www.CostaRicaTicas.com

[/quote]NO!! I do not need a drank Guess I am just so use to hearing Ticos saying "colony" that I just did not think when I was typing. I do know it is colon (singular) and colonies (plural).

And I do think the vast majority reading this would know that the "c" in front of a number represents the Costa Rican money "colonies". . JMO[/quote]

If you need a Drink i'll be happy to buy you some when I get back down there.
Thanks for all the insight you have provided.
Balz

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Never trust anything that bleeds 3 to 5 days and doesn't DIE.

That true but has no bearing on the original posters concern.

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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

Good Lord, I must have it backwards!

This is a lesson to other newbies! Don't get blinded by all the women and lose perspective on your $$. Last trip I found the conversion rate pretty confusing and probably spent money like a sailor (or not). My guess-timate was 20,000 was roughly around $40. Seems kinda off! I was in a p*ssy haze!



Thanks for some clarity. Sheesh!

Don't be to hard on yourself. It is very common for those who do not deal in colones every day to get confused. A very common error is to see something on the menu for 6000c and thinking "oh 6 bucks that's a good price" and later realizing it actually was over $10.00 not such a good price after all.

I have always maintained that until you have spent a lot of time dealing in colones you should always negotiate in dollars.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

My formula for determining colones to dollars is 5,000 colones x 2 = $10 then subtract 10% which is $1 So 5,000 colones is $9 This is based on 550 colones to the dollar. ID said the current rate is 570 colones to the dollar, so to be perfectly accurate it would be $8.85. But this is a little to much math when you've got chicas on the mind and booze in your belly

I don't get the logic here.

I have found that most buinesses are going to use a more exact conversion. In other words, you are not going to save much at a restaurant or Mas por Menos. You will save some at the smaller sodas and such. The greatest savings comes in the negotiations with the chicas. Most accept the 500:1 conversion.

I was always told to double the amount of colonies and move the decimal point three spaces to the left. For instance c5000 x 2 = 10,000. now move the decimal and you have $10.00. Now if you get a chica to go for say $80. Sadly, when you get to your hotel, you only have colonies, you would pay her c40,000, which using the easy conversion would equal $80. Really it comes out to about $70, so you just saved $10 by paying in colonies. Sometimes they fuss a little, but I never had any real problems using this method.

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I can't deny it, with that smile on her face. It's not the kill, it's the thrill of the chase!

Think of it this way (in response to the original question), both currencies are like falling knives tossed from a roof top or a bridge, the CR currency is falling faster. Maybe that helps you.

I have found the Colombianas are very good at figureing the colones/dollars ratio in the favor