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Tips for Travel to Canada |
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Tips for Travel to Canada |
Money Matters As in the United States, Canadian currency is based on dollars and cents. Coins come in denominations of one, five, 10, and 25 cents, and one and two dollars. The one-dollar coin is the 11-sided, gold-colored "loonie," named for the bird featured on it. The unique two-dollar coin is silver with a gold-colored insert. Notes come in $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations.
All prices quoted on this website
and in these books are in Canadian dollars. American dollars are accepted at
many tourist areas, but the exchange rate is more favorable at banks.
Currency other than U.S. dollars can be exchanged at most banks, airport
money-changing facilities, and foreign exchange brokers in Vancouver,
Victoria, Whistler, Calgary, Banff, Jasper, and Edmonton. Traveler's checks
are the safest way to carry money, but a fee is often charged to cash them
if they're in a currency
other than Canadian dollars. All major credit cards are honored at Canadian
banks, gas stations, and most commercial establishments. Automatic teller
machines (ATMs) can be found in almost every town.
The cost of living in Canada is comparable to the United States. By planning ahead, having a tent or joining Hostelling International, and being prepared to cook your own meals, it is possible to get by on less than $60 per person per day. Gasoline is sold in liters (3.78 liters equals one U.S. gallon) and currently costs between 85 cents and $1 per liter (C$1 per liter is around US$3 per gallon) for regular unleaded. Tips are not usually added to a bill, and in general 15 percent of the total amount is given. Tips are most often given to restaurant servers, taxi drivers, doormen, bellhops, and bar staff.
Canada imposes a seven percent goods
and services tax (GST) on most consumer purchases. Nonresident visitors can
get a rebate for the GST they pay on short-term accommodations and on most
consumer goods bought in the country and taken home. Items not included in
the GST rebate program include gifts left in Canada, meals and restaurant
charges, campground fees, services such as dry cleaning and shoe repair,
alcoholic beverages, tobacco, automotive fuels, groceries, agricultural and
fish products, prescription drugs and medical devices, and used goods that
tend to increase in value, such as paintings, jewelry, rare books, and
coins. The rebate is available on services and retail purchases that total
at least $100 and were paid for within 60 days before your exit from the
country. Rebates can be claimed any time within one year from the date of
purchase. Most visitors apply for the rebate at duty-free shops (also called
Visitor Rebate Centres) when exiting the country. The duty-free shops can
rebate up to $500 on the spot. For rebates more than $500, you'll need to
mail your completed GST rebate form directly to the Canada Revenue Agency. In either
case, you need to keep all receipts. If claiming outside of Canada, you must
have receipts validated upon leaving Canada. Rebate checks sent to the U.S.
are issued in U.S. dollars; elsewhere checks are in Canadian funds are sent.
For more information, call toll-free from anywhere in Canada 800/668-4748;
from outside Canada, phone 902/432-5608,
www.cra-arc.gc.ca. |
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Alberta I Atlantic Canada I British Columbia I Canadian Rockies I Nova Scotia I Vancouver I Western Canada |
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