How much $$ to bring
 

We will be in Costa Rica for 8 days in mid-Novemember. I was planning on getting some dollars exchanged for colones here stateside, as it seems the fees will be lower. I was planning on getting about $500 in colones. My question is will that be too much, too little, or should I not really worry about getting any - do most places take American dollars?

We will be in the MA area for 4 days & the Arenal area for 3 days.

Thanks!

Don't worry at all about exchanging any money. Almost ALL will take $$. In 11 trips I've never had anyone refuse American $$.
You will get change back in colones. Don't take any large bills, just $20's and lower.
You can pay for the hotels with credit cards.

Ditto what Ally said. Just take a couple hundred in fresh $20's. You'll get colones in change & at the ATM's.

You can also change some $$ for Colones at the airport. Most hotels and many restaurants will take chargecards. Smaller "sodas" or quicki-mart/snack places will want Colones. $500 worth of colones is more than I would want to carry around with me at one time.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I'll just hold off and bring the $20's.

As always: low/no fee ATM and low fee Credit card(s) are the way to go.
M