www.CostaRicaTicas.com

There are 2 ATMs in The Rey lobby. Only one dispenses dollars.

There is an ATM in the Colonial Casino, next to HDR, that dispenses dollars or colones.

The ATMs at the Rey and Colonial are NOT famous for being sweet to us with the fees and the exchange rate.

Also, the cashier at the Colonial Casino will exchange dollars (maybe up to $100 or $200) at a very fair exchange rate. No passport is necessary to exchange. That casino and cashier are open 24/7.

The exchange rate used by the cashier at HDR is NOT fair.

So off to the Bank ATM....thanks RAC!!

Great info. Thanks, Rac. I have had my Schwab card for about a year. Would not leave home without it. Easiest way to transfer money between US and CR, or any other country where I travel. My card got eaten one night by the ATM at the BCR branch a block from HDR, but I got it back easily the next morning inside the bank. Did have to show the passport.

Be aware that the BCR branch across the street from the Morazan shuts down their ATMs overnight, they say, for security reasons. I think that they stop working at 10 pm until, maybe, daylight.

The HDR machines are often out of cash. I see them being refilled pretty often.

Mas x Menos , 2 blocks from The Rey, has a Scotia Bank ATM that gives dollars or colones, and charges $3 per transaction. Schwab refunds that fee. I never checked the exchange rate at that ATM.

I have done up to $ 400 at one time at the counter IN THE BACK ... not the front counter. $ 300 several times.

_________________
bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

The exchange rate at an ATM is set by the bank that issues the card, and not the machine. The exception is if you use a machine that gives USD but runs the charge as colones. if this happens then you are actually doing two currency exchanges.

For example, they could give you $100 but apply the sell rate, plus a percentage. In this case the charge for $100 would be 55,311 colones (537+3%). A no fee bank would then apply the buy rate (527) and $104.95 would be deducted from your bank account.

At least this was my experience the one and last time that I got dollars from the little ATM box at the Del Rey.

if you want to withdraw dollars, then go to the main branch of the Banco De Costa Rica (BCR) or Banco Nacional (BN) and find the machines that give USD. They will actually charge your account in USD and avoid this nonsense.

_________________
Costa Rica, the Number ONE party destination in Latin America!

I don't think that is the case with ATM's in Colombia. I have gone to separate bank ATM's, within minutes of each other, and received different rates.
Most of the locations that have multiple BCR ATM's have at least one that dispenses dollars.

I am retiring this year and they will give me a Master Card Debit card. Any dangers or advice?
thanks

Which financial institution issues the card? Since it is a debit card, you must have funds in the institution.