Canada, Tipping, US Dollars
 

I will be traveling for a week in Canada (BC) this fall. Most of the trip is prepaid, with the exception of some meals, for which I will use my credit card. However, I will need some actual cash for tips, etc. Would it be okay for me to use US dollars or should I get Canadian? Now that both dollars are basically equal I thought perhaps I wouldn't have to change money, as I don't want lots left over. Also, are their tipping policies about the same in the US? Thanks much!!

It is considered extremely rude to try to use US dollars in a foreign country, irregardless of the exchange rate. Canada is another country, not an extension of the US. The exchange rate has nothing at all to do with it, and you will force whoever takes your dollars to pay for converting them. You are going to pay your bank or credit card company to change the Canadian charges to US dollars too, so just get small amount of local currency as you would say, in Europe, or anywhere else.

I don't know what the etiquette books say about such a situation, if they say anything at all, but I've never heard that it's considered extremely rude.

However, I agree that maybe you should get some Canuck money...it even comes in pretty colours.

Since you're going to have some meals to pay for, and then there are any purchases you might decide to make, I would simply use your ATM to check some local cash to use for those purposes and tips. With the conversion rates on many credit cards, etc., you may find you're saving money even with the leftover.

If you just get enough for a few days at a time, you won't be stuck with lots of leftover. When you spend, spend the paper money first. That way any coins you're left with can be handed out as trinkets when you get home.

Just try to leave a tip in Canadian dollars in the US.

We often ski across the border in Ellicotville N. Y. and they are very gracious about taking our Canadian money at the hill. They give us the current (that day's exchange rate). It is a greatly appreciated convenience, when we ski we have no time to waste getting money exchanged.
If you are close to the border I am sure no one will care about getting American money. If further away you should probably get some.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't think about the rudeness factor, and you are all correct--I should know better. Thanks much--I'll do the ATM thing. I guess I'm embarrased I asked!

While I agree that tips in Canada are best given in Canadian dollars if you are stuck without approprate Canadian denominations US dollars are better than no tip at all!

Don't be embarrassed - better to ask ahead of time, then to face a p**sed off waiter or maid holding a lousy greenback. :-d

Seriously, as Gavin says, if it's all you've got, use it. But, if you can get Canadian cash, it's better to use it.

I will certainly get some Canadian cash! I also inquired, are their tipping policies (i.e., 15-20% at restaurants, etc.) about the same as in the US? I know when in England or Ireland I always overtip and would like to stay somewhere in line this time! Thanks again!

Yes tips in restaurants would be the same as in the US - 15% - 20%; although I think most people would use 15%.

A small point for oliverandharry - there is no such word as irregardless. You meant to use irrespective, I'm sure.

almcd,

You'll need more weed killer to make irregardless extinct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless

JQ

I found that in tourist parts of border areas, Vancouver, Toronto etc., when the dollar was worth more, some wanted american dollars because they could get more for their money. However, at the present, that's not the case, so definitely use Canadian dollars. Of course Canada is not the US so one should use the local currency however some people in tourist areas don't mind getting foreign currency that can be easily exchanged if the rate is higher.

Except for past few months when the Canadian dollar has been at par (or even above) the US dollar, most service people appreciated tips in US dollars because they were worth more.

As to tipping in Canada, Canadians tip less often and tend to stick to 15% as a maximum. There is some truth to the old joke: "What's the difference between a Canadian and a canoe? A canoe tips".

Those of us who live within easy driving distance of Canada will be surprised to learn that offering US dollars in Canada is extremely rude. We've been doing it for over 20 years and have yet to hear a complaint.

Because of the upside-down exchange rate, though, we now use the currency exchange just over the border.

It's not rude, but just prickles the nationalistic sensibilities of some Canadians. Now what is rude is to ask "How much is that in real money?", but I don't think any one does that anymore.

The important thing is that you'll not usually get a good deal on the exchange rate by using US Dollars in Canada, as merchants will want to make a bit on the exchange. If it's more convenient to us US Dollars, then go ahead. They won't be refused for sure.

However, anyone spending any time in Canada should obtain Canadian currency at an ATM.

I was recently there for 3 days and everyone accepted US dollars - and seemed happy to do so, as if this is a very regular and accepted occurance. The only thing was that, of course, any change was given in Canadian money.

I didn't know it was considered rude either...oops!

I think a lot of it has to do with how close to the border you are staying. In Niagara Falls, you probably won't have any complaints when using US dollars. In fact, most of the stores, restaurants, etc. specifically state they accept US money.

However, in Ottawa, I've never seen a store, etc. state they accept US money. It's not that convenient for the folks to spend the US bills or to exchange them.

So, yes, for most border towns, US money will most likely be gladly accepted, but the farther you get from the border, the less pleased folks will be.

There is a difference between a store taking US currency and leaving US currency as a tip.

When a business makes the nightly deposit, they just deposit the American money with the Canadian and that bank does the exchange and updates the account accordingly.

However, a waiter who receives US money has to make an effort to exchange it and pay fees for doing so.

15% for restaurants...

What do you tip for two drinks at a bar?

You can also leave your tip on the credit card - when you sign your bill, there is a place at the bottom to add the tip. Servers perhaps don't prefer this way, because then there is a paper trail that the taxman can find, but it is done all the time. (And too bad for them, I say - and yes, I have been a server myself and have claimed tips on my tax returns.)

I don't think it's rude leaving a tip in USD (rather than no tip), but I do strongly feel that when you are travelling to another country, you should use the currency of that country, out of basic respect. So by leaving a tip in US dollars, you show that you are either a/ too lazy to exchange your money or b/ lacking respect. Of course, neither of those may be the message you were intending to send.

I find it kind of rude (rude is maybe too strong a word - ignorant and uninformed is more what I mean) when Americans contemplating a visit to Canada ask questions about whether or not they need to exchange money (sorry, I'm not meaning to point at you specifially; this question comes up all the time in travel forums). If you were going to Europe or Japan, you'd automatically do it. Why not Canada?

Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense, but one sure way to p*ss off a Canadian is to treat us like we are another state of the union, or to assume that things here are just like in the US. Using US money generally gets you lumped in with some of the negative stereotypes of US tourists.

What IS rude is complaining about the rates of exchange that merchants give; they take USD as a courtesy, and if US visitors don't like the rates, they should exchange their money themselves instead of complaining about it. It costs businesses time and money to accept US currency, and of course they want some kind of compensation for their trouble, so of course their rates aren't going to be as good as the banks'. In my area, some merchants are now opting out of accepting USD because of the flack Americans are giving their staff over the rates. In many cases, their complaints aren't even the extra few percentage points the merchant is taking, it's the basic exchange rate! (Like it's the staff's fault that the USD has fallen in value?)

The other thing that is rude, besides asking "how much is that in real money" is to ask if a price is in Canadian or US dollars, or to expect prices, hotel rates etc. to be quoted in US dollars. This is Canada, the Canadian dollar is the legal tender here. Another annoying thing is cracks about Canadian "funny money"... but those are getting fewer and farther between, now that the US government has realized that adding colour to paper bills helps make them harder to counterfeit and is doing it on USD.

"Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense"

Please don't lump all Canadians in with your diatribe. I suspect most of us don't care either way.

As for merchants they don't accept US dollars as a "courtesy" any more than they accept Canadian dollars as a "courtesy" - its called business.

Nohomers - I know a lot of Canadians and not one of them would be glad to get US dollars for payment (at least at this exchange rate) for their services. Personally, if I were being tipped in pesos (even if it was at 40%), I would not be happy. I'd have to make a special trip to a bank and hope that they would be able to exchange it for me. I'm not close to the border so it's not convenient for me to "just go shopping south of the border" with my tips. I'm guessing most Canadians would feel the same. If they're planning a trip to the states, they might be happy to get US money; if they live close to the border and cross often, they might be happy to get US money; but for the rest, it would be an inconvenience.

Nohomers, if we aren't going to 'lump' all Canadians... I must point out, I never tip less than 20%. And I'm a Canuck through and through. Many of my friends tip the same.. minimum 20%.

As for the US dollars question, I think it's common courtesy to use the money of the country you are visiting.

"Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense, but one sure way to p*ss off a Canadian is to treat us like we are another state of the union, or to assume that things here are just like in the US. "

That's no lie. Canadians base their a lot of their nation's image on "not being american."

Do you tip for a drink at a bar?

"Do you tip for a drink at a bar?" If you are seated at a table and are served by the wait staff - yes you should tip. If you are seated at the bar and the bartender is serving you, probably not.

"Do you tip for a drink at a bar?"

Unless the bar is self-serve, then tip your bartender. The tip amount is not a function of how far you sit from the bar (or kitchen).

JQ

Re tipping for drinks: I usually give $0.75 to $1.00 tip per drink if I'm paying as they're served. If I'm running a tab, I'll add 15-20% depending on service.

kodi, if i knew u were tipping 20% I might go back to waiting tables. If u visit Victoria, I'll get a temporary job at Bon Rouge; Sanuk or Temple, etc !
cheers
AndrewDavid

AndrewDavid, it's a deal!! I always hope I'm making someone's job just a bit more pleasant. I hope, once in awhile, I make someone smile and that's what it's all about.

BTW, I sure smiled, and squeeled going under the falls at Iguazu!!!

Trip report still to be done.

kodi, i'm embarrassed that although i've written at great length about our honeymoon in argentina , i still haven't actually written and posted the last section of my report lol
cheers
AndrewDavid

Regarding spending paper money before coins - - you should be aware that we have $1 and $2 coins in Canada, so you could have a handful of change that is worth $10 or more. I am always pleasantly surprised when dig the coins out of my wallet and find I have more money than I thought I did.
By the way, the Canadian dollar is nicknamed the Loonie - for the picture of the loon on the $1 coin. When the $2 coin was introduced it was naturally called a Toonie. I remember an American friend visited me and waiting at a bus stop she was approached by someone who asked her "Do you have change for a loonie?" and she didn't know what to think!

Northernitalian - that's why I always spend the paper money first. Coming home with $20 in coins provides for a lot of $1-$2 "souvenirs" to give to folks. It's good to be back home, here's a Loony for good luck." :-d

Just curious . . .Here in California, when you order a meal, the price is a bit deceptive since tax and tip are not included, so you really need to think that your $10 glass of wine is actually 12 or 13 depending on your generosity and the 8% tax. When you get your bill in Vancouver, are the restaurant taxes already included or is that added on later? Thank you.

Generally the prices on the menu do not inlcude tax (somewhere, usually on the menu it must be posted whether prices do or don't include tax). Your final bill will detail the cost of your food, the amount of tax charged and a total.

Thank you again, SheliDawn for answering my question.