Forum Discussion

Retired_VSP's avatar
Retired_VSP
Explorer II
Jun 25, 2013

Cash for Canada

Going to PEI next month.......do I need to do a money exchange before leaving U.S. or will I be okay after entering Canada? I will also have credit card......thanks for any advise. Last time I was in Canada the Canadians would not give U.S. change if using U.S. Currency....if I used a five dollar bill to make a three dollar purchase I got no U.S. change............
  • I have found Canadian casinos give the best exchange rate. No need to go into detail why.

    -Tom
  • As said, Canadian Banks have a history of doing good exchange rates.

    See, banks have always been national in Canada.

    Yet, in US banks have often been local and doing exchanges of other currencies is a big hassle.

    Also, it's only been mentioned once. Let your credit card know you're going to unusual places. BTW if push comes to shove all credit cards have an emergency # you can call collect from outside your home country.

    :C

    ps. for reasons I haven't sorted out yet, but have had warning of, Our $ is now worth a bit over $0.95 US$. I don't think I'll go south this summer, but you all have fun.
  • Go shopping at any Walmart and do a cash back transaction. Or just go to any bank and withdraw some cash.
  • Swing by the ATM of the first Canadian bank you see after you cross the border and get your cash there. Credit card or debit card. Bank exchange rates, 24 hour service. What more could you ask for?

    Oh, and works in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and China, too. And we plan to test it in Italy, Greece, and Turkey later this summer.
  • Credit cards work too, of course most will have those pesky International Transfer Fees attached to every purchase. However sometimes they don't work at the pump when buying fuel and you have to go inside to have the attendant run the card for your purchase.
  • You can always call your locak bank branch and ask them to get canadian currency. Might take a couple of days, but if you have time it is easy. Just tell them how much money you want.
  • We always exchange cash at the first Canadian bank we encounter after crossing into Canada. The best exchange rate is usually given by the banks.