Tipping with Correct Currency/Canada

[hkriw]

Just a quick?- we are doing Canada out of NYC in 10 days- what do people do tipping the excursion tour guides- we are not there long enough to warrant much Canadian cash needs.

We did Canada years ago and if course- can not remember what we did.
Thanks

 

[Melissa S]

We went on vacation to Quebec a few years ago and used our C.C. the whole time. One store only took cash. When I told them I only had US currency, they said they accepted it too. The clerk made the conversion. You should have no problem tipping with US cash. I am sure they are used to it being so close to the US. We found this to be also the case when we went to Mexico at the resorts with a lot of American visitors.

 

[Tinked]

I did the Canadian cruise in June and tipped with US money. If you are uncomfortable with this you can get Canadian money at Guest Services.. Isn't the US dollar worth more than the CAnadian dollar right now? If not they are very close. I purchased a few things at stores that didn't take cc but they can make change in US dollars. When I tipped for the excursions they smiled and said thank you so I guess it was all right.

 

[Sunseeker17]

We have no issue with US cash in Canada...our banks happily exchange it for us. We can even take a US cheque written on a US bank to our own Canadian bank without a blink of an eye. I know its not as easy for Americans taking Canadian cash/cheques in to their own banks, though! Our US friends have a heck of a time with the reverse scenario! My thoughts would be to bring your US $ if it's not convenient to change it out. Shouldn't be a problem in most places. And it is pretty much on par right now, so there shouldn't be a huge difference for the exchange. Hope that helps!

 

[hkriw]

thanks so much!

 

[okw2012]

I live in Montreal, Quebec, and can confirm that US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere. (small number of) coins are typically accepted at par, and for bills there is very often an exchange rate advertised close to the cash register. If not, just ask what is being offered. It should be close to par given the current exchange rate. Where you really need canadian cash is for vendor machines and bus tickets. Most vendor machines will only take coins (we have 1$ and 2$ coins).

 

[pxlbarrel]

And some of the vending machines only take CERTAIN $1 and $2 coins. LOL The 2012 coins seem to pose a problem with many machines.

 

[Brumbie13]

Pretty much anywhere you go in Canada, you're likely to be able to pay in USD.
That is especially true in the very touristy areas that get a lot of people from the USA, like places where cruise ships dock.

 

[disneymath]

We have no issue with US cash in Canada...our banks happily exchange it for us. We can even take a US cheque written on a US bank to our own Canadian bank without a blink of an eye. I know its not as easy for Americans taking Canadian cash/cheques in to their own banks, though! Our US friends have a heck of a time with the reverse scenario! My thoughts would be to bring your US $ if it's not convenient to change it out. Shouldn't be a problem in most places. And it is pretty much on par right now, so there shouldn't be a huge difference for the exchange. Hope that helps!

Pretty much anywhere you go in Canada, you're likely to be able to pay in USD.
That is especially true in the very touristy areas that get a lot of people from the USA, like places where cruise ships dock.

Bolding and italicizing are mine.

It should be noted that typically they "happily exchange" with a service charge - often a % added on top of the going exchange rate. (So when US money is on PAR with CAD money, changing USD to CAD will cause a loss of a % or 2 in value.)

I agree that most touristy places (especially near the border) will take US cash without blinking an eye ... as will a store owner/employee who themself travels to the US and sees value in having US currency.

US cash might not be as happily accepted by individuals who have no use for US funds. (If you never travel to the States or never purchase items in US funds, you would see little point in dealing with US $ - especially if you would take a loss in converting it to CAD.)

While you will likely be fine without CAD, do be aware that no Canadian is obligated to accept payment in US $ (just as no US business is obligated to accept payment in CAD).

 

[tinkerone]

i'm a banker in canada and i can tell you for a fact that while it is true that you do pay a bit of a premium to exchange u.s. currency to canadian it is not a lot. all banks hold u.s. dollars, unlike other currencies such as euro's. it is not an issue for anyone to take u.s. money in stores or for tipping. it would have to be a very small mom and pop type shop to not take it, it is almost as common as our own currency and never a problem to exchange at a persons bank.
the dollar is very close to par at the moment although it does like to fluctuate on any given day. anyone who is taking a tip will be glad to take your money no matter what currency your giving them. you will get a thanks.
have a great trip.

 

[bdoyledimou]

very close to par - 0.999 for $1.00 Can -- its as close to PAR as it can be without actually being par --

 

[pjacobi]

Canadian currency makes a good souvenir!

Check out the new Canadian plastic (polymer) bank notes.

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/

Some even says it is pornographic:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/11/dirty-money-is-canadas-new-20-bill-pornographic/



-Paul

 

[tinkerone]

Canadian currency makes a good souvenir!

Check out the new Canadian plastic (polymer) bank notes.

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/

Some even says it is pornographic:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/11/dirty-money-is-canadas-new-20-bill-pornographic/



-Paul

lots of issues with our new currency. there have been reports of it melting together when left in a higher heated area. fun fun!