Credit cards save you the conversion issues, but beware some credit cards tack on a conversion fee for each transaction while others do not. You can use US $$ most anywhere, but the local merchants may round off the exchange to the nearest 5% not in your favor. It makes the math easier and covers charges they may have to pay their banks when they turn in the US $$. I always like to have some Canadian cash for small items where credit cards can't be used. I think there has been some recent movement to reverse the gains the Canadian dollar has made in the past year. A major factor is the US embargo on Canadian beef and the SARS scare may also have contributed.

rich r