Questions for Costa Rica

[Iwinyourmoney]

1. Money. When I get there should I convert a certain % of what I bring to CR $? Also, should I only bring 20s? I heard that a lot of places won't touch US 100 bills? Should I keep most of my money on my DC?

2. Cigarettes: do they sell Marlboro in CR? What's the price per pack?

3. The water: safe to drink or no? Ice cubes in drinks?

4. Phone. Verizon iPhone won't work in CR. I can rent a world phone for 20$ from verizon, should I?

[jose21_us]

Some good questions. Im sure chilidog can answer them. For the phone thats not a bad price to have to call back to the states.

[Iwinyourmoney]

2.50 a min to call, 50 cents a text

[BIGDAY]

I plan on bringing some DC, however I use a certain kind of cred kard for ease and use where possible. I aint trusting the water and I'll be drinking beer.

Internet should be all that I need.

Chilli, look forward to your insight.

[blittydeuce]

No reason to convert money. US is accepted everywhere.

Yes they have marlboros for like $3-6.

I drank the water last time i was there. Maybe stick to bottles to be safe.

My at and t iphone worked fine there.

[Reload]

I've never had to transfer US money into colones in CR as the dollars are taken for pretty much everything. If you run out of cash and have to hit an ATM, then you'll be getting that in colones. If you get change from anyone, that might be in colones and you'll get a little screwed on the rounding but it's all good.

I agree on avoiding the 100-dollar bills. Have been through that a couple of times at the mall there and they had to make photocopies of my passport and everything. Stick with 20's and have smaller bills ready for tips here and there.

Have never had problems with water or ice there at all.

Have never rented a cell phone for there but it's a good idea to have one. You may have to call one of us for a ride after your first wild night in town.

[chilidog]

1. Money. When I get there should I convert a certain % of what I bring to CR $? Also, should I only bring 20s? I heard that a lot of places won't touch US 100 bills? Should I keep most of my money on my DC?

2. Cigarettes: do they sell Marlboro in CR? What's the price per pack?

3. The water: safe to drink or no? Ice cubes in drinks?

4. Phone. Verizon iPhone won't work in CR. I can rent a world phone for 20$ from verizon, should I?

1. A lot of places will not touch a $100 USD bill. Casinos will. ATMs are everywhere, and the exchange rates are favorable. Do not exchange money at the airport. $20 USD bills are accepted just about everywhere, but you'll be given local currency as change, and will often be shafted on the exchange rate. Use the ATMs in the airport and withdraw local currency.

2. Yes, they sell Marlboro, but it's not the same. It's grown locally, and they just license the name. Marlboro Rojo's (reds) are 1000-1200 colones I think (just assume that 500 colones = $1 USD; it's easier to do the conversion that way)

3. Yes, water is safe to drink.

4. Not sure what they do with iPhones here. The phone company sells iphones, and they have prepaid SIMs, but I don't know if the prepaid SIMs are the smaller ones that the iphone uses.

2.50 a min to call, 50 cents a text

You can buy a prepaid SIM card at the airport. Calls will be much, much cheaper that way.

I plan on bringing some DC, however I use a certain kind of cred kard for ease and use where possible. I aint trusting the water and I'll be drinking beer.

Internet should be all that I need.

Chilli, look forward to your insight.

Internet is everywhere.