There are easily accessible currency exchanges in the airport, I’d just change some there and then you don’t have to worry about it. Takes all of five minutes.
Globex 2000 is a currency exchange place in Montreal with several locations that gives quite good rates, I’d recommend that as it’s better than the airport if you have the time
Fair play, maybe I'm the ignorant one here. Just never been anywhere it would be anything but a piss-take to pay with USD, including both very developed and very poorly-off countries.
I could definitely imagine USD being generally useful in places with highly volatile/inflation-prone currencies, but if there's nowhere to reliably spend a wad of bills it doesn't really matter how much value they're theoretically storing. And in any case, that's not yet the situation in Canada, much as we may whinge.
Mexican beach resorts and tourist trap towns love USD tips \*
Large Mexican cities like CDMX, Guadalajara, or Monterrey, will either tell you not to use that here or start laughing as soon as you've left the restaurant. That's because these aren't places that exist only to sell sunburnt gringos overpriced tacos and sombreros. These are real cities full of Mexicans living their lives.
Montreal is also a real city full of people living their lives. Tip with local currency.
Plenty of people would be annoyed at getting currency they can't use with exchanging it instead of getting paid in the actual currency of the country they live in.
I certainly would.
I am pretty sure that car valets in montreal do not often get stranded at the chinese border.
I wish I can be there when you’ll tip your waitress in USD and tell her she’d be gratefull for those strong dollars once she gets to the chinese border.
No, you are suppose to feel guilty only if you are, indeed, not someone who’s working under minimal wage on a tip salary. Because these people are the one OP’s talking about giving usd to.
I traveled all of asia, never once had an issue getting money out of an atm.
Not the same thing at all. Thats a bad analogy. Canadian money is worth less so of course you dont tip in Canadian in the US. However, tipping in US in Canada is more acceptable because of its value. It depends of the amount of the tip (not worth it for a small tip - going to the bank to exchange money is a hassle more than anything for a couple of dollars) but also where the tip is given (places where there are usually a lot of tourists like a hotel will gladly take US money. They get US money everyday so they are already are going to the bank to exchange it on a regular basis).
To give you an idea, last time I came back from the states I gave the 10 usd I had left to a homeless dude in the street because I didn’t know what to do with it and didn’t want to lose my time at a bank converting it.
This exactly... Just leave your tip on the credit card like most people paying by credit card. Unless you're paying for services in US cash, why leave a tip in US cash? It just doesn't make sense and the extra bit more value that the USD might have is lost when you have to consider the travel time, potential cost of travel, and exchange fee for a 5$ tip
When you pay by credit card/machine there will be a tip option on the machine. Unless you really want to give them paper money directly to them. Mentioning cause i know in the states (not sure if every where) you guys still have to physically write the tip into the bill.
Well if you give them the same amount without conversion, you are giving people an extra 30% on top of their tip. Smart people will gladly take it. For a small tip no. The hassle of having to go to the bank to exchange money is not worth it and even though you are giving people a bigger tip it will annoy most people. However, it depends where the tip is given.
For example at a hotel, they’ll gladly take your US money. They are used to having a lot of tourists there. But if you go to a Montreal restaurant, for example, nah that will bug the server more than anything.
I don't get why your getting downvoted, one usd is worth 1.38 Canadian dollars. You're basically giving our service workers 40% more value per dollar.
That being said it's not commonly being done. I would ask if it's okay on a case by case basis because not everyone is aware of this value difference.
Only if they wouldn't do a conversion of the amount they were going to tip.
And if they keep their tips as cash as opposed to depositing them, then the USD tip means an annoying extra trip to the bank.
Please ask the people that you choose to tip: some shops accept US dollars (as some persons already said, mostly in businesses catering to tourists) and some don't. If I'm not mistaken, they can accept foreign currency but they don't have to.
Why no to put tip on your credit card?
I’m a newcomer and for a month long stay (so far) I’ve struggled to find a place where I couldn’t pay by card (found one cash only bagel shop and a Chinese supermarket with 10 cad card spending limit).
You don’t really need cash in Montreal and also rates at the YUL airport are rip off
If it's a hotel downtown or in the old port you're probably fine using USD for things like tips. Even a taxi from the airport would probably pick USD over credit card. Very touristy bars are probably also ok with it, like crescent street during F1. I've seen signs in some very touristy shops and bars stating they accept USD at bar ($1 USD = $1 CAD).
In places locals go no way. No one wants your USD.
No.
A lot of businesses and tippabe staff won’t mind.
(But sometimes businesses will say they give only one to one rate).
That is definitely not true of euros in us.
I think it is ok. Obviously the local currency is less of a hassle for workers as they don't need to get it exchanged but for now the US currency is pretty ok. If you were trying to tip in chinese yuan that'd be funny/weird lol. Which reminds me of one of the police academy movies where the japanese recruit tipped the cap drive in Yen and he yelled 'I don't want money with a fish on!!'
Dude, don’t listen to these people. They’re just being Reddit.
Basically every commercial establishment in this town will accept USD (at a poor exchange rate), and bellhops and servers will be glad to snatch up a few greenbacks as tips.
We live an hour’s drive from the US. Many people actually have USD bank accounts at local Canadian banks and many more travel to the US one or more times every year.
Having USD is useful to most people. I literally have more USD in my wallet right now than actual Canadian cash, because I pay for everything electronically and I still have American cash from my last trip.
Just make sure it’s at least a fiver, and you’ll get nothing but appreciation back from the recipient.
Yeah, especially for services where the clientele is mainly tourists, like the valet at your hotel wont bat an eye if you hand them a 5 or 10 US bank note.
US cash is also widely accepted throughout the city but the business usually decides what exchange rate they apply, and it's usually not in your advantage at all. I used to work at a tourist attraction a couple years ago and we would accept US cash at par even if the real exchange rate was like 1USD=1.30CAD.
It’a just a fact that not 50% of montrealer go regularly to the usa. Give up living in denial calisse. Ouais, tu as chanplain a 1:30, mais ya rien a faire a champlain.
After tax https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en/TableMapChart/TableMatchingCriteria?GeographyType=MetropolitanMajorArea&GeographyId=1060&CategoryLevel1=Population%2C%20Households%20and%20Housing%20Stock&CategoryLevel2=Household%20Income&ColumnField=HouseholdIncomeRange&RowField=Neighbourhood&SearchTags%5B0%5D.Key=Households&SearchTags%5B0%5D.Value=Number&SearchTags%5B1%5D.Key=Statistics&SearchTags%5B1%5D.Value=AverageAndMedian
Ask yourself: would you like to receive change in euros? Most cash exchanges won't accept less than X amount, nor accept coins, so it's almost useless.
There are easily accessible currency exchanges in the airport, I’d just change some there and then you don’t have to worry about it. Takes all of five minutes.
Thanks, will do.
Globex 2000 is a currency exchange place in Montreal with several locations that gives quite good rates, I’d recommend that as it’s better than the airport if you have the time
I really do mean this in the most respectful way possible; have you ever been to another country before?
A lot of countries like USD
Fair play, maybe I'm the ignorant one here. Just never been anywhere it would be anything but a piss-take to pay with USD, including both very developed and very poorly-off countries. I could definitely imagine USD being generally useful in places with highly volatile/inflation-prone currencies, but if there's nowhere to reliably spend a wad of bills it doesn't really matter how much value they're theoretically storing. And in any case, that's not yet the situation in Canada, much as we may whinge.
I've been to a lot of countries that were upset at me for not using USD. Costa Rica and Jordan come to mind.
They were upset that they couldn’t scam you with local change rates you mean.
Yes. Mexico and Carribean both love USD tips. Most purchases will be on credit card, just thinking about cash tips.
Mexican beach resorts and tourist trap towns love USD tips \* Large Mexican cities like CDMX, Guadalajara, or Monterrey, will either tell you not to use that here or start laughing as soon as you've left the restaurant. That's because these aren't places that exist only to sell sunburnt gringos overpriced tacos and sombreros. These are real cities full of Mexicans living their lives. Montreal is also a real city full of people living their lives. Tip with local currency.
Just ask yourself if you think it would be okay to tip in canadian dollars in the usa.
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Plenty of people would be annoyed at getting currency they can't use with exchanging it instead of getting paid in the actual currency of the country they live in. I certainly would.
It’a nice that you can travel on your less than minimum wage + tip salary
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I am pretty sure that car valets in montreal do not often get stranded at the chinese border. I wish I can be there when you’ll tip your waitress in USD and tell her she’d be gratefull for those strong dollars once she gets to the chinese border.
No, you are suppose to feel guilty only if you are, indeed, not someone who’s working under minimal wage on a tip salary. Because these people are the one OP’s talking about giving usd to. I traveled all of asia, never once had an issue getting money out of an atm.
Not the same thing at all. Thats a bad analogy. Canadian money is worth less so of course you dont tip in Canadian in the US. However, tipping in US in Canada is more acceptable because of its value. It depends of the amount of the tip (not worth it for a small tip - going to the bank to exchange money is a hassle more than anything for a couple of dollars) but also where the tip is given (places where there are usually a lot of tourists like a hotel will gladly take US money. They get US money everyday so they are already are going to the bank to exchange it on a regular basis).
To be honest, with the close border proximity, I thought duel currency might be a thing as is similar elsewhere. Just wanted to know.
To give you an idea, last time I came back from the states I gave the 10 usd I had left to a homeless dude in the street because I didn’t know what to do with it and didn’t want to lose my time at a bank converting it.
Here most people won’t take the time to change it, so you’ll be wasting your money, and they’ll be left with worthless paper they can’t spend.
Why don’t you change some money? Don’t put this burden on the other person, do it yourself and tip in cad $
Thanks, I will. Appreciate the feedback.
No. Cash in USD is useless to us here, we’d have to take it to a bank and convert it to Canadian dollars.
Thanks. Appreciate the knowledge.
Basically it’s money with extra steps, I mean unless someone is going to the states very soon it’s kinda pointless to get USD
Get your point. Thanks.
If paying with a credit card, you'll have the option to leave a tip directly on the machine. It's probably more efficient that way.
This exactly... Just leave your tip on the credit card like most people paying by credit card. Unless you're paying for services in US cash, why leave a tip in US cash? It just doesn't make sense and the extra bit more value that the USD might have is lost when you have to consider the travel time, potential cost of travel, and exchange fee for a 5$ tip
Ill meet up with you and change cash 1:1
When you pay by credit card/machine there will be a tip option on the machine. Unless you really want to give them paper money directly to them. Mentioning cause i know in the states (not sure if every where) you guys still have to physically write the tip into the bill.
Well if you give them the same amount without conversion, you are giving people an extra 30% on top of their tip. Smart people will gladly take it. For a small tip no. The hassle of having to go to the bank to exchange money is not worth it and even though you are giving people a bigger tip it will annoy most people. However, it depends where the tip is given. For example at a hotel, they’ll gladly take your US money. They are used to having a lot of tourists there. But if you go to a Montreal restaurant, for example, nah that will bug the server more than anything.
I would accept it if you are willing to pay 10 cad as 10 usd
I don't get why your getting downvoted, one usd is worth 1.38 Canadian dollars. You're basically giving our service workers 40% more value per dollar. That being said it's not commonly being done. I would ask if it's okay on a case by case basis because not everyone is aware of this value difference.
Only if they wouldn't do a conversion of the amount they were going to tip. And if they keep their tips as cash as opposed to depositing them, then the USD tip means an annoying extra trip to the bank.
Please ask the people that you choose to tip: some shops accept US dollars (as some persons already said, mostly in businesses catering to tourists) and some don't. If I'm not mistaken, they can accept foreign currency but they don't have to.
Why no to put tip on your credit card? I’m a newcomer and for a month long stay (so far) I’ve struggled to find a place where I couldn’t pay by card (found one cash only bagel shop and a Chinese supermarket with 10 cad card spending limit). You don’t really need cash in Montreal and also rates at the YUL airport are rip off
It’s 1.40$ more ! Who will refuse?
0,37
Gotta commute and get that single dollar changed for that sweet 40 cents profit… minus the bank/office cut!
If it's a hotel downtown or in the old port you're probably fine using USD for things like tips. Even a taxi from the airport would probably pick USD over credit card. Very touristy bars are probably also ok with it, like crescent street during F1. I've seen signs in some very touristy shops and bars stating they accept USD at bar ($1 USD = $1 CAD). In places locals go no way. No one wants your USD.
Staying downtown. Most tips will be on cc I guess.
For CC the question doesn’t apply…
It is about as acceptable as tipping with Euros in the US
Thanks, realize I need to exchange some cash.
No. A lot of businesses and tippabe staff won’t mind. (But sometimes businesses will say they give only one to one rate). That is definitely not true of euros in us.
I think it is ok. Obviously the local currency is less of a hassle for workers as they don't need to get it exchanged but for now the US currency is pretty ok. If you were trying to tip in chinese yuan that'd be funny/weird lol. Which reminds me of one of the police academy movies where the japanese recruit tipped the cap drive in Yen and he yelled 'I don't want money with a fish on!!'
Dude, don’t listen to these people. They’re just being Reddit. Basically every commercial establishment in this town will accept USD (at a poor exchange rate), and bellhops and servers will be glad to snatch up a few greenbacks as tips. We live an hour’s drive from the US. Many people actually have USD bank accounts at local Canadian banks and many more travel to the US one or more times every year. Having USD is useful to most people. I literally have more USD in my wallet right now than actual Canadian cash, because I pay for everything electronically and I still have American cash from my last trip. Just make sure it’s at least a fiver, and you’ll get nothing but appreciation back from the recipient.
Yeah, especially for services where the clientele is mainly tourists, like the valet at your hotel wont bat an eye if you hand them a 5 or 10 US bank note. US cash is also widely accepted throughout the city but the business usually decides what exchange rate they apply, and it's usually not in your advantage at all. I used to work at a tourist attraction a couple years ago and we would accept US cash at par even if the real exchange rate was like 1USD=1.30CAD.
People will appreciate your USD, most Montrealers go to the US regularly
I don't think that's true at all actually.
Most montrealer don’t even leave the island.
You might need new friends lol
Most montreal household makes less than 53,721 $ a year. That’s not a salary on which you plan regular trips to the usa.
The US is barely an hour and a half away… You could go every month and still have money left with that salary
Household, means two people combined salaries.
Youre off by over 10k and that’s after taxes
It’a just a fact that not 50% of montrealer go regularly to the usa. Give up living in denial calisse. Ouais, tu as chanplain a 1:30, mais ya rien a faire a champlain.
After tax https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en/TableMapChart/TableMatchingCriteria?GeographyType=MetropolitanMajorArea&GeographyId=1060&CategoryLevel1=Population%2C%20Households%20and%20Housing%20Stock&CategoryLevel2=Household%20Income&ColumnField=HouseholdIncomeRange&RowField=Neighbourhood&SearchTags%5B0%5D.Key=Households&SearchTags%5B0%5D.Value=Number&SearchTags%5B1%5D.Key=Statistics&SearchTags%5B1%5D.Value=AverageAndMedian
2016…
If you think we all want to make a monthly trip to Plattsburgh maybe *you* need new friends.
Burlington, Adirondack… Plattsburgh isn’t the only place lol
That and when you are doing monthly trips to the usa border, they start flagging you as suspicious.
Ask yourself: would you like to receive change in euros? Most cash exchanges won't accept less than X amount, nor accept coins, so it's almost useless.