www.CostaRicaTicas.com

When I travel I usually use my credit card to pay my bill when I check out of the hotel I am staying at. I was going over my credit card statement, specifically the charge from my hotel stay in Lima Peru. I discovered that the hotel basically did their own calculation (Peruvian Soles to US dollars) and charged that US dollar amount to my credit card. In other words I got screwed on the exchange.

Next time I will go to the ATM and pay the hotel in the locally currency or agree on the exchange when I check in. Any thoughts on this?

Devo

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

Most hotels in San Jose will quote their rate in USD. If you know the bank rate (currently 493 colones to $1.00) you can determine what your bill should be. If the hotel wants to charge your card in colones and it varies significantly from what you have calculated then you can go to the ATM and withdraw an amount to pay your bill.

I have never heard of this happening in SJO but it is wise to be cautious and check your credit card vouchers carefully before signing.

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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

Actually, it does happen almost everywhere. If you pay be credit card and they quote you in dollars, they will still usually have to charge your card in colones. Rarely will they convert that to colones using the bank rate when they covert it. Some places take you for only a few colones per dollar, others rip you a new one.

I experienced this at Amon Plaza Hotel a couple months ago. The exchange rate was about 497/503, but they converted my bill in dollars to colones using 530. They made an extra 5% on the conversion. If you are staying a week or two, it can add up.

the last few times that i visited SJO and used my credit card, citibank charged me an international fee. are all credit card companies doing this?

I'm pretty sure Capital One doesn't charge a fee when used out of the country.

Not all, but most charge a 3% international transaction fee.

The international fee is levied by Visa & Master Card. It is up to issuing bank or credit union whether to pass that fee on to their card holder. The majority do but some like Capital One do not.

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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