I stepped back and looked around; an ATM line was already forming. The currency counter nearby showed rates I did not have time to compare. Everyone around me seemed to know exactly where they were going, while I stood there doing mental math and trying to decide which option would cost me less.

Eventually, I got in line for the ATM. The machine stalled twice, then rejected my card. When it finally worked, the screen flashed warnings about fees and exchange rates I didn’t even understand. People behind me shifted and sighed. I took the cash when it came out, but it was the wrong mix of bills. By the time I stepped away, the taxi wait was longer, and I was forced to start the line again.

Since then, I have started handling currency before leaving home. FlightHub recently introduced a partnership with International Currency Exchange (ICE) that makes it possible to order foreign currency online and pick it up at Canadian airports before departure. It means that cash is already sorted out by the time you land, preventing you from ending up in my bad situation.