Posted on the Facebook page of the “Infierno de Costa Rica” is a restaurant bill that exemplifies the s***t kicking given to foreign tourists. Notice the exchange rate and the date on the bill.
Although the majority of the comments on the post refer to the price of the meal, of the all the comments I was the only one to point this out, this because most of us in Costa Rica use colones to pay the bill. But what about the foreigner, mostly North Americans, that visit our country and prefer to pay in dollars?
The exchange dollar exchange rate on December 31, 2014, was hovering at ¢545 colones to one US dollar. But this restaurant decided that ¢480 is their exchange rate.
Do the math. ¢79.950 colones at ¢545 is US$146. The amount in dollars that is being asked for this meal is US$20 more.
Shame, shame.
Please, when you are out dining and decide to pay in dollars, check the bill, do the math. A few colones below the posted exchange rate is acceptable, but not ¢65 as in this case.
