Colones or dollars for Costa Rica?
#16
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
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One would think, but people here don't view it that way. That's still their equivalent of our buying a pack of gum and paying with a $100 bill. The other thing that surprised me was that you could get colones in London at all. You had to have paid a hefty premium for that transaction. And for them to stick you with a couple of 50,000 bills was downright mean, although I doubt they are aware of the dynamics.
I always bring something to read when I go to the bank.
I always bring something to read when I go to the bank.
#17
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,321
Independent shopkeepers in London aren't pleased if you pay for a 15 purchase with a 50 either so I would not expect a Costa Rican establishment to be happy giving 35000 change for a 50mil.
Currencies which are difficult to obtain in London are things like Transnistrian rubles, Macanese patacas and Nagorno-Kabarakh dram. Although the only thing I have not yet managed to find at all are South Sudan pounds.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,890
Interesting, D. What kind of premium are people in London paying to get such obscure currencies? It can't be anything resembling the bank rate in the destination country itself.
#19
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
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Even for the exotics it's not that far away from using a typical uk debit card in an ATM, which is 4.75% for a gbp250 equivalent withdrawal on a standard first direct (hsbc) account.
And bear in mind the pound is in a state of flux right now, too, so locking in rates is a bit more important...