Dear All, We are gearing up for our trip to Costa Rica maps and directions in bag (thank you again Shillmac)! Now, about the money.. from what I gather- USD are accepted in most establishments in "touristy" areas (I assume that Tamarindo and MA are considered touristy). I think the popular advice is to bring about $300 in smallish bills - under $10? And, that VISA cards are also accepted in larger establishments (hotel and some restaraunts)sounds like there are mixed feelings about Travelers Cheques? If we do bring cheques as a precaution are AMEX checks ok even if most places won't accept AMEX cards? Also, we would like to be as respectful as possible. Can we withdraw colones from an ATM at SJ airport? I did read that there are exchange options at the airport, but we will be rushing to get on the road to avoid dark driving! or is it more respectful to pay in USD.. if that is what they prefer? Help! just want to be safe and friendly, T

Based on our experience, Costa Ricans are just as happy to accept payment in USD as they are in colones. I do not recall if there is an ATM at the airport but you could stop in Alajuela to get colones from an ATM (there are a few banks not far from the highway exit). As to the bills to bring: $10 and $20 will work fine. In addition bring some singles and fives for tips.

We used travellers checks a few times and they are a hassle but it is worth having some in case of an emergency. I cannot recall if ours were Amex but I think they were.

Yes, of course you can use either dollars or colones. We prefer colones (and always get our ATM money out in that form) because it seems easier to us to use! Make sure your bills (1's through 20's) are in decent shape. Some of the businesses don't like to accept them if they are torn, written upon, etc.

Traveler's cheques: we use them for only one thing--hotels who have said ahead of time that they will accept them. They are handy for that!

Have a wonderful time, Tech!

ditto on the hotels - we check to see if they will accept them - and then pay the remainder owed on the room, plus any extra room charges, which sometimes might also include some tours - with Amex Travelers checks. In 4 trips we have not run into a problem with this, staying at moderate to higher hotels.

As far as US dollars vs colones - we have always been told that the Costa Rican people like to get US dollars, due to the value of the dollar. Therefore we typically pay with dollars. We do normally change say $100 US in order to have some colones as needed. And typically when you pay for something in US the change will be in colones, which we find to give us plenty.

One tidbit - I always carry a cheatsheet, in order to avoid doing quick math. I print a pocket conversion chart - Dollars to Colones and Colones to Dollars. Then put these back to back and cover them with a laminating sheet. I know, I know - but it really simplifies things for me. I can easily get close to the correct cost with a glance.

Where did you get the pocket version of the dollars to colones and colones to dollars. I love your idea. We are going to Costa Rica for the first time in July and I definitely will need a pocket version of this money converter.

Yes there is an ATM at the SJ airport. You'll see signs as soon as you leave the baggage area (it is around the corner from the exchange window).
AMEX TC are OK. Friends used them even when only Visa was accepted (yes, Visa is the predominant card in CR). I wish I had brought some TC too since I ran out of cash (had about $250) with no ATMs to be found and only had MC.
Have fun. CR is marvelous!

Conversion Chart - just do a web search for Currency Converter. AOL has one that prints in pocket size.

In Manuel Antonio, AMEX, Vis and MC were all widely accepted and it was also easy for us to cash AMEX traveler's checks at the hotel. In Arenal, we had problems with one ATm but were able to use another. MC and AMEX are not widely accepted here and we also had problems changing traveler's checks at the hotel-they often did not have change or when they did, it was a $50 limit. You can pay everywhere in $ or colones