Originally Posted by
Glacier
I don't mind at all...ask away! I love Costa Rica!
As long as she's not somewhere way off the beaten track, her ATM card will work fine most of the time. There are no ATM machines or even a bank in Tortuguero, but they are plentiful everywhere else I've been there. Occasionally I've had to try a few machines before finding one that was working! She should let her bank know she's going to CR so they don't shut her card down! Also she should check into what her bank charges for international withdrawals. Depending on which account I'm using it can be up to 5 bucks per transaction with my bank! If her pin number is longer than 4 numbers she needs to change it. Bank machines in CR only take 4 digit pins. Most give out both US dollars and Costa Rican Colones. The US dollar is accepted just about everywhere, although you are more likely to get charged a "gringo rate" if using them to pay for something that is priced in colones! The exchange rate flucuates a bit, but generally 500 colones is equal to 1 US dollar. If you pay in dollars, you'll usually get your change in colones.