www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just went to Hotel Dunn to pay my departure tax, which is $27. They used to charge $5, but now want a $7 surcharge. Well, o.k. They quoted me $34 as the fee in dollars. O.K. I give them a $50 bill. They give me back 6500 colones, which is about $12.50.

It just seemed to me if they quoted me $34 and I gave them $50, I get back $16, or its equivalent in colones which is 8500 colones. When I ask them about it, they said they converted the entire $50 into colones at a rate of 490/1 (when it should be at least 520/1).

In the end, it obviously cost me $10.50 for the supposed "convenience" of doing it there.

In the end, it also cost Hotel Dunn any prospect of my ever staying there (which I had been considering).

It's actually 29 bucks, so the $5.00 surcharge (not $7) makes it 34 bucks. Why they just don't include it in your airline ticket price is beyond me, but that's the way they roll in CR.

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Take The Highway To The End Of The Night...The Doors

unless you arrive when they are closed it is so simple to go upstairs and reenter and pay your departure tax right there at the airport, and exchange some dollars right there at the bank next to it. before you head in to town. no surcharge for convenience, just the $29.

I know many of the restaurants will convert all the dollars you give them prior to taking out the amount of the check, as the Dunn Inn explained to eclectic. But, those checks are in colones. The exit tax is charged in dollars, and I expect that the Dunn Inn must pay the tax it collects in dollars. The Dunn Inn should have enough dollars on hand so that they can provide change in dollars. Even though eclectic had the amount of the tax wrong, he is right in saying he got ripped off. Any other establishment which collects the exit tax and converts in the manner described is also ripping off the customer.

In looking closer at the departure form, I see the departure tax is $27, but there is also a $2 facilities/security charge, for a total of $29.

I would have paid it on arrival, as that is surely the easiest, but I got into San Jose after the departure tax office was closed for the day.

Got mine done at SL in about 3 minutes.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

Thats actually the way they roll in pretty much all of Latin America, not just CR. It's been that way for decades. Side note, I've always paid at the airport. They're very fast, never takes more than 5-10 minutes.

The airport line is the fastest you will ever see. The tax line is fast, the social benefit line is the slowest!

That's where I've had mine done with np, SL. First trip did the bank at INS building and they had a issue with the communication line to immigration and were unable to complete the transaction.

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I always keep $29 or whatever the departure tax is separate from my other cash and pay at the airport when I am leaving. Takes less then 5 minutes every time.
At INS bank after waiting in line they fu** around with their link to immigration and then after 10 to 15 minutes tell you they cannot get through and you leave.
At the hotels you are at the mercy of their conversion rates.
Why bother ? Just pay in dollars in 5 minutes at the airport when leaving.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

I agree, airport works well , but if your going to do it ahead. Do it at the Sportsmens. The Dunn inn rips you off. It is one thing to make people pay an exchange rate on the the purchase , they scam you by having to covert all your money at that rate before selling you the tax slip. They force you to covert your change as well. Thats dirty pool! A service fee is normal4/5 dollars but to squeeze another few dollars on converting your change is unacceptable! So airport , normal very quick or SL with a reasonable fee , both good option.


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I never understood why people dont just pay it on their way out of the country at the airport. Over the years i must have paid it at least 50 times and never had to wait more than 5 minutes. Are you leaving really early and its closed at the airport?

Agree with Rasclat...think the easiest thing is get it on your departure. The line moves so fast, it isn't really much of a wait most times of the day. Between 10am-1pm is worst with all the US departures bunched up between noon and 2pm.

Any place that is charging the exit tax in colones is ripping people off. That tax is stated and collected in dollars. Converting the tax in dollars to colones then converting people's money to colones to pay it is for sure an underhanded way of doing things just to make a little extra

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

now that it appears as if the Dunn Inn has lost the CRT member business for this service someone on the ground needs to point this out to their management and explain why. This place appeals to non mongers as well so it is doubtful the word will get out to them and they will continue with this shady revenue stream.

I get mine done at SL and the only excess charge is the chocolate I bring to the little cutie who does it for you, forgot her name but id she's still there, you get a sexy smile for your chocolate...

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...