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| Facts | Currency, Taxes, and Tips | History | National Parks |
| | Discount Hotels | Vancouver Hotels | Whistler Hotels | Victoria Hotels | Car Rentals |
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| Facts | Currency, Taxes, and Tips | History | National Parks |
| | Discount Hotels | Vancouver Hotels | Whistler Hotels | Victoria Hotels | Car Rentals |
Currency, taxes, and tips |
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Means of payment Besides the most common credit cards (Visa, Master Card and American Express) you might consider carrying some Traveler's Cheques in Canadian currency and small denominations. Those are generally accepted like cash and have the advantage of being insured. However you should always carry some cash, especially if you intend to push forward to more rural areas. Here cash is the only thing that counts as most of the small shops do not have the equipment to accept credit cards. You should not bring German Marks or American Dollar in order to pay your bills as American Dollars are only accepted near the US border. Prices All prices are generally subject to applicable taxes, which might be uncommon for European travelers. Taxes are added when you pay. Usually you have to pay 14.5 per cent taxes (7 per cent GST Goods and Service Tax and 7.5 per cent Provincial Sales Tax). However some merchandise is tax exempt.
We recommend to save all receipts as tourists who have their place of
residence outside of Canada might be eligible for tax refund. However, this
only applies for amounts over CAN $50,00 per receipt and a minimum of CAN
$200,00 in total. Not eligible for tax refund are bills paid for gas or
transportation. In any case it might be worthwhile to save receipts for
accommodations or larger purchases that are exported. Applications for tax
refund can be found at the airport or in most of the hotels. You can file
your application up to six months after you have left the country and has to
be in writing. A refund cheque will than be mailed to your home address. If
you came by plane you are required to send your bording pass with your
application. Opening Hours Usually stores in British Columbia are open 10 am to 6 pm. Some might be open till 9 pm and grocery stores often offer a 24 hour service, which also applies to gas stations who regularly have a convenient store attached. In summer months usually longer opening hours apply. The post office generally closes at 5 pm, banks sometimes already at 4 pm. |
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