For years we have had both a US$ checking account and US$ credit card. By managing our own currency we save the 2.5% fee the bank adds to the purchases.
We started traveling to the US last year (past two summers to North Carolina). All incidentals placed on the US$ card.
Last year I used Expedia.CA for the major hotel purchase - and to not have to deal with US$. Further a single point of cancellation without fees. I had determined with the CA$ CC I would get medical/interruption/cancellation. So I was set with the trip not having to buy extra insurance.
However, this year that plan fizzled as we went longer and a "Saturday" in the middle was booked at the hotel - through Expedia (they only have so many rooms available).
So I booked directly with the hotel using my CA$ to get the extra features on the card. However, I had to pay the extra 2.5% exchange fee.
Insurance wise - I determined:
~ Cancellation insurance doesn't matter - since anyone booking a hotel can cancel up to 4pm on the day of arrival (I drove by car - without a 3rd party [plane] to worry about, this insurance is moot)
~ Medical doesn't matter. A soon as I step into foreign territory (US, Quebec) I am covered with my CA$ CC, and DO NOT NEED TO MAKE A SINGLE PURCHASE WITH THE CARD. If I am driving, they will pay to get the car returned to my home. Therefore, this insurance works when driving to the US$ - I just have to "pay" for any medical with the CA$ card to get reimbursement.
~ Interruption --- that is the insurance that bothered me - cutting a trip early and on the hook for the remainder of the hotel. But I found out AFTER the trip this year, that the US$ CC does cover interruption (no cancellation, luggage etc).
As it stands now - we are bulking up here and there with US$. I want at least $5K for a future trip.
I also found during my bookings that Expedia.ca:
a) Is slow but does adjust currency often; (slow as in you can get a good deal if the US$ goes south - they are too slow to react)
b) There is about a 7% markup between the best hotel price and Expedia.ca's price (currency aside).
c) As stated, these companies only have so many rooms for their customers. The hotels themselves still may have rooms for the length of your stay.
So going forward I am smarter and will book the hotels directly - or at least I can use US$ sites and avoid the CA$ fees. We were planning a NYC trip and during that discovery found that they routinely are overbooking (which negates the hotel's hit when people "cancel up to 4pm"). The practice is industry wide but definitely more common in places like NYC.
When speaking with the GM of the hotel in NC, he said yeah, if you haven't showed up - they can cancel the room on me without any notice (full refund). We have arrived both years around 7-9pm - but yeah he said if you are going to be really late - let us know so we don't cancel the room on you. They tend to cancel on the following morning but I figure in places like NYC, they could cancel early evening if they know someone is actually there wanting the room.
During one conversation I said something like "What if I am driving and I get stuck some place like --- Pittsburgh" (emphases on Pittsburgh). He replied - "hey wait a minute - I am from Pittsburgh - and you are making sound like a bad place". LOL. Good laugh we had. But yeah, under those conditions I should call them. I told them I would arrive late to the hotel anyways under normal conditions, unless I had to cancel.
Couple of unrelated video links (via Weather.com):
Bear chasing a Buffalo
86 yard punt assisted by the wind
blake |
