ATM`s seem to be giving the best rates, and they are available 24/7. Been using those in the Niagara Falls area. Last time used the service charge ended up being < 1/2 % off the exchange rate that day. Usual charge is about 1 to 1 1/2 % off the going daily exchange rate. Have heard these rates are not standard for all ATM machines though, being that some bank ATM`s charge higher rates for use.
This has been the practice in the Falls area, not sure if it applies to all of Ontario or the Mississauga area near Toronto.
There are CIBC ATMs that dispense US cash at Meadowvale Town Centre, Mississauga (NE corner of Battleford and Winston Churchill). The ATM is on the west wall of the main building and is accessed from the parking lot and not the interior mall. Other US cash CIBC ATMs in Mississauga are 1 City Centre Dr., Mississauga, 6543 Airport Rd., Mississauga and 1150 Lorne Park Rd., Mississauga
ATMs are the best bargain. However, an issue for those of us not lucky enough to live in your fair country is that the max daily withdrawl is usually insufficient to cover a 2-3 hour session.
I'd like to fond a good place downtown as well. I'm getting stomped at the airport...
There was a study a while ago in the Globe for business travelers on exchange rates that indicated that the best rates were through the ATM machines in a country that were part of your banks network (Plus Cirrus etc). After that came travelers checks purchased in your own country in the denomination of the other country, that is Canadian dollar checks purchased at a US bank by US citizens. Then came banks in the country followed by the "city" exchanges followed by the ariports. The most expensive were hotels.
I don't know what your bank will allow you to withdraw per day but mine allows $1000 US or Canadian or 500 UK sterling or 1000 Euros. It all depends on what your limit is at your own bank. Don't know who you are planning on seeing but $1000 Canadian is usually more than enough in Canada. As well ATM's are open 24/7 so there should not be a problem.
As someone said if you absolutely have to change money on a Sunday go to one of the big firms in the malls that are open. The one I use is Thomas Cook in Yorkdale but it is usually to purchase currency such as Brazil Reals and then I only purchase enough to get me to my hotel which is generally near a bank machine where I will get the best rates. I also carry about $50 US in cash for emergencies as most people know what the conversion rate is between their countries currency and the US dollar.
As far as problems with ATM's being open I have been through O'Hare a number of times on weekends and never had a problem. Perhaps it was a system crash as it is all done by one bank at a given airport.
