@wasCB14 wrote:Family has a vacation home in rural Quebec. Touristy restaurants take all V/MC and often AX/D...but the small-town grocery store (more locals than tourists) only takes cash and Interac (debit).
Historically we've exchanged at the local bank there. CC acceptance is spreading a bit, but cash is still useful.
As a somewhat frequent Toronto and Montréal visitor, this is very helpful to know. Usually when I've found myself in the rural areas of Québec (as in heading to Montréal from I-91 or I-89) it's been limited to making a Tim Hortons or A&W purchase, where of course credit cards are no issue.
In addition to the not getting km/h and MPH mixed up mentioned on the last page, gasoline is not exceptionally cheap in Canada. When you see $1.19 that's per litre, not gallon. (That would be about $4.63/gallon for regular unleaded.) If you are cost-sensitive, always fill up before crossing the border.
If going to Québec or eastern Ontario, it's also helpful to at least know some rudimentary French. With the two official national languages, much of Canada will have bilingual signage everywhere, but depending on where you are in Québec, it's not uncommon to encounter French-only signage even on highways.
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:Family has a vacation home in rural Quebec. Touristy restaurants take all V/MC and often AX/D...but the small-town grocery store (more locals than tourists) only takes cash and Interac (debit).
Historically we've exchanged at the local bank there. CC acceptance is spreading a bit, but cash is still useful.
As a somewhat frequent Toronto and Montréal visitor, this is very helpful to know. Usually when I've found myself in the rural areas of Québec (as in heading to Montréal from I-91 or I-89) it's been limited to making a Tim Hortons or A&W purchase, where of course credit cards are no issue.
In addition to the not getting km/h and MPH mixed up mentioned on the last page, gasoline is not exceptionally cheap in Canada. When you see $1.19 that's per litre, not gallon. (That would be about $4.63/gallon for regular unleaded.) If you are cost-sensitive, always fill up before crossing the border.
If going to Québec or eastern Ontario, it's also helpful to at least know some rudimentary French. With the two official national languages, much of Canada will have bilingual signage everywhere, but depending on where you are in Québec, it's not uncommon to encounter French-only signage even on highways.
Montreal and Toronto (especially Toronto) are comparatively easy. If someone asks you a question in French just reply in English. It's more difficult in eastern Quebec including Quebec City because French is still much more throughly entrenched.
If you memorize the phrase "Ou est la toilette?" you've won half the battle 
