Shrinking Canadian dollar

John & Angela wrote:

moisheh wrote:
One could always explore an alternative. Here are some choices for a different winter: la Ronge,sk.; Teulon,mb., Cold Lake, ab. All fine spots to spend a winter! Just suck it up and spend some of the millions Canadian seniors have collectively squirreled away.

Moisheh

Ahhh, winter in Cold Lake Alberta. I did 6 of those. Angela and I standing on the side of a runway in minus 40 C temperatures aligning a PAR reflector while an F-18 Takes off a 100 yards away. Ever hear (feel) a fighters engines at 110 percent at minus 40C. Special. :)

Another thumbs down :R for Cold Lake. It is my home base and I cannot get away from it fast enough in the summer, let alone in the winter. I'll still head south if the dollar drops to 10 cents!!!

Everything in the U.S. is still cheaper then in Canada with the exchange rate low.

alfredmay wrote:
J&A,

I can give you some boat info. I have cruised in Europe on river boats and mega cruise ships. On ships non Schengen passengers have their passports taken and kept for the cruise duration by the ship's pursar. American Companies such as Royal Caribbean and Grand Circle charge everything in American dollars while in foreign ports. This includes shore excursions. In Turkey along the coast many shops take any form of major currency. They know the exchange rates and will take Euros, USD and Turkish Lira. They understand that When $3,000 people get off a ship they all cannot convert to the local currency for a one day stay.

Along the Cassiar Highway in BC there are some remote towns that will also take USD. Hyder, AK and Stewart, BC share a border and have only one bank that is in Canada. When I was there CDN was the coin of the realm on both sides of the border.

There are 6 countries that use the USD exclusively......like Ecuador. There are a number of others that use it in conjunction with their own currency, like Belize and Panama. Then their are a few that use it because their own is worthless..... like Zimbabwe.

Some places are absolutely crazy........ like Saint Martin which is an island that is half Dutch and half French. The Dutch side uses the Netherlands Antilles Guilder and the French side uses the Euro....... but both sides use the USD.

Interesting info. I have seen the "cruise ship effect" when a boat load of tourists headed inland towards a mexican cruise port. I would think they are setup for foreign currency a little better than most.

Thanks for sharing.

J&A,

I can give you some boat info. I have cruised in Europe on river boats and mega cruise ships. On ships non Schengen passengers have their passports taken and kept for the cruise duration by the ship's pursar. American Companies such as Royal Caribbean and Grand Circle charge everything in American dollars while in foreign ports. This includes shore excursions. In Turkey along the coast many shops take any form of major currency. They know the exchange rates and will take Euros, USD and Turkish Lira. They understand that When $3,000 people get off a ship they all cannot convert to the local currency for a one day stay.

Along the Cassiar Highway in BC there are some remote towns that will also take USD. Hyder, AK and Stewart, BC share a border and have only one bank that is in Canada. When I was there CDN was the coin of the realm on both sides of the border.

There are 6 countries that use the USD exclusively......like Ecuador. There are a number of others that use it in conjunction with their own currency, like Belize and Panama. Then their are a few that use it because their own is worthless..... like Zimbabwe.

Some places are absolutely crazy........ like Saint Martin which is an island that is half Dutch and half French. The Dutch side uses the Netherlands Antilles Guilder and the French side uses the Euro....... but both sides use the USD.

Me Again wrote:
We were just in Canada on the boat and no one wanted to give us exchange on our American dollars, just par!!!! Now you know if the exchange was the other direction they would not sell at par!!!!

Chris

Just curious. Would like to hear more about the boat thing. Cruise ship??? Also curious, why would you use Amercian dollars in a foreign country. In the old days before bank machines etc I can understand that but with debit cards and credit cards etc I'm not sure I understand what happened here. I think American businesses accepting Canadian currency would be the exception to the rule. Just curious on the situation.

FULLTIMEWANABE wrote:
Some might find this amusing: Daughter and Fiance just landed in Sarasota Fla for 2 week vacation. They just went shopping at Walmart for foods only and called to say "OMG mum, don't even do the exchange rate - we just spent US$225 on shopping, more than what we pay in Canadian dollars now". Interesting, as I recall a few years ago we used to find the food cheaper in the US than in Canada, and then past couple or three years I've been commenting how expensive it's been getting down there, but equally prices had gone up generally in Canada as well. The same block of cheese we pay C$6.99 for she said she just paid US$9 for as an example.

I'm sure different areas different prices, but interesting to hear that even if we were on par still,l it's costing more for food shopping down there right now compared to Calgary AB area. Again YMMV depending how you shop.

I hear ya. Generally we find some things cheaper in the US but many things like fruits and veggies are the same or cheaper. Fuel and booze are cheaper in the US which makes for happy travelling although right now diesel is the same price in California as it is where we are in BC. Obviously it changes regionally in both countries. Funny, an iphone costs 850 bucks US in the US, it also costs 850 Canadian in Canada. Kinda interesting. :)

Obviously there are changes regionally in both countries.

We were just in Canada on the boat and no one wanted to give us exchange on our American dollars, just par!!!! Now you know if the exchange was the other direction they would not sell at par!!!!

Chris

Some might find this amusing: Daughter and Fiance just landed in Sarasota Fla for 2 week vacation. They just went shopping at Walmart for foods only and called to say "OMG mum, don't even do the exchange rate - we just spent US$225 on shopping, more than what we pay in Canadian dollars now". Interesting, as I recall a few years ago we used to find the food cheaper in the US than in Canada, and then past couple or three years I've been commenting how expensive it's been getting down there, but equally prices had gone up generally in Canada as well. The same block of cheese we pay C$6.99 for she said she just paid US$9 for as an example.

I'm sure different areas different prices, but interesting to hear that even if we were on par still,l it's costing more for food shopping down there right now compared to Calgary AB area. Again YMMV depending how you shop.

alfredmay wrote:
The information I found clearly states the 90/180 day rule means 180 days out of the Schengen area. For me and most others I doubt it would matter all that much since we would be snowbirding in Europe and that would mean a max of 90 days with either 180 or 90 days out (depending on whose rules you read or believe).

For me that means winter can only last 90 days and then I must look for a place to stay in another country that is not high up on my list of places to stay in the winter.

Most snowbirds that I know seem to favor 4 to 6 months away from home. The allure of RV travel or park model living is that you head south in your own vehicle (loaded to the hilt) with all your own stuff. Living out of a suitcase or two and having to rent a micro car and then turning all of it in 90 days later just does not seem to ring my chimes.

I really like Europe and will continue to visit, but I guess I will keep my place in Texas for the winter and take shorter vacations to the Schengen areas during the non winter times.

Yepir. Everybody is at a different point in their lives and of course what works for one doesn't work for another. For us 3 months in one place is more than enough. We will be in a motorhome so it might be a little different than what you are imagining it would be. Twenty years from now I am sure we will change our tune a bit but right now we are biting at the bit. :).

A couple of trips ago we clarified with the authorities at Schipol what are plans were and what the regulations were. We did it again in Madrid and it is 90 days out of any 180 day period.

You sound well travelled. If you are interested in an RV adventure in 2017 let us know. It would be a lot of fun doing a tour with four or five couples. :).

The information I found clearly states the 90/180 day rule means 180 days out of the Schengen area. For me and most others I doubt it would matter all that much since we would be snowbirding in Europe and that would mean a max of 90 days with either 180 or 90 days out (depending on whose rules you read or believe).

For me that means winter can only last 90 days and then I must look for a place to stay in another country that is not high up on my list of places to stay in the winter.

Most snowbirds that I know seem to favor 4 to 6 months away from home. The allure of RV travel or park model living is that you head south in your own vehicle (loaded to the hilt) with all your own stuff. Living out of a suitcase or two and having to rent a micro car and then turning all of it in 90 days later just does not seem to ring my chimes.

I really like Europe and will continue to visit, but I guess I will keep my place in Texas for the winter and take shorter vacations to the Schengen areas during the non winter times.