Canadian Dollar

When I think of my long-departed parents I feel bad now. While they spent enough to enjoy themselves, they also sacrificed because they wanted their kids to have something when they were gone. As it turned out the kids did fine by themselves, and my parents could have done a lot more travelling when they had the chance. You only get one time around.

While the Canadian dollar is weak now I remember when I had to pay a higher rate when I went to Canada. Add that to what things cost up there fuel food and booze made for a expensive vacation.

So while there dollar is worth less they still save a lot on food fuel and booze.

fulltimedaniel wrote:

I think citing the level of the CA Dollar doesnt really fit with reality. Almost all goods and services in the US are significantly cheaper, in my experience, than in Canada. Even with the exchange rate in OUR favor Canada is still more expensive than the US.

Therefore in real terms you will still have a bargain by coming south.

Compare Fuel Prices Here in the RGV gas is $1.99 to $2.05 Diesel is about $2.11 to $2.39. Food is much cheaper here than anywhere I bought food in Canada this year.

In real financial terms the exchange rate is not the issue. Take note I heard this same refrain from Canadians in Mexico (Baja) last winter to my complete surprise. Mexico is far cheaper than the US and still much much cheaper than Canada...? So I could never figure out why our northern friends complained so much about the prices.

Food might cheaper in RGV but they aren't in Arizona. That is even before adding on the exchange. Diesel is cheaper and it has made a big difference on our trip down and back.

pawatt wrote:
Several parks in South Texas are taking the Canadian dollar on par with the US dollar. Rio Grande Valley. Come on down, you will be warmly welcomed.

So if you were an American staying in the same park you would pay full price while Canadians receive a 24% discount because of the exchange rate? Somehow that doesn't seem fair?

All interesting points. If we wanted to go south it would probably be Arizona again. I would like to eventually see south Texas but it near doubles our miles to get there. Being travelling back and forth are the most expensive parts of the trip it does make a difference.
Maybe things are cheaper in Texas but we have always found food to be much the same cost in AZ.
Some say you can save on heat and things at home but you still have to have heat on for insurance purposes or just common sense so that saving is not that substantial. You still have to cover your day to day expenses of owning a home plus your travel health insurance rtc. etc.This all of course is in Canadian funds.
When you cross the Border everything you buy costs you at todays rate at our bank $1.38. That is exchanging cash, credit card would be subject to credit card rates which would take it over $1.40.
Any one down across the line that feels that is not a big deal can meet me with $5000.US cash and we will exchange on par.

I started this thread as a joke about seeing Robins here at this time of the year(unusual) and said even they aren't going south.

We were across the border down toward Seattle yesterday and on the way home we seen many RV's headed south. Obviously people are not worried about the Dollar.
If it were not for an upcoming Cataract surgery I would be headed that way as well.