Planning on going to Alaska in 2017.My Visa CC has a foreign currency charge of 2% per transaction. My Discover CC has no charge.The plan, today, is to stop at an ATM once over the border into Canada to get some Canadian currency. We would rather not have a lot of cash on hand and so use a credit card for any fuel and food purchases.I only have an account at a local CU and they can't/won't/don't deal in foreign currency.The major question is is Discover Card widely accepted in BC and YT or will I probably need to use my Visa? ARRGH, the fees!!

I don't think it's accepted all over.Google search....Discover

The Capital One Visa card doesn't have foreign transaction fees. Is It time for a different card?

The Capital One Visa card doesn't have foreign transaction fees.Nor does TD Bank. However, the same is not the case for ATM withdrawals. Fees on those are astronomical, so use your ATM card for cash withdrawals. Your strategy is correct (assuming no fees)-use your CC for as much as you can (especially if you have a good rewards plan) and get cash via the ATM.

Most currency conversions have fees embedded in the exchange rate, be it CC or ATM.

Most currency conversions have fees embedded in the exchange rate, be it CC or ATM.Correct. Most banks do as well-you never get what the true market rate is. However, some credit cards/ATM cards charge you a conversion fee on top of the discounted rate.

Discover Card in Canada | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

The_real_wild1
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
You will need a Visa or MasterCard or cash. We also use Debit cards but that is kinda new for you guys down south.
atreis
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
MANY places don't take Discover in Canada. A few do, but I'd say more often than not, they don't. (If I remember right, Canada Tire was a notable exception. They took it.)
Graydust
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
We carried two cards. Lucky we did because in Denali one number was stolen. We found out 7 days later when we had good Wi-Fi. Other wise the best is to use a card. We used Visa and Master Card. That was the only problem.
MWJones
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
I used my Capital One Visa on our Alaska trip and it does NOT charge a conversion fee. Was excepted all over Canada and Alaska. The Discover card was NOT widely excepted.
Enjoy your Alaska trip as we surely did!!!!!!
Crowe
Explorer
Nov 22, 2016
Most currency conversions have fees embedded in the exchange rate, be it CC or ATM.

Correct. Most banks do as well-you never get what the true market rate is. However, some credit cards/ATM cards charge you a conversion fee on top of the discounted rate.
Harvard
Explorer
Nov 22, 2016
Most currency conversions have fees embedded in the exchange rate, be it CC or ATM.
Crowe
Explorer
Nov 22, 2016
The Capital One Visa card doesn't have foreign transaction fees.

Nor does TD Bank. However, the same is not the case for ATM withdrawals. Fees on those are astronomical, so use your ATM card for cash withdrawals. Your strategy is correct (assuming no fees)-use your CC for as much as you can (especially if you have a good rewards plan) and get cash via the ATM.
Murphsmom
Explorer
Nov 22, 2016
The Capital One Visa card doesn't have foreign transaction fees. Is It time for a different card?
Fizz
Explorer
Nov 22, 2016
I don't think it's accepted all over.

Google search....Discover

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Discover Card in Canada

29 Replies

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