Best way to get Canadian money

[Donna M]

What have you done to exchange US dollars into Canadian? I have no clue. Using a credit card to charge as much as possible is good, right? But what about the little things?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What have you done to exchange US dollars into Canadian? I have no clue. Using a credit card to charge as much as possible is good, right? But what about the little things?

You can use an ATM in the airport (not always a good idea), or around town to get Canadian funds. Or buy them ahead of time through your bank. Make sure your credit card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees for using it in another country.

 

[Drusilla99]

We would pay for things with American $100 bills and then keep the change for when we needed it. Be sure to ask first what the restaurant or store's exchange rate is so you don't get short changed by too much.

 

[dcassetta]

What have you done to exchange US dollars into Canadian? I have no clue. Using a credit card to charge as much as possible is good, right? But what about the little things?

I think you'll find many places in tourist areas will accept American dollars. The exchange rate may not be great, but it is convenient. ATMs will allow you to withdraw cash in local currency, and ATMs attached to banks will usually give you better rates than stand-alone ATMs in stores or airports.

 

[tinkerone]

Some places will not take $100 American bills, sometimes its hard to get them to take $100 Canadian bills, however the concept of just using a larger denomination bill to get Canadian change back is what I would do if your only needing a tiny bit to hold you over for small things and your using your cc to pay for the rest. If your needing to get more it would be wiser for you to purchase from your home bank. The other option is as shmoo has said, use an ATM but your fees could be higher and there is always a chance that your bank will charge a higher exchange rate as well for the convenience.

 

[jiminy14]

When we travel to a foreign destination, we always get a "starter" pack of foreign currency from our local bank. We usually order about $150 in small bills to cover expenses at places that probably would not accept a credit card. It takes about a week for the order to be delivered to the bank and the money is taken directly from your account.

 

[RedSox68]

If you want to buy them ahead, we have used AAA and Wells Fargo. We have also used ATM cards at the machines while over there -- just be sure to use one with no foreign transaction fees! We got a Capital One card for our trip to U.K. last year -- no foreign transaction fees and that makes a huge difference.

 

[scgustafson]

Win LotteryCanada.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Your best bet is to change some money at your bank before you leave home. You can probably also exchange money at your hotel, if you're staying in Vancouver. Or, if you have time and want to seek out a Canadian bank, walk in to do an exchange. When I go to the U.S. I always take a certain amount of cash that I get from my bank before I leave home. It's probably the best way.

 

[AquaDame]

What have you done to exchange US dollars into Canadian? I have no clue. Using a credit card to charge as much as possible is good, right? But what about the little things?

For little things we just break a $20.. if its a small item the difference in exchange rate in the shops vs from a bank will be pretty negligible, especially when you consider the possibility of having to swap Canadian BACK into USD. We were just up in Vancouver and had a $10 canadian bill leftover from an earlier trip... we completely forgot we had it! Everywhere took our (no foreign transaction fee) CC.. Just try to make sure your card already has a chip in it, preferably with a pin code as the signature can be confusing to some up there.

 

[dclpluto]

Get them at your bank. Your bank can get the money in a couple of days or less.

 

[antlawn]

What have you done to exchange US dollars into Canadian? I have no clue. Using a credit card to charge as much as possible is good, right? But what about the little things?

There is a Currency Exchange kiosk in Vancouver airport. (YVR)

 

[bumbershoot]

We get to Vancouver, head to Robson. There's a Green Machine ATM we have used for ages that gives decent rates. That's how we get Canadian money.

It's on Burrard and Robson just up (north) from Sutton Place.

 

[Jillywilly143]

Everywhere took our (no foreign transaction fee) CC

Was your card chip and pin or chip and signature? We have the Chase Sapphire Preferred (chip and signature) and our bank tells me it won't be a problem.

 

[missyp]

The hotel we stayed in had a dollar limit that they would exchange for us each day. They weren't advertising this but they told us when we asked

 

[FigmentSpark]

Was your card chip and pin or chip and signature? We have the Chase Sapphire Preferred (chip and signature) and our bank tells me it won't be a problem.

Do you have a PIN for your ATM? I'd know what that is, just in case chip and signature is a problem. And I think it will be. No bank does chip and signature anywhere else in the world, except the U.S. So unless they fall back to mag stripe and signature, you may have to use your PIN. Know it before you go. If chip and signature is not a problem, great, but if you need your PIN, you'll have it.

BTW - after your trip, can you please report your experience with chip and signature? I'd like to know, because I've heard it's only accepted (with signature, not PIN) in the U.S. Thanks.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I just checked with a friend who knows a friend who knows someone.... you get the picture. The merchant terminal should be able to put out a receipt that allows you to sign without the PIN, so you should be just fine with your Chase Sapphire card, but the Canadian merchant may be confused. You might have to explain that your card only requires a signature. Maybe carry a pen with you.

 

[Dug720]

I just checked with a friend who knows a friend who knows someone.... you get the picture. The merchant terminal should be able to put out a receipt that allows you to sign without the PIN, so you should be just fine with your Chase Sapphire card, but the Canadian merchant may be confused. You might have to explain that your card only requires a signature. Maybe carry a pen with you.

I don't see what the issue is if you have to use a PIN anyway. We still have to use them at ATMs or if you're using the card as debit (and some places don't give the option and it's automatically debit). In NYC all the merchants are supposed to be chip and PIN for debits. Credit cards may require a signature, but that's NOT a big deal.

The biggest problem comes where not all cards have the chip as that's a fairly recent thing here in the US. So if your card hasn't expired yet but was issued prior to chips, it won't have one. The banks I'm aware of WILL replace your card with a chip card on request.

 

[Jillywilly143]

I don't see what the issue is if you have to use a PIN anyway. We still have to use them at ATMs or if you're using the card as debit (and some places don't give the option and it's automatically debit). In NYC all the merchants are supposed to be chip and PIN for debits. Credit cards may require a signature, but that's NOT a big deal.

The biggest problem comes where not all cards have the chip as that's a fairly recent thing here in the US. So if your card hasn't expired yet but was issued prior to chips, it won't have one. The banks I'm aware of WILL replace your card with a chip card on request.

Actually, my card doesn't have a pin at all. That's why is a big deal to me. It's also the only card I have with no foreign transaction.

 

[Dug720]

Actually, my card doesn't have a pin at all. That's why is a big deal to me. It's also the only card I have with no foreign transaction.

Interesting. I've always been able to get a PIN from a bank for any card I had - credit or debit. Credit took a call, but I was able to get one.