Does anyone know the best place to buy US Dollars ? Going to Vegas in 2 weeks. Does the bank charge the same as say calforex ? Is there a best day if the week to buy or does that matter ?

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Following

Am not sure if the day of the week matters as the exchange rates at the banks and calforex are constantly fluctuating. You may get a better rate with larger exchange volumes ($5000 vs $500) but am not sure what that cutoff is.

calforex!!! Banks suck for exchange, regardless what some say, I've never seen them be competitive.

Local ATM will always give you a better rate than any service. Just make sure you don't get slapped with high forex fees by your bank

not arguing your point, but from what I've seen, I really don't think this is the case. In many countries this IS the preferred method, such as Costa Rica, Thailand, Japan, etc, but in the US, there are so many fees associated including potentially hidden ones not obvious to first time users. On top of the atm fee, your CC or bank for the debit will also charge a fee. Just using an atm in Canada not owned by your bank will incure $2-5...US can be worse...WAY worse in the case of Vegas

Vegas is a very "special" case though. I've traveled all over the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and ATM are still my preferred way. It will depend on your card (I use debit, not credit) and I always know beforehand what my bank charges. I also try to pay for as much as I can with a no foreign fee credit card and only use cash for the exceptions

calforex change a flat charge better deal than banks

If you're a CIBC client check out their foreign exchange online rates. I've had success there and it's delivered to your door.

I am a cibc customer. How do you go about that ?

Online banking. The option is there to order foreign currency

can you please post the LIVE rate....I'm VERY curious to see actual #'s to see how competitive.

I found the better deal was with CIBC( which is who I bank with) we compared the rates online. I was also just able to get $600US from the atm in the bank and didn't have to go to the teller

We got ours at BMO (we aren't BMO clients)

The currency exchange in Eau Claire mall has the best rates (I think!)

I've heard this from the group in the past as well, Jane...CanexForex....yup...

if you have AMA you dont pay any fees ? just need to go to ama to get the exchange done

exchange place in Chinook Mall

You don't need AMA membership. In Crowfoot branch have a 'FOREIGN CURRENCY ATM MACHINE'. The cost s $1.5

Chinook calforex, and they will buy back up to 50% if you exchanged too much

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Your best option is to call around. calforex, customs house, Albern coins. They will all have better prices than the banks. calforex will buy back up to 1000$ at the same rate you bought it, but you have to ask for this make sure they stamp your receipt.

Brad Thanks for this. Have exchanged many times at calforex but have never taken $$ back to them. So good to know the process!

calforex. Nobody will beat them. Rates fluctuate daily, they are actually a little better now than they have been.

If you can, go to a casino. I know, weird, but I've found they have the best conversion rates around. Not sure if any of the Calgary casinos can do it but doesn't hurt to ask.

I just compared the online calforex order to your door rate and it's almost as good as the online CIBC rate (looking at US and Mxn).

Well Canex Forex is the winner. Tried 500 US at AMA WANTED 690 Can. Cibc deliver to door 500 US is 685 Can. And Canex Forex wins at 677 Can for 500 US.

If you're going to Vegas the bigger casinos usually have very good rates.

Casino rates are bad remember you are paying the inverse rate.

I've used International Currency Exchange (ICE) at Market Mall but they have other locations. You can order your money online a day ahead and there are no service charges.

Fridays are apparently the best day to buy.

We were just there a few months back. I stayed at the Tropicana then the Gold Coast and got the best exchange rate at the Gold Coast. At that time they gave me 1% more than BMO up here was willing to hand over! FYI though, went next door to the RIO and they were the worst and offered 5% less than the Gold Coast. Got 68 cents on the dollar at Gold Coast and only 63 cents at Rio.