www.CostaRicaTicas.com

when I arrived I tried to pay my 26$ deoarture tax at the airport and the lady would not let me. so anyway I tried the presidente and they will not do it unless you are staying there. they reccomended the bank of costa rica about a block away. so i tried that. got a teller who spoke no english. my spanish is passable so I got the idea accross. anyway after what seemed like a 30 minute wait I finally got the forms and paid the tax. I wanted to save time at the airport. not sure going to banks in costa rica is the best idea. any thoughts?

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You can' t be a real country unless you have beer and an airline - its helps if you have some kind of football team, or nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer - Frank Zappa

I always use the bank (INS Building) across the street Hotel Castillo.
Its the big gray building, walk in go up the escalator to the right, once upstairs go right and theres a guard by a door go in that door and pick a number

Banks in CR are painfully slow. They are usually a HUGE waste of time when exchanging money and for exit tax.

For exit tax, I use the TACA center inside Clarion Amon Plaza Hotel. They are only supposed to sell it to their own customers, but you may be able to talk them into selling you one even if you aren't flying with them.

The lines at the airport aren't as bad as they were in the past. They have expanded the exit tax counter. Rarely do I see more than a few people in line. But I usually leave in the evening, so I don't know how bad it gets mid-day.

For the past three years of many trips in and out, I have never waited more than 3-4 minutes at the airport line for the exit visa. Usually I walk up #2 in someones line. I dont understand the value of waiting in a bank line or making a special trip to do this in the middle of your vacation.

YMMV

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...

I'm with you Tman. Nine or 10 trips in 2 years and I have never waited more than 3 minutes or so in line. I could never figure out everyone running around like a chicken with its head cut off to get this done before leaving for the airport.

Berk.....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

I try to get it when I get in but of late the lines have not been that bad at the airport because they now have multiple lines not like two years ago when there was only one counter.

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Living Life To the Fullest {Pura Vida}

I will side with the group that it is no big deal. In my twenty plus trips I always pay it when I leave, I have never waited as much as 5 minutes in line to pay it. I figure of you pay it early you just take the chance of misplacing before you leave.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

First or second day in San Jose....I always go to the bank in the INS BUILDING and pay it.....to get it over with.

Pay it at the airport. 18 trips for me and never took more than a minute or two.

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My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

I use to always make sure I had my tax paid at a bank before getting to the airport because of the long lines at the airport. Now that they have counters at both ends of the terminal to pay the tax, with multiple agents at each location, there is no waiting.

The only advantage, as I see it, to paying in advance is it easier to fill in the form before getting to the airport rather than trying to fill it out at the airport where you have no counter to place it on while trying to write. That is not worth waiting in some line in a bank IMHO.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I find it best to purchase my exit pass when I first arrive. That way I won't be tempted to use my exit money for more nookie.

[quote="Irish Drifter"]I use to always make sure I had my tax paid at a bank before getting to the airport because of the long lines at the airport. Now that they have counters at both ends of the terminal to pay the tax, with multiple agents at each location, there is no waiting.

[quote]

yup it used to be a lot worse waiting 30 minutes to an hour especially getting the early morning flight out of SJO. With the two different areas and lots of added clerks it goes super quick now.

I just pay for the cab in bucks. Check in and go to the casino ATMS for Colones. No hassles and you dont worry about exchange rates. Not the best rates. but what is a dollar or two.

Can someone explain what this has to do with the paying of your departure tax

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

The line to pay your departure tax at the airport is hit or miss. Yesterday, the line (in SJO) was out the door. I had already paid my tax at the Liberia airport, so I didn't have to wait in line. Sometimes there's no line in SJO, sometimes there's a LLLLLLong line. Roll the dice.....
MG

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