Canada
The Canadian Dollar ($) is the currency used in Canada.
Canadian coins come in denominations of 1 penny (1¢), nickel (5¢), dime (10¢), quarter (25¢), 1 dollar ($1) also known as the loonie, and the 2 dollar ($2) known as the twoonie. The gold-colored loonie features the loon, a common Canadian water bird, while the two-toned toonie is decorated with a polar bear.
Paper currency comes in $5 (blue), $10 (purple), $20 (green) and $50 (red) denominations. The $100 (brown) and larger bills are less common, and are difficult to change.
Some businesses near the US–Canadian border and in big cities accept payment in US dollars, with change given in Canadian dollars but don’t expect the exchange rate to be in your favor.
Tipping
In restaurants, leaving a 15% tip is standard. At hotels, bellhops receive about $1 to $2 per bag. Leaving a few dollars for the room cleaners is always a welcome gesture. Cab drivers, hairdressers and barbers also expect a tip, usually 10% to 15%.
Atms
Many grocery and convenience stores, airports, and bus, train and ferry stations have ATMs which are lined to Cirrus, Plus, Star and Maestro. Visitors heading to Canada’s more remote regions (such as in Newfoundland) won’t find an abundance of ATMs, so it is wise to cash up beforehand.
Credit cards
Major credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa and American Express are widely accepted in Canada, except in remote, rural communities where cash is king. You’ll find it hard or impossible to rent a car, book a room or order tickets over the phone without having a piece of plastic. Note that some credit card companies charge a ‘transaction fee’ (around 3% of whatever you purchased); check with your provider to avoid surprises).
Carry copies of your credit card numbers separately from the cards and immediately report lost or stolen cards.
American Express 1-866-296-5198 or www.americanexpress.com
MasterCard 1-800-307-7309 or www.mastercard.com
Visa 1-800-847-2911 or www.visa.com
Taxes
Canada’s federal goods and services tax (GST) adds 6% every transaction and most provinces also charge a provincial sales tax (PST). New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have combined the GST and PST into a harmonized sales tax (HST) of 14%. Unless otherwise stated, taxes are not included in prices given.
Traveler’s checks
Traveler’s checks are becoming more and more obsolete in the age of ATMs. Traveler’s checks issued in Canadian dollars are generally treated like cash by businesses. Traveler’s checks in most other currencies must be exchanged for Canadian dollars at a bank or foreign currency office. For lost or stolen checks call the issuer.
American Express 1-866-296-5198
MasterCard 1-800-223-9920
Visa 1-800-227-6811
You will not need any special vaccines but you should be up-to-date on routine immunizations to travel to Canada.
Insurance
It’s essential to purchase travel health insurance or supplemental insurance if your regular policy doesn’t cover you when you’re abroad as health care can be prohibitively expensive. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures.
Bring any medications you may need in their original containers, clearly labeled. A signed, dated letter from your physician that describes all medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If you have a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital emergency room. You can call the hospital to ask for a referral to a local physician if your problem is not urgent. You should avoid for-profit clinics, which tend to perform large numbers of expensive tests, even for minor illnesses.
Pharmacies are everywhere, but some medications that are available over-the-counter in your home country require a prescription in Canada, and/or may be very expensive. It is best to bring any medications you may need while traveling. Pack them in their original containers, clearly labeled and it is a good idea to bring a signed, dated letter from your physician that describes all pertinent medical conditions and medications, including generic names.
Helpful health links:
WHO International Travel and Health
Women’s Health and Contraception
MDtravelhealth.com Worldwide recommendations