Money

It's always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of cash, credit cards, and traveler's checks. You should also exchange enough petty cash to cover airport incidentals, tipping, and transportation to your hotel before you leave home, or withdraw money upon arrival at an airport ATM.

In many international destinations, ATMs offer the best exchange rates. Avoid exchanging money at commercial exchange bureaus and hotels, which often have the highest transaction fees.

Currency -- Canadian money comes in graduated denominations of dollars and cents. Aside from the $2 coin, Canadian coins are similar to their U.S. counterparts: 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢. Bills -- $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 -- are all the same size but have different colors, depending on the denomination. The gold-colored $1 coin (called a Loonie by Canadians because of the depiction of a loon on one side) has replaced the $1 bill. French speakers sometimes refer to a dollar as a piastre. A $2 coin, with a bronze center surrounded by a nickel disk, has replaced the old $2 bill. The $2 coin is sometimes called a "twonie," a reference to the next-smaller coin.

Prices in this guide, unless otherwise indicated, are given in Canadian and U.S. dollars and British pounds. The Canadian dollar has been gathering strength in recent years, but at this writing the Canadian dollar is worth about 87¢ in U.S. currency, give or take a couple of points' daily variation. Put another way, one U.S. dollar buys about $1.15 in Canadian money. This is the exchange rate used to convert prices in this guide.

Given the continued strength of the British pound in comparison to most other major currencies, including the U.S. and Canadian dollars, visitors from the U.K. will find Québec and the rest of Canada an almost unimaginable bargain. An exchange rate of one Canadian dollar to 43p in British currency is what's used here.

The website www.xe.com/ucc lists up-to-the-minute currency conversions.

ATMs are widely available both in the cities and in the villages. See "ATMs," below.

Visitors can bring in or take out any amount of money they wish, but if U.S. citizens import or export sums of US$10,000 or more, a report of the transaction must be filed with U.S. Customs.

Currency Exchange -- Main branch banks and "caisses populaires" (Credit Union offices) will exchange most foreign currencies. In Québec City, Caisse Populaire at 19 rue des Jardins (tel. 418/522-6806) is open daily in the summer and Monday through Friday the rest of the year. Tourism offices can often exchange money or point you to a place that will.

ATMs

The easiest way to get cash away from home is from an ATM (automated teller machine), sometimes referred to as a "cash machine" or "cashpoint." As ubiquitous in Québec province and the rest of Canada as in the U.S. or the U.K., ATMs in French are called GABs, or guichet automatique bancaire. They are found in most of the same places -- outside or inside bank branches -- but also at other locations, including, no surprise, the province's new casinos. Look for signs reading GUICHET AUTOMATIQUE or SERVICES AUTOMATISES.

Note: PINs (personal identification numbers) can only be four digits at many ATMs in Canada. If your PIN has more numbers, change it before departing. Your card may not work otherwise.

The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span the globe. Go to your bank card's website to find ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Note: Many banks impose a fee every time you use a card at another bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions (up to $5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely more than $2). In addition, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee. For international withdrawal fees, ask your bank.

Note: Banks that are members of the Global ATM Alliance charge no transaction fees for cash withdrawals at other Alliance member ATMs; these include Bank of America and Canadian-based Scotiabank.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are another safe way to carry money. They also provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs but high fees make credit-card cash advances a pricey way to get cash. Keep in mind that you'll pay interest from the moment of your withdrawal, even if you pay your monthly bills on time. Also, note that many banks now assess a 1%-to-3% "transaction fee" on all charges you incur abroad (whether you're using the local currency or your native currency).

American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are most commonly accepted at hotels, restaurants, and shops in the province. Diners Club and Discover are listed less often.

Traveler's Checks

Traveler's checks are accepted at venues throughout the Québec province.

You can buy traveler's checks at most banks. They are offered by American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, and MasterCard in Canadian denominations and will be easier to use if you get them in Canadian dollars.

The most popular traveler's checks are offered by American Express (tel. 800/807-6233, or tel. 800/221-7282 for card holders -- this number accepts collect calls, offers service in several foreign languages, and exempts Amex gold and platinum cardholders from the 1% fee); Visa (tel. 800/732-1322) -- AAA members can obtain Visa checks for a $9.95 fee (for checks up to $1,500) at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378; and MasterCard (tel. 800/223-9920).

Be sure to keep a record of the traveler's checks serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Another option is the new prepaid traveler's check cards, reloadable cards that work much like debit cards but aren't linked to your checking account. The American Express Travelers Cheque Card, for example, requires a minimum deposit, sets a maximum balance, and has a one-time issuance fee of $15. You can withdraw money from an ATM (for a fee of $2.50 per transaction, not including bank fees), and the funds can be purchased in dollars, euros, or pounds. If you lose the card, your available funds will be refunded within 24 hours.