Most shops, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and attractions accept major credit cards. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are readily accepted throughout British Columbia. ATMs are easy to find. You can use an ATM with either a regular bank card, or to make a cash advance on a major credit card. Most embassies are located in Ottawa, the nation's capital, a five-hour flight to the east.
Some countries maintain consulates in Vancouver for trade relations and visas.
The British Consulate General, Tel. Tourism British Columbia provides complete information about identification required for entering the country. United States citizens do not need a visa to enter Canada and need only one piece of identification that proves citizenship, namely your passport. Note that a driver's license or voter's registration are not authorized as proof of U.S. citizenship. Noncitizen residents of the U.S. must carry their green cards.