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The old exchange rate was about 500/1. Now its about 540/1.

So for those of you who have been there recently, do the girls still use the old rate? If they are expecting $70, will they take 35000 colones? Or will they demand 37,800 colones?

Safest way is to negociate in colonies. Most girls still use 500 to 1, but on occasion if you offer $60 and hand her 30,000 she will say "thats not $60". And if she asks for 10 extra, for that "Special something" make sure she is talking dollars.

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My English teacher said "I before E except after C". Then she told me to go to science class!

On my July trip to Jaco, staying at the Vista Mar, one girl from the CoCal told me that the 30,000 colones was not the $60 we negotiated on because the exchange rate was c540:$1 so I owed her another c2400! She was obviously somewhat good at math & well versed on the 'tipo de cambio'!!
First time in 9 trips to the CR this has happened to me, but I must say, I've been expecting it. I gave it up without hesitation because -1) she was right, -2) it was a very good session &-3) she had a great attitude!!

I try to nego in colones, but last night one of my HDR chicas insisted on US dollar quotes and payment. She told me flat out that many guys cheat the girls because the girls do not understand the exchange rate. That was her opinion ... I am merely airing it, not agreeing with it.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

There was one girl who is a steady who visited me on the last morning I was there. We always do $60.00. When I paid her with 3 - 20's, she asked if I had 30k colones......sure.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

I negotiate in colonnes using the ballpark 500-to-1 conversion rate, which means that I end up with a slightly more favorable rate. Most girls are fine with it, it saves them a trip to the bank or the casino to change it (some are skittish about people asking where they got dollars).

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Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion.

Some great info to know before I venture over to CR for my first visit. Thanks.

I somewhat agree with this chica. But instead of "cheating", I would use the word "deceiving". 95% of the chicas are either not smart enough to know or don't care enough to do anything about it being shorted. When you negotiate in dollars and then pay in colones, you ARE shorting the chica out of a few bucks. The chica believes that she's getting $80 (for example), but if she's getting 40K, then it's only $75 at today's buy rate (533).

I'm not saying it's a lot, but I'd bet that if the rate went to 450, and a chica insisted on colones, and the agreement was $80, many would not agree to pay 40k. They would say, it should be 36k.

A majority of the guys I talk to down there are divided by what they understand about this topic. CRTers know all about the conversion debate, and all of the ones I spoke to about it admitted to rounding on the 500:1, but EVERY ONE of them said that they tip the chicas to make up any 'shortage'.

The guys I spoke to that weren't CRT members didn't even know there was an issue. Most pay in USD (cien, of course), and the couple that pay in colones claim ("claim") that they do the 500:1 and then add azuls and rojos to make up the difference.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Either way is fine, I don't think the girls give a Phuck, one way or another. I usually pay with colones and use the 500:1 conversion rate. I've never had a girl complain about it. I've never really put much thought into it, so I didn't even realize that I was short changing the girls. I actually thought I was doing them a favor by saving their time changing the money.

Why cause unnecessary drama? Negotiate in the method you plan to pay. Simple!

Sound advice.

I might suggest paying in colones these days based on how strong the dollar is getting down here.
just a thought.....

Pura Vida

EdB

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"You will never run out of good things because there is more than enough to go around. Life is meant to be abundant"
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it's not always the buyers option. I've never had a chica quote me in colones ... always dollars. I typically counter in colones, but some of the 'less than mathematically-gifted' chicas get confused by the switch.

Most of the traffic I see returning from the elevator in HDR carry USD right to the conversion window. They *must* know that cien translates to more than cincuenta mil!! But I suspect that most are only after those 5 bills, and if that is what they receive in the room, then they got what they wanted and are happy.

BUT: some are savvy! Don't disrespect a chica that wants a fair conversion rate.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

I am curios. At what conversion rate (if any) do you consider yourself to be less than ethical.