FYI: Clean and iron your US $$$

[gatita loca]

Heads up!!!

I don't know if the Moon Guide talks about this or not but if you have US $ be sure your bills are crisp, clean and unmarked.

Many merchants and hotels WILL NOT take "damaged" bills (i.e. torn, worn or ink marked)  A couple of merchants in Masaya absolutely refused some of our twenties because of this.

It is not that the merchants don't want your money, it is that the bank won't take the bills.  We learned this the hard way.

[¡Un Buen Viaje! Jessica]

I rarely use US$ for this reason. I recommend using only Cords and carrying a 'spare' $100 in twenty-dollar bills for emergency. In my experience, la gente outside of Managua and Granada would rather have Cords. I also think it's somewhat of an issue of respecting their needs as you use their services. - Jessica

[kevins]

I would love to use only cords, but don't want to get stuck with lots of them when I fly home.

Is there a convenient and affordable place/way to change cords back to dollars at the MGA airport?

[Joshua Berman]

if in airport during bank hours, you can do it, but not for those damn 7a.m. departures. good point overall tho -- not one you have entire control over either, especially if using ATMs in nicaragua (which give out dollars OR cords now, btw)

[erik nelson]

Some of these "damaged" bills come straight out of ATMs.  I haven't had any problem getting them changed or exchanged in a bank.