Dollars and cents are the basic units of American money. The back of all dollar bills are green (hence 'greenbacks'). The commonly used coins are one cent (penny) ,five cents ( nickel), 10 cents(dime),and 25 cents (quarter), 50 cents (half dollar) and silver dollars (not really silver anymore) are gaining in usage, while there has been talk of phasing out the penny that's inflation for you. 'Always carry plenty of quarters when traveling. Very useful for phones, soda machines, laundry machines, etc.' There is generally no problem in using US dollars in Canada, but this is never possible in reverse. It's useful always to carry small change for things like exact fare buses, but do not carry large sums of cash. Instead keep the bulk of your money in travelers' checks which can be purchased both in the US and abroad and should be in dollar denominations. The best known checks are those of American Express, so you will have the least difficulty cashing there, even in out of the way places. Thomas Cook travelers' checks are also acceptable, especially as lost ones can be reclaimed at some car rental companies. Dollar denomination checks can be used like regular money. There's no need to cash them at a bank: use them instead to pay for meals, supermarket purchases or whatever. Ten or twenty dollar checks are accepted like this almost always and you'll be given change just as though you'd presented the cashier with dollar bills. Be prepared to show I.D. when you cash your checks. Credit cards can be even more valuable than travelers' checks, as they are often used to guarantee room reservations over the phone and are accepted in lieu of deposit when renting a car—indeed without a credit card you may be considered so untrustworthy that not only a deposit but your passport will be held as security too. The major credit cards are VISA, Master Charge and Access, Diners Club and American Express. If you hold a bank card, it could well be worthwhile to increase your credit limit for travel purposes—you should ask your bank manager. Why is it useful to carry enough 25-cent coins with you?