bar/strip club charge in Costa Rica" will generate some posts about what some consider acceptable exceptions.

Rips off are legendary when you run a tab and there are many many instances of "card cloning" reported. Additionally there have been reports of charges, from Costa Rica, appearing on your credit card statement six to twelve months after your trip.

Should you lose or have your card stolen thousand of dollars of charges will be on your card before you can notify your bank.

Use the card to pay your hotel bill, pay tour companies for any tours you may book, rent a car they will require a CC but other then that lock it in the safe deposit box in your room during your trip.

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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

Credit Cards should ONLY be used to pay your hotel, car and tours (although most places charge a convenience fee for using your CC), and possibly dinner if you go out to a fancier restaurant.

NEVER and I mean NEVER use one in a strip club. TRUST ME.

I thought I had used mine CORRECTLY by not giving my credit card or even saying I was going to give my credit card until the END at a strip club years ago. I checked the bill, it was correct when they brought it to me. I paid with the credit card (although I knew something was fishy because they interrupted me with my chica to make me pay, while my friends were with their chicas too) and asked for my ID also. I obliged.

I get home to find out they had taken my signature and copied it onto another receipt for $800 or so, and they had a copy of my ID so my CC company said I had to pay it.

Don't use it at a club EVER. Its not worth it.

right on. Thanks for the input.

I will def heed that advice.

Just an FYI:
If you bring travelers checks with you, instead of CCs, you will have problems. Cash some of them at the bank when you arrive. If memory serves there are couple of banks at the airport.

The charges for accepting them and the time it takes for the business to get their money has many businesses refusing them. I experienced this at many places on my first few trips.

As was said cash is king in CR but CCs are ok.

Most ATM cards are also credit cards but the monies are usually withdrawn from you account so you may wind up leaving yourself short if your not careful.

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Patriot: Ice Road Trucking through the Bearing Sea to recovery

Like a lot of people have already forewarned, best idea for your credit card is leaving it in the safe. I only use it in CR to pay my hotel bill on the way out.

A buddy of mine got ripped off at Atlantis pretty hard one trip, so that taught us to never use it at any strip clubs or anything. I think I may have used it at a few nice sit down restaurants on my earlier trips, but I wasnt too thrilled. One place charged it as a cash advance ,and all of them had the 3% international transaction fee added in.

I once used a credit card to pay my hotel bill at the Morazon. It was entered as "Morazon hotel y casino, and though it said for room charges, the damn CC bank charged it as a cash advance because of "CASINO" in the name, charged me a hugh international cash advance fee, and a much higher interest rate. Even after I pointed out to them that it was not a cash advance and sent them a copy of the bill, they refused to drop the charge nor lower the interest rate. They lost a customer . Many places here will not except a CC without you presenting your passport and will not except a copy (remember you should never carry your passport, just a copy). Over the years, I have learned to NEVER use a CC here for anything; much easier to just use cash and avoid the international fees and the local ripoffs. The only card I use here is a debit card to get money from the ATM.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Irish Drifter hit it on the head (is absolutely correct).
If you do not protect your credit, nobody will.

Ace

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

You are so right about this one. I used my credit card several years ago to pay for my room at the Clarion A.K.A. Amon Plaza and nixon has to take payment at the casino. Oh boy was I in for a surprise the next month when I got my credit card statement. Cash advance fee of 3% plus 24.9 percent interest rate on the cash advance, plus a international cash advance fee of 5%. NEVER again will I use my credit card in CR. Just take cash with you and hide it at the airport somewhere on your body till you can put it in your safe at the hotel. Funny thing happen on one of my trips as I went thru the new scanner in Miami I got stopped and had to explain why I had a money belt under my pants. Just for safety I explained. And don't take any 100's only 20's and 50's. Most places won't take any 100's because of the rash of fake 100's going around the past few years.

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"You can only keep a secret between two people if the other one is dead." Ben Franklin

Lionking

What you said about $100s also applies to $50s; many places will not take either one. Best to just bring everything in $20s even though it is a much bigger roll of money.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

I think it's best to just join the CR sucks club. I glad I won't be back there this year.

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"You can only keep a secret between two people if the other one is dead." Ben Franklin

LK
That was a very helpful post
If you do not care for Costa Rica any longer.....Why
I respect you as a long time member
What is so bad?????
I use my CC in CR all the time for hotels transation fee Yes
I also get my cash from an ATM fee as well
I use the same ATM every time to keep things strait
I take about 300 from the atm at a time makes the fees less
I do have a reserve of us money 150 that I use for getting back home or for an emergency
I just do not like bringing 3000 bucks in cash to CR done that been there and I just did not like having that much cash to be lost