www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I get it. I'm doing something that reminds you guys of this guy. I came here for an information exchange, not to bear the burden of the sins of someone that I don't know. I don't need that.

I'm not in Costa Rica on vacation. I'm here to reset my life. I'm on a 3-month sabbatical from my work, and when I return to the USA, I want to be living a different kind of life than the one that I was living in Seattle one week ago.

I'm asking questions and giving my impressions of what I have seen so far in Costa Rica. I came here to have an information exchange with adults, but it's starting to seem a lot more like junior high school. Is that what we're doing here?

Nah you don't get it, go give ******** an around the world BBBJCIM, like you have been doing for years, got bored have yah. Meglomania lives.
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

You guys are the best.

Thank you for all the input. I know newcomers will find this thread useful whatever the exchange rates may be when they find this thread in the future.

My objective was to point out a few things...

#1 - Don't ever exchange money at the currency counters at (arrivals) baggage claim
#2 - Have a clue of the current currency exchange rate using Google to search"USDCRC" or "CRCUSD" or using XE Currency Converter or your alternative of choice. This is just to make sure you aren't getting ripped off.
#3 - Realize that in San Jose, $20, $10, $5, and $1 US Dollars are acceptable currency for taxis and most hotels. Be sure to arrive with plenty of small bills to eliminate the necessity of exchanging currency at the airport.

If you read this post in the future, ignore the rates & pay attention to the percentage differences. In my case April 2015, 460 at departures vs 525 at arrivals in the same building equates to a 13% savings despite the 525 being below the 537 FOREX rate shown by XE Currency Converter or Google.

You will likely never get the bank to bank rate but if this post can save you 13% on your in-country spending...then it has been a success.

And if a Tica says $60, offer her 30,000 colones. You may save yourself a bit more on the exchange rate & use that extra money to tip her if she makes you happy.

Thanks to all who have contributed.

2 things.

1. "Tica" does not mean hooker. It means Costa Rican female citizen.

2. Cheating a chica on exchange rate has been discussed to death on this site. Negotiate in colones. *IF* you agree to $60, then 30k is not equal. Do as the OP suggests and counter-offer in colones so there is no confusion later. Some chicas are wise to the difference, and some insist on payment in USD.

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

Quick Update:

Since my April 2015 report, the escalator at SJO in the parking lot has been repaired. You can now simply exit Arrivals. Clear customs. Walk out out of the terminal & cross the 3 lanes where taxi's pick up travelers into the parking garage. Once in the parking garage, make an immediate 90 degree right turn. Walk about 80 feet. The escalator will take you up to departures.

Once back in the airport (arrivals terminal) turn right. Walk about 150' to BAC San Jose. This is right past the exit tax booths which are more than obvious to even the first time traveler. Pull out your passport & your cash and get an excellent exchange rate. This assumes you aren't arriving on a red eye flight when BAC San Jose booth may be closed.

Once you have exchanged your money, walk out of the terminal. You are on the upper level of the airport (departures). There are 3 entrances. Walk past the 3 entrances to confirm every red taxi who passes you has already dropped off their customer(s). They are more than likely returning to San Jose with no customer. Stand on the side of the road / drop off lane with your luggage. Every empty red taxi will stop to offer you a ride. Say "$20 to XYZ hotel" (Sportsmens, Del Rey, Dunn, Mona Lisa, etc) and they will say "Yes". If the first one refuses, don't be shy. Say no thanks and the next taxi will stop & ask the same question. They are now making money on their trip to & from the airport. And you are saving $12 by not being a newb.

Works 24/7/365.

So if you change $1,000 - this tip just saved you $150 on currency + $12 on taxi for 5 minutes of effort.

Good post, Max, but you need to edit it.

You've got some "arrivals" mixed up with "departures".

If you are planning on returning in a few months (6 or less) hit the ATM by the Exit Tax Booth and pull out a couple of hundred in Colones for your return and you wont have to worry about getting them when you arrive. I always bring home at least 300.00 in Colones when I leave. Also never pay for anything in the Airport with Colones, you really get screwed on the exchange there.

Done. Thanks.

There are very few red taxis dropping people off in the late nite. If you come in on the redeye, just grab an orange and save yourself the hassle. At least the empty streets will save you a few bucks.

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

Nope, not done. "Once back in the airport (arrivals terminal) turn right. Walk about 150' to BAC San Jose." That is the departures terminal.

Oh snap...

1) If I arrive at say 9:00 PM on a Sunday will the BCR exchange be open? (edit: answered 20 posts ago, nope not open after 8:00 in departures)

2) I'm assuming I can run up and get my exit stamp at that hour, yes? I bought my ticket ages ago so that charge is not factored in.

3) Can someone point me to an ATM in the gulch where you swipe the card vs. the slot where it gets sucked into the machine? Lost a card that way on the last trip 1 day before departure... no cash and the card was retained.

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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.

You can swipe at Del Rey.

Also, the Mas x Menos (Walmart) grocery on Ave. Central, 2 blocks from HDR, has a "swipe" ATM.

The Colonial Casino, next to HDR might have a "swipe" ATM. ......... I forget.

The HDR ATM's are often out of money.

That's because of all the guys who are paying cien.

I recently returned from Europe with several hundred Euros in currency. I will be in CR next week. I try to avoid multiple currency exchanges because you always lose some percentage. I would like to avoid exchanging Euros to Dollars then to Colones. I would not expect to exchange a minor currency but the Euro is an internationally accepted currency. Is it possible to easily exchange Euros to Colones and is the exchange rate comparable to the percent you lose in exchanging dollars?