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National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
Experts advise packing lightly on cash when travelling
When was the last time you pulled out cash to pay for something? Many Canadians might have to think long and hard, especially if they're younger. Article content Canada has gradually moved toward becoming a cashless society, with most people paying for purchases with smartphones or credit cards. However, whether or not you should carry cash — and how much — can still be a point of contention when travelling abroad. Article content Article content Article content 'The question shouldn't be whether cash is still worth it, but it's how to use it wisely, especially when every dollar counts,' said Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada Inc. Article content Article content She said the decision to carry cash and the amount depends on the destination, purpose of travel and how prepared a traveller wants to be. Article content When Durakovic was travelling to Nicaragua, she knew the airport transfer cost and driver tips would likely be a cash-on-hand situation. For her Morocco trip not too long ago, she said she carried small bills in U.S. dollars when visiting local markets and to pay for taxis. Article content Even if you're going on a cruise or to an all-inclusive resort, carry some cash for tipping staff, Durakovic suggested. Article content 'We would recommend that you do carry a modest amount in bills, ideally in the currency that's most widely accepted locally,' she said. Article content Durakovic said she personally takes at least US$100 in cash when travelling abroad, mostly in smaller bills. Article content Article content She also emphasized paying gratuities on all-inclusive trips in Canadian dollars ahead of time to avoid exchange rate surprises or finding out there are no ATMs on-site at the resort. Article content Sometimes, all-inclusive resorts and cruises can include gratuities in a daily service charge, allowing travellers to account for tips in their budget ahead of time. Prepaid gratuities are typically broken down per night and per guest. For example, Disney Cruise recommends a prepaid gratuity of between US$16 and US$27.25 per night, per guest. Article content When Nicole Hui was preparing to travel to Japan earlier this year, one of the first things she researched was whether it's a cash-reliant economy. Article content The travel and lifestyle content creator said she brought some cash to cover the initial transit from the airport, meals and tipping. But she took out money she needed after that from an ATM at a Japanese 7-Eleven — with a better exchange rate than what she would have received at Canadian banks.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Experts advise packing lightly on cash when travelling
When was the last time you pulled out cash to pay for something? Many Canadians might have to think long and hard, especially if they're younger. Canada has gradually moved toward becoming a cashless society, with most people paying for purchases with smartphones or credit cards. However, whether or not you should carry cash — and how much — can still be a point of contention when travelling abroad. "The question shouldn't be whether cash is still worth it, but it's how to use it wisely, especially when every dollar counts," said Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada Inc. She said the decision to carry cash and the amount depends on the destination, purpose of travel and how prepared a traveller wants to be. When Durakovic was travelling to Nicaragua, she knew the airport transfer cost and driver tips would likely be a cash-on-hand situation. For her Morocco trip not too long ago, she said she carried small bills in U.S. dollars when visiting local markets and to pay for taxis. Even if you're going on a cruise or to an all-inclusive resort, carry some cash for tipping staff, Durakovic suggested. "We would recommend that you do carry a modest amount in bills, ideally in the currency that's most widely accepted locally," she said. Durakovic said she personally takes at least US$100 in cash when travelling abroad, mostly in smaller bills. She also emphasized paying gratuities on all-inclusive trips in Canadian dollars ahead of time to avoid exchange rate surprises or finding out there are no ATMs on-site at the resort. Sometimes, all-inclusive resorts and cruises can include gratuities in a daily service charge, allowing travellers to account for tips in their budget ahead of time. Prepaid gratuities are typically broken down per night and per guest. For example, Disney Cruise recommends a prepaid gratuity of between US$16 and US$27.25 per night, per guest. When Nicole Hui was preparing to travel to Japan earlier this year, one of the first things she researched was whether it's a cash-reliant economy. The travel and lifestyle content creator said she brought some cash to cover the initial transit from the airport, meals and tipping. But she took out money she needed after that from an ATM at a Japanese 7-Eleven — with a better exchange rate than what she would have received at Canadian banks. But usually, Hui's go-to is her no-fee credit card. "If it's a less cash-heavy place, I usually just stick with using (a credit) card, but still bring $100 to $200 of local currency for the trip, just in case it's needed," Hui said. But experts say exchange rates should be kept top of mind when travelling abroad. "My issue with cash going abroad is it's really expensive to exchange, depending on where you're going," said personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi. Choi's turning point was when he travelled to Brazil and Argentina almost a decade ago and faced an exorbitant exchange fee at the bank. Ever since, Choi said he prefers either a no-fee credit or prepaid cards, or he will withdraw money at ATMs abroad, if needed. He advised looking for a travel card that allows charge-free ATM withdrawals, credit cards with no or lower exchange-rate fees or a multi-currency card, such as Wise. He does not recommend exchanging money at the airport. Choi's decision to carry cash and the amount comes down to researching what the acceptable currency is in the country he's visiting. He recalled travelling to the United States earlier this year and not using cash once during his trip. Another downside to getting cash is the leftover local currency you may never use, Choi said. "Why I tell people to carry less cash is: Back in the day, you would keep exchanging all this money, you'd pay high fees to begin with, and then you're left with these random currencies that you may or may not use," he said. There's a chance of losing money when exchanging leftover local currency for Canadian dollars, depending on the exchange rate fluctuations. But Choi said he still carries US$50 in local currency that can cover a meal or taxi ride, just in case. "There are still a lot of stores that only take cash, so you could be in the middle of nowhere or even a country where you don't speak the language," he said. "You should always have some kind of backup cash, even if it's U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, or whatever." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
CBC
15-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
California governor urges Canadians to ignore Trump, come back for sand, sun and wine
Canadians' boycott of travel to the U.S. is hitting hard on California's sandy shores, prompting the state's governor to make a social media pitch-plea to come back. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a video this week, is urging the two million Canadians who visited last year to look past U.S. President Donald Trump and return to enjoy the Golden State's wine, sun and surf. Newsom, without calling out Trump by name, says Canadians should not let a dust-up with Washington stop them from renewing their love affair with his coastal paradise. "Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don't let that ruin your beach plans," Newsom says in the video, which is part of a $5.2-million US advertising effort to lure Canucks back over the border. WATCH | Newsom releases ad targeting Canadian travellers: Are you convinced by California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plea for Canadians to visit his state again? 54 minutes ago Duration 6:29 Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, launched a tourism campaign to draw Canadians back to the Golden State amid a decline in visits. In a video posted to social media, he is distancing the state from the White House's actions and urges Canadian tourists to enjoy the sun, surf and wine his state has to offer. BC Today host Michelle Eliot and McKenzie McMilan, a travel consultant with the Travel Group, heard from callers who are not buying Newsom's message. Canadians have sharply curtailed vacation plans south of the border in recent weeks given an ongoing tariff war with the United States, a comparatively weak dollar, reports of travellers being detained by U.S. officials, and Trump openly musing about annexing the country. Though Trump has recently relented from his verbal attacks on Canada, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated on Tuesday that he still thinks Canada should become the 51st state. California estimates Canadians are the second-biggest international spenders for its tourism economy, and state tourism officials say visits by Canadians dropped 12 per cent in February compared with the same month last year. "We kind of want to reach out and say, 'You're always welcome here when you're ready to travel,'" said Caroline Beteta, president of industry-led state tourism marketer Visit California. B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who is leading the province's response to the trade war, told reporters on Tuesday that the ad was clearly in response to statistics showing travel south of the border has plummeted, with U.S.-bound traffic at Lower Mainland border crossings dropping by 42 per cent in March. "There's a reason why there's ads being run by U.S. states. It's because Canadians have responded with a clear message — we're not a 51st state. We're not going to take this lightly," Kahlon said. "We believe all the tariffs should come off. And so, I'm proud of Canadians. I'm proud of British Columbians." Travel agents say U.S.-bound travel down In Canada, travel agents paint a grimmer picture. McKenzie McMillan, a travel consultant with the Vancouver-based Travel Group, said overall business at the agency has remained steady as clients have chosen to avoid the U.S. for Europe, Asia and Mexico. But business to the United States has virtually dried up. "We have seen a near-total collapse of U.S. business. We have some business based on our corporate clients travelling down for conferences or for board meetings," McMillan said in an interview. "But for leisure travel, we've almost seen a complete drop-off ... probably about a 90 per cent drop since February." McMillan said tourism boards need to do more than just make a pitch for Canadians to come back. "There's anger among Canadian travellers, not so much with Americans but with the federal government in the United States and in other outreach I've seen, no one has addressed that exact issue," he said. McMillan said the California campaign is a bit more light-hearted and appears to be aimed at younger travellers. "It makes it very clear that the state of California is not interested in aligning with the federal government's policies when it relates to Canada," McMillan said. "For a lot of Canadians that have made an emotional decision to avoid the United States, this might resonate with them." Lesley Keyter, the CEO and founder of the Travel Lady agency in Calgary, said traveller concerns and anxieties are real, so much so they are voting with their wallets — or voting to abandon their wallets. "I've seen people actually forfeit money to cancel their trips to go down there," Keyter said in an interview. "Even if they're going on a Caribbean cruise, they don't want to go down to Fort Lauderdale to get on the cruise ship."
CBC
15-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Are you convinced by California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plea for Canadians to visit his state again?
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, launched a tourism campaign to draw Canadians back to the Golden State amid a decline in visits. In a video posted to social media, he is distancing the state from the White House's actions and urges Canadian tourists to enjoy the sun, surf and wine his state has to offer. BC Today host Michelle Eliot and McKenzie McMilan, a travel consultant with the Travel Group, heard from callers who are not buying Newsom's message.
Fox News
14-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
SCOOP: Newsom launches campaign to entice reluctant Canadians to visit California amid Trump tariff push
EXCLUSIVE: Liberal Gov. Gavin Newsom is making it clear in a new campaign that Canadian tourists are welcome in the Golden State, as he looks to boost international travel following a sharp decline in U.S. tourism sparked by President Donald Trump's tariff policies. "We get it. The White House isn't exactly laying out the welcome mat, but Canadians should know that California will continue to welcome them and that we remain grateful for their partnership," a Newsom administration official told Fox News Digital on Monday. The campaign, in partnership with the nonprofit tourist organization Visit California, will roll out the campaign internationally, similar to Newsom's call asking nations not to place retaliatory tariffs on California products this month. Newsom's office said that since Trump took office, tourism has dropped significantly to levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism from Canada, which brought in 1.8 million tourists last year and $3.72 billion in revenue, dropped 12% in February compared to last year, with that percentage expected to rise as tariffs remain in place. The $5.2 million campaign is part of Visit California's annual marketing investment in Canada, according to Newsom's office. Newsom, who has been rumored to be eyeing a 2028 presidential bid, also met with British Columbia Premier David Eby Monday to discuss opportunities for expanding California's partnership with Canada. The two politicians discussed ways to partner in the lumber industry, national transportation corridors and housing, a Newsom official said. While Trump has quipped that Canada could become the "51st state," the U.S. remains Canada's largest trading partner, supplying nearly two-thirds of its imports and buying over 70% of its exports. Under Trump's new tariff rates, 25% has been levied on Canadian goods. Vancouver-based Travel Group reported a 90% drop in future bookings, according to a report from Politico this week. Ottawa's Travac Tours canceled all U.S. trips through July, while Maple Leaf Tours, based in Kingston, Ontario, has seen its business dip 70% to 80%. In mid-March, Canada issued reciprocal tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods.
