Traveling always brings a little adventure with it, but the challenge is not letting the small things, like currency conversion, get in the way of the big adventure. If you have US dollars and are in Canada, there are things you can do to either exchange the currency for the Canadian Dollar (CAD) or use the dollars as CAD. The ease of these transactions depends on several factors, including the current exchange rate, your proximity to a bank, and/or the US-Canadian border.
Look up conversion rates. Use an online currency converter to find out how many CAD are in one US dollar or vice versa. As of November 6, 2009, one Canadian Dollar (CAD) = 0.93926 US Dollar (USD).
Ask the vendor if they accept dollars. Many places along the border accept US dollars for Canadian dollars. This will vary with the strength of the US dollar compared to the CAD dollar.
Exchange your US dollars for Canadian dollars at a bank.
Purchase traveler's checks and use credit cards. Fees can increase significantly on both, but credit cards may offer a more favorable exchange rate.
