i have what could be a silly question... when travelling in
guatemala and costa rica, is it best to use american dollars
or the local currency? i'm canadian and any info would be
really helpful. as well what about travellers cheques or
ATM? thanx for the help!!! (:
[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Thu 13 May, 18:46]
Use the form at the end of this page to add your own post.
Topics
| Thorn Tree
| Home
You use local currency. Dollars are good for some tours.
Elsewhere..fancy hotels, shops and restaurants...they make
accept dollars but will give you a lower rate. Travelers
checks are fine but bring American Express. In Guat some
banks only accept certain brands. Atms are around but not all
accept all types.
CR: Normally you use local currency. I brought a couple of
traveller cheques (American Express) and changing them in
Costa Rica was a time-consuming hassle each time I had to do
it. Also, you run the risk to be charged more if you pay in
dollars, always talking of CR. So take some cash American
dollars preferably, some traveller cheques (strictly
American Express) and a credit card if you have one. Credit
cards are accepted everywhere, even in the tiniest stores...
so, actually, credit cards are the most convenient choice!
Have fun.
Heidi.
I agree with the above. Use local currency - much less
hassle. As for credit cards, they may be accepted in CR,
but rarely in Guatemala - when they are, 10% is sometimes
added to the bill. I used TCs and had no trouble cashing
them anywhere in Guatemala.
I'm a Canadian girl as well. Bring travellers cheques in
US dollars and cash into some US dollars but mainly local
currency. Remember to have US 10 dollar bills if you're
crossing the borders at El Salvador and Nicaragua if you
bus to Costa Rica (they won't take their own currency at
the borders for your tourist card).
when crossing borders, they usually only accept US dollars
as weird as it seems. I was pretty screwed when entering
countries with little US currency. Guatemala boreder won't
take mexican pesos, Belize border won't take Guatemalan
quetzales, blah blah blah. In any case, don't bring
canadian money. change some to US, change only what you
need to local currency and spend much of it there in case
you can't change it at the border. Bring your ATM card and
credit card (VISA most widley accepted in Guatemala). I
found lots of places accepted credit cards, but added a fee
and there were minimum charges. Also soemtimes you can't
access your checking or savings account because it's a
foreign account (this is true in belize and parts
guatemala). In this case don't rely solely on credit card
or ATM, bring cash on hand! you don't want to get stranded
like I did in Guatemala and have to have money wired via
western union just to leave the country!