Currency types
 

We are traveling to Toronto. We are planning on using our cash card (Bank of America VISA) and our credit VISA. Should we have any problems with this anywhere in Toronto or Niagra?<BR>Thanks,<BR>MK

Check the logos at the ATM machines. Often, they take VISA or Mastercard, but not both. There are also local banks, not on any international network, so you have to look for the logos.

You can use your Visa credit card anywhere in Canada.<BR><BR>Not sure how the cash card works. Check out what last response said re that.

Your Visa will work in any bank machine as long as you have selected a PIN code for it before you leave. The bank machines will give you Canadian cash and you will be given the current exchange rate plus any service charges. I am Canadian and have used my Visa in bank machines in the US and this is what I found, so I assume it would work the same in reverse.

I have used my ATM card issued by US banks many times all over Canada and have never had any trouble. You just have to make sure that you use an ATM that has one of the logos on your card (Plus, Interlink, whatever). I've never had trouble finding a machine that I could use.<BR><BR>I gave up getting travellers checks a long time ago because I found it was much simpler to use the ATMs. The only "problem" is that if you have a machine that prints out your account balance on the receipt, the balance usually won't display correctly. I seem to recall that it just prints out as "$XXX.XX" or something like that, presumably because the Canadian bank machine isn't going to convert your US balance which is in US dollars.<BR><BR>Have fun!

I was in Canada this past July and used my standard ATM most of the time.<BR>The only glitch I hit was that some of the independent money machines in tourist locations accepted only Master Card. There should be no such problem in Toronto.<BR><BR>Also, I hope you do not use your credit card for currency at any ATM machine.<BR>Such usage constitutes a cash advance and you pay a nice service charge.<BR>There is a difference between a standard ATM card and a credit card!!<BR>Some people debit cards, or check cards.<BR>They function like an ATM card, except that they can be used for purchases.<BR>The amount of the sale is subtracted almost instantly from your checking account. Visa universally charges a fee of 1%. Some banks, on charge purchases, add on an additional 2%.<BR>I did not use my regular credit card in Canada or Europe because the bank adds on the 2%. I acquired a credit card through AAA, issued by MBNA. Some people argue that the extra 2% is trivial -- it is only $60 on $3000.<BR>I don't agree, mainly because I see no need to pay it when I don't have to. I can use my $60 elsewhere for something a little more tangible.<BR><BR>By the way, Bank of America is one of the banks that adds on the additional 2%.<BR>

We understand you may use your ATM card for cash withdrawals, anywhere in the world. However, in Canada we also use our ATM card for direct merchant purchases, Interac it's called. We cannot use our ATM cards in the States for this, so we have to assume that the reverse is also true. You may make cash withdrawals, but not purchases, with your ATM card.<BR><BR>Some machines dispense USD but most, of course, dispense CAD, and this is by far the easiest and nearly the cheapest way to get cash in Canada. Don't bother with travellers' cheques, or looking for exchange booths. Just bank it at home before you come and take it out as you need it.

I've never had a problem using a credit card anywhere. Nor have I had a problem getting cash from a _Bank_ ATM with my debit card.<BR><BR>But, I couldn't use the debit card to get cash from those freestanding ATMs that you find in various places (gas stations, tourist spots, etc.) nor could I use it at grocery stores or other places that I'm assuming took Canadian debit cards.