10th Anniversary of the Spyder June 2,3,4th 2017

[DriftersWay]

Does anyone know which app is best to use for currency conversion in Canada?

Get it exchanged at the border. Duty Free store.

[BlueBayou]

Does anyone know which app is best to use for currency conversion in Canada?

Check with you bank. I have two credit cards with the same bank, one has a 3% foreign transaction fee and the other has 0%, crazy but true. It was worth the phone call.

[tbhlaw]

You are right to look online for a currency converter software app. Right now $1US is worth about $1.31 Canadian. If your hotel room costs $100 Canadian, that is only $79.13 US as an example.
With regard to gas, it is sold by the liter in Canada. There are 3.785 liters to a gallon. A gallon of gas in Canada costs roughly $4.62 Canadian (or $1.22 Canadian per liter). But when you adjust for the exchange rate, a gallon in Canada costs the equivalent of $3.38 US.

I recommend exchanging dollars for Canadian dollars at your bank before leaving this country. You will get the best exchange rate that way. If you use a credit card, the credit card company will do the conversion for you at a less favorable rate than a bank and there might be additional charges for the conversion service. If you pay in US dollars at stores, restaurants and hotels etc. in Canada, the merchant may do a conversion. but again with a less favorable rate than your bank. Be aware that it is somewhat common for Canadian merchants to convert 1 US dollar to 1 Canadian dollar.

So load up with loonies before you leave.

[FIRECAT]

So if any of you Americans would like a free guided tour to Valcourt Quebec I will be leaving Windsor Ontario two days early and doing a scenic tour north of Toronto through the Muskoka's then Gatenau park in Quebec going on the south end of Montreal and then off to valcourt add voiding all freeways! any of you are welcome to join me! And yes I do speak French!

[SilverFox1]

A gallon of gas in Canada = 4.54+ ltrs. There is 160 ozs in a Canadian gallon. 4 quarts of 40 ozs. = (5 cups of 8 ozs = 40 ozs) So... this will throw off your calculations a little. Today the price of gas is approximately $1.06 per litre in northern Ontario. It is always cheaper in the south of the country by at least .10 cents / Ltr. Just saying.

SilverFox

Furthermore, I'm not 100% sure but I think that if you keep all your receipts for everything you buy in Canada, you might be able to reclaim the taxes you paid on everything. I don't know if it's at the border or what. Someone could check this out I'm sure.

[Deanna777]

As a reminder **** check with your motorcycle insurance company, to see If you need any extra paper work for crossing the border***. Get phone #'s.

Deanna

[currin20fan]

Any information our Spyder Canadian friends are providing here on spyderlovers about our trip to their country is very much appreciated. Since I really haven't been there I just don't know what to expect.

[bscrive]

A gallon of gas in Canada = 4.54+ ltrs. There is 160 ozs in a Canadian gallon. 4 quarts of 40 ozs. = (5 cups of 8 ozs = 40 ozs) So... this will throw off your calculations a little. Today the price of gas is approximately $1.06 per litre in northern Ontario. It is always cheaper in the south of the country by at least .10 cents / Ltr. Just saying.

SilverFox

Furthermore, I'm not 100% sure but I think that if you keep all your receipts for everything you buy in Canada, you might be able to reclaim the taxes you paid on everything. I don't know if it's at the border or what. Someone could check this out I'm sure.

SilverFox,

3.78L = 1 US gallon. The 4.54L is for a UK gallon. Gas was $.95/L Canadian this morning in Ottawa or @ $2.51/gal in US dollars.

As for paying taxes on stuff. I know that when I tried to collect taxes on stuff I bought in the US, I was told that taxes paid at source were not recoverable. I suspect it is the same for people trying to get taxes back for stuff paid in Canada.

With a 30% discount for your money, Canada is pretty hard to beat for a vacation.

As mentioned before, do not bring in any firearms, knives, pepper spray, stun guns, or fresh fruit. Do bring your sense of kinship, fun, and excitement.
On your way back home don't try to bring back any Kinder Surprise chocolate treats for your kids. They are illegal in the US. No kidding, don't get caught with a Kinder Surprise chocolate treat when you cross the border back to the US.

The speed signs are in KPH not MPH. So, if you see a sign that says 80 it is 50 MPH. If it says 100 it is 60MPH. Better yet, switch your cluster to metric when you cross the border, so that you don't get a ticket. They do have an cross border agreement, so that any tickets you receive in Canada will show up on your license in the US.

[Deanna777]

Hey everyone,

I got an email on 3/2/2017 @ 4:00 from BRP Can-Am saying 10th Anniversary Homecoming "saying that there will be more then 3,000 spyder owners from the 50 states, and all 10 Canadian provinces".

Did anyone else get/or receive the same email?
Deanna

[Explorer]

Yes.

[PW2013STL]

Yes + a number of countries. Should be fun! See you there

[Border Rider]

Be aware there is a 17% sales tax (GST) in Quebec. You can get some of it back at a duty free store when you come back to the U.S.

[BlueBayou]

http://www.dutyfreecanada.com/

You can pick which border crossing with links to the stores.

[DriftersWay]

http://www.dutyfreecanada.com/

You can pick which border crossing with links to the stores.

This will be very helpful... Thanks

[johnwinslow]

Be aware there is a 17% sales tax (GST) in Quebec. You can get some of it back at a duty free store when you come back to the U.S.

that program where you can get the taxes back has gotten strict, pretty much no existent we go to Nova Scotia every year and have stopped trying . use an exchange free credit card with ATM privileges when you use the ATM it will give you Canadian but charge your card US $

[cognaccruiser]

Be aware there is a 17% sales tax (GST) in Quebec. You can get some of it back at a duty free store when you come back to the U.S.

The GST (Federal Government Sales Tax) is 5% and the QST (Quebec Sales Tax) is 9.975% which totals 14.975%. I'm not sure what is 17%?
Each province can set their own Provincial Sales Tax. The GST is 5% across the board. The only exception is that a few provinces use what is referred to as HST or Harmonized Sales Tax. That doesn't really matter for purposes of this post.
I don't know what you can or cannot get back on duty free purchases.

Gary

[Deanna777]

For those you are going to the 10th Anniversary Spyder Homecoming in June ( 2,3,4,2017), in Valcourt, Quebec.

From the Northeast or central part of U.S who might be traveling Thru Vermont, here is a list of the Border crossings:

Derby Line ( Route 5)...........Port of Entry Operational Hours: 12:00 pm to 12:00 pm ( Eastern) 7 days a week

Beebe Plain Station....................Port of Entry Operational Hours: 12:00 pm to 12:00pm ( Eastern) 7 days a week

North Troy Station.............Port of Entry Operational Hours: 12:00 pm to 12:00 pm ( Eastern) 7 days a week.

The above are Facilities + Crossings.

Deanna

[Deanna777]

Bump

Deanna

[Deanna777]

Bump

Deanna

[Ex Winger]

Just a reminder for everyone traveling up to the Homecoming in June.In Ont if you speed and I know you won,t 50 kph over the limit or 30 mph is considered stunt driving and they will seize your ride for 7 days plus on heck of a fine.Have fun enjoy the trip,
Bill

[bscrive]

Just a reminder for everyone traveling up to the Homecoming in June.In Ont if you speed and I know you won,t 50 kph over the limit or 30 mph is considered stunt driving and they will seize your ride for 7 days plus on heck of a fine.Have fun enjoy the trip,
Bill

Yep, up to a $10,000 cdn fine or $5 usd.

[snics]

Yep, up to a $10,000 cdn fine or $5 usd.

Is it that bad now, Id better start saving for Americade and Spyder Quest.

[R FUN]

Say Firecat were you still planning a trip around the Gaspe Peninsula after the homecoming, and was anybody interested.It would be a great ride.<br>Roger

[cognaccruiser]

Roger,

After the homecoming event my wife and I are planning to go around the Gaspe Peninsula and into NB before heading back toward home back along the Gaspe but in the westward direction.

Gary

[safecracker]

Your cell phone will not work in Canada. Make sure you let your bank/ credit union you will out of the US. If you don't you card could be shut off. Been there, got the t-shirt. In New Brunswick they have both the GST and HST tax. I bought a snowmobile there and I was able to recoup all of the tax. I believe it has to be above a certain amount. I would not use.cash at all. We go to Canada 2 to 3 times a year. We have a BOA credit card with no foreign transaction fees. For the folks doing the Gaspe it is a great ride. I have done the trip on a snowmobile and the Spyder. Another place.to see is the Citadel in Quebec city. Old Quebec city is.a lot of fun. If any of you folks are on Medicaid insurance it is no good.in Canada. I still use a calling card while I am in Canada. See ya there. Bruce