www.CostaRicaTicas.com

A newbie here and just wanted to clarify. I noticed that alot of the time, even on sites like SL's website, the room rates are expressed in $ instead of Colones. Also, I noticed that in some TRs and other posts, the money spent on the Ticas are also expressed in USD. I'm just confirming that these prices are USD converted from colones just for ease of communication

Welcome.

No, most business that cater to tourists will actually quote in dollars. Also, all chicas quote in dollars. But you can pay both in colones. The hotels will quote in dollars but usally give you a shitty exchange rate if paying in colones. The chicas will usually accept a 500:1 exchange rate, meaning that if she quotes you $80, she will usually accept ¢40,000. In her mind, it's $80 or close to it. But in reality, it's more like $68. So if you agree to pay cien ($100), and she accepts ¢50,000, you're actually paying $86.

So it's better to pay hotels in dollars and chicas in colones.

Thanks,

And I just realized that I posted in the wrong section....

The reason most hotels and tours etc. post in dollars is due to the devaluation of the colon against the U.S. dollar. By quoting in USD the price remains the same regardless if you reserve a room for next week, next month or longer. If they posted in colones they would either have to absorb the devaluation percentage or charge you more colones then they quoted when you made your reservation. Neither of those options is pleasant for the hotel.

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

Well I tried that with a colombiana in July and paid 50,000. She promply told it would be 57,000. So I figured WTF and just gave her a Franklin


MY BLOOD RUNS COLD
MY MEMORY HAS JUST BEEN SOLD
MY ANGEL IS A PIRATE CLUB PUTA

Well, one should expect the Colombians to know the correct rate. If I remember correctly, they advise the banks daily.

Most girls at the HDR know the exchange rate and can calculate it faster and more accurately then the average bank teller.

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

What are you including in the median rate? Just banks or hotels and the airport exchages windows too?

Today's officail bank rate is 582 to exchange dollars for colones.

I agree with the others who say that some chicas are as quick in conversion as currency traders in downtown Manhattan.

The colones to dollars bait and switch with the chicas is worth the 30 seconds it takes to try......but the vast majority of chicas know the exchange way better than most of the mongers

I tried and was unsuccessful 7 out of 8 times last trip. And the one successful try begged me for cab fare for 10 minutes

_________________
In honor of Jimmy V week, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!"