We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Canada - Various Questions About Payments
Options

philstephen
Posts: 25 Forumite


Hi all
Off to Canada in August (for 7 weeks!) and wondering if anyone can help on the following:
1. Cash withdrawals. I'll obviously need cash but want to try and pay for most things by credit card. I have a Santander zero current account so no horrible mark up fees applied by them. Are there any Canadian Bank ATMs that are better to use than others? I understand many charge a fixed fee whether you draw out say $20 or $200. Any banks to avoid given a choice?
2. I'll be using two credit cards - Santander Zero and Halifax Clarity. The former more for meals, local public transport etc. and whilst I have the physical card, I prefer to use Google Wallet. The Halifax one will be mainly for paying for hotel rooms. Any tips or potential issues?
3. Tipping. In restaurants and bars I know it's similar to the US where it's expected you pay 15-20% tip. Is it cash only or do card terminals have the option to add a tip on?
4. Many hotels I'm staying at say they block or charge a security / damage deposit. Some upto $250. Is that always the case or is it discretionary. And is it usually a block on the card or actual charge. Have forumites had problems with hotels not releasing the block or refunding a day or two after checking out? My reason for asking is in many cases the damage deposit is nearly as much for a one night stay. My card limit limit will cover the room costs as I travel from one location to another along, but too many security deposits that are not released back / refunded may cause problems.
Thanks.
Phil
Off to Canada in August (for 7 weeks!) and wondering if anyone can help on the following:
1. Cash withdrawals. I'll obviously need cash but want to try and pay for most things by credit card. I have a Santander zero current account so no horrible mark up fees applied by them. Are there any Canadian Bank ATMs that are better to use than others? I understand many charge a fixed fee whether you draw out say $20 or $200. Any banks to avoid given a choice?
2. I'll be using two credit cards - Santander Zero and Halifax Clarity. The former more for meals, local public transport etc. and whilst I have the physical card, I prefer to use Google Wallet. The Halifax one will be mainly for paying for hotel rooms. Any tips or potential issues?
3. Tipping. In restaurants and bars I know it's similar to the US where it's expected you pay 15-20% tip. Is it cash only or do card terminals have the option to add a tip on?
4. Many hotels I'm staying at say they block or charge a security / damage deposit. Some upto $250. Is that always the case or is it discretionary. And is it usually a block on the card or actual charge. Have forumites had problems with hotels not releasing the block or refunding a day or two after checking out? My reason for asking is in many cases the damage deposit is nearly as much for a one night stay. My card limit limit will cover the room costs as I travel from one location to another along, but too many security deposits that are not released back / refunded may cause problems.
Thanks.
Phil
0
Comments
-
philstephen said:Hi all
Off to Canada in August (for 7 weeks!) and wondering if anyone can help on the following:
1. Cash withdrawals. I'll obviously need cash but want to try and pay for most things by credit card. I have a Santander zero current account so no horrible mark up fees applied by them. Are there any Canadian Bank ATMs that are better to use than others? I understand many charge a fixed fee whether you draw out say $20 or $200. Any banks to avoid given a choice?
2. I'll be using two credit cards - Santander Zero and Halifax Clarity. The former more for meals, local public transport etc. and whilst I have the physical card, I prefer to use Google Wallet. The Halifax one will be mainly for paying for hotel rooms. Any tips or potential issues?
3. Tipping. In restaurants and bars I know it's similar to the US where it's expected you pay 15-20% tip. Is it cash only or do card terminals have the option to add a tip on?
4. Many hotels I'm staying at say they block or charge a security / damage deposit. Some upto $250. Is that always the case or is it discretionary. And is it usually a block on the card or actual charge. Have forumites had problems with hotels not releasing the block or refunding a day or two after checking out? My reason for asking is in many cases the damage deposit is nearly as much for a one night stay. My card limit limit will cover the room costs as I travel from one location to another along, but too many security deposits that are not released back / refunded may cause problems.
Thanks.
Phil
on 4 - it's very typical in North America - Canada and US - they will take a reserved slot of some amount on the card (not a charge, unless you cause damage) and it will be released on checkout. The release time, crucially, is down to YOUR bank, not the hotel, they cannot do anything. Make sure you check-in with a valid photo ID (e.g. passport) as most will expect that with the card and names must match.
Can you try and get another card or request a credit limit increase?Sam Vimes' Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness:
People are rich because they spend less money. A poor man buys $10 boots that last a season or two before he's walking in wet shoes and has to buy another pair. A rich man buys $50 boots that are made better and give him 10 years of dry feet. The poor man has spent $100 over those 10 years and still has wet feet.
0 -
You dont need cash in Canada. Everywhere takes card. Even the taxis0
-
3 terminals have a tip option on them.0
-
penners324 said:You need cash in Canada. Everywhere takes card. Even the taxis0
-
I don't recall ever seeing an ATM which says "$2 to use this machine". Maybe the charges were hidden? But all the ATMs are much of a muchness, actually much better than ones in the UK as most let you deposit to your bank account as well as take money out. Or at least they did 30 years back when I lived there. I don't need to take much money out when I'm there as I'm normally with family and always use my Santander Zero for most everything.
I don't have google wallet or any virtual cards in fact but would that be dependent on you having a wifi connection? Now while it's not a problem in a big city coverage is sketchy when you're in the middle of no where. Do check that your provider here won't charge you massively for any of your phone, internet use. My scheme in the UK works out at about £3 a day just for the connection and then it's something similar per minute phone call and silly for the internet use. As a result I pick up a PAYG sim at the airport when I land. I'm normally there for a couple of weeks so get the 1 month sim which costs $25 plus sales tax (so $29? so £18?) and that does me for all the calls I need to make and allows my OH to have a way to ring me. (silly brother had the landline removed so a mobile/cell is essential)
And you didn't ask but check when you first use public transport if you need to get a "transfer". In days of cash these were paper time stamped tickets that meant you could transfer from buses to the subway/underground or from bus to bus. Normally there is a time limit from the time stamped but by picking up a new transfer as you move around you might get a full day's use with one fare. Well at least it used to work like that in Toronto and Vancouver.
And assuming you go to Toronto and assuming you aren't a vegetarian I beg you to go to St Lawrence market and get a bacon sandwich. They are still and have always been the best bacon sandwiches in the world. Seriously.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
Check your state pension on: Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung
⭐️🏅😇0 -
I can't remember using an ATM in Canada as I paid with card the vast majority of the time. In that sense it's pretty similar to the UK. I also used Apple Pay the whole time and didn't have any issues.When it comes to tipping, they present options on the card machine. I didn't realise you were supposed to tip every time like in the US, so I never did. No one ever got angry or complained to me though.0
-
Brie said:
I don't have google wallet or any virtual cards in fact but would that be dependent on you having a wifi connection? Now while it's not a problem in a big city coverage is sketchy when you're in the middle of no where.
Do check that your provider here won't charge you massively for any of your phone, internet use. My scheme in the UK works out at about £3 a day just for the connection and then it's something similar per minute phone call and silly for the internet use. As a result I pick up a PAYG sim at the airport when I land.
I've researched hiard about phone usage. O2 charge £6 a day for their Bolt which is expensive for data usage and calls. I'll be shopping around for an eSIM for data and using Skype for calls.
Phil0 -
eskbanker said:penners324 said:You need cash in Canada. Everywhere takes card. Even the taxis0
-
Also heading to Canada, thanks for the suggestions. Anyone used an eSim for mobile data while there? Any good/bad stories?I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Credit Cards, Savings & investments, and Budgeting & Bank Accounts boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0 -
sausage_time said:Also heading to Canada, thanks for the suggestions. Anyone used an eSim for mobile data while there? Any good/bad stories?I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Credit Cards, Savings & investments, and Budgeting & Bank Accounts boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards