If you stay in the same location every winter, open an account in the local bank. We've done that, and now we take along only enough money to get to our destination and then make a (cheque) deposit when we arrive, and then make follow up deposits as necessary. We pay for all our US purchases with our US bank card and then get cash back; this means we never actually go to our US bank until we need to deposit a cheque. Right now there is enough money in our US bank account that I don't even need to go to get US cash before we leave in November. I can get everything we need (including gas etc.) with my US bank card without doing anything before we leave. Prior to opening a local account I would use an ATM machine and withdraw up to my limit each time I needed money. (Keeping in mind that I would raise the withdrawal limit before leaving for Florida so that the $3.00 charges for withdrawals were kept to a minimum). If you deal with TD Canada Trust and there is a TD Bank near where you stay.. it's even easier. Go and talk to them!!
