www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Are there HSBC branches and ATM machines in San Jose to convert US dollars to colones?
Any problems with HSBC?

Is there a fair amount of money changers to be found?

http://www.hsbc.fi.cr/

Seen them around but no idea the extent of their services. Just do a search on here for exchanging or converting dollars and colones. Tons of threads on the various options. Personally, I buy US dollars from my home bank and bring it with me. For colones, I use my debit card in Scotia Bank ATM's. Small bank fee (860 colones) but they give pretty much bank rates. For Canadian dollars, it was 489c to the dollar for me yesterday.

While I suspect you need to do a lot of board reading (seriously) - you can change dollars at the airport - all you do is finish up at customs, walk across the street and go upstairs to the ticket lobby - across from "Spirit" you will see a bank - change money there, NEVER at the "Cambio's" (there a re 2 of them at the airport).


After the bank, purchase your exit VISA - location is right by the bank.

Numerous ATM's throughout San Jose despensing colonies; I always prefer to change at the airport bank.

Edgar,

I can second the advice by Scuba1. In fact, I use the exact same procedure each time I arrive. Sure you are very tempted to get into the gulch a vacate yourself of that nuisance nut. But, you will be very happy with the exchange rate at the airport and the knowledge you have your exit tax paid and the form already filled out by the time you have to leave.

I never check in luggage but I cannot tell you how many people I have stopped at the airport from using the Cambios. Simply put it is criminal the rates they charge for exchange, nothing short of immediately taking advantage of a new visitor to the country. The ATMs are not much better either.

You can get a decent rate at a bank in San Jose but, unless your spanish is pretty good and even if it is ... I found it to be more trouble that it is worth. Exchange just less than you are absolutely sure you will spend. By the time you run through the money tow things will happen. You will find a reasonable place to exchange your money if necessary and you will also find that there are many places such as the SL or HLH where your dollar will go far enough.

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--==xpatriot==--

Don't think that it'd the same HSBC as in the states. Might have the same name, but I don't think they operate the same; or have anything to do with one another.

Both HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Costa Rica belong to HSBC Global.

mh

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mh

I do read the Board and made searches but there was little info.
That's why I posted.

Edgar, in case you haven't already there's an excellent thread you might want to read: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16357.

It has a lot of valuable information including hotel suggestions, where and how to exchange dollars, and other topics of interest. I personally have withdrawn colones from HSBC ATMs across San Jose without incident.

As to the hotels you mentioned in your other thread, neither one is a CRT favorite so it may explain why you didn't find anything on them. TripAdvisor has a couple of favorable reviews on the Doral, but there's no information on whether it's chica friendly.

Hope this helps,

mh

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mh

Try calle 4 and ave 1 on the corner, although finding street names are tough in c.r.

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no mas leche

I was speaking in general - and not trying to be a dick (I did give you some very good advice ) but this topic has been covered/discussed about a thousand times - don't get me wrong, its a very valid question.

As to hotels in the greater San Jose area, if you don't find them discussed, chances are you don't want to stay there if bringing in company is on your ajenda - a great place to check is the CRT hotel sponsors.

Oh and finally - the standard response to many questions a few years ago was "Do a search" (and frankly, I'm happy you see this reponse much less frequently now ) - I'm pretty familiar w/ the board and computers, but the search function - while not perfect by any means - is your friend.

I stand corrected...