Do all parts of Canada accept USA currency?

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MasterPython

I would change most of it at a bank either at home or after you crossed the border. Lots of places accept US dollars but you get a pretty crappy exchange rate.

cw21dlr

I live in Windsor, Ontario (on the border with Detroit, Michigan) and, of course, U.S. currency is readily accepted here, as in any border city. But the farther you get from the border, unless you are in a destination city like Toronto where you would see a lot of U.S. currency as well, the less readily it is accepted. I doubt that places in the Yukon would accept your U.S. money.
I'm assuming that when you're talking about taking money out of an ATM, you are referring to money from your chequing account. I'm surprised that you've had problems with this, but your best bet is to use your Visa or Mastercard or whatever credit card you may have. I have travelled many places in the States (I'm Canadian) and overseas and never had a problem using my Visa for a retail purchase or to get a cash advance out of an ATM (although there is a fee for this - about $3.00). You will get Canadian money out of the machine and it will come through on your credit card statement in U.S. dollars at the rate the day of the transaction (pretty much the bank rate for that day). You're probably better to just directly use your credit card for major purchases directly with the retailer. Just make sure before you leave that you've allowed enough room on your card for what you think you'll need.
I would also exchange a couple of hundred to Canadian for small purchases along the way.
I'm sure even in the Yukon they recognize Visa, or any similar major credit card, as they are pretty much accepted anywhere.

Jim Z

Jake is a bad example of Canadian education. He can't spell, or form a complete sentence. Yes, they will take US currency in any province or territory in Canada.

Not Andrea

Jake doesn't know his own country, it seems.

mstess

I knew you couldn't stay away. lol Why don't you just use a credit card, and not worry about taking too much cash. Just take enough cash for small purchases. If you don't have a credit card, then take travelers cheques, they should be taken everywhere.
I live in BC in the Okanagan. We'd get the odd person come into our store with US cash, and honestly it was a pain in the a$$ trying to exchange it. We'd have to call the bank and get the exchange rate. Cities that are on the border readily accept US dollars, but anywhere else???????????????????
Or you could take a chance, taking all cash. Wear a money belt?

sheloves_dablues

Your best bet is to carry some travellers cheques, some Canadian currency and a credit card. Your credit card will work regardless of where you are and you get the benefit of the currency conversion as of the day you spent the money.

*ajidamoon* the Eh team

I live in Northern Ontario. They will accept American money anywhere, just do not expect to get the exchange rate, as individual businesses may set it at whatever they want, or not give it at all. Nor will you get your change back in American.

Motel chains will accept Travellers Checks, but Mom and Pop gas stations/motels/restaurants do not have to, nor do many accept American Express. Its hard to find a town with a population of over 5000 that does not have a Money Mart or Western Union. I know of several small, far Northern towns that have them. Both of which accept travellers checks, and gladly exchange moneys. And ATM machines are everywhere these days. I am not talking about the ones from specific banks, but the ones just called "ATM". They handle Canadian and American debit cards. We have 6 different ones located throughout my city, of 50,000 people.

Dangermanmi6

Gosh looking at some of these answers you'd think that some of these people never traveled. I like your idea of taking 20% of you stake in $ CDN and the rest in $ USA. I would change that percentage based on the amount of time you will be spending in Canada, obviously more time in country the bigger the percentage is. I'm thinking that this spreading around money is for small purchases that you don't want to make via credit card and I really wouldn't go more than 40% if you are just passing through.

1) yea I had the same problem in the US with my Canadian ATM card (US banking is different) but funny enough I never had that problem in the UK perhaps I was just lucky with the ATM.

2) there is usually a bank to exchange your money in but you are planning on going way up north so banks are only going to be in the larger centres.

3) I had a girlfriend many years ago her uncle owned a store and wouldn't take American money unless he had to and he'd always rip off the tourist on exchange. His attitude was to keep the locals happy and f**k the tourists because they are only in town once. Expect to get ripped off royally if you spend your $ USA outside of the larger centres, its just the way it is.

4) traveler's cheques are becoming a rare commodity but then you are back to the currency problem, which type and how much. Also away from the bigger centres cashing them becomes a problem. Look for banks and have ID if you go that route, that's what we do in Europe.

Have a good trip and safe home

Sean

you can check out the real time exchange rates here
usd to cad http://usd.exchangerates24.com/currency-converter/cad/
for usd only http://usd.exchangerates24.com/
for cad only http://cad.exchangerates24.com/

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