Best Way to exchange USD before going to the USA

If you’ve been itching to go to the USA for a vacation or a business trip, the good news is, Canadians can now enter the US land territory starting on November 8, 2021. So long as you are fully vaccinated, you can enter the land and sea borders of the USA, even for non-essential travel purposes.

Many Canadians want to go to the USA to visit family, take a quick vacation trip, or conduct business. Whatever your reason for going to Canada, make sure that you and the others joining you are fully vaccinated or have had both doses of a two-dose vaccine or a single dose of a one-dose regimen at least 14 days or two weeks before your travel date. If you have received a combination of two doses of a vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization, you too are considered fully vaccinated.

Money Matters When Traveling Abroad

Money is essential when you travel abroad. To maximize your money, it is important to understand your options for foreign currency exchange services. There are many ways you can exchange your Canadian Dollars for US Dollars. At present, 1 CAD is equivalent to 0.81 USD.

There are many ways you can exchange your money to make purchases abroad. However, most of these come with uncompetitive rates, hefty fees, and restrictions. The easiest and readily available currency exchange services you first see at the airport may not always be the best option. And while you can exchange your currency before leaving Canada or upon arriving in the USA, choosing the right foreign currency exchange service can give you not only convenience but also help you maximize your money.

1. RemitBee Online Currency Exchange

RemitBee’s Currency Exchange service is the best way to exchange your Canadian Dollar for US Dollars in Canada or abroad. It's 100% online. We offer 10 times better exchange rates compared to banks and other private currency exchange businesses.

To start exchanging CAD to USD, you’ll only need to have a USD holding bank account. It will only take two (2) days to complete your money currency exchange to be completed. Best of all, there are no fees! Yes, you read that right. Online foreign exchange using RemitBee is absolutely free!

2. Airport Foreign Exchange Desks and Kiosks

The airports are filled with foreign exchange desks and kiosks that allow you to exchange your CAD to different money currencies, depending on the country you will visit. While it promises convenience and last-minute money exchange services, remember that foreign exchange kiosks and desks at the airports have outrageously high exchange fees of up to 20 percent for a much lower exchange rate than banks and private money exchange companies.

3. Private Money Exchange

You can find currency exchange businesses in Canada and the USA. Make sure that you get the best deal for exchanging your money with a reasonable fee. Go to a place where many private money exchange businesses are located so you can go from one money exchange business to another until you find a currency exchange business that provides the best option.

These businesses offer higher exchange rates than those found at the airport, and fees may vary from one business to another. While currency exchange businesses are often located in large cities, they can be harder to find in rural towns.

4. Credit Card

If you don’t have enough USD with you, you can still complete a purchase in the USA using your credit card. To avoid any problems, make sure that the Canadian credit card you hold is used internationally. Remember that specific fees apply when you use your card abroad. These fees include exchange, transaction, and service charges on cash advances. On average, a credit card will charge you about 2.5 percent of each transaction amount. This can add up quickly if you make plenty of purchases in foreign currency using your credit card.

5. Debit Card

Similar to your credit card, you can also use your debit card to make foreign transaction purchases. You can also use your debit card to withdraw cash at international ATMs. Both options often come with fees. The downside of using your debit card when you visit the USA is that should problems arise once your card is debited, it may take a few days to over a week for the erroneous charge to be corrected.

6. Foreign Exchange Currency Card

If you don’t want to use your cards when you travel from Canada to the USA, you can use foreign currency cards. A forex card is like a prepaid travel card that you can load with a foreign currency of your choice. You can use it to pay for your local currency expenses or withdraw local cash from available ATMs. You can use it to pay passes, tickets, bills, and other items. Forex cards can be multi- or single-currency cards. However, there are plenty of fees and restrictions that apply when you use a forex card. They also often have withdrawal minimums and limits, and failing to reach the minimum might require you to pay for inactivity fees.

7. Traveller’s Checks

Traveller’s checks are similar to standard paper checks and cash. These are printed with different dominations and are uniquely numbered. If you lost one check, you could easily replace it. However, with the prevalent use of cards, traveller’s checks are becoming less popular, and it can be difficult for you to find banks, hotels, and other businesses that accept them.

So when it comes to exchanging currency when you go to the USA, RemitBee is your best partner. We offer online currency exchange services with no fees and 10 times better exchange rates.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now and experience the best money services we offer.