Buy US Dollars if you can!

[thebigman65]

The rate I got today was 0.9879 converted $3000 CDN and got $3,035 US. Not a heck of a lot, but better than going the other way!

 

[TPNaida]

That's Great. I just got $200 US and it cost me $200.74 CDN.

 

[Moonies]

We just did that today for my brother's trip to Disneyland in 15 days (250USD for 250.15CAD). I wish I could afford to switch the cash over for the May trips, so let's just hope that the close to parity remains.

 

[candielips]

The rates lately have been great. Every week I have been adding money to our US account and it has been costing me pennies to transfer the money over. I, too, wish I had the cash to convert our entire trip, but at least I only have $800 left to go.
Lets hope the rates hold out.

 

[Bertie9396]

Our trip isn't for another 3 weeks but I think I might go to the bank on Thursday (payday) and get some American money. Now if only we could do something about those gas prices - we are driving.

 

[Sue M]

for our CAD! I'm trying to pay as much of our Aug trip as fast as I can while CAD is good! Also transfering to our USD acct, each pay day.

 

[mtmbyck]

I had heard our dollar was over par so went to the bank and $500 cost me .74 cents! I question the teller (TD Bank) and she looked at me like I had 4 heads I said that I had heard that the dollar was 3 cents over par and she said it was never that.

 

[candielips]

I had heard our dollar was over par so went to the bank and $500 cost me .74 cents! I question the teller (TD Bank) and she looked at me like I had 4 heads I said that I had heard that the dollar was 3 cents over par and she said it was never that.

We may see the posted rate as over par, but the banks always add a certain percentage onto that for their fee.

 

[ABCanada]

If you have a US $ account they usually give you a better rate on transfers from your Can$ account to your US $ account. Depending on the amount your convert it may make sense to set up a US $ account. We find it very handy.

The sticky topic "USD Bank Accounts and Credit Cards", above, has a number of threads on this.

 

[squirrel]

I just transfered $500 Canadian into my US account and got $504.24 US.

I'll have to get over to the other bank (not my regular one) to put more money in so I can transfer money into the US account when the dollar is good.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Bought $1200 US today...cost me $1170.72 CAD!!

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

If you have a US $ account they usually give you a better rate on transfers from your Can$ account to your US $ account. Depending on the amount your convert it may make sense to set up a US $ account. We find it very handy.

The sticky topic "USD Bank Accounts and Credit Cards", above, has a number of threads on this.

Whenever I do a transfer at BMO to my US account, the rate always seems to be about 1% better than if I wanted to actually purchase $US.

 

[Tower]

Just put $500 down on our 2012 Disney cruise! Don't know what rate we'll get yet until it's processed on our Visa, but it'll be good!
(Funny thing is, we have no idea yet where we're going! We booked for 2011 knowing we were going to transfer to 2012 when the new schedules (eventually) come out. We'll get our 10% credit for booking onboard from our last DCL cruise and $200 per stateroom credit! )

Can't Wait!!!!

 

[mtmbyck]

So question for you Tower? DH and I were just discussing this. Do all credit cards charge a fee for spending US with a Cdn bank credit card. I can tell you AMEX does and it's significant - around 5 percent if I recall.

We're trying to decide if we should pay cash for everything to enjoy real par with no fees. I am not sure if TD Visa has a fee.

 

[squirrel]

I believe all Credit Cards will charge a fee when you use your Canadian Credit Card down in the US.

I use my Canadian Tire card if the dollar is close as I'd rather not carry a lot of cash with me. I earn Canadian Tire money when I use the card and that helps offset the fees the CC company charges. I believe Canadian Tires percentage is 3%.

 

[ABCanada]

I think the 3% is fairly standard.

We have gone with US $ charge cards as well as bank account and find this the most flexible.

We transfer into the US account when the rate is good. Charge everything to the room and pay with the US charge card.

The sticky on "USD Bank Accounts and Credit Cards" has a number of discussions on the savings and cards available.

It is also useful when you are ordering online and for things like hotel room and car rentals that you are not going to pay cash for.

We went with the TD account and Visa because it seemed the best at the time but I have noticed that BMO is now really promoting their alternative.

 

[squirrel]

I think the 3% is fairly standard.

We have gone with US $ charge cards as well as bank account and find this the most flexible.

We transfer into the US account when the rate is good. Charge everything to the room and pay with the US charge card.

The sticky on "USD Bank Accounts and Credit Cards" has a number of discussions on the savings and cards available.

It is also useful when you are ordering online and for things like hotel room and car rentals that you are not going to pay cash for.

We went with the TD account and Visa because it seemed the best at the time but I have noticed that BMO is now really promoting their alternative.

Does TD charge for the US account now? I know when I looked into a US account they did. I ended up opening an account with RBC, but all the rest of my banking is with TD. It would be more convienent to have everything at one bank.

 

[grantclaire]

Todays the last payday for me before our March break trip going to buy some more US dollars!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I bought yesterday....$500USD cost me $499.95CAD. Now it will be just my luck that the rate will continue to improve. Oh well, at least it didn't cost me anything extra.

 

[phabric]

I bought $80US and it was $79.95 Cdn today.