Canadian rockies money questions

National park fees ---- Do they accept payment by credit card(visa/MC)?
Fast food restaurants ---- Do they accept payment by credit card(visa/MC)?
Gondola rides(banff/jasper)+Icefield coach ---- Do they accept payment by credit card(visa/MC)?

I have a "PLUS" US Bank ATM Debit card.
I was wondering how I can use it in Canada.


I was planning to take some US dollars in cash.
Do they accept US$ in cash in canada fast food restuarants and other places?

Do I need to take anything else? Like CDN$ travellers cheques?

Will the US$ cash, US bank debut card and US bank credit card be enough to cover everything?
Also should I exchange US$ cash for CDN$ at the airport or should I use the debit card at an ATM in the airport for CDN$?

Thanks
-njs

Visa and MC are accepted at almost every establishment in Canada. Other cards are less so.

I've never used a credit card in a fast food establishment, but I imagine that you can do so.

Most ATMs in Canada are good for the PLUS and Cirrus networks.

Many merchants will accept US currency, but the exchange rate will not be very favourable. You can also expect to get change in Canadian currency.

For cash, you should use your ATM card to get Canadian currency at any ATM. Check with your bank on charges, but it will likely be less costly than the foreign currency surcharges on credit cards. Unless absolutely necessary, don't exchange US currency at the airport, as the exchange rate and fees will be expensive.

You can expect to use credit cards and debit cards in the same types of places you would in the US - or anywhere in this global economy for that matter.
Canada will not prove to be mysterious in this manner - unless you don't know a loonie from a toonie!

If you bring travelers' checks you will pay a fee at the bank to cash them, so much per check. On top of that you get a poorer exchange rate compared with the wholesale bankrate that you get from an aTM, at a 1% charge. Of course your bank may charge you something as well.

HOWEVER some American banks have Canadian correspondent banks. If you use ATM machines at those locations, such usage is the equal of an on net transaction.

For example, Scotia Bank has an agreement with Bank of America. I used the Scotia Bank ATM machines whereever I could, and I was not charged anything.
It was like using any Bank of America ATM.

Lake Louise has no banking ATMs to my knowledge. Last year, it was a franchise machine and accepted Cirrus only. My aTM is Plus and hence useless.

PS. Last year I charged my Canadians Parks annual pass. I was in the area for enough days to make the annual pass cheaper than the daily fees. The pass is good for the mountain parks including Glacier and Waterton. (The Canadian Glacier that is.)