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What denomination do the ATMS in CR generally give out?

Many ATM's in the Gulch dispense both dollars and colones. As is the case with U.S. ATM's, the most commonly-dispensed bills are U.S.$20.00 and/or CRC 10,000 (a bit less than $20.00 at current exchange rates).

I had very little trouble finding machines that work on either the Plus! or Cirrus systems, although the bank might charge a service fee of up to $6.00/transaction. It's a good idea to consult with your home bank before traveling about service charges, etc. Be sure to let them know your dates of travel to prevent your home bank from flagging the first C.R. transaction as suspect, then stopping your card thereafter. Same goes for credit cards.


ATM's are available all over. An interesting twist are the ATM's at the Colonial Casino next door to the Hotel del Rey. These machines do not dispense cash. Instead, the machine gives out a paper receipt, which you then take to the casino's main cashier (3 steps away). This way, you can get whatever denomination bills you require.

Hope this helps.

Paul

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Xray27,

Colones in 1k,5k,10k and 20k.
US in 1,5,10,20 dollar bill.
Yo will have a choice as to which currecny you wish to receive.

I found it wise to use my ATM opposed to carrying more than $200, most cc companies charge an international currency fee. Compass offers reimbursement for ATM fees, check with your bank on said fees

Somewhere in Texas- Trying to get Terrel to write that 35k check

Thank u EC, and HB!!!

I think the 20K colones was a typo. Biggest paper denomination in CR is 10K colones (just under $20 U.S.).

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Live mid-market rates as of 2006.12.19 15:55:45 UTC.
1.00 USD
United States Dollars = 517.160 CRC
Costa Rica Colones
1 USD = 517.160 CRC 1 CRC = 0.00193364 USD

Wouldn't this make 10k colognes a little more than 20usd?

Thanks MG for the correction, after the 4th Britt espresso this morning well...

Somewhere in Texas

10,000 colones - divided by 517.6 colones per USD = $19.32 Dollars (USD).

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Thanks Mucho I get it now

HolaB.

Where did you find ATM's that dispense any denomination other than multiples of USD$20.00 and/or 10K colones?

Aside from the Colonial, where one can get any denomination (including coins) from the main casino cashier, I have never encountered an ATM in C.R. that dispenses smaller denomination bills.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Xray,

Be sure to save your ATM receipts. An ATM in front of the INS BUILDING once shorted me $80.00. I think it was a case of "simply running out of money." I went inside the bank for help with the matter and they would do nothing. They said my bank back home would have to straighten it out. Indeed, when I returned home, I sent a copy of my ATM receipt showing "the amount of money I requested," and also the amount of money dispensed".........along with a cover letter. My bank credited my account immediately for the shortage......even taking my word for what the proper exchange rate should be [this, after they had mistakenly determined the exchange rate].

After this incident, I now go "inside" the bank to have the teller do a "manual withdrawal transaction." This works out fine.

Zebra

I always bring a wad of (US)single and fives for tips and cab fare.

Just checked my Bank of Am. bank statement around the time of my 10 day trip in CR earlier this month.

When I pulled money out of the ATM at HDR Im getting walloped with a 5$ fee per transaction plus what seems to be about a 1% additional fee. So in order to take out approx 100K colones im getting charged $7 per trans.

This really adds up over the course of a 2 wk trip.

Perhaps it is cheaper travelling with dollars and converting at a bank? 3-5% charge per ATM transaction is mighty steep.

Anyone have a solution to cut corners with hefty fees?

Change banks or bring cash. Or try complaining to your bank- they may drop or lower the fees, mine did but I think that is rare.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

THanks Paco. So if i brought 2 $100 bills into a bank in SJ, what would the charge be, roughly? I guess you just have to deal with the potentially long lines in the bank and have the added stress of lots of dollars on your person on the way to the hotel. I might take the risk if I could save $50 over the course of a short trip. We all know what that extra $50 might get us at ZB.