Travel And Your Canadian Dollar

. In early 2002, the Canadian dollar sank to less than $.62 against the American dollar. But our economic recovery has surprised pretty much everyone (even us!) and even our finance minister has said that the high value of the Canadian dollar is likely here for a while. So what are the advantages and disadvantages to the all-time high our currency is enjoying?

First, traveling in the US may or may not be cheaper. But with a Canadian dollar more or less at par, it becomes possible for many more Canadians. Instead of adding 30% or more to the cost due to exchange losses, visiting the US can at least be considered as a vacation destination. There are a few things to remember, though, if you plan a trip south.

Retailers more than a few hours across the border generally won't accept Canadian dollars. Even if they do, they'll not likely give you the current exchange rate. If you revert to your credit cards, you'll still lose on the exchange (although not as badly as when the Canadian dollar was worth much less) and get dinged big time service fees as well. The best way to save with a high Canadian dollar is to make sure you exchange your money in to US funds at your bank before you head south. Then pay as much as you can with cash. For example, reserve your rooms with your credit card, but pay in cash.

Once in the US, of course, many products can cost much less. So take advantage of the buys and look for great deals, especially on clothes, books, some electronics, and if you're buying really big, even vehicles. Even if the prices are no cheaper, sometimes the biggest bonus of shopping south of the border is selection and quality-both are nearly impossible to match in the much smaller Canadian market.

Traveling to Western Europe and the EU nations, however, is a different story. Europeans are well accustomed to dealing with all kinds of currencies, and give much better exchanges. The dwindling Euro means Canadian dollars can go a long way this year if you're traveling abroad-right now one Euro will cost you about $1.29 Canadian, about 40 cents less than this time last year.

Not all EU countries will take your Euros-England and Switzerland, for example, don't take Euros at all, even though they're member nations. So before you change all your currency into Euros, check the countries where you plan to travel. In many cases, it's better to use local money. But don't change your currency at the airport where costs are through the roof. Many banks now will simply spew out the local currency at the ATM machine, only charge the exchange rate and no extra fees. Before you go, check if your bank offers this service.

The best thing about a high Canadian dollar is that it can allow you to think about traveling to countries that were out of reach only a few years ago, without breaking the bank to get there.

by: Molly Wider

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