I'll be traveling to Manitoba in early September for and archery bear hunt.

It's been 25 years since going there and here's the question:

Is it better to go to my own bank locally and get Canadian money before leaving or exchange at the border?

We'll be buying food, fuel, and probably paying tips to guides.

Thanks.

Exchange money at a Canadian bank.

Absolutely this ^^^

An old Russian guy owned the Airport Hotel on Porcupine lake back in the day,
When Yanks came in to the bar old Bill would walk up to them point at them and say
You American? You pay American money.LOL.

If it was up to me I would get some Loonies for tips but would use a credit card for everything else. The card company will get you the exact exchange rate that is current at the time of the transaction.

This is exactly what I would do too.

Keith

Yes. Credit Card. We tip with USA cash

Im with Squash, im not a credit card man

I always order currency from my bank before traveling. I dont know if Canadian banks are better for this though as I've never delt in funny money.

Use you credit card as much as possible to avoid getting taken advantage of.

Thanks guys for the answers.

Got a long-time hunting friend going with me. Haven't been able to hunt together since 1989 on the last archery elk hunt. Kind of a reunion for two old guys.

We'll be sharing expenses.

I always think the opposite. Use cash to avoid being taken advantage of

Yup,,then we would give Bill 40 American cents for every dollars worth of drinks.Hahahaaa,,We would leave laughing at YOU and BILL.

Retailers will never give you the official exchange rate, many try to rob you blind. Banks convert credit card charges at the official rate.
I was at a little ethnic resturant in Vancouver B.C. a couple of years ago; they wanted to take my US cash at par; I used my CC instead, and they didn't get the tip I would have left them had they not tried to rip me off.

I use my bank card on everything. I go to the bank and tell them when I going and they give me a good rate. I tip with US Funds. Everything else is with a card.

x2 cash is king.

I stop at the Duty Free building before crossing the Peace Bridge outside Buffalo, NY. I always exchange $600 American into Canadian. Flying out of Toronto to Newfoundland moose hunting. There’s some stores in Newfoundland that don’t do exchanges with US dollars.

I understand you have time constraints. But it is going to be so much easier in a couple years when Canada becomes the 51st state. G.

If you are dead-set on using cash, maybe for tips and stuff like that, I would contact your local bank before you go, my bank in the US can get me Canadian cash for the best rate. A lot of money changers, like at airports and border crossings will gouge you. It's interesting that those types of businesses have been gouging people since the days of Jesus.

I have done well going to local coin/gold/silver buyers. They always have foreign cash/coins. Went to Ireland and Italy and bought euro notes at a much better rate than my bank. Checked both the same day…. I like having cash with me for street markets/yard sales…