Best way to obtain Canadian Dollars traveling from the US
I'm travelling from Los Angeles to Canada. I need a few hundred Canadian dollars in cash. What is the best option (minimum rates + processing fees)? As I see it I have 3 options:
1) Get cash from the LA area. Sounds like the best option but I have a time constraint: it is hard to find a place that does this on Sunday. Any suggestions? Does Western Union do this?
2) Get cash at LAX or the Canadian airport during travel
3) Use the ATMs of Bank of America's affiliates in Canada (Scotiabank ABMs)
I have a Bank of America account. I would prefer avoiding option 3. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
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Should I buy Canadian dollars before going to Canada?
Exchanging money in advance is not necessary. In fact, most places will accept either US or Canadian dollars.What is the cheapest way to convert USD to CAD?
Interactive Brokers has been long trusted as one of the most low-cost ways to convert foreign currency. Most discount brokers charge about 1-2% per CAD to USD currency exchange, while most banks charge up to 4-5%.Is it better to exchange money in Canada or USA?
As a general rule, you will get a better exchange rate in Canada, either at a Canadian bank, or at a duty free/border exchange booth, or at a casino. These are the official rates at which banks in every country buy and sell. You and I will always get less.Can I get Canadian dollars at my bank?
You can buy Canadian dollars with dollars at major banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America. You will need to be a bank customer already and can order it online easily.How to get the best rate when exchanging your money
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