AT&T cellphone coverage In Nova Scotia and currency question

You may find some businesses, especially close to the border, accept US currency but at par. That means they will exchange at $1 CDN for $1 USD. With the exchange rate of $1 USD to $1.30 CDN that is a very poor rate of exchange. Better to just go to an ATM in Canada and withdraw Canadian dollars.

Be sure to tell your credit card companies and banks where you have ATM's that you will be traveling in Canada or they will deny all transactions.

If you are going near Halifax NS then have a look here:

www.currencyexchangehalifax.ca

bmwbob wrote:


The other thing I wonder about is currency. Should we exchange US dollars for Canadian at the border, or do Canadian businesses accept US currency?

Yes use Canadian currency. You are going to a foreign country.
We do not use US money, just as we cannot use Cdn. money in the US.

Have a great trip.

Very good on the currency issue.
Now can anyone tell me about the AT&T cell phone coverage in Nova Scotia?
Bob

In most parts of Canada AT&T uses the Rogers network. You can check their map here for the areas you will be:
http://www.rogers.com/consumer/wireless/network-coverage

There will be zero AT&T coverage anywhere in Canada. You will be roaming using Canadian cell phone providers, and Rogers has excellent coverage in Nova Scotia.

Use a credit card with no transaction fees and you won't need much cash. One of ours also has 5% cash back on fuel including Canada. The exchange rate is always current.

For $15/month extra with Verizon we get Canadian phone coverage activated only while in Canada. Data is expensive so we just used WiFi when available.

I just spoke with the AT&T folks and they confirmed no coverage up there.
They said that since our phones were "off contract" we could go online and get them unlocked, then try to find SIM cards that work in Canada. Yeah, right.
That settles it. I'm NOT going to drive the rig to some place where I have no cell phone communication, and no web access other than depending on some business we might be able to limp to should we have an issue with the rig. I belong to all of the road services, and have spent a bazllion bucks getting and keeping the rig in top shape, but you just never know. All it takes is one stray moose to derail the best-maintained RV.
As an aircraft pilot, former skydiver, and amateur racer of just about everything with a motor, I am NOT naturally risk averse, But, I also am not a big fan of being at the mercy of the Canadian equivalent of the "Good Ol' Boys Saloon and RV Repair" in Whatchamacallit, Nova Scotia.
As a young guy, traveling by myself in a car or on a motorcycle, armed with just a map (no GPS), I went everywhere. Driving the RV with my wife onboard is a different matter.
So, I guess spending July in Maine will have to do for our northeastern experience.
Nova Scotia will just be viewed through the eyes of those who have been there before.
Bob

bmwbob wrote:
I just spoke with the AT&T folks and they confirmed no coverage up there.
They said that since our phones were "off contract" we could go online and get them unlocked, then try to find SIM cards that work in Canada. Yeah, right.
That settles it. I'm NOT going to drive the rig to some place where I have no cell phone communication, and no web access other than depending on some business we might be able to limp to should we have an issue with the rig. I belong to all of the road services, and have spent a bazllion bucks getting and keeping the rig in top shape, but you just never know. All it takes is one stray moose to derail the best-maintained RV.
As an aircraft pilot, former skydiver, and amateur racer of just about everything with a motor, I am NOT naturally risk averse, But, I also am not a big fan of being at the mercy of the Canadian equivalent of the "Good Ol' Boys Saloon and RV Repair" in Whatchamacallit, Nova Scotia.
As a young guy, traveling by myself in a car or on a motorcycle, armed with just a map (no GPS), I went everywhere. Driving the RV with my wife onboard is a different matter.
So, I guess spending July in Maine will have to do for our northeastern experience.
Nova Scotia will just be viewed through the eyes of those who have been there before.
Bob

Think that's a first for me. We are not a third world country.

You can buy a prepaid Bell phone and minutes at Walmart for around $100. Bell has almost 100% coverage in Atlantic Canada.

Since you spent a bazilion dollars on your RV, whats another $100?

We also have many very qualified and reputable RV repair services.

bmwbob wrote:
I just spoke with the AT&T folks and they confirmed no coverage up there.
They said that since our phones were "off contract" we could go online and get them unlocked, then try to find SIM cards that work in Canada. Yeah, right.
That settles it. I'm NOT going to drive the rig to some place where I have no cell phone communication, and no web access other than depending on some business we might be able to limp to should we have an issue with the rig. I belong to all of the road services, and have spent a bazllion bucks getting and keeping the rig in top shape, but you just never know. All it takes is one stray moose to derail the best-maintained RV.
As an aircraft pilot, former skydiver, and amateur racer of just about everything with a motor, I am NOT naturally risk averse, But, I also am not a big fan of being at the mercy of the Canadian equivalent of the "Good Ol' Boys Saloon and RV Repair" in Whatchamacallit, Nova Scotia.
As a young guy, traveling by myself in a car or on a motorcycle, armed with just a map (no GPS), I went everywhere. Driving the RV with my wife onboard is a different matter.
So, I guess spending July in Maine will have to do for our northeastern experience.
Nova Scotia will just be viewed through the eyes of those who have been there before.
Bob

I am not sure if something changed recently but there is/was coverage in Canada. But "Technically" AT&T does not have coverage outside the USA, but they have partnerships all over the world to do Roaming. In most parts of Canada you will/would Roam onto the Rogers network with an AT&T SIM and be charged additional fees to Roam. I would call back and ask them the question again differently... ie what are your Roaming rates to Canada and what network do you Roam to in Canada. The biggest issue now is with LTE, different carriers are using different frequencies so although you will get voice you may only get 4G, 3G or 2G data in parts of Canada.