www.CostaRicaTicas.com

What do all you guys do with all the coins you end up with. I usually leave them for housekeeping, but I've been thinking I should bring them home and melt them down to make fishing weights. Phukkerz are heavy.

Lately when i been traveling I been trying to pay for my things with my extra change to avoid a dresser full of coins.

I also leave them for the maids cleaning my room

Hold onto them for the taxi rides. Most times when I have been taking a taxi back to the hotel with a chica and I hand the driver a 1 mil or 2 mil note, he usually says "I don't have change." If I don't have the proper change, I will ask for change for the taxi before I leave the Del Rey or the New York Bar. I don't like carrying the coins either, but it's getting to the point that you almost need to. One gringo friend of mine who lives here about 7 months a year keeps the coins in one of those little orange colored prescription drug bottles, which I thought was a good idea.

Zebra

I do use the coins exclusively for paying for taxis, at least as much as I can. I still end up with several a night by the time I get back to my rooom.

Funny thing.

I always seem to get more respect from local merchants when I count out the exact change needed for a purchase. I don't quite understand why, but certainly the taxi drivers are (probably unpleasantly) surprised when I give them the exact fare shown on the meter (when I can get them to run it.

Also, as noted above, the coins are great for tipping of all kinds. Example: There is a large plastic jar on the bar at the SL, and it's a great home for those pesky 10 colones, 25 colones and 50 colones coins, as well as higher denominations.

The 10 colones coins are useful for making local pay phone calls.

You can shut up a street beggar and maybe even avoid a robbery by carrying a pocketful of small coins. If you are approached by a group of beggars (potential mugging threat) just scatter a handful ofcoins on the sidewalk as you pass. The beggars will descend on the pocket change likes sharks on chum.

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

I have never understood it, but it seems that ALL merchants including grocery stores ALWAYS seem to want your change here; it is like they are always short on change.


As for giving the street people change, I would not recomend EVER GIVING THEM ANYTHING. If you do it is like a homing signal; every street K*D for 3 blocks will be on you in 5 seconds wanting more. It also registers you as a mark for future harrassment (and they have very long memories).

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

There are almost zero pay phones anymore that accept coins. It's all this card system now. It's pretty rare to find one that takes coins.