Where to get best USD to CAD exchange rate in Nova Scotia
 

We are spending 2 weeks in Halifax, Nova Scotia this fall and was wondering where we can get the best USD to CAD exchange rate? I have a Costco Citi visa card that has no international fees, so we will use that as much as possible. I assume it would be a good idea to have a little Canadian cash on hand.

I've always found the best exchange rates around the world just by using my ATM card....

You won't need much cash since visa is pretty much universally accepted around here but it's probably a good idea to have a bit of cash on hand for things like tips, tolls and street food. If you're only getting a couple hundred dollars, I wouldn't worry too much about shopping around for the best exchange rate since you'll only save a couple of dollars in total.

One more thing...you may want to bring along some US $1 bills for tipping bell boys, valets, etc. since the smallest bills in Canada are $5. Otherwise you'll either have to tip a $5 minimum or use $1 and $2 coins (which is kind of awkward).

Why in the world would you use US$1 bills to tip in Canada? Now THAT is awkward! Nothing awkward about using Canadian coins to tip in Canada.

US bills are widely accepted here and people in the tourism sector are very used to this. The recipients will have no problem depositing US bills in Canadian bank accounts, unlike coins with can't be deposited at an ATM. I personally don't like tipping with coins in situations where I have to hand it to someone (I don't mind if I'm leaving it somewhere like a restaurant table or in the room for a hotel maid). Anyhow, it was just meant as a helpful suggestion, feel free to do whatever you are comfortable with.

The best exchange rate is given by cards. Credit cards for purchases/payments and a debit card for withdrawing cash from an ATM.

Re the tipping and $1 US bills, I'm trying to imagine what you would tip only $1 for? Nowadays that is probably the equivalent of the old 'leave a penny tip' as an insult. I can't imagine a 'valet or bell boy' (assuming you come across any in Halifax) thanking you for a $1 tip.

I never suggested tipping $1, but I don't always feel like tipping $5 every time I leave my car with valet parking or pick it up. I think $3 is probably appropriate but I'm getting old so maybe I'm just not keeping up with inflation :) Anyhow, I didn't mean to start another "how much is an appropriate tip" thread - we've all seen enough of those.

I like alot of things about flyertalk but not the way people attack others for offering (what was meant to be) a helpful suggestion.

Europeans generally don't tip seawolf although they will often round up a bill. Brits are notorious for not tipping. So they don't encounter an issue when it comes to not having any small bills to offer as a tip.

Nor is the OP going to Europe. The question is about Halifax. Rather than getting excited about my suggesting $1 US bills make no sense, try considering where you would give anyone a $1 tip in Halifax. Valet parking is a primarily a US thing, not often found in Canada. Bellboys have gone the way of the Dodo thanks to Bernard Sadow. Can anyone name a hotel in Halifax that still has bellboys? Some hotels offer valet parking in Halifax but when they do, it is part of the hotel bill, there is no need to tip the valet separately. Typical is self-park $20 and valet park $27 at the Westin. So you pay a $7 'tip' for valet parking.

So the suggestion of taking some $1 US bills makes no sense to me. Whether someone feels they have been insulted by my saying that is not my problem. A $1 US bill in Halifax will be of no use whatsoever as far as I am concerned. I find the idea ridiculous. That does not mean I am saying anything about the person suggesting it, I am attacking the idea, not the person. Some people seem to have difficulty understanding the difference between the two.

I frequently tip with coins in Europe, the UK and at home in Canada. Toonies and Loonies are coin of the realm in Canada and I've never had them declined. It's a good way to lighten a pocket filled with coins. :)

I would suggest that is true of leaving a tip in a restaurant Badenoch but when is the last time you handed a car valet a Loonie or Toonie? How about a hotel bellhop in Halifax?

Making generalized statements that coins are 'coin of the realm' and you use them to tip, is not really relevant to the suggested use of $1 US bills in Halifax.