Cab Ride from Montreal Airport to Hotel Payment Questions? (credit card, how much)
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Will be taking a cab from the montreal international airport to the hotel im staying at for 2 days. I used google maps and it takes about 25 minutes to get there. I will not be exchanging any usd for CAD money before i arrive as i was told its cheaper to use atms when im there.
I know Cabbies in montreal take american money but i have a few quick questions.
1. Are there any ATMs at montreal airport? That way i can just withdraw from it and then pay in CAD?
2. Do they accept debit card? If so, i assume you can pay the tip deducted from your debit card correct?
3. I used google maps and it shows 25 minute ride from airport to hotel. I used taxifinder and it shows 3.30CAD as initial fare, 30.57CAD as the metered fare and 5.08CAD as the 15 percent tip which comes to 33.87 CAD pretip and 38.95CAD total after tip. The cabbie will always tell you what the price is pretip correct? So if he says its 34 CAD then its about 39 CAD after tip. But since im giving american money, how much dollars should i be giving? Thus 39 CAD total, how much should i give american money because they will need to exchange this for CAD money afterwards.
I thought there was only those money exchange places there. I only went to a few airports and never used an ATM so i have no idea which is why i asked this.
It's close enough, just give him the 39 or whatever. That is incredibly specific though. I don't ride cabs that often and didn't even really know it was a thing to tip them in Canada.
Most taxis have portable billing machines that take credit cards or debit cards...
They do, but I very much doubt that a Montreal taxi is equipped to take a US-issued debit card. If it is part of Interac, sure, but otherwise, nope. A few American friends have found that their debit cards don't work here the hard way.
A Visa, Mastercard, or American Express (check with the cabbie as to AmEx) credit card should be fine. Discover cards are not accepted in Canada.
Best thing, OP, is to get Canadian money from an airport ATM, and pay the cabbie with that. Cash always works.
ETA: Don't give the cabbie American money. You will get hosed--the cabbie may well take it at par (you lose 5c on the dollar at current rates), or worse (you lose 10c to 15c on the dollar). Given that the two dollars are within shouting distance of each other, don't expect a break on using US currency. Use a credit card or Canadian currency.
I would also suggest you go the airport ATM route.
Reasons why:
Exiting the airport terminal and arriving on the pick-up apron, you will be amongst a bunch of folks from mulitple flight arrivals all waiting and getting first-come, first-serve taxi's being herded forward by an airport staffer waving them forward from a line-up of waiting cabs. People themselves will also be waving those cars forward and it can get a little cluster-fudgy, like any airport arrival apron.
This staffer might even open the cab's door for you BUT you will not have the ability to check out the cab for earlier mentioned debit equipment. The routine is somewhat hectic with the driver jumping out to throw your bags into the trunk and you being seated simultaneously in the car.
Having cash on hand eases your angst over any complications arising after an already stressful few moments.
Most US banks don't have CDN currency on hand, unless they are located in a border city or town. If it is a little small town bank, somewhere in Kentucky, the chances are zero that they will have any CDN money on hand.
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