I was just in Vancouver and decided not to convert any of my US
dollars into Canadian.
The exchange rate is running about 6% and local places in Vancouver
were converting at 1.3% less and charging a fee per transaction. I
didn't seem worth it.
Just curious about the strategy other US travellers to Canada have
been doing regarding currency conversion. Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?
Thanks

I was just in Vancouver and decided not to convert any of my US
dollars into Canadian.
The exchange rate is running about 6% and local places in Vancouver
were converting at 1.3% less and charging a fee per transaction. I
didn't seem worth it.
Just curious about the strategy other US travellers to Canada have
been doing regarding currency conversion. Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?
Thanks

I was just in Vancouver and decided not to convert any of my US
dollars into Canadian.
The exchange rate is running about 6% and local places in Vancouver
were converting at 1.3% less and charging a fee per transaction. I
didn't seem worth it.
Just curious about the strategy other US travellers to Canada have
been doing regarding currency conversion. Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?
Thanks

In article <1181697816.363253.314...@q19g2000prn.googlegroups.com>,

techman41...@yahoo.com wrote:
I was just in Vancouver and decided not to convert any of my US
dollars into Canadian.
The exchange rate is running about 6% and local places in Vancouver
were converting at 1.3% less and charging a fee per transaction. I
didn't seem worth it.
Just curious about the strategy other US travellers to Canada have
been doing regarding currency conversion. Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?
Thanks

Why not just use a Visa, Mastercard, or other credit card to pay for as
many items as possible while you are in Canada the next time? You can
also use most Canadian ATMs to withdraw Canadian dollars at a more
favorable exchange rate then those currency exchange services.

Just curious about the strategy other US travellers to Canada have
been doing regarding currency conversion. Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?
Thanks

But don't use your credit card to withdraw cash. Use your ATM card,
and from a bank ATM, not a non-bank ATM.

If you withdraw cash using a credit card, the card company will
consider that a cash advance, meaning they'll start charging you
interest right away. Sometimes I prepaid my credit card company so I
have a cash balance first. In that case cash withdrawal will not be
considered a cash advance.

PeterL wrote:

But don't use your credit card to withdraw cash. Use your ATM card,
and from a bank ATM, not a non-bank ATM.

If you withdraw cash using a credit card, the card company will
consider that a cash advance, meaning they'll start charging you
interest right away. Sometimes I prepaid my credit card company so I
have a cash balance first. In that case cash withdrawal will not be
considered a cash advance.

Is this a good idea? Some CC companies to not like you having a credit
balance. You won't receive any interest on the balance either, and I'm
not sure that you will avoid interest charging on the withdrawals
anyway. There was a BBC consumer item on this very subject in the UK
recently, but I'm vague on the details.

techman41...@yahoo.com wrote:
Just curious about the strategy other US travellers to Canada have
been doing regarding currency conversion. Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?
Thanks

I use Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange. Today their rates for US
exchange are $1.059 to buy and $1.078 to sell. That's a lot better than
what most banks' exchange rates. It's certainly better than my bank's
exchange rates. Do find out what your bank charges you on exchange and
foreign ATM fees before assuming that the ATM is always cheaper than the
currency exchange shops.

http://www.vbce.info/

--
K.

Lang may your lum reek.

On Jun 13, 6:14 am, Mike O'Sullivan <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
PeterL wrote:

But don't use your credit card to withdraw cash. Use your ATM card,
and from a bank ATM, not a non-bank ATM.

If you withdraw cash using a credit card, the card company will
consider that a cash advance, meaning they'll start charging you
interest right away. Sometimes I prepaid my credit card company so I
have a cash balance first. In that case cash withdrawal will not be
considered a cash advance.

Is this a good idea? Some CC companies to not like you having a credit
balance. You won't receive any interest on the balance either, and I'm
not sure that you will avoid interest charging on the withdrawals
anyway. There was a BBC consumer item on this very subject in the UK
recently, but I'm vague on the details.


I have done that several times and use my credit card for cash
withdrawal without any problems. Yes you don't get any interest but
it's just for short term, during my travel.

"PeterL" <po.n...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1181749436.493791.271970@a26g2000pre.googlegroups.com...





On Jun 13, 6:14 am, Mike O'Sullivan <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
PeterL wrote:

But don't use your credit card to withdraw cash. Use your ATM card,
and from a bank ATM, not a non-bank ATM.

If you withdraw cash using a credit card, the card company will
consider that a cash advance, meaning they'll start charging you
interest right away. Sometimes I prepaid my credit card company so I
have a cash balance first. In that case cash withdrawal will not be
considered a cash advance.

Is this a good idea? Some CC companies to not like you having a credit
balance. You won't receive any interest on the balance either, and I'm
not sure that you will avoid interest charging on the withdrawals
anyway. There was a BBC consumer item on this very subject in the UK
recently, but I'm vague on the details.

I have done that several times and use my credit card for cash
withdrawal without any problems. Yes you don't get any interest but
it's just for short term, during my travel.

Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to it,

even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to use a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash.

Most, if not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions. City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit card
for a credit card transaction.

Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage. I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is a
lot less than the CC fees

On Jun 13, 8:04 pm, "Calif Bill" <bmckees...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
"PeterL" <po.n...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1181749436.493791.271970@a26g2000pre.googlegroups.com...





On Jun 13, 6:14 am, Mike O'Sullivan <m...@nowhere.com> wrote:
PeterL wrote:

But don't use your credit card to withdraw cash. Use your ATM card,
and from a bank ATM, not a non-bank ATM.

If you withdraw cash using a credit card, the card company will
consider that a cash advance, meaning they'll start charging you
interest right away. Sometimes I prepaid my credit card company so
I
have a cash balance first. In that case cash withdrawal will not be
considered a cash advance.

Is this a good idea? Some CC companies to not like you having a credit
balance. You won't receive any interest on the balance either, and I'm
not sure that you will avoid interest charging on the withdrawals
anyway. There was a BBC consumer item on this very subject in the UK
recently, but I'm vague on the details.

I have done that several times and use my credit card for cash
withdrawal without any problems. Yes you don't get any interest but
it's just for short term, during my travel.

Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to
it,

You can't read can you? I said to if I were to use a credit card, I
prepaid additional cash so I'd have a cash balance. I have done this
many times and never been charged interests. Yes fees, but not
interests.

even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to use
a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash.

And your ATM don't charge a fee?

Most, if not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions. City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit
card
for a credit card transaction.

Then you need to get a better credit card.

Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage.
I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is a
lot less than the CC fees

Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to it,
even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to use a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash. Most, if not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions.

City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit card
for a credit card transaction. Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage. I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is a
lot less than the CC fees.

On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:04:15 GMT, "Calif Bill"
bmckeespam@ix.netcom.com> wrote:


Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to
it,
even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to use
a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash. Most, if not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions.

So do most ATM card issuers these days, too.

City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit card
for a credit card transaction. Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage.
I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is a
lot less than the CC fees.

Uh, no. Most ATM issuers are charging a percent or three for the
currency conversion these days, in addition to their $1.50
"foreign" machine fee.


--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

"Hatunen" <hatunen@cox.net> wrote in message
news:tcn173dhipnknvrt96un1hol3q5g9a30n4@4ax.com...
On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:04:15 GMT, "Calif Bill"
bmckeespam@ix.netcom.com> wrote:


Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to
it,
even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to use
a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash. Most, if not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions.

So do most ATM card issuers these days, too.

City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit card
for a credit card transaction. Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage.
I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is a
lot less than the CC fees.

Uh, no. Most ATM issuers are charging a percent or three for the
currency conversion these days, in addition to their $1.50
"foreign" machine fee.
Last summer in 5 weeks in Canada we got no currency exchange fees, and last
week in Mexico, we had no exchange fees.

Is there a place in the
states (near Seattle) or even in Vancouver that offers a good exchange
rate with low fees that is justified with such a low US-Canandian
exchange rate?

Uh, no. Most ATM issuers are charging a percent or three for the
currency conversion these days, in addition to their $1.50
"foreign" machine fee.

"Hatunen" <hatunen@cox.net> wrote in message
news:tcn173dhipnknvrt96un1hol3q5g9a30n4@4ax.com...
On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:04:15 GMT, "Calif Bill"
bmckeespam@ix.netcom.com> wrote:


Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to
it,
even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to use
a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash. Most, if not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions.

So do most ATM card issuers these days, too.

City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit card
for a credit card transaction. Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage. I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is a
lot less than the CC fees.

Uh, no. Most ATM issuers are charging a percent or three for the
currency conversion these days, in addition to their $1.50
"foreign" machine fee.


--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

Last summer in 5 weeks in Canada we got no currency exchange fees, and
last week in Mexico, we had no exchange fees.

"Hatunen" <hatunen@cox.net> wrote in message
news:6eo173h7ur49sbtdoqbj5eqshlqakires6@4ax.com...
On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:30:33 GMT, "Calif Bill"
bmckeespam@ix.netcom.com> wrote:


"Hatunen" <hatunen@cox.net> wrote in message
news:tcn173dhipnknvrt96un1hol3q5g9a30n4@4ax.com...

Uh, no. Most ATM issuers are charging a percent or three for the
currency conversion these days, in addition to their $1.50
"foreign" machine fee.
Last summer in 5 weeks in Canada we got no currency exchange fees, and
last
week in Mexico, we had no exchange fees.

And how does that negate my comment that *most* ATM card issuers
charge an extra currency converson fee, above and beyond the
system 1%?

Would you mind telling me who issued your ATM card? Maybe I can
get one.

Bank of the west.

"Calif Bill" <bmckeespam@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:dg5ci.1207$ZY1.524@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...

"Hatunen" <hatunen@cox.net> wrote in message
news:tcn173dhipnknvrt96un1hol3q5g9a30n4@4ax.com...
On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:04:15 GMT, "Calif Bill"
bmckeespam@ix.netcom.com> wrote:


Bad advice all around. First a cash advance will have fee's attached to
it,
even if you pay it off at the end of the month. 2nd bad advice is to
use a
credit card for most expenses. Go to the ATM and get cash. Most, if
not
all CC companies add a 1-3" foreign exchange fee to credit card
transactions.

So do most ATM card issuers these days, too.

City Bank is 3%. You get it even if you use your Debit card
for a credit card transaction. Most you will get is an about $1.50 ATM
charge from your home bank if they charge you for out of network usage.
I
do not think the Canadians add a charge. $1.50 on a $300 withdrawal is
a
lot less than the CC fees.

Uh, no. Most ATM issuers are charging a percent or three for the
currency conversion these days, in addition to their $1.50
"foreign" machine fee.


--
************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

Last summer in 5 weeks in Canada we got no currency exchange fees, and
last week in Mexico, we had no exchange fees.

You really ARE a dunce. Currency exchange fees are INCLUDED in the
calculation. They are NOT separately itemized.