www.CostaRicaTicas.com

The chica payment question aside, how you manage funds and exchanging them is really up to you.

Personally I avoid using my credit/debit card at retail and operate on cash. I exchange as I go - whatever I need for a day or two. I find it helps with budget. I'll change a couple hundred US upon arrival. Then convert more as needed.

That way you don't wind up with a bunch of colones you don't want/need at the end of the trip.

That said I leave CR with enough colones for a ride from the airport and a couple drinks when I get in.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

_________________
This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution.

That sounds like a logical plan. Although having the left over colones might push me to return quickly.

_________________
Just sayin'....Phalstaph

That's the idea. I do a lot of the late nite flights, and it sucks getting stuck with no colones, and you need to bank-run first thing in the morning.

If you *DO* budget your trip, then what's the issue with converting everything at once, and taking home any leftover colones? For me, living with the 'daily convert' thing over my head sucks royally. I have my 'work routine' where I convert, charge the phone, supply-run, and passport copy all on the first day. I get all the management stuff out of the way so I can relax and enjoy the day-to-day tides of change. Getting stuck with no local currency (while having to carry USD in case of emergency) wears on the nerves. My first trip I had no less than 3 experiences with this. I'm done with it. Give me colones every time.

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

You don't need to convert anything if you carry a Schwab ATM card, which is free of any and all fees.

I have 4 Schwab ATM cards that I use for various purposes, and to cover me for emergencies (like a lost or compromised card). I use the card almost daily, so I don't need to carry much cash.

Nothing wrong at all if you have the discipline for that. In part I would say it depends on how far afield you're going to go. I walk by the Colonial Casino every morning... so the 5 min stop is no biggie.

Knowing myself... if I converted all up front and had a bunch left at the end, I'd go buck wild the last day and night. Yes, I have impulse control challenges. So putting in a little speed bump helps manage it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

_________________
This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution.

I understand, but it sucks to get caught short with local currency as well. I recall a night that we wracked up a $500 bill at Scores while on our way to Le Gri. Luckily Big Jeff let it slide til the morning so that we didn't have to break stride, but instead charged on ahead to wrack up a $700 at Le Gri! We taxied home with barely enough to cover the fare. We may have had a rojo between us! I'm talking COINS bud.

Neither of these events could have been possible if we only converted small drips of currency at CC daily.

And no disrespect to Rac's method, but I flatly refuse to trust my vacation to plastic. I have had that fail too much on me, and I have first-hand seen guys stuck in CR asking for cash wires from home because their cards either stopped working or they burned out their accounts without realizing it.

As an aside, I DO carry two atm cards with bank acknowledgement to accept CR withdrawls. But these are emergency-based only, and I have tested the practice to make sure that it works.

I want cash in hand, and I can manage my expenses easily. I actually segment my cash into separate money envelopes for each day, maintain a residuals stash and dip into it for the big nights. It works for me. I could not even imagine having to say "Stop the fun! I need to walk to Colonial for money!"!

That happened once. It sucked.

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

I like the envelope idea, good tip. I too don't trust plastic... especially after a BCR sucked up my card and didn't return it... and didn't dispense dinero.

For a dwarf you roll pretty big. I'm more pay as I go vs. settle up at the end.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

_________________
This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution.

BD does give some good tips. And spreading out your funds in daily packets would be a good way to stay on course for the trip.

Just sayin'....Phalstaph

_________________
Just sayin'....Phalstaph

Also, I try to keep enough cash on me to bail out a brother with a tab. Many new guys get stuck without enough to cover a bartab, and need a friend. Of course immediately afterwards we walk to get repayment. This homey don't float nobody!

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

Coming to a Gulch venue near you. BashfulDwarf's Quick Loans! Following terms apply:

1. 3800% A.P.R. calculated every 27 minutes.
2. Funds are to be repaid in 24 hours or a late penalty of $300 US will be applied, plus applicable interest.
3. Failure to repay a loan within the designated period will result in you being dropped naked at 3am in Tranny Park.

Just sayin'....Phalstaph

_________________
Just sayin'....Phalstaph

To the OP....

I advise against running a bar tab on your first trip.

You have some experienced travelers who mention doing so, but they have a feel for the establishments in question.

They are also likely recognized as repeat offenders... er visitors... meaning not ID'd as a mark for fleecing.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

_________________
This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution.

Actually, this brings up a good point. If you like a venue (say a strip club) and plan to frequent it, spend the 30 seconds it takes to actually MEET the door bouncer by name. Meet the waiters, and tip them when you leave. You will be remembered, and welcomed back every time.

Obviously, don't be stupid with your money. A rojo tip is respectable for a doorman, and rolling up a drink tab a rojo or azul is appreciated by the waiter. But stick a 10 mil in their hands and you mark yourself as a fool.

I'll tell ya a story invitro. At Alcazar, I am known by Gustavo, not because I went out of my way to meet him, but my wingman did and I was included by association. He always greets me when I walk in. Well, we visited on a Friday night, and Lola remembers me. So I'm hooked up for the evening. Great. The next night, we return (Le Gri was flat) and Lola was sitting with a tico client at the back table. No big deal for me, I wanted to shop. However, that night must have been lazy night. No chicas approached us, and even trying the whole eye-contact thing wasn't working. I made mention to my wingmen that I was bailing in 5 minutes. Gustavo detected my intentions from across the room. Without me noticing, he went to Lola's table, asked the tico to either take her upstairs, or leave. Since he was only interested in chatting to her and getting lap dances, he left. Lola went back to the sitting area until that tico had left the building, and then (under Gustavo's instructions) came directly to our table, and while sitting in my lap, played with all three of us while Gustavo kicked the life into several other chicas to get them over to our table.

Now, personally I think that treating the tico like that was wrong and not acceptable, and I discussed it with Gustavo afterwards to never prioritize me like that again. I don't do it, and I don't like it. However, I did not find out about the behind-the-scenes stuff until Lola told me in the room. I didn't get angry, I thanked him for being a good host, but explained my personal feelings on it. My point to the story is that being known by Gustavo priortized my enjoyment of the establishment. So it pays to make yourself known as a respectable customer, who knows the value of their money and isn't stupid with tipping.

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

One more thing about using a card in ATMs. I live here and have been using ATMs for over 10 years. So, yes, use them WHEN YOU NEED TO! BUT DO NOT GET CAUGHT NOT HAVING ANY MONEY AND NEEDING MONEY FOR SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT LIKE GETTING HOME. PLAN AHEAD, In 10 years I have had a problem with a machine here 3 times- twice using a card from a USA bank and once using a card from a CR bank. If something goes wrong and the machine does not give you the money but charges your account, you will almost always get your money back. BUT here it is not always possible to get it back into your account as quickly as you can if it were to happen in the states. Here, if the card was not issued by the bank that owns the machine, you will have to contact your bank. THE BANKS HERE WILL DO NOTHING IF IT WAS NOT THEIR CARD USED IN THEIR MACHINE. Most cards have a daily limit and even though you did not receive the money, it will still have shown up on your account as a withdrawal against you daily limit and your balance .

I recently had this happen to me (the third time) just as I was getting ready to leave for a visit to the States. I was using a card from my CR bank but in another bank. Was told by my bank that it usually took 3 weeks for the money to show up in your account. My local card was at that time not good anywhere but in CR so I could not wait and use it while in the states. If I had needed that $400 while in the States, I would have been in trouble. Luckily it only took 6 days for it to be corrected and I had managed to get my card changed so I could use it in the States.

By the way, what happened was unusual even for here. Just as the machine was about to give me the money EVERY MACHINE IN THE BANK WENT OFF LINE AT THE SAME TIME. EVEN THOUGH THE BANK MANAGER KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE WOULD DO NOTHING TO RETURN MY MONEY. I HAD TO GO TO MY BANK AND FILE A CLAIM.

The problem that I see and hear about most often here with guys is that they did not advise their bank that they would be in a foreign country ahead of using the card and for their protection their bank denied the transaction. Even if you do not plan to use a card while here, always call your card holder and notify them of your plans. You never now when you might have an emergency!!!

An emergency like it being your last day here and you have used all but a few coins of the money you brought; and then you see the hottest chica you have ever seen, and she convinces you she wants you (and not just your money)!! You have mucho money in the bank, but it denies you the money because you did not notify them! So all you end up with is several hours on the plane to think about what might have been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

I have had very little trouble using ATMs for travel in many countries including CR. Have been using cash withdrawals only since late 90's and only had a card shut down once... and I don't think I've ever had one held in a machine or not given me cash.

I think cards on Canadian banks work better than with some US banks... just my observation based on stories I hear and read here. I have accounts in a couple of different banks, and if I have a problem with one card I use another. I'm generally nervous carrying around a bunch of cash... or having it in my possession early in a trip.