Originally Posted by MarkMColo

IMO, we don't have enough data to make any conclusions about CRC. The OP referred to "about a dollar difference". If the OP provided the same kind of transactional data as the recent posters are showing, then perhaps we could reach some conclusions.

Originally Posted by Happy

Not saying this might be the cause of your Costa Rica case.

I notice that ALL banks padded the exchange rates if the transactions were done on the day before weekend or holiday of the Host Country, i.e. the transaction would not be converted to host currency until after the holiday / weekend. This has happened in all the cards and ATM withdrawals we have done in Europe, Asia and Australia.

These days I try to time ATM withdrawals with the holiday / weekends of the host currency country in mind to minimize the exchange loss.