Rates at ICE Currency Exchange can be steep for USD
ICE Currency Exchange at Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) sits landside in the main terminal, before security, and mainly handles common currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. Hours track typical flight banks, usually opening by early morning departures and staying open into the late-evening transatlantic wave. Expect airport-level spreads, especially on small amounts under CAD 200, and extra fees for less common currencies. This is a last-resort option if you land cash-only for a taxi or tip.
Post-security ATMs in YUL dispense CAD at interbank-linked rates, so ICE makes more sense only when you truly need foreign cash on hand and your bank card is a problem. They do basic buy/sell on major notes and generally avoid coins. You’ll often see posted daily rates on a board at the counter; always compare the buy/sell rate against the mid-market number in a currency app before agreeing.
Staff can handle simple exchanges in French and English and will usually count bills out twice at the window. They sometimes stock travel-related add-ons like prepaid cards or phone cards, but CAD cash is still faster from any bank ATM in the terminal. If you’re exchanging more than CAD 500, ask directly about fee breaks or better tiers; some airport locations quietly offer them when pressed.
Tip: Use your debit card at a YUL ATM for CAD, and save ICE Currency Exchange for those moments when your card fails or you need a small amount of foreign cash before leaving the airport.