www.CostaRicaTicas.com

A few cents... if you're changing a dollar. But if you're changing $500, that "few pennies" difference amounts to ¢28,000, or $56. While I wouldn't spend an hour of my time or get sick worrying over it, I'd spend 5 minutes to go upstairs to the bank instead of getting robbed at the global exchange windows downstairs.

It may only be $50, but knowing that I didn't let them scam me is priceless.

+ 1

56 bucks for a short walk upstairs
Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of them selfs

I am old school and never really understood "New Math", but I don't quite follow your numbers...

We're talking about a 14 colone difference per USD, right?

To use your example, 14 colones X $500 = 7,000 colones total, not 28,000... So the difference is $13.00 USD, not $56.00... Not sure what numbers you're using...

Besides, who is dumb enough to pay the rates at arrivals at the airport???

_________________
"Mongo only pawn in game of life"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3K6UmgJIOw

Your "old school" math must be rusty. how old are you?

500-444 = 56. How did you get 14?

You are comparing the bank rate versus the currency exchange window right?

On Feb. 9, the exchange rate at the currency exchange by the Duty Free store downstairs by the baggage carousels at SJO was 449. Went upstairs to the BAC bank and exchange rate was 498. So on the $400 USD I exchanged, the walk upstairs was worth $40. Plus I picked up 2 exit taxes and I walked away with a smile on my face.

Make sure that you go to right booth upstairs. There are now 2. Global currency exchange has opened a booth upstairs too now (to rip-off the unknowing gringos again on the way out to buy back dollars, just like the way in). The rip-off booth is located on the left side as you walk into the departure terminal. The BAC bank (square red booth) is on the far right side as you walk into the departures terminal.

quick question -- someone mentioned that they only pay chicas with USD. Is that just so that you save the exchange rate fees? Is it easier to say $80 than 40,000 colones?

I think there are math-challenged guys who are more comfortable dealing in USD, to not screw up the exchange rate and overpay. Chicas will accept either currency, digital cameras, I-pods, laptops ( ), hair straightening irons, etc, almost anything that is of perceived value to them.

With a small caveat--the last few days of a month or the first few of the next--cash is king (rent, maybe school fees, etc). Not otherwise entering this debate.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

That is one of the reasons I booked my trip down there from Feb 28th to March 3th to take advantage of that.

Is it better to pay the chicas us currency or their own currency? mp and Indys?

Read a few posts up. Indy's will usually take either currency. At MP's, it's better to pay in the currency you are quoted in. For example, at New Fantasy, the USD rate is $50 and the CRC rate is ¢30,000 (which equals $60). You save $10 paying in dollars.

They quoted me $50 or 35,000 colones today. Of course I had to pay extra to COHF.

Quite a choice, $50 or $70. Where was this?