www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I got here this evening and have been hanging out with Paco who showed me around. I had called my bank (USAA) to notify them of my spending out of the country. As of now I have tried every ATM I could find and it just is not approving the withdrawl. I'm trying to call the bank but these hotel phones are insane and the operator will not dial a toll free number. I emailed the bank contact and probably wont hear from them until tomorrow. I did a dumb thing and assumed that it would all be okay and have zero cash, except for a fake 10 mil colones bill that an asshole taxi driver gave to me for change. I looked stupid trying to buy a drink in the bar with it. Ugh...terrible start. This sucks. Any ideas? I'm gonna try a withdrawl from the casino at the HM because I'm desperate and they charge 15 freakin percent... damn.

So...I go to the casino at HM and they now try to tell me it is %45 to get cash. Walking away dejected Magdiel(the hotel front desk guy who said %15 originally) asked me what was up and squared it away for me. So I have some cash and will have to work it out with the bank tomorrow. I'm gonna release some frustration now! Oh and btw they charged me $50 for deposit on the safe key..luckily it worked on my card. What a night.

One I would never ever leave the US without at least $1,000 on me - ever. Buy a money belt if need be. I try to carry as much in $20 as I can large bills are always a PITA.

Always carry more than one ATM card as one will never work. Believe it or not I've found that my Paypal ATM card works all over the world normally zero fee at ATMs. I've used it in Casinos from Panama to ATMs in Sweden and Finland but I also carry my regular bank ATM card. Amex will advance money but only a hundred or two a day.... good luck hope the trip improves.

One of my bank accounts with USAA, and the few times I have used it here in Colombia, no problems other than the 1% transaction fee. The only thing to do, when have a problem with a Bank card, is to call the bank right away, and let them know what is going on.

At least you had a chance to rest up from your flight.

Or at least a few hundred. Why go to a foreign country and use an unfamiliar ATM machine when you could of used one at home and saved an errand ?

Who goes to a foreign country with Zero cash ?

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

The front desk at HLH has a phone that they let people use to call directly to the U.S.

I've used it to call 800 numbers.

The calls are free for their guests, but I think a non-guest can use that phone at HLH for a small fee.

Find the credit card/ATM fraud office for your card. Call them before you leave and tell them where you'll likely be, how much $$ a day you'll be taking, any major charges (hotel name, rent a car name).Bring that guy or ladies name and # with you.

Lesson learned.

They emailed back quickly and said all should be fine and the system must have just been down. I'm going to hit the ATM in a bit and see. All is good though.

Rule No. 1,
Never hang with someone named "Paco Loco" , have you read his posts?? Dangerous individual, might even lead you to the dark side.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

Get a Charles Schwab checking account. No atm fees and always works like a charm. Also, if you use a credit card, Capital One does not have exchange fees. But you get much better deals in CR if you use cash. Just don't get drunk and forget to lock your safe or let the chica de la noche see your code.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

USAA is a great bank, and luckily you solved the problem on Friday as I don't think their banking department is open on weekends. I've used their ATM cards many times in CR but one time their fraud department shut me down until I could contact them. They don't charge an ATM fee for your first 10 withdrawals in a month and even better they refund up to $15 a month in other banks ATM usage fees.

Agree with Skink. I use USAA and use my debit card in Costa Rica at least 10 times a month every month with zero problems. Have also used it in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and of course the states with no problem. Because of their client base they are very use to having their members using a USAA credit/debit card all over the world. But every organization has an occasional hiccup as Betterlife unfortunately found out.

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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

Personally, I don't like money belts. I found a portable safe at Wal Mart for about $20 that is fairly small (about 4" x 8" x 1.5") that works off a combination and also has a cable that can be wrapped around plumbing for example for even more security. Only drawback is that x ray machines don't seem to like it & I end up having to open it frequently for security. It fits right into the safes at La Amistad & I use it for my passport & cash. That way, if a chica somehow gets my safe code, at least she won't have those things.

This is similar to mine, but not exactly the same:

http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/model-p005c ... RCH%3Asafe

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I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!

How do you secure it in the safe? Would seem if she has your safe code she could simply take the safe and walk away with it.

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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