www.CostaRicaTicas.com

On my last trip I gave a bartender at the Del Rey $20 for an Imperial. When I counted the Colones she gave me back it was short by about 2,000 Colones. When I confronted her about my change she quickly walked over to the register and gave me the correct change, with a dirty look on her face. Has this happened to anyone else?

I had a similar situation, not at the Del Rey.......but the NYB.

You've got some nerve counting your change, pal...How dare YOU!

Yeah they'll beat you any way they can. They even substitute 50 colones coins for the 100...and whataya gonna do? Beat 'em down for a dime? Gotta keep a close watch...especially when changing big bills or dollars...

PHX

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

before ordering even one beer ....make sure you 1000's colones .....we all at first dont feel good about using anything but us money but as your trip wears on ...its easy to use colones ...and less chance of getting screwed ....

Yea... one can get short changed on purpose and one can get short changed with no evil intention whatsoever. People do make mistakes. I have seen the later on more than one occasion.

Berk.....

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

it's a frequent occurence and usually isn't a mistake, after all that's what they do ...sell drinks.

they also have a habit of being real slow with returning with your change to the point where you have to ask.

I have had to ask on many occasions and have received the same dirty look but glady returned the favor.

One might think they should be happy with having such a good job and satisfied with making more money than most Costa Ricans...but yet again, they just think for the moment and generally not the future..

Here's the flip side. Gringo runs up a big bar tab. Gringo gets hammered. Gringo DOESN'T want to pay a legit tab and makes a big scene.

Berk....

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

I had a strange incident once at the Blue Marlin.....I sat at the bar beside this gringo I had never seen before. We made the usual, casual greetings and small talk. After the gringo had several rum and cokes, he left, saying he was going to the bano. He did not return. When I asked the bartender for my bill, I was surprised that she had included the rum and cokes that the gringo had drank. I asked her "why are these rum and cokes on the bill?" She said "they're the drinks your friend had." I said "my friend!?!?....I've never seen the guy before in my life." She shrugged and took them off the bill.

Zebra

Yes the "flip side" does occur but certainly not with the regularity of the short/slow change scenario.

If you are sitting at a table on the monkey bar side it takes forever to get your change. I believe it is deliberate in that they hope you are drunk and will forget you did not get your change.

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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

This probably happens once a week, versus the "flip side" which happens numerous times daily.

Suggestion:

the Del Rey is what it is and you know that long before you walk in the door. Do not run a bar tab, carry small bills and pay-as-you-go. These simple rules make it someone else's problem not yours. Just another one of my humble opinions.

Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

Funny. I was just going to post the same thing. This is the best advice, IMJ, to prevent any misunderstandings. Keep a pile of small bills (colones) and 500 CRC coins and pay as you go. When the bartender delivers your drink, don't let her walk away until she has your money, and don't give her any more dinero than you plan to pay for the drink and tip.

On a somewhat parallel topic, I have always tipped the bartender well at ZB, and these gals always help me talk with the girls, negotiate, figure out which girl is a good match, etc. I have also been gifted the odd drink there. Of course the drink prices are through the roof at ZB, but the bartenders do respond well to your generousity.

Of course maybe someone will come along and tell me that the bartenders respond well even if you don't tip them, but let's not turn this into yet another tipping thread.

IMHO, if you run a tab in CR, TJ, or really any foreign country, you may as well hand them your wallet when your leaving, and let them take out what they say you owe.

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

I have to disagree. Its basically the norm in most places across the Pacific, never had a problem once.

Its only as much a problem as you let it be. If they gave you the wrong change, tell them. If you decide not to count your change, then thats your fault.

The place does get busy, it is dark, most have shit all for education it seems. Im sure its more mistake and human error then them scamming us over 10 cents.

Another source of the mistakes is when the bartender/servers get too intoxicated. It happened to me on the monkey bar side when waiting for change from a 10K colone note for an imperial beer that never came. I observed the server enjoying multiple shots from a few gringos before and after she took my money and I sincerely believe that's why she forgot about my change. After a couple of conversations with her and another bartender I recieved the correct change.

Some of these girls drink alot during their shifts and it's not a typical "lady drink" you see in the strip clubs. I'm surprised how well most of them handle their alcohol.