Amount of Local Currency to Have

[NotTooGoofy]

I’m taking the Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver next summer, flying in the day before departure and leaving the day after getting off the ship. I’d like to have some amount of Canadian dollars on me when I arrive. Any idea what would be a good amount to have for a taxi to/from the hotel downtown, meals for those two days, etc.? Thanks.

 

[dthogue]

We spent 3 days in Vancouver (2 adults) and I had $200 in cash and spent all of it. I got the money from an ATM at the train station. I used my credit card for all meals, souvenirs purchases as well as for tickets for the attractions we did (make sure your card doesn't charge foreign transactions fees).

 

[lorimay]

I could almost swear we used American Dollars in Canada, they may have given us Canadian dollars as change though.

Anyone else remember if they did that?

 

[gilsan]

I could almost swear we used American Dollars in Canada, they may have given us Canadian dollars as change though.

Anyone else remember if they did that?

If you used US dollars in Canada the exchange would not have been great. You would do much better by using your Credit Card or getting cash from an ATM.

 

[NotTooGoofy]

So I have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee, but when you use a credit card, how closely does the bank the credit card is with match the daily publicized exchange rate? For instance if the publicized exchange rate is $1 US to $1.32 Canadian, does the bank honor that or do they adjust it, for example $1 US to $1.2 Canadian?

 

[Geomom]

So I have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee, but when you use a credit card, how closely does the bank the credit card is with match the daily publicized exchange rate? For instance if the publicized exchange rate is $1 US to $1.32 Canadian, does the bank honor that or do they adjust it, for example $1 US to $1.2 Canadian?

The credit card matches the daily rate. I made the mistake of getting CAD from my bank ahead of time before our Alaskan cruise--it was NOT the daily rate (it was similar to what you wrote and they had an extra $10 fee just to get the currency.) Lesson learned. DD17 went on a trip to Germany the next year--she had a debit card that she used to take Euros out of the ATMs, it was the daily exchange rate. Ditto when she used it as a debit card.

 

[NotTooGoofy]

Thanks Geomom, good to know.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

When I went in 2016, flew in the day before. I think I only took $50 dollars in Canadian money for incidentals, tips, etc. As previous posters stated "the rest was on CC".

 

[matthew517]

I would use dollars in Canada you get more for your dollar. Why get theirs? you cant use it down here in the us.

 

[Geomom]

I would use dollars in Canada you get more for your dollar. Why get theirs? you cant use it down here in the us.

If you give them USD, they're treating them like CAD, so you're losing $. Say something cost $10 CAD and you give them a $10 US bill--they are not going to give you any change back. If the exchange rate has the CAD worth 3/4 of the USD...you're basically overpaying by $2.50.

Best thing to do is use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee and then you're getting the current exchange rate. If you want to get CAD, use a no-fee debit card at an airport ATM and get around $100-$200 CAD depending upon how long you'll be in Vancouver. Our taxi driver really preferred cash, so we used $50 CAD there. I think we tipped our Vancouver tour guide in CAD, other tips as well. Most things we used credit card.

 

[matthew517]

If you give them USD, they're treating them like CAD, so you're losing $. Say something cost $10 CAD and you give them a $10 US bill--they are not going to give you any change back. If the exchange rate has the CAD worth 3/4 of the USD...you're basically overpaying by $2.50.

Best thing to do is use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee and then you're getting the current exchange rate. If you want to get CAD, use a no-fee debit card at an airport ATM and get around $100-$200 CAD depending upon how long you'll be in Vancouver. Our taxi driver really preferred cash, so we used $50 CAD there. I think we tipped our Vancouver tour guide in CAD, other tips as well. Most things we used credit card.

If it is 10 CAD and you give 10 USD then you ask for change. If you don't its on you.

 

[kickash]

We just spent 3 full days in Vancouver before our Alaskan cruise and I took $200 in Canadian and blew through that pretty quickly (even though most of our activities were prepaid). I then just used my credit card, no foreign transaction fees. We are a family of 4 and our dinners were all over $100 plus we had a huge breakfast one day at Canada Place that was almost $100. It’s an expensive city so just be prepared.

 

[kiford]

I could almost swear we used American Dollars in Canada, they may have given us Canadian dollars as change though.

Anyone else remember if they did that?

Lots of places, especially those close to the border, will take USD and give change in CAD. They will usually have a sign posted that states what rate they use and it will be horrible compared to the actual daily rate. But if you're only using a few dollars (i.e., $10), it may be worth it not to have to go to the trouble of getting and bringing a lot of cash. If you're making a large purchase, you're much better off either using CAD previously obtained or a credit card.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you give them USD, they're treating them like CAD, so you're losing $.

Yep.

If it is 10 CAD and you give 10 USD then you ask for change. If you don't its on you.

Nope. Most places have signs posted stating exactly what their policy is. They are treating American as Canadian money. They are doing you a favor. And charging a fee for it. They aren’t a bank.

The only “it’s on you” part is using American money in a foreign country.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Growing up in Michigan, we had CAD all the time. I would put it in a cigar box, because I thought it was special. Found the box several years ago while cleaning out the old house after dad passed away. I used the money (about 140) on our last Alaska cruise. It was still "good" and they accepted it.

 

[Donna M]

I was lucky enough to find $10CAD bill in my junk draw a week before heading to Canada.

 

[Dug720]

I was lucky enough to find $10CAD bill in my junk draw a week before heading to Canada.

I have about that between a $5CAD and Canadian coins that I found in a wristlet the other day - I guess left over from my Spring Break trip to Toronto in 2017. It's in an envelope set aside for my 2019 DCL Alaska cruise pre-stay! It's not much, but it's better than nothing - and a good start!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

And the CAD bills had the young QEII on them.

 

[Lizzards]

Hi I just did Alaska earlier this month. We had two days in Vancouver before the cruise and departed the day we got off the ship. I had $500 CAD and used it all. Taxi ride to and from airport cost about $35 each way.... All of our meals, snacks and souvenirs were bought with it. It is an expensive city but totally worth it. So beautiful and lovely people! I was glad to have the cash and use it....but the other family we were with used their credit card and had no problems. So I think it is a matter of personal preference and maybe how you budget. With the exchange rate I paid $406 US dollars for my $500 CAD.

 

[MillauFr]

I never use cash in the US or Canada. There is no need to use cash. Just bring your credit card and you will be set.