Planning Your Finances for Your Short Stay

Some establishments don't accept Canadian dollars, so don't underestimate the power of an RBC Royal Bank Visa* Card, U.S. Personal Account^TM, and American Express^® Travellers Cheques.

• If you are travelling outside Canada, it's a good idea to take enough local currency for taxis, tips, buses, phone calls, etc. You can order foreign currency through your RBC Royal Bank branch. Call ahead to check on the availability of specific currencies. Most countries accept American money, so if you're travelling outside Canada and the U.S., it may be a good idea to take some of that along, too.
• More than 70 countries have rules about how much currency can be taken in or out of their country. Review these restrictions to ensure you can exchange any leftover currency into Canadian dollars. Foreign coins are not accepted for exchange when you get back to Canada, so you should plan on using them for small sundry purchases, such as buying a snack or souvenir.
• For an indication of how much you can expect to pay in Canadian dollars for a variety of currencies, check out our Foreign Exchange Cheque Rate Converter. The rates displayed are for cheques or payment instruments such as travellers cheques, drafts and money orders. Foreign currency notes may cost a little more to cover shipping and handling.
• You should also consider the bills that you will need to pay and the cheques you will need to deposit while you're away. Find out your options for paying your bills and depositing cheques when you're away from home.

^® Used by Amex Canada Inc., under license by American Express Company