Travelers frequently ask if they need to go to the bank in the U.S. to get Costa Rican colones (the local currency) before traveling. U.S. dollars are accepted nearly everywhere, dispensed by ATMs, used by the government to price national park fees and some taxes and many places have menus and … [Read more...]
Money- How to Get & Spend in Costa Rica
The best way to access funds and pay for things while traveling in Costa Rica depends on... Security Economy Convenience Each is important. For example it would be convenient but not too safe to have $5,000 U.S. in your pocket. good & bad exchange | dynamic ripoff | how to | … [Read more...]
Exorbitant Exchange Fee Rip-Off
Can you spot what's wrong with this receipt? It's not obvious but if you look at the two totals at the bottom of the itemized receipt you'll see ¢11,153 in Costa Rican Colones and $22.31 in U.S. dollars. That works out to an applied exchange rate of five hundred colones per dollar which is … [Read more...]
Currency Exchange Credit Card Rip-Off Scheme
It’s called convenience exchange, dynamic currency conversion or many other names and defended by businesses as a “practice instituted for the convenience of our valued customers.” We call it a rip-off. The concept is that travelers are most comfortable paying for purchases in their home … [Read more...]
“Good” & “Bad” Exchange Rates
Essentially everything in the Costa Rica Costa Rican tourism sector is either literally or for all practical purposes priced in U.S. Dollars. The Colón to Dollar exchange rate has very little impact on costs for visitors. Unless travelers get quite a ways off the beaten path the cost of most … [Read more...]
Money-Currency in Costa Rica
The new banknotes are so attractive they even made Time Magazines "most beautiful" list. Costa Rica's currency, the colón (colones plural) currently exchanges at around ¢580 per US dollar (Exchange Made Easy). Until September of 2006 the currency devalued against the dollar consistently for … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Currency Exchange Made Easy
Update 2022 - After many years around ¢500 to the dollar - a ¢50,000 price tag was the equivalent of $100 the colón went through some wild swings but it's currently stable around ¢6s75 to one U.S. dollar. The best way for travelers from the U.S. to simplify currency exchange calculations are to … [Read more...]
Colon Devaluation
In a “free” economy a big decrease in the value of the local currency would mean big savings for international travelers. However Costa Rica is a special case and savings are unlikely. Residents receiving paychecks in local currency experience marked increases in costs. However, tourists are not … [Read more...]