US to Canadian dollars

[junmy3]

DW and I will be going to Canada in August. We will be entering at International Falls going to Winnipeg and on to Saskatchewan. We plan to use of charge card as much as possible but already know a couple of campground that require cash. All were is the best place to exchange $200-$300 US dollars for Canadian dollars?

[Tom_N]

I have found that the best rate was at a Canadian casino.

[Crowe]

Order it from your local bank before you leave.

Check what their fee is first. My bank would have hosed us if I wasn't paying attention.

BTW I found out the hard way, your CC company will likely charge you exchange fees for every transaction.

Check with your CC company. Capital One has numerous cards that don't charge fees.

Pay as much as you can on a no-fee credit card, even if it means getting a new one just for the trip. Use ATMs and/or check with the Canadian banks in the area you will be in and get their exchange rates. All exchange facilities will charge a fee. Definitely use the cash back option in stores if available.

[John___Angela]

Walmart does cashback as well.

[garyhaupt]

rbrand wrote:
Another tip.

Ask for some extra cash when ever you are shopping and using your debit card. There is no service charge that you may get just using an ATM.

We have spent months in the US and seldom needed to get money from an ATM.

Good suggestion, this. Just not EVERY STORE does a cashback...BC Government Liquor stores do. Other could list some, too.


Gary Haupt

[GaryKH]

rbrand wrote:
ATM is the only way to go.

Several years ago (30) we had a ATM installed in the lobby of the Museum where I worked. I was watching it on it's first day and observed a woman get some cash from the machine and was looking very perplexed. I went over and asked if there was a problem. She held up a fist full of dollars and said "It gave me Canadian money" I replied "well yes this is Canada". She looked at me and very adamantly said "but I used my American Express card"

So you can get Canadian money even if you use American Express.

Now that is funny!

[rbrand]

Another tip.

Ask for some extra cash when ever you are shopping and using your debit card. There is no service charge that you may get just using an ATM.

We have spent months in the US and seldom needed to get money from an ATM.

[WNYBob]

I live in WNY, a border town area. When we go to CA we stop in the CA customs plaza currency exchange. They are controler by the Canadian government and have a fixed rate fee and give that mornings exchange rate.

But at border towns watch for stores that give more or less than the going rates.

Have fun in Canada!

[rbrand]

ATM is the only way to go.

Several years ago (30) we had a ATM installed in the lobby of the Museum where I worked. I was watching it on it's first day and observed a woman get some cash from the machine and was looking very perplexed. I went over and asked if there was a problem. She held up a fist full of dollars and said "It gave me Canadian money" I replied "well yes this is Canada". She looked at me and very adamantly said "but I used my American Express card"

So you can get Canadian money even if you use American Express.

[dbob62180]

Agreed. We use to order cash from our bank but the best way now is just getting cash from an ATM. You will get a good rate. We have a Chase card that does not charge foreign transaction fees so we use that as much as we can. We spent a month in the U.K. last year and had no problems. We are headed to Canada too! Safe travels to you.

[enblethen]

Use a debit card at ATMs.
Check with your bank to see if they have an affiliate in Canada. Ours does and it saves bank fees.

[John___Angela]

Any Canadian ATM anywhere. Stick your card in and ask for 300 Dollars. It will spit out the cash and debit your account in American dollars at a reasonable rate.

[Itchey_Feet]

When we went there, we had a hard time converting $$, the only place that we could find was a bank. They did not have that days exchange rate readily available and took a while to get it. We found the best way was to go to an ATM and draw cash that way and the exchange rate happened prior to the statement coming to you. Could get cash any where and any time with no hassle. JMHO

[donn0128]

Order it from your local bank before you leave. Usually takes a couple of days unless your in a border town. BTW I found out the hard way, your CC company will likely charge you exchange fees for every transaction.