get a no-fee US$ credit card (e.g. i use TD USD VISA) # Z/ M {7 [0 Z1 m; y/ ], }. Qfind someone who are willing to exchange with the XE rate: Q2 E; v2 `( T
deposit your USD either to your US$ credit card or any US denominated chequeing/saving account& ]/ h; ^: M& v# j* Q
go to the US and have fun (with thousands of dollars of bills to pay of course) $ P" T' X$ ~* X' n# W7 mpay your money when you get home# j8 T) C* w4 b% g* V9 \0 [
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the rule of thumb is: the less you get your service from the banks, the less you will have to pay) k) s5 a5 q$ `5 ]$ }
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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.