Canadian currency

[cole]

I posted this question on the Canada board, but thought I would give it a shot here also. We will be taking a cab from the Vancouver Amtrak station to the cruise port and wanted to know if we need to have Canadian $$$ to pay for the fare or if the cab drivers will accept American dollars. If we need Canadian money will there be an ATM at the train station from which we can withdraw money? Thanks for your help.
B. Cole

[zephyr17]

Vancouver cab drivers will accept American money, in my experience. Although I almost always have Canadian money when I am up there, so it very seldom comes up.

There is an ATM in the train station itself, but it has bad fees. There is a VanCity ATM across Main Street on the other (west) end of the Skytrain station that charges no fees itself (your bank may impose fees).

If you are a Bank of America customer, ScotiaBank has a deal with BofA so that you can use ScotiaBank ATMs as if they were BofA ATMs with no exchange or ATM charges. The easiest ScotiaBank to get to is the one in front of London Drug at Granville and Georgia, which is convienent to the Granville Skytrain station (2 stops from Main Street/Science World station where the train station is).

[kenish]

US dollars are accepted by Vancouver taxis, merchants, etc. But I recommend against it. You will get a very poor exchange rate (the recipient has to go through the expense and inconvenience of exchanging it to CDN). My local BofA branch exchanges USD<>CDN for just a few percent spread. I'd exchange some money at home to get you from the airport, maybe more depending on your plans and spending preferences (cash or credit cards).

More importantly, you're in Canada...not the US. Greenbacks may be accepted and people will be polite about it, but it's not a nice goodwill gesture. I know you're probably not the type but it just feeds the Ugly American stereotype. Do businesses in your locale accept CDN, Euros, etc. from tourists?

Two transportation tips- ticket machines in the transit system accept credit and debit cards. If you use a CC with zero foreign fees, that's the best bet. Also, Vancouver taxis are Camry size...2 adults with luggage is about the limit.

[IAMACRUZAHOLIC]

I have kids and 6 pieces of luggage - I'm not going to be able to find a taxi in Vancouver to take us from the train station to the hotel?? I leave tomorrow, you've added panic to the trip! No mini van taxis etc??

[martincath]

No need to panic - we do have minivan cabs (I think previously quoted as 17% of the available cabs). You might have to wait a bit longer at the station is all. You can call for a cab from the phone in the station and request a minivan if there isn't one in the taxi queue outside - but given the low number of trains daily, the drivers all know when to show up and you should not need to wait long at all.

[CMcG]

Originally Posted by IAMACRUZAHOLIC

I have kids and 6 pieces of luggage - I'm not going to be able to find a taxi in Vancouver to take us from the train station to the hotel?? I leave tomorrow, you've added panic to the trip! No mini van taxis etc??

You should be fine -

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...2#post33438672

[jmwg49]

Originally Posted by kenish

US dollars are accepted by Vancouver taxis, merchants, etc. But I recommend against it. You will get a very poor exchange rate (the recipient has to go through the expense and inconvenience of exchanging it to CDN). My local BofA branch exchanges USD<>CDN for just a few percent spread. I'd exchange some money at home to get you from the airport, maybe more depending on your plans and spending preferences (cash or credit cards).

More importantly, you're in Canada...not the US. Greenbacks may be accepted and people will be polite about it, but it's not a nice goodwill gesture. I know you're probably not the type but it just feeds the Ugly American stereotype. Do businesses in your locale accept CDN, Euros, etc. from tourists?

Two transportation tips- ticket machines in the transit system accept credit and debit cards. If you use a CC with zero foreign fees, that's the best bet. Also, Vancouver taxis are Camry size...2 adults with luggage is about the limit.

Well said!