www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am getting ready for my first CR trip, and I have a question. I see everyone talking about negotiating with the ticas. I don't speak very good spanish, how many girls speak english? What is the language barrier? Do I need to study in order to get a CIM?

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If you can't feel the bottom..then beat up the sides!!

Welcome to the board.

Read this thread. It contains a lot of useful info to use on your upcoming trip. There is also a section on language. It includes some basic words/phrases to help you.

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16357

The majority of the chicas speak some English (from a few words to very well). But you should at least try to learn some basics. Learn how to greet (hi, how are you, what's your name, bye) and maybe some numbers.

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18648

16rules:
Read the above: do not be influenced by the name of the thread. Many say Spanish is a necessity others say it's an enhancement read and make your own decision. Personally the girls do their homework they'll be prepared to talk to you.

Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

16,your going to have fun even if you don't know one word in Spanish.That said, trying to learn a little might enhance the expierence.Wellcome to the board and enjoy yourself.If i were you i would take notes from Oranges thread for newbies.It has priceless advice for the novice.Try to use the search function on this board to help you with your trip as well.If you dig a little you'll find a lot of information.

Thanks, that link was great. I can't wait to get to CR

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If you can't feel the bottom..then beat up the sides!!

My big thing is encouraging people to learn their numbers and quickly be able to convert on currency to another.

In Mexico it was easy - you figured about 10 pesos to the dollar but in CR where you have 517-520 colones to the dollar, if you don't pay attention you could get screwed.

Say you are standing outside the DR and you need a cab to the Presidente - you ask the cabbie how much and he says tres mill colones. If you are a little intoxicated - you might think "OK 3,000 colones divided by about 500 colones to the dollar.....let's see - cut the value in colones in half and drop 3 zeros....and that equals about $1.50" When really the trip would cost you $6

If you learn only a tiny bit of Spanish before you leave, as suggested in another post learn the basic greetings.

If you have more energy to learn, for god's sake learn the numbers and practice currency conversion in your head. Here's what I do:

To convert from dollars to colones: Drop the thousand and multiply by two. for example: 17,000 colones = $34.

To convert from dollars to colones: divide by two and add the thousand. for example: 14 dollars = 7,000 colones

I also make myself visualize the two currencies to equate the bills and coins to each other in the different currencies:

500 colones coin = $1 (I always think of the 500 colones coin like the Canadian dollar coin for some reason - I guess since they don't have $1 bills either) Any coins under 500 colones are loose change that I leave for the maids' tips in my hotel.

1,000 colones bill. Think of this a $2 bill
2,000 colones bill. $4
5,000 colones bill. $10
10,000 colones bill $20

Getting your numbers/currrency down cold will make for a better experience all around.