Here is my silly question of the day, do we need Canadian dollars for our day in Vancouver?

Some places will take US dollars but exchange rates can be funky. You'll be safer having Canadian dollars. Don't change much though. :)

Masaki

Hi Karen,

You can pay for almost everything by credit card - make sure you have one that doesn't charge that extra fee for foreign exchange transactions.

Vancouver is close to the border so you can actually tip in US$ if you don't feel like changing money. We go to Canada quite frequently to visit my in-laws and I have to confess we hardly ever change money any more - we just use plastic and American money. It all depends on what you want to do during the day you are there. If you are going to use a taxi you might want to change some money.

Vancouver is a great walking city. Stanley Park is lovely with great views. The shopping is cool on Robson street and also on Granville Island (lots of art galleries and funky, crafty stores and a public market). Gastown and Chinatown are also good to wander around in - just depends on what you'd like to spend the day doing.

Have fun!

Mary Ellen

Thanks for the info. I should only need cash for transportation from the airport and the rest I can use plastic.

Karen,

We took 3 different cabs and used credit cards each time.

Editing to add: we never got any Canadian $; the hotel bellman and cruise porter were very happy to get US $!

Kathy, that's very good to know!

Well, you will get a better rate if you get C$ (I mean better than just using US$ on the street). You can get some at any ATM. Or you can pay by debit card, which is very common on Canada. Cabs will almost certainly take credit cards.

I did a lot of shopping on my last trip - very good exchange rate and even for stuff I could buy here, pricing was excellent.

Unfortuantely, the Canadian dollar has been gaining agaisnt the US...we saw a big difference between Sept. and our recent May stay. they are almost on par now.

$1.00 US = $1.10 CDN now

I liked it better when it was usd 1 - cdn 1.40 ;) (back when I went in 2000 for the first time it was about 1.50 I guess?)

exactly year ago it was 1 USD = 1.20 CDN, when we were there in Sept 05, 1 USD = 1.18 CDN

But the Canadians are happy about this, so someone benefits!

I went shopping in Victoria at the Villeroy and Boch store and got all the serving pieces to my casual china in 2001. It was shipped from New Jersey but the exchange rate it was like getting about 40% off.

Yes, I'm very happy about it. I've gambled on my last two cruises, booking in USD, and then watching the sticker price dropping in CDN. Good value against the Euro as well. Sorry, but it's our turn for a little while, at least.

You may not know that in thelate 50's or early 60's, the CDN was actually about $1.10 US.

I would like to know which credit card "doesn't charge that extra fee for foreign exchange transactions".

I am going to spend a couple days pre-cruise in Vancouver so that card could be beneficial!

Please share the info, don't have much time to get signed up!

Thanks! Happy Travels! ~ GayRie

Capital One credit cards do not charge the extra foreign exchange fee.

-----------

Eugene

Thanks, Eugene! called them and got one coming!