Best way to get Canadian money

[tinkerone]

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.

Does your card have a chip? If it does its as simple as going into the bank that issued it and they can set you one up on the spot. If it is from a company that you can't get to all you need to do is call and they will issue you one. If you don't have a chip card then I would suggest if possible you do the same as you would to get a pin and get them to switch out your card for a chipped one.
I'm retired from banking and Canadian so I can tell you that while there are still places you can sign at they are becoming fewer and farther between. Merchants don't want to deal with signatures, to much fraud. There is every possibility that the merchant will simply refuse the card. Note that I said possibility, not that they definitely would.

 

[Jillywilly143]

I called my bank and they said that they can't give me a pin, and that I can just explain it to merchants and they can bypass the pin. I'm more than willing to call them again.

 

[tinkerone]

I called my bank and they said that they can't give me a pin, and that I can just explain it to merchants and they can bypass the pin. I'm more than willing to call them again.

Call the 800 number on the back of the card. They should be able to fix you up. If they can't there is something wrong with that company. This should not even be an issue for you, they should be jumping hoops to provide you that service.

 

[scgustafson]

US based credit cards with chips are only issued as chip-and-signature, not chip-and-PIN. Any PIN associated with them is only for use with an ATM and not when placed in the merchant terminal. Whenever travelling in Europe, I have had no trouble with merchants knowing how to handle it, as the machine automatically prints out a receipt for signature.

 

[MillauFr]

I never bother getting any Canadian money. Always use the credit card even for small transactions. If they don't accept I don't buy. Once I get the Canadian money I can't change it back into US.

 

[rwcmath]

I am going in a van in Halifax and cost is about $87 Canadian. I was just going to bring American. Is that OK?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am going in a van in Halifax and cost is about $87 Canadian. I was just going to bring American. Is that OK?

We always bring local currency for use in foreign countries. I'd suggest you contact the company and ask if you can use US dollars to pay. Maybe also ask for the rate they are using (you may find it not very good).

 

[AquaDame]

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.

I have cards that do both - there has only been one instance where a PIN was absolutely necessary and not only that but it had to be an embedded/offline PIN! Never fear though, that was in Ireland at a gas station that didn't have an attendant. I had no issues with chip & signature in Canada aside from some confused staff needing a pen as someone else said. Sometimes they are really surprised when the receipt prints out (one commented he had never seen it do that before ) and have to run to find a pen as they don't carry one. My favorite was when one woman took the signed slip from me and stood there for a moment before asking me what she should do with it. I prefer to use a card that has a PIN just for ease sake but even if your bank isn't offering it you will be fine.

Edit I just asked my husband about it actually (we used one of his cards where I don't have my own on the last trip) and he said it is a signature card. Zero funny looks or confusion.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I was able to use a credit card for everything, even very small purchases. The one time I used cash was to tip my shuttle driver and I just gave him USD and told him it was all I had. He was happy to take it.

 

[alli817]

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.

I'm sorry, but that's a horrible thing to do most stores have limited floats. And it's honestly a pain to deal with US cash as a retailer in Canada. It's an extremely inconsiderate idea.

To OP please don't do this. There are bank machines everywhere, just grab some $$ from there or you could order cash from your bank in the US.

 

[Canooknic]

I'm sorry, but that's a horrible thing to do most stores have limited floats. And it's honestly a pain to deal with US cash as a retailer in Canada. It's an extremely inconsiderate idea.

To OP please don't do this. There are bank machines everywhere, just grab some $$ from there or you could order cash from your bank in the US.

Thank you!!!! I'm amazed at how many of my American friends think it's ok to just bring USD when they come to visit us!! Usually we just exchange their cash and keep it for when we next travel down, but it blows my mind that they don't even register that the rest of the world has their own currencies!

 

[Drusilla99]

I'm sorry, but that's a horrible thing to do most stores have limited floats. And it's honestly a pain to deal with US cash as a retailer in Canada. It's an extremely inconsiderate idea.

To OP please don't do this. There are bank machines everywhere, just grab some $$ from there or you could order cash from your bank in the US.

Sorry, but in Vancouver, when my bill was above $80, that's what I did. The op wanted opinions. This made it very easy to get & use Canadian money at street vendors, mom & pop shops and then throughout Alberta where most places didn't take US bills.

 

[bcwife76]

Sorry, but in Vancouver, when my bill was above $80, that's what I did. The op wanted opinions. This made it very easy to get & use Canadian money at street vendors, mom & pop shops and then throughout Alberta where most places didn't take US bills.

Oh I think it's fine to use a $100US bill when you are paying something larger like an $80 restaurant bill or something. That's not a problem. I think the other poster was thinking that people were buying $10 worth of coffee at Starbucks or something and then using a $100US bill. If that is the case then I'd have to agree, don't do that. Paying a dinner bill at Cactus Club downtown with a $100US bill is fine!

 

[MaleficentRN]

Thank you!!!! I'm amazed at how many of my American friends think it's ok to just bring USD when they come to visit us!! Usually we just exchange their cash and keep it for when we next travel down, but it blows my mind that they don't even register that the rest of the world has their own currencies!

Then why do the retailers accept it in the first place?

 

[Canooknic]

Then why do the retailers accept it in the first place?

Most of them across the country don't, it tends to be in places close to the border (like Vancouver)

 

[tinkerone]

Most of them across the country don't, it tends to be in places close to the border (like Vancouver)

Agreed. There was a time that even the Canadian banks would not take them. It wasn't until there were methods available to verify the bill that we would. Today you can exchange 100's at most banks however you need to give identification and there is an exchange fee for non clients. A lot of restaurants and small businesses do not want to chance the loss of that much money when there is so much fraud happening across the board. That can be a big hit.
Its certainly up to the individual as to whether or not they wish to take 100's but just be aware, they may not exchange as easily as is being stated.

 

[bcwife76]

Agreed. There was a time that even the Canadian banks would not take them. It wasn't until there were methods available to verify the bill that we would. Today you can exchange 100's at most banks however you need to give identification and there is an exchange fee for non clients. A lot of restaurants and small businesses do not want to chance the loss of that much money when there is so much fraud happening across the board. That can be a big hit.
Its certainly up to the individual as to whether or not they wish to take 100's but just be aware, they may not exchange as easily as is being stated.

You make a very good point about fraud. Best idea is to exchange at your bank or use atm's or currency exchange when you get to Vancouver.