www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It just occured to me....if I hook up with a chick from BM or similar and assume I negotiate (example only) $100 for an evening...should I pay in U.S. Dollars or should I negotiate and pay in Colones (I guess about 45,000 at current exchange rate) or does it even make any difference? Thx.

THEY prefer dollars. But, they will take what you give them. Just make sure if you deal in colones that you keep your math straight.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

Colones or dollars are accepted in the "gulch". If you use dollars you may lose a few colones on the exchange rate but unless you are use to dealing in colones it is very easy to make a conversion error. The biggest mistake a lot of tourist make is getting confused and equating a 1000 colones note with a $1.00 bill in their mind. They forget the real value is $2.20. Think until you get use to doing the math to convert dollars to colones better to stick to dollars.

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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

Always use colones while in Costa Rica. You will save mucho dollars. SEAHAWK

Best is to negotiate in Colones and then when you pay you ask if they want it in dollars. I know several columbians who have told me they prefer dollars because of the exchange rates.

Allow me to share my experience in terms of what the chicas prefer..colones or dollars.

In general you should negotiate and pay everything in Colones. After all you are in Costa Rica and not the US.

If you are dealing with a Tica (Costa Rican female)..she would most likely want money in Colones since it would save her time and money to exchange the money(possibly not getting a good exchange rate, especially from the Delrey).

If you are dealing with a non-Tica, especially Colombianas, they would most likely want Dollars. I think for them..sending money back to Colombia in US dollars get better exchange rate than sending Colones. At other times they will accept Colones since they also have to pay rent, buy food and drink...all in Colones.

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Live today as it was your last day, for tomorrow may never come.

Another topic about money?
I agree and believe I have a slight advantage negotiating and get better deals with colones...

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I think you are able to get better deals with the local currency......

Most of the girls were willing to accept it and if you know what your doing (or carry a cheat sheet) you can save a few bucks

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" I have neither the time nor the inclination to expain myself "

I concur that you get a better deal on most everything to pay in Colones.I think it shows you respect the fact that that is their currency.We as Americans often travel out of country and expect every one to accept our currency and we shouldn't .If you really get into the local scene everything is paid in colones in local stores and around the country.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

I think this more accurately sums it up. My Dominicana much prefers the dollars. Anytime currency exchanges are made someone makes a little money and someone loses a little money. I have even had Ticas tell me they prefer the dollars. If they are able to save those dollars that could be a lucrative business. And, yes, if you deal in colones all the time you can save a few dollars.
I realize this is off the topic a bit but, recently the US dollar has been tanking in the currency market. Are the colones somehow tied to the dollar or is it free floating? I should know because this is kinda my business. But, I'm not sure. If anyone knows, that would be interesting info.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

My observation since my first mongering trip thuis past Febuary is the colone has steadly risen from around 425 to the dollar to around 460 to the dollar now.The dollar has fallen some with respect to stable world currencys over that time I think though I don't really follow world currency rates.The rise has been quite steady with respect to the dollar over the time period.I am guessing it is closely tied to the dollar but longer term visitors may have a better handle on this.rbc100

_________________
In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

Colones are devalued DAILY. When I first came here in 1992 the rate was 137 to the dollar. The daily devaluation is a planned move to avoid a situation like what occurred in Argentina. Am not a student of International finance but believe that the colones are tied to the USD.

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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

O.K.---So lets assume that the current exchange rate is 450 to 1 USD. The prevailing thought seems to be that "you will save more by negotiating in Colones..". Therefore, if there's a chick at KL or BM that I feel is worth $100 for the whole night, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to "save" money here. At 450 to 1 USD that's 45,000 Colones. If I negotiate for that same level of service (all night) in colones should I expect to negotiate and settle for something less than 45,000 Colones?

Piroca,

In my limited experience in CR.........You should be able to negociate below 45k-c ......mabye even below 40k-c. for all night

Mabye only enough for a few beers but savings is savings .

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" I have neither the time nor the inclination to expain myself "

It's doubtful you'll get an all-nighter for less than 100.00 but anything can happen in CR.
You will do better with the local currency(not with just chicas but everything) and also appear like you know what's going on if you deal in colones.

Ok Piroca, after 6 weeks of asking questions we're glad to see you're heading down tonight to put all this info to use! -in exchange we will be expecting frequent updates of your escapades and a detailed trip report

Print out a cheat-sheet to take with you- http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet

Read KingCostas Interview tips-
https://costaricaticas.com/phpbb2/vi ... php?t=2318

https://costaricaticas.com/phpbb2/vi ... php?t=2329

https://costaricaticas.com/phpbb2/vi ... php?t=2465

The LAL guys will consider most of this a waste of time, but here it is anyway.
Now you must understand there are many variables at play at the BM- a few you have control over which you can work to your advantage.

It's a seasonal/daily market of supply & demand.
We all have different tastes in chicas, some are obviously cheaper than others, although they all usually ask for 100.00, or more.
Are YOU a desirable "date"? (Not sloppy drunk, took a shower lately, dressed decent, etc...)
How well is your spanish?
Is she interesting enough to buy a drink for, can you make her laugh...
The time of day, pro or semi-pro, and on and on...

Your ability to get a "deal" and have a great experience depends on you and what your after- you want the hot-pro Colombianas? Good luck- don't expect them to come off 100 or take their time in your room. Dollars, colones, it makes no difference to them.
Everyone develops their own strategy eventually, I hunt for the hot semi-pros and usually always get chicas at the BM for 20k-35k/hr, sometimes 2+ hrs. 30k is my average evening price. And I don't just negotiate the price, depending on the chica and her attitude I may want more than an hour. Now, about one advantage of using colones: I always counter their 100.00 (in espanol) with colones, if they look up and away after my counter offer I know the wheels are spinning as they try to convert in their head how much 25 or 30k is in dollars. One Panamanian even asked me "How much is 30k in dollars?" I knew I had her...
Forget it with the hardened pros- I think they check the exchange rate daily. There's one hot Colombiana- Adrianna (VB's 27 minute over/under girl) that I like to mess with- I walk up and say "Trienta mil, Vamos!" she never cracked a smile & replied "45k" which was OVER 100.00 at that time, that puta trying to use my strategy in reverse.
I usually start at 25k with 30k my target, if she's really hot I'lll go 35k but no more, adios, and I'll find another. If you get a hottie you really want that sticks to her price, insist on more that 1 hour. Also if they jump on 25 or 30k I always hit them with "dos horas?" and am surprised at how many say "si."

Now get your ass down there and negotiate, have fun, don't drink too much, be a gentleman, pass on your knowledge to the newbies, tip the chicas if they deserve it and we'll be looking for you in the Trip Report section.

PS,
(as KingCosta once told me)
Screw 5 for me! :twisted:

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY