Cash, Credit or Debit card while in Canada?

[Hodgey1]

So as not to take the very informative, real life border crossing information thread sideways, I will post here on my preferred payment methods while in Canada, spurred by this post.

Part 2: American Cards and Currency - Not all were ready for us.

-Note 1.  I haven’t taken Canadian bills in what seems a couple decades, just $1-$2 coins from previous trips.  Always use my card for a better bank rate or American cash and still get some sort of exchange rate.
-Note 2.  Remember, the area we go to hasn’t seen the influx of American fishermen since what, roughly September of 2019?  Or our money.

We hit North Bay at 2:20 AM early on the 14th.  Made stop to use restroom and buy chocolate bar as a courtesy purchase..
The guy at counter gave a bewildered look when I brought out my American $20.
He ended up with an American $10.  Me, more junk food than I expected and no change.

Hit Stop 102 at 6:40.  Grabbed a 12 of Bleue to top off the beer I’d brought and headed to counter to get our licenses.  Young lady and man behind the counter.
A guy (American) walks in door and expresses dismay about his cards and cash not being able to be used.  I instantly get lump in my throat.
I discuss with the employees to no avail.  We have Visa and MasterCard.  We can run as debit or credit.  We have American cash.  Nothing was accepted.  Asked about the bank in Temiscaming.  It opened at 10:00….that wasn’t going to work.

Called Wayne while we parked at Zec building off the Maniwaki (no one was there), he would bring Canadian currency with him when picked us up for us to use for licenses.  I’m feeling a lot better now.

A local stopped at the Zec, we chatted.  He called the Pro Nature store next to Stop 102.
They’ll take American money.  Yes!!!!
We run back to Temiscaming.
After purchasing licenses at Pro Nature (I used cash and got their exchange rate), I take a step towards the door.  Turned and asked the lady….I’m in a hurry, if I give you an American $20, will you give me a Canadian $20?  I want some Bleue from next door.  She laughed and said yes.

So I’m back at counter at Stop 102 with some Bleue, my Canadian $20, and some coins in hand.
While I was gone they’d called their owner/boss.  They will take American money now.  Sweet!  Give her $40 American and get some Canadian currency.

When paid my bill at end of week, also got some Canadian $$ back for gas/food on way home.

Was back at Stop 102 yesterday AM to use restroom.  Went to make my courtesy purchase and a different young girl from last Saturday behind counter.  Same bewildered look when I plopped out my American cash.
After she asked another employee, they took my money but at a dollar for dollar exchange rate. 

I highly advise thinking of any purchases you may make in Canada outside of your outfitter.
Gas for traveling, licenses, Bleue, Timmy’s….and take Canadian currency for them + some extra.

By the time you make your trip, the info I just shared will be old intel.  Things could change for better or worse with how any store handles American money.

I have been up and back to Kipawa for fishing trips 6 or 7 times in the past few years, I nearly exclusively use my credit card that charges the lowest conversion fee's and bring almost no cash. The only cash I bring is for where I park at the dock "private owner"

The only problems I have run into is typically at Pro Nature who won't let me buy a fishing license with my card "fee's I guess". Other than that, I have never had a problem. I do call both cards I carry prior to departure to alert them of my travel. The only other time was at a convenience store in North Bay that said my card wouldn't work in Canada, but then I used it the rest of my trip with no problems?

[Netman]

We could not use the ATM at Stop 102. No matter what we did it would refuse the transaction. I even called my bank and they said they could not see the rejection on their end. They confirmed its use at Holiday Inn Express in NorthBay the previous night, but had no explanation on the rejection at 102. They ended up Allowing us to use our card, but said we had a $12 fee. We gave the attendant a $20 for her inconvenience and said keep the change. My advice is to take Canadian cash for liscense purchase at Stop 102. All other transactions went through fine on my debt card. Personally I like to use my debit card for as much as possible.

[Dieselgirl]

Cabela's  Mastercard does not charge a conversion fee.  We use it for everything except our licenses and bait in Temiscaming.  You can also exchange USD to CAD at TD Bank in North Bay with no fee or account.

[Hodgey1]

Great info @Dieselgirl ! I need a Cabelas card, my citi card charges fee’s.

[WillageD]

So as not to take the very informative, real life border crossing information thread sideways, I will post here on my preferred payment methods while in Canada, spurred by this post.

Part 2: American Cards and Currency - Not all were ready for us.

-Note 1.  I haven’t taken Canadian bills in what seems a couple decades, just $1-$2 coins from previous trips.  Always use my card for a better bank rate or American cash and still get some sort of exchange rate.
-Note 2.  Remember, the area we go to hasn’t seen the influx of American fishermen since what, roughly September of 2019?  Or our money.

We hit North Bay at 2:20 AM early on the 14th.  Made stop to use restroom and buy chocolate bar as a courtesy purchase..
The guy at counter gave a bewildered look when I brought out my American $20.
He ended up with an American $10.  Me, more junk food than I expected and no change.

Hit Stop 102 at 6:40.  Grabbed a 12 of Bleue to top off the beer I’d brought and headed to counter to get our licenses.  Young lady and man behind the counter.
A guy (American) walks in door and expresses dismay about his cards and cash not being able to be used.  I instantly get lump in my throat.
I discuss with the employees to no avail.  We have Visa and MasterCard.  We can run as debit or credit.  We have American cash.  Nothing was accepted.  Asked about the bank in Temiscaming.  It opened at 10:00….that wasn’t going to work.

Called Wayne while we parked at Zec building off the Maniwaki (no one was there), he would bring Canadian currency with him when picked us up for us to use for licenses.  I’m feeling a lot better now.

A local stopped at the Zec, we chatted.  He called the Pro Nature store next to Stop 102.
They’ll take American money.  Yes!!!!
We run back to Temiscaming.
After purchasing licenses at Pro Nature (I used cash and got their exchange rate), I take a step towards the door.  Turned and asked the lady….I’m in a hurry, if I give you an American $20, will you give me a Canadian $20?  I want some Bleue from next door.  She laughed and said yes.

So I’m back at counter at Stop 102 with some Bleue, my Canadian $20, and some coins in hand.
While I was gone they’d called their owner/boss.  They will take American money now.  Sweet!  Give her $40 American and get some Canadian currency.

When paid my bill at end of week, also got some Canadian $$ back for gas/food on way home.

Was back at Stop 102 yesterday AM to use restroom.  Went to make my courtesy purchase and a different young girl from last Saturday behind counter.  Same bewildered look when I plopped out my American cash.
After she asked another employee, they took my money but at a dollar for dollar exchange rate. 

I highly advise thinking of any purchases you may make in Canada outside of your outfitter.
Gas for traveling, licenses, Bleue, Timmy’s….and take Canadian currency for them + some extra.

By the time you make your trip, the info I just shared will be old intel.  Things could change for better or worse with how any store handles American money.

I have been up and back to Kipawa for fishing trips 6 or 7 times in the past few years, I nearly exclusively use my credit card that charges the lowest conversion fee's and bring almost no cash. The only cash I bring is for where I park at the dock "private owner"

The only problems I have run into is typically at Pro Nature who won't let me buy a fishing license with my card "fee's I guess". Other than that, I have never had a problem. I do call both cards I carry prior to departure to alert them of my travel. The only other time was at a convenience store in North Bay that said my card wouldn't work in Canada, but then I used it the rest of my trip with no problems?

Hodgey, I'm an Ontarioian and they won't allow me to use credit for license purchase either. Its not your American card, I believe selling licenses is purely a "service" and there is no profit to be made off of it, so they are unwilling to take the 2-5% hit credit card companies ding the vendors for.... Fair enough for me! So always equate the $80 license into you're cash holdings I'd say.

[Hodgey1]

Fair enough for me! So always equate the $80 license into you're cash holdings I'd say.

Agreed

[Balsams]

A relevant thread. I’ve had issues in PQ using a Visa card, but never in my home of Ontario. I’ve had troubles using it at the gas pumps in Pa and in Fla. maybe the trick is to notify them of your travels….
As they say - “cash is king”……

[Hodgey1]

Just got back from a week in Kipawa. I exclusively used my checking account Visa debit card as a credit purchase, for everything we purchased while in Canada with zero issues.