Canadian currency exchange

[noahdove]

I am wondering if the currency exchange place in the airport is opened on
Sundays? I'm debating as to what I should do. Thank you for any help you can give me.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We spent 2 1/2 days in Vancouver during our Alaskan cruise and quite honestly did not need any Canadian currency. The exchange rate was so close, merchants had no problem taking USD. If you pay USD, you will get change in Canadian dollars.

 

[bcwife76]

Yes exchange places will be open on Sundays at the airport. But really if you are only in Vancouver one night you can just use your credit or debit card to buy things. The CDN $ is low right now so you will find that your US dollar will go further! At today's exchange rate $1US will get you approx $1.26CDN.

 

[SuperDry]

The exchange rate was so close, merchants had no problem taking USD.

By saying that USD were accepted because the exchange rate was so close, you seem to imply that they are accepted at par (that is 1 USD = 1 CAD).

The CDN $ is low right now so you will find that your US dollar will go further! At today's exchange rate $1US will get you approx $1.26CDN.

... which means that if you pay in USD and the merchant accepts them at a 1-to-1 ratio, they are taking about 20% of the value away from you. You'd be much better off paying in just about any other way, including even using Travelex at a US airport (which typically charges 14% or so with their "no commission" program). Even the worst credit card will charge you only 3% to do the conversion.

 

[MillauFr]

No need to use the currency exchange. Best place to get Canadian is to use an ATM. I never use cash in Canada. I just use my credit card.

 

[Peggytc]

Or are you CDN trying to get USD for your trip?

 

[adamki]

Check your credit cards to see if any of them have zero Foreign Transaction Fees and use that card. Also make sure that none of the Canadian merchants/hotels charge your card in US Dollars; When they offer this "service", the exchange rate is almost always worse than what your credit card will provide.

If you must have cash, I'd also use a local ATM. If you use Bank of America, they are part of the Global ATM Alliance and their Canadian partner is Scotiabank, so try to find one of their ATMs to avoid some of the fees.

 

[xlxo]

fyi.... the Canadian dollar has just collapse. Vancouver is on sale....
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=CADUSD=X&t=5d

 

[jujubiee4]

Amazing the Canadian dollar falling. I can't wait to do some shopping there.

 

[bcwife76]

fyi.... the Canadian dollar has just collapse. Vancouver is on sale....
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=CADUSD=X&t=5d

*sobs* Glad we paid our cruise off when we did when the dollar was 'higher' ha.....a whole 6 cents higher than it is now. Boo

 

[LWILDP]

Super sobs for me as we haven't paid off our cruise yet. I was hoping for a bit of a rebound but no such luck it seems. I thought we lucked out booking early on but with the exchange rate this is going to be one pricey trip boo-hoo!!

 

[ubish00]

I too was hoping our Canadian dollar would bounce back. Our cruise has now become quite pricey.

 

[scm]

Rather than bouncing, the loonie is rolling downhill to 77 cents today vs US$

 

[ubish00]

I hear it's supposed to go even lower in the next few days. This can't be happening!

 

[Aby]

Yeah the exchange rate is certainly quite hard on those of us that like to travel to the US for all our vacations. This trip, we're splurging because it's our 10th anniversary but the exchange rate has cost us approximately an extra 1.5-2k . Unfortunately it is what it is and we're willing to pay the extra to leave the country but I'm sure for others it may push their plans out of reach.

Next time our dollar gets to par (probably a long way off) I'm going to use some of my savings to buy a bunch of US dollars so that it doesn't hurt so much the next time it drops...of course, I say that eveytime this happens...but this time I swear I'll actually do it!

Aby

 

[sharksfinatic17]

If you are going to be there just one night, I would say don't worry about it. If you are staying in Vancouver post cruise, I would get some Canadian money. There were times that I was very happy to have brought $100 Canadian for our trip (four days in Vancouver) especially with the exchange rate in favor of the US. I was able to get Canadian money from my bank at no charge. I also had a credit card that doesn't have a foreign transaction fee.

 

[ubish00]

Yeah the exchange rate is certainly quite hard on those of us that like to travel to the US for all our vacations. This trip, we're splurging because it's our 10th anniversary but the exchange rate has cost us approximately an extra 1.5-2k . Unfortunately it is what it is and we're willing to pay the extra to leave the country but I'm sure for others it may push their plans out of reach.

Next time our dollar gets to par (probably a long way off) I'm going to use some of my savings to buy a bunch of US dollars so that it doesn't hurt so much the next time it drops...of course, I say that eveytime this happens...but this time I swear I'll actually do it!

Aby

First and foremost, Happy Anniversary.

I'll be cruising with my 4 year old niece and she is now accustomed to cruising yearly. I couldn't bear to disappoint her so I too, will grin and bear it.

Let's hope the dollar rebounds at some point so we can stock up on US dollars. I cross border quite often and feeling it.