COSTA RICA RESTAURANTSA TIP ABOUT TIPPING
If you’re like me, eating in Costa Rica restaurants can be quite an experience. Vacations in Costa Rica bring discoveries but some can cost you money if you're not informed.
In many Costa Rica restaurants, the first challenge is reading the menu, particularly if you want to try Costa Rica cuisine. I solved this by always taking a Tica with me and asking her to translate. Sometimes, she has no more idea how to tell me what something means in English than I have trying to figure out the Spanish words. When this happens, I simply order the same thing she does. . . and hope she’s not a vegan.
Think of your meal as a culinary adventure. But, don’t worry. Ticos (and Ticas!) like beef, chicken, pork, and fish as much as you do.
I’m Talking About MoneyWhen you travel to Costa Rica, you may have a real challenge understanding your restaurant bill. It’s going to look. . . foreign.I want to save you some money when you go to a Costa Rica restaurant.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been surprised at how much higher the bill was than what the menu said. But, being a good sport—and more importantly, not wanting to look like a dork who can’t read a bill in front of my feminine companion-I routinely paid the bill and left a decent tip. It took me months to realize I was paying TWO TIPS. So, let me give you a little information on Costa Rica that can save you some money. The first thing you need to know is that there’s a 13% sales tax on every meal—and for that matter, every hotel room–throughout the country. Every Costa Rica restaurant and hotel is supposed to tell you the final price, including tax, on the menu or when you rent a room to avoid an unpleasant surprise when you pay the bill. Unfortunately, Costa Rica’s Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio warns that 80% of all restaurants and 97% of hotels simply disregard the law. Hey, how about a little enforcement here! The second thing you need to know is that most of the time, a 10% tip is already built-in to your bill. The third thing you need to remember is that the prices on many menus are in colons but your bill could print out in dollars. Why? Think of it as a little extra profit for the restaurant or hotel—at your expense. This is an easy way for a Costa Rica restaurant to make a bit more profit using the exchange rate as an excuse. OK, So What's This Tip About Tipping? Think "Servicio"Before you travel to Costa Rica, there are two words you should memorize: “IVI” and “Servicio.” They'll come in handy in restaurants in Costa Rica.The "IVI" is the sales tax or “impuesta”. If you don’t see those three letters on the menu or price quoted for the hotel room, ask if the final price includes the “ivi” (use the word “impuesta” if you want to sound like you know what you're talking about). If not, expect to see it on your bill or think about ordering a cheaper dish. The second is “Servicio.” THIS IS THE SERVICE TIP. Read Your Bill. You Might Save 15% (No, Not By Changing to Geico)Pretend like you know what you're doing and look at the bill (“cuenta”). Yea, yea, I know you're smarter than most...but still. Costa Rica restaurants make a tidy profit from tourists who can’t read their bill.Look for two things on your trip to Costa Rica. First, below the “ivi” charge look for another charge called “Servicio” or some other word (restaurants can be tricky) you don’t understand. If so, this is a built-in tip and you don’t need to leave another. Second, if the menu price or hotel room rate is in colons but your bill is in dollars, question the bill and say you want to pay the price owed in colons. Do these two things and you could save 15%. Want to save LOTS of money on airfare, click here
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