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 Post subject: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 10:30 am 
CR Virgin - Newbie!

Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2022 2:21 pm
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Hey all total newb here about to make my first trip.

For working ticas you pick up at Taormina, SL, etc is it best to pay in USD or CRC? If CRC are you exchanging money or taking out of ATM? Also what about pensiones, massage parlors, taxis?

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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 11:30 am 
Not a Newbie I just don't post much!

Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2021 4:40 am
Posts: 88
Anyone will take USD but you should pay in colones for everything. go to the red bank counter at the airport in the departure level and exchange your dollars for local paper before you leave the airport. download a currency converter app to your phone and only think in colones until you return to the airport to leave.


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 11:35 am 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 9:58 am
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Newbie on First Trip

At hotels, you are handing the cash to the provider. Negotiate and pay in USD. It is the currency you are most familiar with.

Pensions, MP's, taxis, shops and restaurant outside your hotel. Pay in colones. You can get hosed on the exchange rates in these places.

IMO, use ATM's rather than banks or currency exchange. Check to make sure your bank cards will work internationally and find out what, if any, international fees are charged. Be aware that some cash points have little or no English language interface. Davivenda has the best English language interface but the highest transaction charge ($9). BAC is middling ($3.50), BCR has no transaction charge but many locations only dispense colones.

My recommendation depending on the length of your trip is .....
1. Bring enough cash in $100 bills to cover the first few days, Also bring some smaller bills to negotiate amounts under $100. Make sure none of these bills have tears or marks.
2. When you get to your hotel, exchange $100 for colones. Bear in mind that for any restaurant or bar bills you pay in USD, you will receive colones instead.
3. Use Uber/UberEats for local transportation and food/grocery/booze/condom deliveries. You can also get most non-party medications this way. You can bill it to your Bank Card or Paypal reducing your pocket cash needs and you get bank exchange rates.
4. If you are going be here a few days, take an Uber to either Walmart, MasxMenos, or AutoMercado. It is not that different than in the US and there are ATMs there for use. From the hotels, it will be less than c2000 ($3) per trip. It is a lot easier than walking around the streets with shopping bags and a good time to pick up Charmin, Baby Wipes, Snacks, Drinks, etc.

You will find it difficult to exchange any left over colones back into dollars when you leave.

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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 4:47 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:41 pm
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I always pay girls in USD as mentioned above stick with what your familiar with .. however the rare smart one's might know the exchange rate ... this happened to me last trip 8)

before you depart go to your bank get ya some crisp bills, I personally always get a $50 stack of $1's and 5's these are good for driver tips and housekeeping and Monica's which is now $42 for the hour.

Avoid the Airport exchange IMO, to get Colones I would use an ATM or Colonial Casino which is what I prefer and also is walking distance from the Hotels in the Gulch with no passport needed .. I personally only get maybe $200 in colones and use my AMEX card everywhere else knowing I will get the best exchange rate this way.

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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 5:47 pm 
CR Virgin - Newbie!

Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2022 2:21 pm
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great advice all. appreciate it!


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:31 am 
Just Learning The Gulch!

Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:26 am
Posts: 30
Lots of good advice here. But Walmarts and Max x Menos have service desks that change currency at official rates.
And Amex is not widely accepted.


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 10:15 am 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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I agree, 99% of the time, always pay in colones. The only exception is when something is priced only in dollars. You don't find it that much but some places that cater primarily to gringo tourists, like some restaurants in Jaco, will have their prices set in USD. A lot of times, if you try to pay in colones, you will get an unfavorable exchange rate. I've seen this also in gringo oriented hotels. You might also see some high ticket retail items like cars and TVs priced in dollars.

And when you pay in dollars, either have close to exact change or be sure you are going to get you change in dollars.


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 10:25 am 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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Boynton wrote:
Newbie on First Trip
You will find it difficult to exchange any left over colones back into dollars when you leave.


I agree with the above advice but if you do find yourself holding more colones than you want to take home, you can exchange them back at the BCR kiosk in the departures area at SJO, just before security on the left. You will get the bank rate for the CRC to USD conversion. Note that this is not the same rate you got when you converted USD to CRC.

Do NOT use the currency exchange booth you find across from the airline counters. You will get a very bad exchange rate there. Also trying to exchange them back in the states at your bank will usually give you a bad rate. Best to hold on to them for your next trip and hope the dollar doesn't get much stronger against the colon.


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:58 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!
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Harddrive43228 wrote:
I agree, 99% of the time, always pay in colones. The only exception is when something is priced only in dollars. You don't find it that much but some places that cater primarily to gringo tourists, like some restaurants in Jaco, will have their prices set in USD. A lot of times, if you try to pay in colones, you will get an unfavorable exchange rate. I've seen this also in gringo oriented hotels. You might also see some high ticket retail items like cars and TVs priced in dollars.

And when you pay in dollars, either have close to exact change or be sure you are going to get you change in dollars.

I highly advise waiting until your second or third visit before buying a car or a TV. :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2023 6:41 pm 
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Zman77 wrote:
And Amex is not widely accepted.


Thank for that info Zman :?


I was only giving my own experience and advice hence the ..." I Personally "

Amex not ever an issue for me but 1 time in CR that was at the parking meter, but Thanks to Michael the Driver at Castillo, showed me they have an app and I found this very helpful and safe as there is no need to be pulling out your wallet at the Kiosk anymore

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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:59 am 
Not a Newbie I just don't post much!
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Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:13 pm
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What is the maximum amount of colones and dollars that can be brought?


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:54 am 
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Location: Kansas City
GFO wrote:
What is the maximum amount of colones and dollars that can be brought?
Almost all international travel is restricted to carrying a total of $10,000 cash or its equivalent in dollars and other currencies.

The announcement stating this is the most consistent background noise at the SJO airport.

This is a decades old rule that along with reporting requirements of any cash bank transaction of more than $10,000 is meant to hamper drug trafficking and money laundering. This was a bill signed by Nixon in 1970.

The intent is good, but the amount has not been adjusted in over 50 years. $10,000 was a lot more money in 1970 then currently. There are various ways to calculate, but most estimates land around $75,000 in current dollars


Last edited by bulldog10 on Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:24 am 
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bulldog10 wrote:
GFO wrote:
What is the maximum amount of colones and dollars that can be brought?
Almost all international travel is restricted to carrying a total of $10,000 cash or its equivalent in dollars and other currencies.
I got searched for this once at SJO. I had plenty of nice crisp $100s with me that trip that I exchanged with a well-known business owner for a huge pile of beat up, torn $10s and $20s that would never pass in CR. He did not have a trip to US planned for months. No big deal for me, there would be no problem spending them in the US.

They were in my carry on. New bill lay flat, a stack of old crinkled bills makes a taller vertical pile. You could see the excitement when they saw that on the x-ray. Confiscating over $10,000 would make their day, or possibly never make it past them and their supervisor. There was utter disappointment when they searched my bag and found nowhere near the limit.


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 Post subject: Re: USD or CRC
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:28 pm 
Just Learning The Gulch!
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:19 pm
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I had a similar question as the OP. Thanks for everyone's insight. Mucho gracias :D


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