Credit Cards

Talley Ho, everything you say is correct as long as you do not use your "credit" card for a cash withdraw which is a "cash advance" in which case interest is charged starting that day. In addition, a cash advance does not qualify for the 1.5% cash back. ATM or Debit cards are tied to a checking or savings account and some bank cards may be set up to act as either a debit card or a charge card, in which case you are asked by the merchant as to what type of transaction you are choosing for that purchase. Debit, meaning the funds are electronically take from you bank account immediately, or charge where they are payable upon your next charge card statement.

I don't know about Canada, but as for the US, this thread either would never have started or would have been only 2 responses long if our schools, starting with primary and continuing through college, taught finances and more basic (non electronic math. Tourists might even be able to figure currency conversion rates with using a calculator or counting on their fingers.