Morningglory47

Annetti, are you here yet?

annetti

No, not yet. Almost. By the weekend if all goes as planned. Sweet of you to inquire.

annetti

BTW, Can I use a credit card for a taxi or a limousine at the airport? From another posting on this board, it does not sound like there are ATMs to exchange US $s for Canadian $s. Is that true?

Thanks.

BAK

I've never seen a machine where you insert US money and Canadian money comes out.

There are at the airport "regular" bank machines hwere you insert your card, the machine checks your US bank account, and gives you Canadian money.

I beieve most taxis acceptcredit cards,and am even more sure limos (usually regular Lincolns, not giant stretch things) accept credit cards. Don't use a weird card like Discovery or Diners Club.

BAK

annetti

Thank you, Bak. I meant ATMS to get Canadian $s. I guess I confused the matter. Good to know we can use a CC for the limousine service.

Morningglory47

ATMs and currency exchange at the airport: http://www.ifly.com/toronto-pearson-...-banks-currenc - I wouldn't use those ATMs.

Try to get some Canuck cash before you leave home.

annetti

Morningglory 47: I suspect you think there may be scanners or some unscrupulous reason for not using our ATM cards at the airport? Is that the case? We will use the cc for the limousine and wait until we are in the city to get cash. Canadian dollars were not available at our local bank. I guess we would have needed to order early, but we should be all right waiting until we get in the city.. Thanks very much.

laverendrye

I'm not entirely sure, but I think that all the ATMs at Pearson are so=called "white machines" rather than those of the chartered banks and other financial institutions. The only reason to avoid them is that they charge higher fees than the bank ATMs. I don't think there is much danger of being scammed by one.

A bank ATM (or ABM as they officially called here) will charge a convenience fee of between $1 and $2. Normally it is $1.50. This is in addition to whatever your home bank charges. A private or "white" ATM typically charges between $1.50 and $5.00 for a transaction, but there is in fact no maximum.

You might find this link useful when dealing Canadian ABMs:

http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/consu...rdFees-eng.asp

annetti

Laverndrye: Thanks very much for your detailed response. Most helpful.

goddesstogo

I think I missed the beginning of this.

What area of the city will you be living in, annetti, and for how long? And where are you coming from?

annetti

Hello goddesstogo: I will be staying in postal code M5N - I'll learn what that means when I arrive. We'll be there for 5 wks and are coming from So Calif. Looking forward to arriving.

It looks like we will arrive to rainy cool weather. It's cool here, too, but overcast. I plan to arrive in TO with my raincoat over my arm!

goddesstogo

I think that's in the Bloor/Avenue Road/Yonge area which is very central and posh.

Maybe once you get settled, we can plan a bit of a GTG to welcome you to Toronto! Lunch, dinner, drinks -- whatever suits.

annetti

That would be wonderful; it would be fun to put faces to names. I'll post once I get settled; I'm promised internet access, I hope it's accessible. Toronto here we come!

Morningglory47

Count me in for the GTG.

goddesstogo

oh, mg, you KNOW I already counted you in, right?

lauren_s_kahn

I am just looking at all the home exchange posts. I always enjoy annetti's adventures.

I am currently on my 54th home exchange in Salamanca, Spain. I do have my own website/blog now at

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/

It is basically devoted to my home exchange adventures with tips for all of you sitting on the fence about doing it. I have now been down under 3 times. My current trip included a home exchange in Toulouse, return of home hospitality in Bordeaux and now a home exchange in Salamanca, Spain. I have a cute apartment an easy bus ride from the Cathedral and the Plaza Mayor.

Wishing everyone wonderful home exchange adventures.

annetti

Welcome back to fodors, Lauren!

lauren_s_kahn

I am on my 54th home exchange in Salamanca, annetti! Started in 1990 and never looked back.

Thanks for the welcome!