jc4me Posted April 23, 2014 #1 Share Posted April 23, 2014 We are scheduled for a Canada/New England cruise in September. Was wondering if they merchants in Halifax and Saint John take US $ or if we need to exchange money or maybe just use a credit card for whatever we buy there. Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlFrank Posted April 23, 2014 #2 Share Posted April 23, 2014 We are scheduled for a Canada/New England cruise in September. Was wondering if they merchants in Halifax and Saint John take US $ or if we need to exchange money or maybe just use a credit card for whatever we buy there. Thanks for the help! No need to exchange for Canadian money, they take US money but you may get your change in Canadian money. We had no problems last year, we used US at the street fair, on the bus and at the restaurant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no fuss travel Posted April 23, 2014 #3 Share Posted April 23, 2014 Merchants will take your US money but don't give the best of rates as the banks penalize them when they deposit the US currency. You will get your change in Canadian currency. We no longer have the penny, so if your cost of goods is $5.88, you will pay $5.90. If your cost of goods is $5.86, you will pay $5.85. There are a few merchants, who simply round up all the time, rather than rounding down which they are supposed to do if the price is 1 or 2 cents above the nearest 5 or 10 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted April 25, 2014 #4 Share Posted April 25, 2014 You will want to come back so go to an ATM and take out a little money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpcanuck Posted April 25, 2014 #5 Share Posted April 25, 2014 You will want to come back so go to an ATM and take out a little money! LOL! Agreed! We would love to have you come back. Not hard to take a few dollars out at the ATM for small purchases - it also shows your respect for the country that you are visiting! Besides your credit card will have the best exchange rate on those larger purchases anyway - you shouldn't have a problem! Hope you enjoy your visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUZBUDS Posted May 1, 2014 #6 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Would most merchants offer 1 to 1 exchange rate? If so, an ATM (if the fees don't kill you) would offer better rate. The U.S. dollar is currently worth almost 10% more than the Canadian dollar. We'll be staying a few extra days in Quebec before our cruise in November -- this discussion is very helpful! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Canuck Posted May 1, 2014 #7 Share Posted May 1, 2014 most places..including Tim Hortons (coffee shop everywhere) take debit and credit cards... check out your card to see if they charge a premium for use out of the US that being said having a bit of cash always a good idea...and we are not $17,000,000,000 in debt so our $ will eventually be worth more than yours (or so I hope) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseryyc Posted May 1, 2014 #8 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Would most merchants offer 1 to 1 exchange rate? No merchants will offer a 1 to 1 rate! That only happens during the very times the two currencies are at the same rate. Be a good visitor, get some CDN$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRUZBUDS Posted May 2, 2014 #9 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Be a good visitor, get some CDN$. I will -- plus it's pretty! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgratru Posted May 11, 2014 #10 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Get Canadian money....and have a great visit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatYourBoatSince2003 Posted May 14, 2014 #11 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I will -- plus it's pretty! ;) That made me smile... Usually it's called "funny money" :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted May 15, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Our one and two dollar coins can pile up and are heavy. Spend them when you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvscruising2007 Posted May 15, 2014 #13 Share Posted May 15, 2014 We will be in St. Johns, NB and Halifax. I was planning to get $100 in Canadian dollars. I don't want too much. We plan to eat lunch in both ports and maybe buy souveniers. Will $100 be enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgratru Posted May 16, 2014 #14 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Depends on what you want for lunch and how many in your party.....but lots of lunch options in uptown area for $10 or less. Also, you are coming to my hometown, Saint John, New Brunswick. St. John's is in Newfoundland. Thought you should know in case you are doing research on the city....lots of people get it mixed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvscruising2007 Posted May 16, 2014 #15 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Depends on what you want for lunch and how many in your party.....but lots of lunch options in uptown area for $10 or less. Also, you are coming to my hometown, Saint John, New Brunswick. St. John's is in Newfoundland. Thought you should know in case you are doing research on the city....lots of people get it mixed up. Thanks for your reply. There are 2 of us so I think $100 Canadian will be okay. We will probably find a pub or something similar. I wasn't sure which Saint John we were going to visit but I knew it was in NB. Thank you for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinyfish Posted July 17, 2014 #16 Share Posted July 17, 2014 Our first stop in Canada is Halifax. The majority of our excursions are requesting cash payments so I want to exchange our money for Canadian. Where is the best place in Halifax to do that? This is my first time exchanging money...is there a fee? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Canuck Posted July 17, 2014 #17 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I hate travelling with cash...so consider travellers cheques...but if contracting tours check that they take them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted July 17, 2014 #18 Share Posted July 17, 2014 (edited) Tinyfish you will get a better rate by going to an ATM (lots of them all over) and using your bank card to withdraw cash. If you still want to bring US cash then change it at a bank. Your excursion driver will take you to one since it will be in his/her interest for you to get cash. Edited July 17, 2014 by maryann ns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Canuck Posted July 17, 2014 #19 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I have a vague recollection about us bank cards having 5 digits..my bank uses 4 digit. you may need to check out compatibility with our atm machines. sorry cannot be clearer on this just remember somebody having an issue with this on cruise critic posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted July 17, 2014 #20 Share Posted July 17, 2014 I have a vague recollection about us bank cards having 5 digits..my bank uses 4 digit. you may need to check out compatibility with our atm machines. sorry cannot be clearer on this just remember somebody having an issue with this on cruise critic posting PIN length is not country-specific CC - except Switzerland who issue 6 digit PINs by default. The ISO criteria for PINs require between 4 and 12 digits, and anyone can change their PIN to any length within that range - but not all hardware/software can handle it. All European machines, and most elsewhere should be capable of handling a 6 digit PIN, but some older machines can only manage 4. You're probably thinking of the common-in-the-US Zip Code verification which uses 5 digits. Very common at gas stations and other automated payment machines. Interesting factoid for us Canucks - you can use your Canadian Postal Code when asked for Zip Code, just ignore the letters and add two zeros to the end so it's five digits long. Saves all the hassle of going inside to have the clerk check your ID when buying gas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Canuck Posted July 17, 2014 #21 Share Posted July 17, 2014 think the us pin length was in Europe...but like I said not sure just knew it was an issue at one time I HATE having to prepay for gas...friend put me onto the zip cheat for canucks...made my life much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatYourBoatSince2003 Posted August 1, 2014 #22 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Interesting factoid for us Canucks - you can use your Canadian Postal Code when asked for Zip Code, just ignore the letters and add two zeros to the end so it's five digits long. Saves all the hassle of going inside to have the clerk check your ID when buying gas! THANKS so much! We are going to have to try this out next month when we drive to port. I did not know that! http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/travel-news/finally-canadians-able-to-pay-at-us-pumps-with-credit-again/article13463053/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paraveina Posted August 3, 2014 #23 Share Posted August 3, 2014 No merchants will offer a 1 to 1 rate! That only happens during the very times the two currencies are at the same rate. Be a good visitor, get some CDN$. Why wouldn't it be 1:1 right now? If the US$ is worth more, it would be a deal for the merchants. They'll take that 1$ to the bank and get 1.10$ Canadian for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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