Travel to/from Canada

[DSS-NW]

I'm about to embark upon a trip into Canada to attend an LTV (Leisure Travel) owners' rally in Winkler, Manitoba.

Would welcome any information, cautions, comments, suggestions and/or recommendations that might be relevant to such a cross-border adventure.

Such things as vehicle-inspections (equip and contents), documentation, credit-card acceptance, etc. Any concern about transporting alcoholic-beverage and/or prescribed medications. (No firearms in my case.)

Thanks in advance!

[slickest1]

As far a vehicle and contents they may search at the border going either way at their whim. Most times they don't. Credit cards are generally accepted both ways.
Alcohol there is a limit to which I am not sure how much. Prescriptions as long as they are in the right containers.
As you know fire arms are an issue. I don't know about Manitoba but in BC there iare no Eggs or Chicken allowed into Canada right now. Usually fresh fruit and vegetables are a no no as well.
Check with the Border before you cross for things that are not admissable.
Enjoy your trip.

[Tony Lee]

Judging by comments in some topics on this issue, the main thing is not to diss the USA Border staff or they won't let you back in. Canadian side much more laid back.

[brian-nicola]

Everything you need to know right at this link:
Travellers

In the great white north, all major credit cards accepted and we love US$ right now...even give you a 25% premium on your dollar against ours!

[Fred1609]

We don't have pennies up here anymore.....so don't think your being short changed...they just round up or down depending on the amount.......Now this is Cliff Claven like info...lol

[K9Piper]

Exiting the US isn't much of a problem but you need the proper documents to enter Canada. Be sure not to bring any weapons or ammo into Canada. Do not enter Canada or the US with any Ivory on bagpipes and such and also have the proper documentation if bringing weapons into the USA. If you are a citizen of the US go to CBP.Gov and download a copy (free) of Know Before You Go as it gives you a lot of good travel info and it might be worth while for our friends from Canada to do the same.
A note to Tony Lee...you need not be afraid of the CBP men and women on the US Border as they are like you and me...doing a job and would like a little respect. They would rather serve you and send you on your way rather than get into a yelling match over anything. They want to do the shift that they are assigned to and go home to the family. The stories that are printed here, well that is just one side of the story. If you are crossing back into the US and one of the officers is giving you a hard time or is not being professional or not treating you with respect demand to see the shift supervisor and lodge a formal complaint. This complaing has to go to CBP Headquarters with in 24 hours and they will contact you about your complaint and do an investigation of the incident and when finished they will contact you again with what they find. You can go further with the complaint at this time. So to make it easier to understand just remember who you want to be treated and that is what the officer wants as well. There are bad CBP Officers out there but they end up getting found out and dealt with for poor performance which causes problems for them job wise. You might think I am sticking up for them but I know how it is on all of the borders, the seaports and airports as I am a retired second line supervisor and branch chief of the CBP/DHS and retired with 37 years of service. If one of my officers treated any traveler, passenger, Importd or Exporter in a non- professional manner or was disrespectful in any way that officer would be put up on charges to start with and even fired as there is no room for that officer in CBP. < K9piper
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[Eaglesview]

Worry not. Canadian Border Security officers have undergone sensitivity training.


http://thumbnails.cbc.ca/maven_legac...8_uploaded.mp3

[FunGus]

Check your credit cards!!! Many charge you and extra 3-5% "foreign transaction fee" for every purchase you make, but some don't. I keep one particular card from my local credit union that does not charge any extra fees and has a competitive exchange rate, too. Also, contact your credit card company ahead of time and let them know you'll be traveling into Canada and making large fuel purchases so they don't put a hold on your card. ALWAYS fill your fuel as close to the border on the U.S. side as possible as fuel is much higher in Canada.
Have vet vaccination papers for any pets traveling with you.
If you have any felony or DUI/DWI offenses (even 30+ years ago) they won't let you into Canada.
Don't forget your passport!

[twogypsies]

When you roll up to the entry, take off your sunglasses and don't volunteer added information. They'll ask the questions and expect you to answer in short concise statements - usually, yes or no. Know exactly how much liquor/beer you have aboard and know what's in your refrigerator.

It's likely it'll be a quick entry so don't worry about it.

[Forest Grump]

Just did it going into BC from Montanna. Just answer the questions. Guns, personal protection devices, alcohol, tobacco, trip purpose, any relatives where u are going, chicken and eggs. Show passports. Made us return two eggs across the border.

Coming back same stuff, guns, food, alcohol, raw meat, fruit?, what did you buy. U.S. guys had a bad attitude.

But we had no problems.

Food was cheap in Canada and the beef was better and wonderful. Telephone and data talk with your carrier - EXPENSIVE. Call your credit card banks tell them you are going to Canada.
WIFI best at libraries or there are places 1 day for $5.

[docj]

The current exchange rate is $1 USD = $1.32 CAD. With that kind of rate you can ignore people who tell you things are expensive in Canada. We've been here all summer and there are some great bargains in the stores if you factor in the currency difference.

We convert money by using our Wells Fargo VISA debit cards in a Canadian bank ATM (not one of the private ATMs in stores). Wells charges us $5 for the transaction and we usually withdraw $600 CAD at a time which costs us ~$461 at current rates. You can, of course, use a credit card for transactions if you have one that doesn't charge foreign currency fees, but having cash in your pocket is nice. Because we spend a lot of time in Canada we also maintain a Canadian bank account with debit card.

One thing you should know is that your VISA or Mastercard debit cards will NOT work as debit cards up here but you can use them as VISA or MC and the money will still be taken out of your checking account. But, of course, you won't be able to get cash back.

[Gordon Dewald]

Issue with all credit card transactions is they charge you the current exchange rate plus a 2.5% exchange fee. Worse they charge you 2.5% both ways so if you return an article and get a refund you will pay again.

Many banks will charge a smaller transaction fee if you do a large transaction.

We covert to the local currency and then have a credit card that works in that currency. We then pay the charge card from the correct currency account.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Issue with all credit card transactions is they charge you the current exchange rate plus a 2.5% exchange fee. Worse they charge you 2.5% both ways so if you return an article and get a refund you will pay again.

With all due respect this is simply not correct as a blanket statement. Our CapitolOne credit cards charge us almost the exact current exchange rate with no additional fees. OTOH our Barclays card charges us 3% on top of that.

[Stickdog]

We crossed the border six times on our recent trip up north. No problems either way. We did go to a bank, forget which one, and they were willing to exchange $200US for each of us to whatever the rate was on that day to Ca currency. Eggs, chicken citrus and apples were a no no.