Hello all......just some good stuff to check on before you travel to CR. I just checked with our credit union about using their debit cards down there........EEEERRRRRRRRR!!!!! NO! they don't cover any financial transactions with CR! You can't even get foreign currency with them either.
-- Edited by Creekster on Friday 16th of July 2021 09:10:09 AM
Hola Creekster. I think you are in the US? I am in Canada and we use RBC Bank. It is a Canadian bank but has branches all over the US. Through that bank, we have a US Bank credit card and order Colones before our trips. Because we are in Canada it saves us having to exchange CAD to USD and then to Colones when we get there. It normally takes a few weeks to get our Colones after we order it. We try to bring down as much cash as we feel comfortable bringing down. Usually half Colones and half USD. You will definitely need a credit card for car rentals and hotel costs. I would be careful not to use CC at gas stations and restaurants. Credit Card fraud is a problem in CR. My brother had his card skimmed at a gas station in Cobano. Just be careful where you use them. I hope this helps!
WE have heard about some of the CC scams...but we have not experienced any.
Honestly...we use our CC everywhere.... WE do use common sense....(that is a MUST in CR) but we have been very fortunate that we have NOT had any problems using out CC.
Common sense prevails.
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Life is short...so get out of the Rat Race and Enjoy Paradise in Costa Rica.
Thanks Douge for that info......originally tried to use our CU debit card to book a night at Baldi Spa and was denied. The msg said to contact our bank and, sure enough that's how we found out our CU didn't support CR. We have sense opened a new bank account that will support CU and, they can order Colones for us!!! Glad i checked before it was to late! Now we hope and pray our passports get back in time!
Just be aware that there are not alot of bank Machines. Usually only at a bank. Are you on WhatsApp? If not you should. If you need to contact people in CR or even back home, it is easy and only uses data. Might be a good idea to bring an old unlocked phone and get a sim card and then you are set. Only costs a dollar for sim card and $10 to add minutes to it. That might even last your whole trip.
I am not sure about ATM's in Tamarindo, but I know further south on the Nicoya Penninsula there are not as many. You might want to contact SeaCasa to check on them in Samara. The last time we were there I never noticed. Also I think there is a Spanish and English screen on most but I don't think all. Have your Google translate ready in case it is only Spanish.
thanks again Doug....just waiting on passports now.....getting a little nervous now. We are renewing old passports, let them expire. Sent them off a month ago.
Pass ports in hand, CR cash in hand......we are ready to make the voyage!!!! We opened a new account at a major bank here in town.....no problem with debit cards and getting CR cash. I think we have all the apps we need.
-- Edited by Creekster on Tuesday 5th of October 2021 08:03:10 PM
Pass ports in hand, CR cash in hand......we are ready to make the voyage!!!! We opened a new account at a major bank here in town.....no problem with debit cards and getting CR cash. I think we have all the apps we need.
-- Edited by Creekster on Tuesday 5th of October 2021 08:03:10 PM
Congrats...when do you guys fly out?
__________________
Life is short...so get out of the Rat Race and Enjoy Paradise in Costa Rica.
Have a great time in Samara! We took an ATV trip from Santa Theresa, the last time we were in CR. Check out Frank's Bar and Grill. The owner is a friend of a friend. Give us a review of Seacasa, I might stay there on our next ATV trip, to Samara.
Hopefully we will be heading to our house in Montezuma, at the end of November.