www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I work for a bank here in L.A. and we have a foreign exchange desk. As an employee, I've been assured that I'd get a "great" rate of about 375 colones to the $. Now, I've read that in C.R. the exchange rate is closer to 450. I'm arriving in on a Saturday morning and I'm sure banks are closed there on Saturdays. So the questions is: If I wanted to exchange say $500 into local currency, where's the best place to do that, on a weekend? Secondly, for my "dates" with Tica's should I plan mainly on paying in local currency or in US $....seems to me from what I've read, colones is the way to go.

Yes, use colones for the chicas. There is a Banc of San Jose in the airport, located in the departure area in the far corner by the exit tax counters. It will be open if you are arriving in the afternoon and possibly the morning, just go up there and check it out. The rate is 449 colones to the $.

That's good to know but my flight arrives in San Jose around 7:15 in the a.m. Saturday. If I can't exchange $$ at the airport that early (I assume I'll be at my hotel...Amon Plaza by around 9:00 a.m.) where's the next best place in town to convert $$ in local currency on Saturday...the hotel?

https://costaricaticas.com/phpbb2/vi ... php?t=3810


If you can't get to a bank, then I would assume the Hotel would be your next best bet. The Del Rey is around 440 to the $.

Piroca, at Mall San Pedro there are 3 different banks that open on saturdays: Banco de Costa Rica and Banco Nacional are pretty busy and I am sure you will find long lines, however there is also Banco de San Jose,
that one may be your best choice since not many people comes to it.

Just in case Mall San Pedro is a 5 min drive from the Gulch, if you plan to come over tell the cab driver to get you to the Movies entrance.."back entrance" once you come inside take the first right and then take a left s on the hallway you will find an ATM or the bank itself... or easier just ask for banco de San Jose, I beleive they open at 10 am, best time to show up.


Hope the info help

best regards

Mente

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Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com

Piroca,

Without a doubt the the best place to exchange money is at the Casino Colonial.

1. It's open all the time
2. Their rate is as good as any around including the banks
3. It's right next to the Del Rey
4. There is never a line like at a bank
5. It's a beautiful place
6. Need I go on.....?

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Una mas cerveza por favor!

Why exchange money in the first place? Take 100 with you, then go to the Colonial and get 90,000c worth of colones and take the exchanging money out of the picture. I do know that when I try to change $$$ to ccc at the Presidente, if the 20 bills have a small mark or tear, they won't except it.

Just to clarify $100 is around 45.000 colones

Mente

_________________
Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com

Sorry Latinoheat but DO NOT exchange currency at the Del Rey. I have been informed that they make in excess of $100,000/year exchanging money and ripping off the Gringos. Change your money at either the Casino Colonial or the Horseshoe Casino.Both are adjacent to the Del Rey and are currently at 450 colones to the dollar with no change fees.

Thanks VB, that's why I stick to the Banks.

For once Vegasbob is actually correct. I have said this many times...I do not recommend anyone to change money at the Delrey Hotel. It is the worse rate you can get with comparison to other Hotels.

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I got a good rate from the ATM next to the Burger King but a slightly better rate at the Presidente. I was staying there and they may not exchange if you are not a guest there.
T

You will get the same rate from any ATM. The exchange rate is determined by YOUR bank who issued the ATM card not by the bank who owns the ATM. The only difference is the fee (if any) charged by the bank owning the ATM.

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Alex Levine

Will the casino and airport take $100 bills?

Zart

I get the best exchange rate from my colombian novia!!

ShowerHead