www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Last time I was in the SL, there was a sign behind the front desk stating they didn't take two different serial numbered $100s or $50s. Maybe someone can post the exact combination of letters.

The girl at the bank gave me a sideways look when I told her I didn't want those bills starting with...

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I aim to misbehave. -Capt. Malcolm Reynolds

Netgems,

I have been thinking about this since reading it a few minutes ago. I am just trying to figure out where you would, in a week or so, tip 50 times at (only) a dollar each time.

Restaurants and sodas?- tip is almost always included, and with a c3000 meal (less than $6) in a medium priced soda, if you gave a dollar tip on top of the tip already included you would be tipping the waiter over 25%. And extremely seldom would I consider the service in a restaurant here worthy of even a 20% tip!!!

Taxi? To begin with only Gringos tip or are expected to tip. Secondly the average ride in the gulch is (if metered) less than $3. A dollar tip would be 33%!! Ticos do actually often let the taxista keep the change if it is less than c500, and the metered price is over c4000/c5000. Pirate taxi or regular taxi not using the meter? TIP?? Sorry but when you are getting over charged often 200% why in hell would anyone tip

The chicas? (only) a one dollar tip!!! Try that, especially with an indy that you are paying $60 to $100! Many would probably throw it back in your face. Even in the MPs, a 1 dollar tip would be looked at as "muy chino"!

The hotel maids? OK, I will give you this one, if you tip her every day! Many leave a single, larger tip the last day! The problem with one big tip the last day is one maid may have cleaned your room for 6 days and the last day she is off and a maid who has only cleaned the one day gets the big tip!!

Sorry I just cannot figure out where you would tip a dollar 50 times!! Please enlighten me/us!! Also, living here I know just how hard it can be to get a single dollar bill changed to colonies!! On the surface it sounds like a good idea; in reality, not so much!!!

One other thing that you mentioned: Gringos not liking to have a bunch of colony change in their pockets! yep I have heard this several times from guys. Not sure I understand it though! Do you guys not quite often have 2-3 or more dollars in change in your pocket? Yes the c500 coin is kind of big but living here and riding buses, I try to keep two or three of them all the time--every bus is a different price but almost all less than c500. If I have a c500 I just give the driver that and get change back thus not having to, as I am getting on the bus, count out in smaller coins the right amount. And, one c500 weighs a lot less than 5 c100 coins!!!! Also it is always best to have smaller coins and rojos (c1000 notes) when using a taxi-they will never have change!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

BangBang,

I would definitely never tip a chica $1, I value my testicles too much. I take a lot of taxi rides out of the gulch, so for longer trips I typically give a buck, sometimes I give tips to hotel workers who do special favors for me, one maid gave me dozens of hotel pens and pads of paper, usually on a full meal that has "propina" included, I'll toss in another $1 to show my appreciation, Me and my crew always get out of the gulch to see different sites for a few days, I find myself tipping service people, guides, people who help us.

Although I am "frugal" by nature to put it lightly, (My ex wife stated my fingerprints were imbedded in all my coins) I typically like to spend and tip when on vacation. I am not so cheap, however, to ever find myself at the Morazon (private joke, fellow CRT buddy here loves the Morazon and hates Del Rey, I stay at the Del Rey and dis the Morazon).

I lived there for 2 years and also carried change in a little leather pouch I purchased on Avenida Central and found it useful for buses, but when on vacation I have no use for change, I leave it all daily for the maids or give it to handicapped Ticos begging on Av Central.

I figure if I'm generous enough to give people a buck, it's their responsibility to either spend it or convert it!

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

I guess my response goes back to my very strong belief in "When in Rome-----" I just do not understand carrying a big stack of $1 bills when going to a (any) foreign country and passing them out instead of using the local currency especially when it is someone like you who should have a very good understanding of the local currency and how the locals (Ticos) view things!!! Yes there are some professional/business people who like dollars (in large amounts ). Hell I pay my rent in dollars because the landlord owns a business where they buy their merchandise with dollars!! But I have heard more than once the average Ticos (even beggars) complaining about getting dollars!! Yes I know they should be glad for whatever they get, but that is just not Human nature!!!! Oh well, TEHO!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

As long as the "local exchange centers" you have in mind are banks (there are 2 "Cambios" at the airport too, but they are rip offs, and should be avoided) - there is a bank at the airport, across from the ticket counters - use it; you should be fine.

Once you change some $$$ its done for a while and you don't have to deal with messing around with banks in San Jose - or carrying money back and forth on the street, as well as dealing with the inefficiencies Ticos deal with and seem to accept. One trip to a bank outside of the airport one, and you will know exactly what I'm talking about

You can, of course use ATM's (remember you need a 4 digit password) but its easy to exchange some money when you land.

At the same time - its located right near the bank - buy your exit visa too - this way its done, you don't have to find places in San Jose to do this - and one less thing to worry about - this is one aspect of Costa Rica that seems to move very fast, and efficiently (after all, why not - its a tax that is pure profit to the government

Scuba, another alternative is when I take my morning walk, I'll pick you up at Morazan, take you to my bank (1 block away) and you can exchange you $. Wait is usually zero, you won't need a passport. The is no charge from the bank.

You are a great guy and I love hanging out with you at your place - I hope to get down in June - thanks, Bruce