www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I pressume that greenbacks are an acceptable from of tender, but, Whats best, change to funny money, take travlers checks, use atm's. Take grren backs in small bills, (lots of 1's, 5's and 10's? How much cash do we carry? I know that varies but just some advice.

The answer lies within: https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16357

Cash is king and the chicas could care less about the color of your money.

Personally, I tend to spend only Colones while I am in CR. Sure , most places will gladly accept $$ but you can bet that they will convert at 500C/$. With the official exchange rate at much more than that it definatey works in their favor. There are exceptions like hotels who establish their rates in $. Those places you should pay with $.

I have an amiga who, whenever we taxi somewhere, looks at the meter and tells me the fare in $$. I grimace and tell her that I have Colones and pay the driver with Colones! Yet she does this every time! I guess that she thinks that I need to know how much everything costs in Dollars.

In general, I find that travelers checks are a PITA. Unless your hotel will take them in payment they are hardly worth the hassle. Some hotels will cash them for guests. Otherwise you have to go to a bank and wait in line to cash them. Don't forget to take your passport!

I use ATMs wherever I travel. You get a good exchange rate from a bank's ATM and they are easy to find and use.

Some of the brothers may do the exact opposite as me. Never exchanging $ for Colones; spending $ everywhere. I imagine that we will be hearing from some of them. YMMV

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

**wave**. Hi, thats me. I dont bother doing the exchange, I hate carrying colones, I dont like exchanging money once, paying the fees, and then potentially having to exchange on the way back out and paying again. To me its a hassle.

I think by not exchanging, I do probably lose $15-20 over my normal 3 to 4 day trip. But, I dont care. Doesnt stop me from having a good time.

Well, it's your money.

Personally, I don't change leftover colones. I save them for my next trip...and you know there's gonna be one!

Also, you can use the leftover colones to pay part of your hotel bill. Voila!

Finally, I think it depends on how much time you plan on spending in SJ vs. the coast or other place away from the Gulch.

Also, where do you want to spend your money? Hotel del Rey indies, HLH and SL goilz don't mind dollars. Other places, including some of our favorite MPs and strip clubs will, as noted give you a lousy exchange rate.

And hell, you're gonna want colones for cab rides, drinks in out-of-the-way bars, meals at sodas etc. anyway.

Bring your ATM card. del Rey has two ATMs, one that spits dollars, the other, colones. There are ATMs all over San Jose.


If you're going to be in town for more than three nights IMHO, you should deal in colones. Excahnge is simple to learn. Basically 500CRC to $1.00 (these days higher!)

Hit the link in Orange's post above. Fast read, all the information, it will save you a boatload of hassle.
Just my dos colones.

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