Exchanging Money, PLEASE HELP!?

Question

I probably sound extrememly stupid. BUT NONETHELESS, i'm driving up to ontario this weekend and I need to exchange my US dollars to CAN money. I heard the shops on the border arn't as good as a bank. However, I will be getting there at around midnight when the banks are closed.What should I do?

Where is the best place to exchange money in canada? Like where can I get the best rate?

Thanks in advance:]

Answer 1

You would probably get the best rate by exchanging your money before you leave the US, not after you've entered Canada.  If that's not possible then banks will always give you the best exchange rate as opposed to what a retail store would offer, or you can try some of the major hotels as they will usually exchange currency at the Front Desk, but typically only for their guests.  You can also find exchange bureaus such as Thomas Cook in some hotels and as stand-alone locations in some cities.  If you don't absolutely need to have cash, just use your credit card and you'll automatically get bank exchange rates on your purchases.

Answer 2

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/conver...

Answer 3

Chris told you pretty much everything. Get Canadian money before you leave the States. If you don't, when you arrive in Canada around midnight pretty much everything will be closed anyways so you can wait until the morning to go to a Canadian bank and get money then.

Credit cards are the easiest (as long as you don't have one that charges a fee for foreign exchange - but even those are pretty small). Just remember to call the credit card companies and tell them that you are travelling so they don't think you lost your card or had it stolen.  

Answer 4

No sure which city you are going to be at.  But at most major hotel they will exchange money for you, and there rate are very good.  Sometime you get there late the frontdesk will exchange for you, ask your hotel.

Answer 5

You'll likeyl get the best rate by just using an ATM machine.  It will dispense Canadian dollars, and you should have no problem finding one.  There might be a fee for cross-border withdrawals, but it's only a couple dollars.

I've always gotten the best rate this way.  It works in all countries that have ATM machines on the Cirrus, Interac, and Plus systems (the logos on the back of your debit card).