My experience with Canadian money
in [Cruise Ship]
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From: gmbeasley on 11 Jul 2010 08:53 On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:14:54 +0200, peter <peters25(a)stockton.com> wrote: >X-no-archive: yes On 7/11/10 8:50 AM, in article >i1bpjj$sf2$1(a)news.eternal-september.org, "Marcia" ><Marcia(a)spamlessinlasvegas.org> wrote: > > > I just posted my >> original post as something to think about...bring some small bills...if >> you were going to be in port in Canada. >> >> Marcia > Even in the US, I usually get about $20 worth of $1.00 bills and maybe also four $5.00 bills for use in the taxi or at the airport. In my case it is to tip the wheelchair pushers - I'm not about to give them a $10 or $20 and ask for change. There are also some countries where you have to pay an exit tax, and sometimes they specify what currency it should be in. If you have fixed it so that you end up at the airport with no local money and suddenly find you need 1350 in Costa Rican currency, you may need to break a $20 bill and will then have change. >More generally: if you're going to a foreign country and don't want to >return home with foreign currency that you won't be using in the near >future, plan ahead. Obviously, Marcia's advice applies equally to South >American, European and Australia/New Zealand cruises.
From: gmbeasley on 11 Jul 2010 09:02 On Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:35:00 -0500, Jack <hijack(a)fidnet.com> wrote: > >Marcia > >Be careful when using US Money. I won't use the word cheat, but if >you take canadian coins in change for American dollars, you are being >short changed. US Dollars are worth more than Canadian Dollars. > >That could add up enough in one day to make a good difference to them. > >Jack > That's the way it used to be 10 years ago. In those days every US dollar we got an extra 50 cents. It is more even now - for every US dollar you spend in Canada you only get an extra 3 cents > >On Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:17:02 -0700, Marcia ><Marcia(a)spamlessinlasvegas.org> wrote: > >>I thought this might help, unless things have changed a lot since the >>last time I was in Canada. >> >>I returned to the States with over $12 in Canadian coins...including >>several dollar coins...when I went to Calgary around 15 years ago. I >>discovered at that time that I could convert paper money back to US >>dollars but not coins. I brought the coins back to Victoria with me >>this trip, used $7 to pay for the shuttle into town and some of the rest >>to make up the difference paying for the few small things I bought in >>town. Every place we went into took American money but only gave change >>back in Canadian. By the time we were waiting in line to board the >>shuttle back to the ship, I realized if I wanted to run in and buy a >>drink, all I had at that point were 20 dollar bills. Had I thought >>about it sooner, I would have made sure to bring lots of singles with me! >> >>Marcia
From: Barbara Brown on 11 Jul 2010 10:28 There is a currency exchange near us where you can buy all different types of currencies. I was just figuring out about how much we'll take for our transatlantic cruise in August. I want to get pounds, euros and Canadian dollars. One thing nice about this place is they will buy back any bills (not loose change) when you return. Although we are also going to Iceland and Greenland and I don't want to get their money as we'll be on tours and probably won't spend much. Can you still get local currencies on the ship before you go ashore? And if so, do you need cash to pay for it or does it go on your shipboard account? Thanks, Barbara
From: peter on 11 Jul 2010 10:46 X-no-archive: yes On 7/11/10 4:28 PM, in article Ru-dnc52wZ6DSKTRnZ2dnUVZ_tCdnZ2d(a)wow.com, "Barbara Brown" <babrown99(a)wowway.com> wrote: > There is a currency exchange near us where you can buy all different > types of currencies. I was just figuring out about how much we'll take > for our transatlantic cruise in August. I want to get pounds, euros and > Canadian dollars. Isn't their commission charge much higher than the conversion charge you would incur on a credit or debit card? I believe some people here pointed out that some cards don't charge extra at all (I believe Schwab), though their conversion rate may be less favorable (you would have to check). > > One thing nice about this place is they will buy back any bills (not > loose change) when you return. Most if not all do. > > Although we are also going to Iceland and Greenland and I don't want to > get their money as we'll be on tours and probably won't spend much. Can > you still get local currencies on the ship before you go ashore? We've used ATMs in Iceland. In Greenland you would use Danish kroner and you could get those thru an ATM as well; there was one right outside of the first port (...vik). Buying local currencies on the ship invariably is more expensive. >
From: Charles on 11 Jul 2010 10:54
In article <Ru-dnc52wZ6DSKTRnZ2dnUVZ_tCdnZ2d(a)wow.com>, Barbara Brown <babrown99(a)wowway.com> wrote: > There is a currency exchange near us where you can buy all different > types of currencies. I was just figuring out about how much we'll take > for our transatlantic cruise in August. I want to get pounds, euros and > Canadian dollars. > > One thing nice about this place is they will buy back any bills (not > loose change) when you return. > > Although we are also going to Iceland and Greenland and I don't want to > get their money as we'll be on tours and probably won't spend much. Can > you still get local currencies on the ship before you go ashore? > > And if so, do you need cash to pay for it or does it go on your > shipboard account? I never get any cash in advance when I travel overseas. I get it an ATM when I get there if I need some with my bank ATM card. You will not get the best rates at the currency exchange and ditto in reverse if you return the money there. I did have to do this for my nieces but only because they had no ATM card or credit cards when they were going to Japan and I was the one who could use the AMEX currency exchange as I have an AMEX card but I did that holding my nose. And no way I would do an exchange for local currency on the ship either. You will get the worst rates. Use your credit card or get cash from an ATM machine if you really need cash. -- Charles |