When going to canada, will US money work?

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Shannon E

Yes US money is accepted nearly everywhere up here.. Not like it is in the US... Dont know what those other people are talking about.
Best to exchange funds before coming up reason is some places dont give you the full exchange amount you are entitled too. Banks and Airports will exchange for the current going rate. It nearly changes daily so best to get it done when its the highest possible. You can go to Expedia they have an exchange rate on their site you can see how often and it changes.

Plus Canadian money is alot more entertaining then the US... finally they are adding color and security features.

in general, alot of places will, but the banks both there and anywhere in the u.s. will also change your money

ladybugewa

Most bars will take it, though at a much lower rate than the bank, especially close to the border. You can change your money at a bank, or at the airport, or pretty much anywhere in downtown Toronto.

John I

I grew up in Detroit and Windsor was nearly every weekend when I was 19. US money can be exchanged right at the border for canadian money. Not literally by the customs agent, but at the building within eye sight of the booth.

short shrimp

It will work but you will not get anywhere near as good an exchange rate as you would at a financial institution or currency exchange. Depending on where you are going, you should be able to get it exchanged at any bank providing you are not exchanging a large sum. Otherwise, look for a currency exchange or a 'western union' office. There are also places right at the border where you can do currency exchange. Change to CDN when you arrive, and change what you have left back to USD when you leave.

scaffmasterus

Some twits seem to think Canadian stores don't take U.S. money, but they are just twits. Americen money works but you are better off going to a bank for the best exchange rate before coming. The Canadian dollar is worth about $.86 American.

Church Music Girl

You can sometimes use US currency in cities that are right on the border, but you'll get a terrible exchange rate.

Best way to handle this (from my experience) is to cross the border, go to an ATM at a Canadain bank (not those generic ones at the airport or bus depot) with withdraw money from your own bank account. Even with the fees, you still get the best exchange rates and it can't get any easier.

Do your own thinking!

You've got some weird answers here.

If you're staying near the border, the bar'll definitely be happy to take your US$.

I've lived in Ottawa for most of my life, and never bothered to change US$ (left over from trips, etc) to CDN$ to spend it -- in Ottawa, a good hour from the border.

The exchange rate may not be ideal, but it's highly unlikely to be a complete rip-off in a border town.

NB that nobody is going to give you any exchange rate on US _coins_, though.

What Google got me:

"US$ bank notes - Many local businesses will allow you to spend your US$ bank notes without your first converting them to Canadian currency. However, you may not receive a fair exchange rate.

ATMs - ATMs are plentiful. So long as you belong to a large network such as Cirrus, Star, Plus, etc., you should be able to withdraw cash in Canadian currency."

http://www.torcon3.on.ca/faq/money.html (includes a fair bit more on how we drain Americans' bank accounts)

Yes you can use us money. If you would like to convert it, stop by any bank.

Mathew H

You COULD, but it would be a hassle. You'd be better off exchanging it at any exchange place or a bank.

John

yes, but change it to Canadian as soon as you can to get a better exchange rate.... This is a rule for all countries i think!

Jeremy D

You could use US coins to play drinking games.

Maybe also, if you wanted to flip a coin to see which of you should approach a bunch of girls first, any coin would do.

If you want to buy beer, then you should probably change the money into Canadian dollars.

Banks do it, and depending upon where you live and how many tourists there are around, there might even be a dedicated monetary exchange.

Whenever you change money, they make a little profit. When I traveled, I just used the machines in the wall to get out money, and that was automatically converted before being debited from my Aussie account.

Intuitive Dreamer

Yep. Most places will take USD.
If it's at a bar I wouldnt expect there to be any sort of currency exchange though lol Think of it as part of the tip.

I think you can change the money at the border, and at any type of store like a Money Mart.

Tell your friend happy birthday! Have fun! lol

mad clown

yes they will take us money in Canada but where you go such as a bar the people working there may not know the rate when you are buying something ..go to any bank in Canada they will exchange it for free give you canuck bucks

tyco88

about half of businesses in Canada will take u.s. cash, but the easy way to work this is if you have a paypal account, with debit card. if you do, go to acct settings, click on currency settings, and choose "Canadian dollars", then use your debit card at any ATM. simple. if you don't have a paypal debit card, go to any bank on the u.s. side of the border, and ask for a currency exchange.

ioannacardish

Bank.

SKG R

It works in heaven or hell.

MiRaNdA rOsE

go to your bank. and yes Canadian money DOES work in the us, don't u ever look at your change? travelers checks would probably be the best way to go, can still cash them when you get back. a lot less risky some one steals your cash your screwed but u can get your travelers checks back

mighty_power7

no, u.s. money won't work, just like canadian money doesn't work here in the u.s.

soapsoap

No, Canadian stores don't take US money. Probably the best thing to do is to go to an ATM when you get there and withdraw money (in Canadian dollars) from your bank account...I think you get a better exchange rate that way...that's how we always do it when we go up to Canada.

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