get a no-fee US$ credit card (e.g. i use TD USD VISA) ' M3 q; D1 ^' z: @8 j7 G# z. _find someone who are willing to exchange with the XE rate, p/ I$ E* W6 |7 l0 A5 V" y1 N
deposit your USD either to your US$ credit card or any US denominated chequeing/saving account# D& C- K) K+ Y
go to the US and have fun (with thousands of dollars of bills to pay of course) . O; p/ {& N" w9 U8 T) `pay your money when you get home & c( _; d/ |, P$ P( ^5 ?1 z4 |$ y$ P% g3 D! m5 Y* z- ]# p
the rule of thumb is: the less you get your service from the banks, the less you will have to pay1 F2 D, c1 F h
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If you can't find someone who's willing to trade with you - you can trade with your bank with some costs depending on how much you trade. The worst is to swipe your CAD credit card in the US. Both VISA/Mastercard and your bank will skim profits every time you swipe your card.