Just a note, but I think it depends on indiv. banks......My bank is Chase and I asked about ordering canadian dollars....they said there was no limit or min. to what I could order, depending on my bank acct of course....and they charge 1.8 percent flat (compared to 3% Credit card rates and there were no other additional fees.    It takes 2 days for the money to come in and they will only hold it for two days before they ship it back.....seemed like a decent deal so I am picking it up on Thurs :)     Getting "change" at the airport or anywhere in Van. that will take Am. cash sounds good however, I wonder what kind of "exchange rate" you are getting by doing that...airports always overcharge.....

You should be able to pay for your purchases @ the airport with US cash. You would then probably receive your change in Canadian. The money is very close to par but they still may charge you a little more on your US money. We live in Michigan but also have a home just out side of Windsor Ontario. Detroit & Windsor are border cities just like Vancouver borders the USA. These cities are VERY used to Americans & their "cash". Can't see a problem.

T & S  

Does anyone know if I can purchase something at the Vancouver airport using US$ and receive change in Canadian $? I'm thinking that seems like the easiest way to handle thingsto avoid my bank charges (which are $5 plus 3% plus the exchange rate). Thoughts??

It's pretty much expected for just about everything but the serving people get paid minimum wage ($10 hr) in Canada as opposed to the US where most of them live off their tips.  So 15 - 20 % is the norm in the US but 10 --15 % is acceptable in Canada.

 H

PS I waitressed for a living while living in New Zealand.  I made a grand sum total in tips of $5 per month.  Just didn't happen very often.

Thanks for the info re tipping , hardly ever done in Aust so we are never quite sure when,where and how much?

To Butterfly....Tipping is the same in both countries, expected but just as appreciated. Because I have houses in both countries, it's been easier for me to have credit cards in both. I just use the appropriate card. Gotta say that has been a big advantage!

T

Thank you all so much for the information :)

You are very right Heather about using Canadian money while in Canada and I thank you for that very wise advice.  I will be exchaning my US$$ to use while in Vancouver.  I know a lot of places not far from the Canadian border who will absolutely not take Canadian money, so at the very least, we should do the same and while in Canada, do as the Canadians do !!

Don't think there is much of a difference to really worry about it...but if you want to keep up with the exchange rate...here's a link to a currency exchanger...there's also a tab for a printable wallet sized cheat-sheet...good for anywhere you need to travel

http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

We got USA and Canadian money on a day it was a great rate, watching it every day!  we guessed we would need change for tipping as soon as we arrived . Is tipping expected in Canada the same way as it is in the states?

good advice

While most everyone will take US$$ there are a few exceptions and one of them would be SkyTrain or the bus that utilize automated ticket machines and you will need Cdn cash.  The SkyTrain booths do take credit and debit cards, so that would be one way around it, but the bus is strictly cash.  Also if you want to buy a day or multi-day pass at one of the vendors, I'm sure they will take US. 

Then again, as I've suggested before..........just hit up the ever present ATM's for a some cash.........minimum $20.  Other than an ATM user fee you will get a good exchange rate for that day.  Then you have some local coin for use when you need it.  Or you can go into any bank..........also ever present in Vancouver and exchange your US money at the rate of the day.  Depending on how much money you change it will be a 2 - 4 cent difference from the prevailing posted exchange rate, but no user fee.

The smaller the vendor you try to exhange money with, the more they are going to charge you for exchange.  Remember they have to take the US money to their bank and get dinged the 2 - 4 cent exchange fee.

So now forgive me for this next thing..........but I think it is only courteous to use the money of the country you are in rather than put it on the locals to figure it out for you by keeping up with exchange rates and being your bank away from home.  That's part of traveling in another country.

JMHO  Heather

I had assumed that vancouver did accept and see qute often US$$ since they straddle the borders of alaska and WA and are a big cruise port city.    My main question is what about smaller venues like the local bus or sky train?     I will be in vancouver a few days and prob taking public tranport or buying those passes....would I need to go down to the main office or buy something and get CAN$ in change and then use it for the public transport?    Thanks for any suggestions...jo

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You're not kidding that the banks make out like bandits on currency exchange.  What makes me even crazier is if you buy something on your credit card in a foreign currency (like if I am in the States) and then return it back to the same store the next day, you pay an almost 5 cent premium for the priviledge. 

And as to the comment on the $1 coins..................you will see no $1 or $2 bills anywhere.  They are no longer accepted, except at a bank.  It's hell on those of us who keep change in the pants' pocket. 

H & G