Costa Rica currency
May 16, 2013, 10:21 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: Alaska MVP 75K, Delta Plat, Bonvoy Ambasador, Hilton diamond.
Posts: 527
It was widely accepted last Christmas when we were there...don't expect change in USD. 10K colones = $20usd ballpark. Nobody played "exchange rate" games with us when we used USD.
There is nothing wrong with the local currency, just get some Colones out of an ATM...that's going to be your best exchange rate period.
Enjoy your trip
There is nothing wrong with the local currency, just get some Colones out of an ATM...that's going to be your best exchange rate period.
Enjoy your trip
May 16, 2013, 11:32 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: West Michigan
Programs: DL, UA, AA, B6, BA (airline status-free leisure traveler), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,963
I agree that USD are widely accepted. I did have a couple of our guides drag their feet a little bit about accepting CC's though.
One nice thing that I found out on our return flight home is that you can use a combination of colones and other currencies to settle your departure fees at the SJO airport. I found that to be a good way to wipe out my remaining stash of CR currency.
One nice thing that I found out on our return flight home is that you can use a combination of colones and other currencies to settle your departure fees at the SJO airport. I found that to be a good way to wipe out my remaining stash of CR currency.
May 18, 2013, 10:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
I always get colones from the ATM at the airport, just so I have a few hundred $ worth on me. Most places do accept dollars, but I just think part of the fun of travel is learning a new currency, and acting more like a local than a tourist.
May 23, 2013, 5:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SJO
Programs: TA Platinum (Now LifeMiles Diamond), CO/CM Platinum. (Now UA Premier 1K) AMEX Platinum
Posts: 379
Either use an ATM at the airport or use dollars. Do not exchange at the airport when you arrive. The exchange houses in the arrivals area at the airport have the worst exchange rate in the country by about 10%! Even the taxi drivers will give you a better deal. Almost all big grocery stores accept dollars now, although the change will be in colones.
May 31, 2013, 12:45 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
I always try to use local currency when I'm in a country. I'd at least get $100-$200 worth of colones out of an airport ATM. I've often found the local price cheaper than USD.
Ah, the good old days when I first went, it was 80 colones to 1 USD.
Ah, the good old days when I first went, it was 80 colones to 1 USD.
Jun 1, 2013, 1:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Auburn, AL
Programs: DL
Posts: 361
We've been here for several days bouncing around the central pacific coast. Have yet to find a place that didn't accept dollars, but as others have said, expect colones back. Exchange rate around the places we have gone in are anywhere from 480-500 colones per dollar.