www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Sorry guys I am sure this is a dumb question for a lot of you, but I am brand new here and just looking for a little help. I was wondering (as the title says) can I pay the ticas in U.S. dollars? Rather than exchanging monies there in Costa Rica.

yes, but it's not difficult to exchange money.

Thanks Orange.

Is that something I can do at the hotel itself if I like to exchange funds?

Massage places and bars...all except US funds then?

Thanks again!

Tix,

This has been covered a lot, but I'll answer.

1. You will pay a somewhat lower price at MPs by using colones.

2. If you pay at a bar/restaurant in U.S. $, you'll get your change in colones. You might not get a good exchange rate.

3. Many ATM's dispense both dollars and colones If you need to exchange dollars for colones:.

3a. Best places in my personal order of preference for exchanging money: Banks, casinos (usually excellent exchange rates), hotel desk. The only problem with some smaller hotels, or on Sunday afternoons for example, is that they might not have enough C.R. currency on hand to make the exchange.

3b. Unless you leave the baggage area and cross to the departures area and the bank located there, the airport isn't a good place to exchange money. You'll buy your taxi ticket (at the little kiosk right outside Customs) in dollars anyway, so wait until you get into town to change some money.

3c. Under no circumstances should you try to exchange dollars for colones on the street. Expert Colombian counterfeiters are moving fake CRC into Costa Rica. While the street changers will offer you a ridiculously good exchange rate, you're probably going to be exchanging your good U.S. dollars for funny money.

4. As a simple (if slightly inaccurate) way to convert between colones and dollars:
Take off the three zeros in colones prices and then double the number. For example: 17,000 colones. Take off the three zeros. Double 17. 17,000 colones equals +/- US$34.00.

5. You will sometimes get better prices in restaurants etc. by paying in colones. If you can, bring a pocket calculator with the day's exchange rate. Compare menu prices in dollars and colones. Pay the lower price with that currency.

6. You can exchange unused colones at the end of your trip, but you might lose some money, depending on how much you try to convert back to dollars. Smart travelers usually apply their "leftover" colones to their final hotel bill, cab ride to the airport etc. Or, You could just save the colones for your next trip. You know you're going to want to return.

7. Keep some 100 and 500 colones coins on your person. Handy for taxi fares. You definitely will not want to pay cabbies in dollars!

8.. Try not to overpay. In a freelancers' environment such as the Blue Marlin, negotiating is part of the fun. Business is reportedly slow these days, so it's a buyers' market. If you must pay $100.00 - $150.00 for a top-shelf supermodel, negotiate for more time, BBBJ, etc.

9. Pay attention to security details when using ATMs. Always.

10. Be sure to notify your bank (ATM card), and your credit card companies that you will be using their cards while you're in Costa Rica. This prevents the inconvenience of your vigilant C.C. company refusing charges to your account.

Hope this helps. Remember, the Search function works extremely well here. Many of the questions you've been asking have been covered numerous times here. But... we're always happy to help new members, no worries!

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

I cannot thank you enough El Ciego for the time you have took to write that. My apologies for not using the search button as often as I should have.

:)

Tix, no problem. If you think of any other questions, you can post them publically or PM me directly. If I don't know the answer, I'll find it for you. Again, welcome to CRT!

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