Hotelmente help center
Hotelmente in Costa Rica
What works for hotels in Costa Rica today, and how Hotelmente PAY (BAC Costa Rica) and Hotelmente FACTURA (Ministerio de Hacienda) are adapted to the country.
15 questions
What does Hotelmente offer hotels in Costa Rica?
Three products over one Cloudbeds connection, built for independent hotels in Latin America and powered by AI:
- Hotelmente AI (reservations, pricing, calendar, frontdesk, guests, financial, website analytics and website SEO, reviews, competition, social media): works today for any hotel in Costa Rica on Cloudbeds.
- Hotelmente PAY: direct bookings paid through BAC Costa Rica, with each result recorded on the reservation in Cloudbeds.
- Hotelmente FACTURA: electronic invoices filed with the Ministerio de Hacienda for the payments you choose, with or without Hotelmente PAY.
Each product has its own monthly price. The Costa Rica page on this website shows the current status of PAY and FACTURA.
Can I use Hotelmente AI in Costa Rica today?
Yes. Hotelmente AI works for any hotel on Cloudbeds, wherever it is: create your account, choose your plan, paste your Cloudbeds API key and the app opens after the first sync. It does not depend on your bank or on Hotelmente PAY.
How does Hotelmente PAY work in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica, Hotelmente PAY is the Cloudbeds + BAC connection with BAC Costa Rica: the guest books direct on your website with the Cloudbeds booking engine, the payment goes from Cloudbeds to BAC Costa Rica, which processes the card, and the result is recorded in Cloudbeds. Hotelmente switches it on per connection and country; its current status is on the Costa Rica page of this website and in My products. An owner can join the free waitlist with Costa Rica as the country and fill in the setup in advance.
Which currencies does Hotelmente PAY use in Costa Rica?
Costa Rican colones (CRC) and US dollars (USD). In the setup you choose whether guests are charged in colones and dollars or in just one, and which of the two your BAC Costa Rica payouts arrive in.
Do I need an account with BAC Costa Rica?
Payments in Costa Rica go through BAC Costa Rica, so your hotel needs a merchant connection with it. If you already have one, add your merchant (affiliate) number in the setup; it is on your BAC merchant statement. If not, the connection is prepared together with Hotelmente and BAC. The credentials BAC gives you are entered by an owner in Hotelmente PAY → PAY settings (see the guide Bank credentials for Hotelmente PAY, in Keys & connections). Card fees are agreed between your hotel and BAC Costa Rica.
How does Hotelmente FACTURA work in Costa Rica?
Hotelmente FACTURA issues comprobantes electrónicos to the Ministerio de Hacienda for the payments you choose: factura electrónica, tiquete electrónico, nota de crédito electrónica and factura electrónica de exportación. The default for guests is the tiquete electrónico.
It does not require Hotelmente PAY: in FACTURA settings → What FACTURA invoices you choose the payments, from direct bookings to Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Hotelmente PAY. Confirm requirements with your accountant.
Which tax ID does Hotelmente FACTURA use in Costa Rica?
You choose your ID type: cédula jurídica, cédula física, DIMEX or NITE, then enter the number (for example 3-101-123456 for a cédula jurídica). In Costa Rica the form also asks for your economic activity code.
Which taxes does Hotelmente FACTURA apply in Costa Rica?
IVA at 13%. These are starting points; each rate is a field you can adjust on your accountant’s advice.
I invoice from more than one location in Costa Rica. How is that set up?
In FACTURA settings, the Sucursal / terminal field sets the place or point you invoice from. Leave it empty if you have a single location. Your fiscal address and your region (province, canton and district) are required.
Does Hotelmente PAY issue the document for the Ministerio de Hacienda?
No. Hotelmente PAY can email the guest a payment receipt. Electronic documents for the Ministerio de Hacienda are issued by Hotelmente FACTURA, which can invoice your PAY payments.
Does Hotelmente issue Hacienda’s tiquete electrónico?
Hotelmente FACTURA does, for the payments you choose: the tiquete electrónico is the default document for guests in Costa Rica. You can choose another default in FACTURA settings. Which document applies in each case is confirmed with your accountant; a guest who gives a tax ID gets a factura electrónica instead.
Do I need my economic activity code?
Yes. In Costa Rica, FACTURA settings require your economic activity code (código de actividad económica). The form shows 551001 (hotel lodging) as an example. Confirm with your accountant which code your hotel has registered with Hacienda.
When would I use the factura electrónica de exportación?
It is among the documents Hotelmente FACTURA issues in Costa Rica, for cases that call for it. Whether a given stay qualifies depends on your situation: confirm it with your accountant.
Does Hotelmente PAY handle SINPE Móvil or bank transfers?
No. Hotelmente PAY handles card payments processed by BAC Costa Rica. SINPE Móvil, transfers and cash stay outside Hotelmente PAY; once recorded in Cloudbeds, Hotelmente PAY counts them as paid, and Hotelmente FACTURA can invoice them with their real payment method.
Most of my guests think in dollars. Can I charge only in USD?
Yes. In Charge guests in you can choose USD only, CRC only, or both. Payouts can arrive in either currency, whichever you choose in Receive payouts in.
Still need help?
Write to us and tell us what you were trying to do. The right team will answer by email.