get a no-fee US$ credit card (e.g. i use TD USD VISA) 6 `* }, O$ @/ {find someone who are willing to exchange with the XE rate : f, R$ G1 d4 l4 w. o' [9 kdeposit your USD either to your US$ credit card or any US denominated chequeing/saving account. B5 h* `! @9 u3 H$ n
go to the US and have fun (with thousands of dollars of bills to pay of course)% N' ~0 ]/ ~2 ~( h& K8 q: u7 v% F
pay your money when you get home7 j t; j3 q' U
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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 , x& ]4 H8 ?/ Q- P+ Y% O4 f; k5 J! w3 m9 p
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.