www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I use XE constantly when I am out of the US. Just got back from Hong Kong/China and I use it to check exchange rates on the spot to avoid getting raped.

Bashful....any idea how late that Departure area bank kiosk is open during the week?

Just returned from Medellin today. I used the Schwab card everyday at the ATMs. I received the exchange rate that the bank posted on their web site. I discovered something new. The rate I received at the ATM was the previous day's rate; or, if it was after 6pm, it was that day's rate.

The bank that owns the ATM may have a charge built in, but not Schwab. Actually, I usually received a slightly better rate than XE posted.

So, your guarantee is like - worthless!

Awesome thanks!

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I always use XE before exchanging money just so I know what to expect. The banks are going to pay the closest to the actual rate but sometimes you will find places that have not updated their exchange rates or do not keep up on it because they are lazy. I always get a better rate when paying US cash at Pricemart instead of Colones. It is usually 3-5% more than XE's rate and sometimes I have been as much as 10% better than a bank. In the Dominican it helps with the street exchangers and by using my phone I can get as close .15 off the current rate. For example todays rate was 45.96 so I would expect to be around 45.8 pesos per dollar. Since the money exchangers are usually laundering money you can get them to be closer to the actual rate. This trick in the DR is not for everyone but if you speak Spanish and don't come off as a newbie they don't argue much. Once they get to know you too they quit playing the game and just ask how much you want to exchange and don't try and screw you.

I don't personally know, and several people have posted varying times. When I visit it at the end of the month I will get their exact schedule and post it.

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

I am a BIG fan of the Schwab ATM debit card. Let me first say that I have no connection with Schwab except for carrying 4 of their ATM cards.

I use my Schwab ATM card almost every day in SJ. If any ATM machine owner imposes a fee for using my card, Schwab eats the fee. The card costs me NOTHING, and requires NO minimum balance at the Schwab bank.

Regarding exchange rates for a Schwab card transaction, I have checked the rate that they use BY THE MINUTE for several transactions in recent years.

I would get the colones from the machine. Then minutes later, look at my Schwab account on my computer to see how many dollars were debited from my account. I then quickly looked at the bank exchange rates posted on several websites.

Believe me..... Schwab uses exchange rates for ATM card transactions that are very sweet for us. Sometimes the Schwab rate was slightly better than we'd get at many banks in CR. Schwab is not making much, if any, money on any "spread."

About the Bank of San Jose kiosk upstairs in the DEPARTURE area - - - -

From the Airport website - - http://fly2sanjose.com/en/?s=bank&post_type=
=================================================================
Banking Services

Phone: (506) 2295-9797 Website: https://www.bac.net/

Hours: 5:00 am to 8:00 pm 365 days of the year

BAC Quick Banking (Rapibanco), located in the Terminal’s lobby, provides banking services for travelers. Customers can cash checks; make deposits; make cash withdrawals in colones, dollars and euros; pay utility bills and credit cards; and purchase travel insurance, among other services offered.

The airport has distributed ATM machines from the following banks:

– BAC San José

– Scotiabank

LOL... I like that. I'm going to try to get me a Shwab account. Not sure I can as I am not in US and not American.

Too late (for me)... Shwab (Canada) just got bought by Scotiabank. No deals from them...that I know.

My guess would be you need a US Taxpayer Identification Number and a US mailing address.

Absent those things it does not appear that international customers have a comparable account option.

http://international.schwab.com/public/ ... s_products

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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.

Thanks Rac!