LeighNewland

Hi - I've read the old posts about this but I am still not sure what the balance should be for travelers checks vs. cash vs. credit cards.

We are staying at 3 hotels: Tabacon (Arenal), Grano del Oro (SJ), and (Drake Bay).

What method/currency should I expect to use to pay for these hotels? For tours and excursions? For shopping? For tipping?

LeighNewland

Sorry, posted before I finished: we are staying at Aguila de Osa Inn at Drake Bay.

JeanH

I've stayed at all three, and used credit cards at all three. Actually, at Aguila de Osa and Grando del Oro, it was arranged by a travel agent and 'prepaid'. But, we used a credit card for drinks and meals. Used cash to tip guides and such.

Jean

shillmac

Travelers cheques are handy for hotels if the hotels will easily accept them. I'd check with each hotel and see what their policy is. We've done both--credit card and t. cheques at hotels.

For tours I'd use credit cards. Shopping, depends on how much you plan to shop and what things you want to buy. Combination of cash/credit card suggested.

Tips, take plenty of $1--good condition. $5 for tour guides.

LeighNewland

Just for clarity, you mean US dollars, right? Not the CR colon (jeez, is that the spelling? Maybe colone..) For cash, what kind of US/CR balance do I need? Or maybe all USD?

shillmac

You can use either easily. You will have a mix after a short time because all change is given in colones. We prefer to use colones when in Costa Rica because we don't have to concern ourselves with always trying to mentally do the conversions. Just seems easier. When we first starting going to Costa Rica, we would just use our change for small things like cokes, snacks, tips, etc. After a couple of trips, it began to make more sense to get colones out of the ATMs and use it for meals, gift purchases, etc. It does seem odd to pay a hotel bill that adds up to 125,000! Credit cards are easier to use on these larger amounts because it could take 15 or 20 ten thousand colones bills to pay for an expense such as hotel. That's a lot of bills to pack around!