Spending US Dollars In Vancouver
Oct 3, 2009 | 2:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA, bmi, USAir, Aeroplan, AirBerlin, Marriott, SolMeliaMas, BAAWorldpoints
Posts: 793
Spending US Dollars In Vancouver
I'm travelling from the UK to Vancouver this autumn and would like to be able to spend some US dollars I have rather than convert them to sterling and take a second conversion rate "hit". (Unfortunately, I didn't opt for the "buy back guarantee" when I bought them.)
Is it easy to spend US dollars in Vancouver or am I better off not bringing them but instead converting them back into sterling in the UK? (Keeping them for my next trip to the US is not really an option because I have no plans to visit.)
Alternatively, are there places where I could exchange them, at a reasonable rate, for Canadian dollars?
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Is it easy to spend US dollars in Vancouver or am I better off not bringing them but instead converting them back into sterling in the UK? (Keeping them for my next trip to the US is not really an option because I have no plans to visit.)
Alternatively, are there places where I could exchange them, at a reasonable rate, for Canadian dollars?
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Oct 3, 2009 | 2:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,291
With the Cdn dollar almost on par with the US ($1.08USD/Cdn as of yesterday), I suspect you will only get par, or at best $1.05 for your US dollars. Stores will take them, but your conversion, if any, will not be generous.
Oct 3, 2009 | 8:10 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Downtown, the best Forex place is Vancouver Bullion and Exchange.
http://www.vbce.ca
However, as was noted, you'd get a far worse exchange rate just trying to spend the USD in stores.
http://www.vbce.ca
However, as was noted, you'd get a far worse exchange rate just trying to spend the USD in stores.
Oct 3, 2009 | 8:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: BKK, formerly Irvine, CA, UA 1-k-MM, Hilton-gold, Gold Starwood
Posts: 3,004
If you are an American express card holder, you can get free travelers checks and some banks issue American express TC without charge.
I find you get better rates for TC, get them in USD funds
Robert
I find you get better rates for TC, get them in USD funds
Robert
Oct 3, 2009 | 10:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,573
We like to use VBCE also. They've got a couple of locations in town. People also talk about getting great exchange rates at casinos but keep forgetting to check.
A lot places do seem to take USD (McDonalds, supermarkets, etc) but as others have mentioned, from what I've seen they typically don't give a very good exchange rate.
A lot places do seem to take USD (McDonalds, supermarkets, etc) but as others have mentioned, from what I've seen they typically don't give a very good exchange rate.
Oct 4, 2009 | 5:35 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: YYZ-HKT-CWL
Programs: aeroplan E .HH.
Posts: 994
liquor stores offer days rate and will give change.as diff only 8/9% good for giving as tips ish . our shop in YYZ offers 10% easier to figure out+happy to have custom , guess most bizs in Yvr same ,enjoy dah west coast
Oct 4, 2009 | 8:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Go to any bank - not a currency exchange - and you will get a decent rate and be done with it. If you don't do this, then make sure you can use a credit card for your purchase or get some C$ from an ATM just in case.
Nov 4, 2009 | 5:42 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA, bmi, USAir, Aeroplan, AirBerlin, Marriott, SolMeliaMas, BAAWorldpoints
Posts: 793
Many thanks for your advice.
I went to the VBCE in the end; I wouldn't have known it existed had I not posted on this site!
If anyone's interested, this is what I was offered for my USD150:
Scotia Bank CAD154.10
Bureau de Change 151.60
VBCE 157.95
Admittedly, only a small difference but worth ten minutes of my time to investigate!
I went to the VBCE in the end; I wouldn't have known it existed had I not posted on this site!
If anyone's interested, this is what I was offered for my USD150:
Scotia Bank CAD154.10
Bureau de Change 151.60
VBCE 157.95
Admittedly, only a small difference but worth ten minutes of my time to investigate!
Nov 4, 2009 | 1:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan Former E
Posts: 1,022
I'd disagree here at least for VBCE. They generally have some of the smallest retail spreads around (2 to 2.5 cents between buy-sell and they price around the mid-point from what I can tell). I use them for most of my foreign currency tourism buys. Main exception was for the Phillipines where Vancouver has businesses who cater solely to Phillipino workers. This business had spreads under 0.7 cents since they seem to make their money on wiring funds back home to families and other quasi-banking transactions , and not on the conversion itself. I just piggybacked off of it to take advantage of the insanely thin margins.
Nov 4, 2009 | 7:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Many thanks for your advice.
I went to the VBCE in the end; I wouldn't have known it existed had I not posted on this site!
If anyone's interested, this is what I was offered for my USD150:
Scotia Bank CAD154.10
Bureau de Change 151.60
VBCE 157.95
Admittedly, only a small difference but worth ten minutes of my time to investigate!
I went to the VBCE in the end; I wouldn't have known it existed had I not posted on this site!
If anyone's interested, this is what I was offered for my USD150:
Scotia Bank CAD154.10
Bureau de Change 151.60
VBCE 157.95
Admittedly, only a small difference but worth ten minutes of my time to investigate!
On a USD:CAD exchange, VBCE is usually the best.
Nov 5, 2009 | 12:42 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 4,024
I agree that VBCE has always been the best for me also - for USD, EUR, and GBP. It's also really good if you want to get a bank draft in a foreign currency.
The one possible exception is when I bought Argentine pesos, although I don't know if it's possible to avoid a fairly high markup on that, given the volatility of that currency.
The one possible exception is when I bought Argentine pesos, although I don't know if it's possible to avoid a fairly high markup on that, given the volatility of that currency.
Feb 22, 2011 | 12:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: LGB-BUR-LAX-ONT (in order of preference!)
Posts: 429
FX rates have reversed a bit and now the CAD is a little more expensive than the USD. I will be in Vancouver later this week and wonder if I try and spend US dollars, will I be asked to pay a little more since it's worth a little less or can I get away with a 1-1 conversion for on the spot purchases?
I expect to use my credit card for most purchases (including the taxi from the airport, I hope) but this would be more for incidentals.
Thanks
I expect to use my credit card for most purchases (including the taxi from the airport, I hope) but this would be more for incidentals.
Thanks
Feb 22, 2011 | 3:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: pvr
Programs: US C.P.
Posts: 546
FX rates have reversed a bit and now the CAD is a little more expensive than the USD. I will be in Vancouver later this week and wonder if I try and spend US dollars, will I be asked to pay a little more since it's worth a little less or can I get away with a 1-1 conversion for on the spot purchases?
I expect to use my credit card for most purchases (including the taxi from the airport, I hope) but this would be more for incidentals.
Thanks
I expect to use my credit card for most purchases (including the taxi from the airport, I hope) but this would be more for incidentals.
Thanks
Feb 22, 2011 | 9:47 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Aeroplan - Elite Status. DL Skymiles - Regular Status
Posts: 509
Everyone will take your US dollars at par... However, given the exchange rates most businesses will give you less for USD.
Tim Hortons is a great example, because they show you the US exchange on the menu.. If USD is worth 1.01, they'll give you 0.97 for it.
Tim Hortons is a great example, because they show you the US exchange on the menu.. If USD is worth 1.01, they'll give you 0.97 for it.