US Dollars in Costa Rica
 

I notice that a lot of travel guides and websites quote prices of things in COsta Rica in US Dollars. Does this mean that I should expect to pay for these things in USD? Should I bring a supply of US currency for situation or do all of the places mainly accept the local currency?

Most places in Costa Rica (including local stores, hotels, restaurants, taxis) accept payment in USD and often give you change in colones. They basically recalculate the local currency into USD and can give you a price in either. Of course the exchange rate you get that way is probably worse than you would get from a credit card or by actually exchanging the money. <BR>On our last trip to CR we took some USD with us and withdrew additional cash from ATMs as needed (that of course was in local currency). We used credit cards to pay for hotels and restaurants (although a lot of small local establishments do not accept credit cards).

I would stick to bringing $1's, 5's, 10's. I have had problems with $20's.

Just back from CR a few weeks ago. The hotels where we exchanged dollars for colones had decent exchange rates, considering the convenience. We generally paid in colones, or if we paid in dollars, we would get colones back. Print up a sheet with conversions both ways to keep in your wallet. Its easy to get muddled when doing the calculations, especially if you have had a few Pilsens... We generally did not use credit cards in restaurants, as someone had warned us that there was potential for misuse. Hotels were fine. We tried 2 atms, and neither worked for us.

$10 bills are optimum. $20's are usually OK in the more well-traveled places. $50's are scrutinized under an electron microscope. I usually bring about $150 in colones and the rest in USD. I was getting 384 colones/USD a couple of weeks ago from just about everyone. You'll never receive change in USD so don't expect to. ATM's aren't reliable, so I'd bring a fair amount of cash. Credit cards can reduce the amount of cash you bring and are nice for their convenience and favorable exchange rates - good for hotels and car rentals. Hope that helps. Check out some Guanacaste pics and movies at http://www.speakeasy.net/~zebratoo/costarica/index.htm

Hey Miguelini<BR>Just checked out your pics. Awesome! Thanks <BR>Have you joined Virtual Tourist? Lots of great pics there too.

Have not checked out Virtual Tourist, but I will. Thanks!!

What is virtual tourist. What am I missing? Laureen

Laureen,<BR>Just type in Virtual Tourist in your search area.<BR>It is a travel site with people from all over the world and many have put in pictures and tips of their travels. Many also have their own picture by their questions and replies so you can see who is answering you. Michael (Sailing) who puts a lot of info on this board is in there with a pic of himself and if you look a little further a pic of his boat.<BR>There are hundreds of pic from all over the world. Have fun.

The exchange rategiven in the shops was surprisingly on-par with my bank rate. People generally give prices in dollars down there.<BR><BR>I took an exchange sheet with me, but never used it, as shopkeepers always show you the conversion as they're doing it on their calculators.

Just wondering --- when you leave Costa Rica at the airport, can you pay the departure tax in either US dollars or local currency??
Thanks!

They will give you the amount in both colones and dollars and you can pay with either. The place where you pay is in the entrance corridor to the main terminal. The taxi dropped me off at a different entrance and there was no place to pay there and when I inquired at the information booth inside the terminal...the girl had no idea of what I was talking about, I even asked in spanish.

Thanks Suzie2!
We're going in mid-June, I feel better being more prepared.