woodchuck1
Minnesota
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Our last trip to Alaska was in a truck camper and we mostly stayed at commercial campgrounds for the showers. This trip we will have a bathroom and shower and want to stay at more provincial parks in Canada and national forest campgrounds in Alaska. What I'm wondering is methods of payment. Can I use a credit card, do I need to exchange more money in Canada, I assume I could write checks in Alaska? The commercial campgrounds are never a problem but want to have my ducks in a row when I drive through British Columbia and the Yukon as well as the various public campgrounds in Alaska.
Peter & Pat
Minnesota
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Suzanne and Brad
Oregon
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The National Parks accept credit cards, but you'll want some Canadian currency for Provincial Parks (most accept US currency, but at a discounted rate). When we go to Canada (have the last two summers), we bring some Canadian currency (can get at your local bank), but charge as much as possible since the exchange rate is better. We also have used their ATMs to get cash, but that can be expensive due to the bank fees.
Last year, we were in Lake Louise (Banff) and exchanged some money at the front desk of the Fairmont hontel there (we ere not staying with them, we're RV'ers) and that was the bets rate anywhere - might be another option for you.
You might want to take a look at our travel website - linked below - we spent 2 months in Canada last summer & wrote about places we camped, ate, experiences, hikes, etc....
Happy Travels!
Suzanne
http://www.campingandtravels.com
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garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
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Most BC Gov't campgrounds are cash only. If you use Forestry sites, there is no fee, but I am guessing you aren't doing much off highway stuff, and that's the deal for the Forestry ones. If you are driving thru to Alaska, you won't be in BC long, so just have a couple hundred cash.
Gary Haupt
I have begun to blog.. .www.gary haupt.blogspot.com. It's not about RV'ing...but RV'ing is a part of it.
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driveby
Vancouver BC Canada
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Most Provincial Parks I've stayed at without reservervations are a cash type. Fees are $14 -24 per night depending on the PP. If you're coming through you and have particular parks or times you need, reservations in summer are a good idea.
www.discovercamping.ca is the place to reserve and it opens April 1 for a rolling 90 day window. Stupid limit but it is what it is....
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Caravaneer
California
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One good thing in BC parks is that you don't need to find a place to pay; the host (or whatever they're called there) will find you and collect.
For Yukon parks, you can prepay by buying coupons and then pay with those. You don't save anything except the bother of exact change. You can find them at sporting goods stores and other places.
Caravaneer
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woodchuck1
Minnesota
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Thank you, that's just the information I was trying to find out.
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renoman69
Edmonton Alberta
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Provincial parks in Alberta accept cheques. Although I am not sure about out of country cheques.
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Tee Jay
Port Angeles, WA
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A lot of the parks are "pay the pipe" with self registration and exact change required. Some have hosts, some don't.
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loggenrock
New Hampshire
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Last summer we discovered many of the provencial parks were self- service, but you truly needed EXACT change - like coins! Seems like some fees ended with 36 cents or something similar - not just full denominations! I recall that Yukon parks you could write in credit card info - but we just used Cdn currency and coins (it is their country, after all - why would they accept US $?). Parks along the Icefields parkway were quite pricey - they charge for campfires (about $6-8 extra), too. We really enjoyed the Yukon parks - seems like they were in the $13-15 dollar range - free firewood - no extra fee! Have a fun trip - we did! ST
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dontay
Mims, Florida
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If you travel through or stay in Canadian National Parks see if they still have the following program: you can buy an annual pass but you may not know how many park days you will accumulate on your trip. Keep the receipts and present them to a park office if you accumulate enough to equal the cost of an annual pass. We did that a few years ago and got enough for the annual pass around the end of August. So the pass was good until the end of Aug. the following year and most of the entrance fees that year were free also.
Note this is for entrance fees and not camping.
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