www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Taking advice from a long time resident here in CR would be to exchange all of it, but only if you get an exchange rate between 495 and 505 to the USD. The official exchange rate selling Colones today, Jan 9, 2012 was ever slightly below 503 to the USD, buying Colones was just below 494 to the USD.

My biggest piece of advice would be to investigate your ATM's fees and policies. If possible and cost effective based upon fees, simply withdraw money from any Banco Nacional or Banco Costa Rica (BCR) atm for the best possible exchange rate. Exchanging cash you bring with you at the airport is possible and easy to do, especially if you go to the departure terminal. But using an ATM only takes a few seconds and are plentiful in the gulch. If you use a BAC San Jose, Banco Popular, Citi Bank, HSBC, or Scotia Bank ATM the only difference is these are private banks and the exchage rate will be a few pennies or Colones different than the national banks previously mentioned.

I would also understand if you bring USD with you to avoid any prying eyes from seeing transaction history of bank statements, but given that we do not know each other I am not aware of your personal situation at home.

Paying at any restaurante, store, coffee shop, liquor store, etc. in USD will leave you at the mercy of that particular outlets posted exchange rate, and most will not be at the official exchange rate and I have seen many (especially at the gas stations in the area I live) that are aweful at best... yesterday was 555 to the USD at a gas station and I only had $100 bills which they would not accept even though my gas was about $95 at their exchange rate posted on the pump. I only had the $100 bills because of winning a poker tournament the previous night and being paid in USD. I will always try to only carry colones on me to avoid exchange rate issues like this.

Whether to exchange or not really depends on the exchange rate. Most of the ladies will basically give a 500 C exchange rate as the math is easy. Businesses usually less.

I found a good place to exchange dollars for colones was in the airport DEPARTUREs terminal. At the far end there is a bank kiosk (I think it is Banco de Costa Rica). They will give you the current exchange rate with no fees. And while you are there you can buy your departure tax ticket right next door.

Be advised that the departures terminal is across the street from the terminal where you arrive. Exit the arrivals terminal, cross the street, go up the stairs, enter and turn right. Walk all the way to the end and there it is.

After you get your cash and walk outside, check to see if any cabs are dropping folks off. You can usually make a very good deal with them for a ride into the city as they aren't supposed to pick up fares at the airport and they usually have to drive back downtown empty.

phew! Good thing I read this thread. I had no idea you had to buy an exit visa AFTER arriving. I'm not yet a seasoned traveler. Would have been embarrassing at the departure terminal with 10 minutes left to catch a flight.
So:
use usd for hotel?
use colones for local travel, shops, food?
indies might go either way, but may carry a pocket calculator (and possibly an accountant) with em?
but ... what about MPs, clubs, etc? Do they prefer one or the other?

Good questions for a new guy. Buy a membership to CRT while you are at the beginning of your future numerous voyages to CR to take full advantage of the discounts.

Here's a link to a very good, thorough primer post by Orange that has great info for new guys and answers your questions. Some parts are a little dated but still not misinforming.

I always buy my exit tax while I am still in town. One less thing to do at the airport when you are stressed and loaded down. Don't wait until the last minute to do it at one of the hotels that offer the service for a few bucks, occasionally they are out of the forms. Available at Sportsmen's Lodge, Holiday Inn Aurola, InterContinental, Dunn Inn, probably others. Bank of CR offers the service at no charge but then there's the waiting in line issue at times.

https://costaricaticas.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16357

Take note that because of Homeland Security regulations any flight originating outside the U.S. must transmit a complete list of passengers on the flight to TSA. To comply with this requirement most carriers will not allow anyone to check in for a flight less then one hour before departure.

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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

Yup, I found that out the hard way. I tried to check in 55 minutes before my flight and was told I missed the flight. I was told I would have to come back the next day and try to catch the next flight on standby. I was so pissed but after some contemplation I decided to purchase another ticket on a different airline. Instead of a direct flight arriving in San Jose at noon, I had to wait 5 hours in Orlando, fly to Ft Lauderdale, then wait another 3 hours for my flight to San Jose.

FIVE minutes cost me $500 and almost a full day in San Jose. I now check in online and print my boarding pass 24 hours before my scheduled flights. Lesson learned.

Irish: Bless you! I had no idea about this stipulation.
Matty: are you talking about a flight inbound 'TO' the US, or out to SJO? Does the TSA rules cover both in and out, or just inbound as Irish states?
Personally, I'm a paranoid flyer. I arrive 3 to 4 hours in advance unless I fully know the airport and it's ebb and flow. Missing a flight is right up on my list next to getting a tica's hair wet. I don' wanna do it!

Irish: Bless you! I had no idea about this stipulation.
Matty: are you talking about a flight inbound 'TO' the US, or out to SJO? Does the TSA rules cover both in and out, or just inbound as Irish states?
Personally, I'm a paranoid flyer. I arrive 3 to 4 hours in advance unless I fully know the airport and it's ebb and flow. Missing a flight is right up on my list next to getting a tica's hair wet. I don' wanna do it! [/quote]

Probably both ways. If there will be Americans on board, they need to be sure they know who is going on board.

BTW, in regards to $500.. Won't they let you go on standby on the next flight for free?

Yes I could have flown standby for free but jetblue in orlando only has one flight per day to san jose. As I live an hour from orlando and had gotten a ride from a friend (who was smart enough to print his boarding pass online the night before), I was left with the option to spend the night in a hotel in orlando and hope I get on the next flight on standby, or just purchase another ticket on a different airline.

Another tip;

I always bring $50 or more in singles if you are going to be tipping, the $1000 colon is apx $2.00 and CR $1 coins weigh about 1 lb each, a hassle to find and carry.

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Another thing about using dollars in shops, etc., is they pull out those little calculators and tap away fast, telling you the price, usually if it's a small amount under $20 or so, I used to ignore it, after awhile I started checking vs the exchange rate and discovered I got "nipped", more than once...

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Ahh theres nothing like getting a beer giving the waitress a twenty$ she comes back with a couple of coins you try to argue she doe not understand lol I use colones for everything except chicas
I give lampedas from Honduras that are worthless to the beggars lol they love it lol