Q's for Canadians and Americans who travel to Canada

[ShadowsPapa]

If you haven't been there, please don't guess........

My wife is planning a trip into Canada in the near future with a quilting friend of hers.
Her friend said she needed to go to a bank here and get Canadian currency to use in Canada because businesses may not take U.S. dollars.
Her friend said "use the credit card in those cases".

Uh, 3 times weeks after one or both of us took a trip and used a credit card in a foreign country, we found our credit card hijacked. I told me wife avoid using credit cards if at all possible and if you do use it, HOLD IT and don't let anyone else touch it. Plus I can't say that our card doesn't do foreign transaction fees.

I said that I'd check the FACTS because half the time her "world traveler friend" is wrong about things or believes internet lore. I'll find out from Canadians and those in the US who regularly enter Canada and spend money there. Her friend said "only use a credit card when traveling" a few years ago and yet Rick Steves said NO, use cash! Avoid the credit card. So who knows more about travel? Rick Steves or my wife's friend? Guess who my wife believed back then - and it wasn't Rick Steves. 2nd time having our card hijacked I told her - NO MORE! Avoid credit cards.

Facts, please - not something looked up on Google!
Will she need Canadian dollars?
Are there Canadian businesses who won't take U.S. dollars - or - who do but charge an extra exchange fee (usually higher than the market rate!)

What's the truth, please.

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[Sempe-Fi Rubicon]

I have a seperate debit card account with my bank that I use for travel and internet purchases. I keep limited funds in that account and transfer as needed just in case it is hacked.

 

[Alfonz]

I just talked with one of our IT guys who travels the world. He just got back from Cancun. Earlier this year to Spain and Portugal.

He says the first thing he does when he gets to a foreign country is go to an ATM. He gets his local currency this way. He said most places allow US$, but they rip you off in the exchange rate.

He also said he got an Amazon credit card, which has 0% translation fees, whereas most major CCs have 3%. He said in the past he would go to banks, but they normally charge 7% each way (when you get Foreign currency and then when you convert leftover back).

Hope this helps!

The story he gave me about Cancun. The bus ride up and down the island was 12 pesos or 1 US$. 12 pesos is 66 cents US. So they made 34 cents if you used US$.

Forgot to add about his Canada trips. He said usually within 100 miles of the border, the ATM will ask if you want US or Canadian dollars.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I wondered about banks and transaction fees - her friend is going to her bank to get Canadian dollars. Wonder what that will cost her........

I've seen the fees on our card in the past. We've since switched cards but not sure about this more recent card and fees. Will have to check on that. Still, told her avoid using a credit card. No use giving the bad guys free merchandise. Maybe you end up not paying, but someone does and in the mean time, they have free stuff.

Anyway, wanting to avoid being ripped off in fees, avoid her using a credit card at all if possible. Some ATMs charge a fee just for letting you approach them.

Last time she's done any globe hopping with her friend, I insisted that she take along enough cash and use only cash where possible when possible and don't keep it all in one place. Never lost any cash or anything else - it's the danged credit cards that are always compromised somehow.

Last I knew, Canada was a U.S. dollar friendly country, maybe things have changed now.

 

[kevman65]

Currency exchange is fluid, changes minute to minute.

Currently $1.00 US = $1.35 Canadian

Credit card use depends on your card holder, need to contact them and ask them their policy.

I have never been "ripped off" in Canada when using US currency. Some places will round up to the nearest nickle, but that's not a rip off.


Just know, latest version of Covid is starting to ramp up, Canada can reinstate their Covid requirements at the drop of a hat.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Currency exchange is fluid, changes minute to minute.

Currently $1.00 US = $1.35 Canadian

Credit card use depends on your card holder, need to contact them and ask them their policy.

I have never been "ripped off" in Canada when using US currency. Some places will round up to the nearest nickle, but that's not a rip off.


Just know, latest version of Covid is starting to ramp up, Canada can reinstate their Covid requirements at the drop of a hat.

Yeah, I was wondering about that latest covid stuff - thanks for the reminder on that. I've not been following it but each time I open MS browser I get their news BS in my face and it's in the headlines again.

I don't consider rounding up a rip-off either. If they do it, so what. Consider it a convenience fee no biggy.
I agree on asking about the CC - I'm thinking of going in and just talking since I need to make a payment and they've screwed it up so their software won't connect to the new fancier card anyway.

My daughter-in-law for a while was making good money playing the money markets between their two accounts - in Korea and in the US and as my son says, "she can bring a banker to tears". IF this was a trip to Korea, I'd just hand her our money and be in great hands (maybe even come out ahead in the end)

I won't be up there with my wife and her friend - making sure she doesn't get steered wrong by bad advice, so wanting to have all of this nailed down and info from people who know Canada and how things go up there.

I'll be in IL at a car show if my own health issues don't prevent it and the way it's going, not sure I'll be able to drive that far. Last week they were concerned about a stroke, now they are clueless. But that's medicine in Iowa, another sore topic.

 

[Hootbro]

Been to Canada twice pre covid. One trip I tried to just do all cash converted into Canadian dollars and the second trip I did all on credit card.

Me personally, found it was just a pain dealing with cash exchange either at the bank in Canada or doing an ATM withdrawal for Canadian dollars and worry about getting any leftover cash converted back in American dollars.

With just using my credit card only, it was way easier and yeah the fees were a bit but also remember that even counting conversion rates, stuff still is a bit more expensive in Canada regardless. They are like the Brits to some degree and they got a tax for about everything.

Before my last trip using my bank credit card (not debit), I called the bank fraud department and let them know of my upcoming trip so it would not get flagged showing a Canadian charge.

The only weird problem I ran into was trying to use my credit card at a Canadian Gas Station pump and it would not take at the pump and the counter people inside waved me inside and knew I was American because of it and had to swipe inside.

Your wife will be fine going to Canada and other than dealing with the metric stuff, pretty much the same as the USA. It is not like a trip into Tijuana Mexico where everybody is out to hustle and rob you.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Been to Canada twice pre covid. One trip I tried to just do all cash converted into Canadian dollars and the second trip I did all on credit card.

Me personally, found it was just a pain dealing with cash exchange either at the bank in Canada or doing an ATM withdrawal for Canadian dollars and worry about getting any leftover cash converted back in American dollars.

With just using my credit card only, it was way easier and yeah the fees were a bit but also remember that even counting conversion rates, stuff still is a bit more expensive in Canada regardless. They are like the Brits to some degree and they got a tax for about everything.

Before my last trip using my bank credit card (not debit), I called the bank fraud department and let them know of my upcoming trip so it would not get flagged showing a Canadian charge.

The only weird problem I ran into was trying to use my credit card at a Canadian Gas Station pump and it would not take at the pump and the counter people inside waved me inside and knew I was American because of it and had to swipe inside.

Your wife will be fine going to Canada and other than dealing with the metric stuff, pretty much the same as the USA. It is not like a trip into Tijuana Mexico where everybody is out to hustle and rob you.

We've been to other parts of Canada ( Yukon and other areas up there) - as part of a trip to Alaska. The Canadians protect their border. Somewhere I have a photo of us sitting on a rock that was right on the border.

We always have our credit union flag our cards to show where we'll be and when.

When she went to Switzerland, she had money converted here, then when she got back the little that was left we had converted back. It made it pretty easy for the most part.
I tend to keep at least one of each denomination for my foreign money stash before it's converted back.

 

[Freems]

Traveled internationally for twenty years on business, the world will take US Dollars. Only exchange what you’re going to need in local currency that way you don’t take a big hit changing back to US Dollars, bank or the street. I only used an American Express card to pay hotel bills, rental cars and high cost items. AMX exchange rates are based on the daily published US exchange rates for a given Country, printed on your AMX monthly statement.

 

[kevman65]

OH, the one shocker for someone NOT used to it.

Canuckians sell gas by the Liter, that's almost 4:1 to make a U.S. gallon, so even though the price per Liter looks good compared to U.S., it's gonna cost ya more, much more to fill up.

That was my only shocker.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OH, the one shocker for someone NOT used to it.

Canuckians sell gas by the Liter, that's almost 4:1 to make a U.S. gallon, so even though the price per Liter looks good compared to U.S., it's gonna cost ya more, much more to fill up.

That was my only shocker.

Luckily they are going on a small group tour so she won't have to deal with that.
I've seen some crazy prices on petrol when you do the math. I have some pics of prices in a couple of other countries and at first glance - hey, that's not bad..... but then you convert currency and liters to gallons, oops.

I'm going to try to get her to use cards wisely (not let them out of your site, and nothing you insert into something) or use cash.
There's been devices found in a few self-checkout things in the states - hopefully not a big deal in Canada but it's enough I really watch where and how I check out myself in the states.
Nice thing our CU has changed things around so that even though our cards are all in the same account, it's different numbers, different pins and so on so if something does happen, we'll know one which card number it happened and only have to deal with half as many things. I hated it at first - but have come to appreciate it now being able to know which if our cards was compromised or hijacked even thought they are all connected to the same statements and accounts.

Now if we can just get past both of us being totally sick the last couple of weeks - she's really concerned about that.

 

[Bad Karma]

use your credit card... Contrary to what people who dont live in Canada have said in this thread, not all places will take US money.
Most places in Canada, you never have to physically let go of your card, you deal with your card.
The only cash I ever carry in my wallet... my wife uses. I never pay with cash.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Credit card (actual credit card, not a debit/credit card) Especially since you can get them with no foreign transaction fees.

On the rare chance someone steals your card number, you’re not liable. Just tell chase or whoever and they cancel the card, delete the charge, and you go about your day. It doesn’t permanently affect you other than the effort it takes to make the call to the fraud protection line.

Having cash is handy for street markets and the like but with the prevalence of square readers even those are less likely to need cash.

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