VirtualGarage
Vancouver, Canada
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Joined: 05/27/2009
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I carry both Visa and Mastercard because some places will take one but not the other. I don't seem to find that problem down in the USA.
American Express is accepted less and Diners Club even less than that. Don't bother with Discover cards.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Some RV Parks in both Canada and the US will not take ANY credit cards so if you plan on staying at those you WILL need cash or check. WE only carried about $50.00 and replenished it whenever we needed to. Hate dealing with cash and OTHER than two RV parks, we never used any and traveled strictly on our debit card (no fees and automatic currency exchange).
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VirtualGarage
Vancouver, Canada
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Joined: 05/27/2009
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That reminds me of a local news story I heard on the radio this week. Apparently one of our major colleges has decided to stop accepting credit cards for tuition fees. They say it will save them hundreds of thousands of dollars not having to pay CC service charges. More of the smaller privately owned businesses also do the same to keep that extra percentage in their own pockets instead of the CC company's.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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Two years ago we spent 2 months in Canada, eastern part. Did not find even one place that would not take Visa and Mastercard, OR a personal check. We also carry very little cash, just enough to get a donut or whatever here and there.
Is this something new maybe?
Chuck
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Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories
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oldrt
Chatham, Ont
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Joined: 04/11/2003
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Canada is one of the most wired countries in the world. I live off my debit card (use visa for larger purchases.) The Ontario Provincial Parks and most Conservation areas take visa or MC. Discovery and Amex are not seen much outside of really expensive hotels and restaurants. Generally debit cards are accepted everywhere. Some remote parks may not have wifi or telephone lines that can handle digital but even those will do the old hand impressed card system. For cash stop at any walmart or major grocery store, they all have cashback programs.
Al
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joe b.
Florida
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I tend to run into more and more places that don't take credit cards. Cottonwood RV Park on the shore of Kluane Lake is one, several of the smaller mom and pop owned/operated in the US or Canada are into cash only. Had one park owner in Canada tell me it was considered to be tax free income to many businesses. LOL
Over the years I have dropped a check into the "pipe" at some of the government RV campgrounds and never had a problem. The check always clear through my bank. Last summer I took out $400 from the Canadian ATM each direction, north and south bound. It is much handier to buy a soda, a loaf of bread, a deli sandwich with cash than a credit card/debit card for me.
Plus I enjoy the look of Canadian paper money. (just wish I had more of it on my trips) Then on the return I will spend the last of my Canadian currency before crossing the border. Actually I probably have a $100 Canadian that I didn't spend and will use the next time I go north, 2011 planned.
Cash is just handy to have, to buy firewood on the honor system, stop at a kid's lemonade stand, donate to a good cause, etc.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
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Rvpapa
Alberta , Can.
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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Alberta provincial parks take MC or Visa, just turn the envelope over and fill in your info on the reverse. Have found more places that will not take cash. Credit card prefered in case of damage. One very surprising thing that I found was that TIMMY's would not take Visa only MC. While on the subject it is a good idea to always have a couple of hundred cash with you. Ever stop for fuel and find the internet connection is down?
Art.
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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vic46 wrote:I have not stayed in an Alberta Provincial park for some time. These parks have been privatized and the contract operators rely on an honour system, with checks regularly. They only take cash as there is no permanent management presence in the park. It would not be a big surprise if this system has also been adopted elsewhere.
Vic We've run into the same issue in BC along the Yellowhead Highway.
John
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accsys
Green Cove Springs, FL
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On our current trip in Eastern Canada we have ran into several campgrounds that would not accept a CC for Passport America rates. There has been one or two otherwise. There was one near Bar Harbor in Maine that also required cash.
John & Doris
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revrnd
Apsley, Ontario
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sh410 wrote:Many of the Provincial Parks do not have credit card services, so only cash.
Are you generalizing or talking about a specific province?
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