heasereb

Hi all,

So wisely I called all my credit cards before purchasing a tour of Namibia and buying tickets on SAA. My Macy's visa card is only 1%; however, it's now going to be an AMEX and at 3% as of 10/4/2010. So am seeking a new VIsa card with low foreign fees.

I have a Citibank MC, which is 3%, a green Amex, which is 2.7% and discover is 3%.

Thank you,

Heather

P_M

I just got the Capitol One card, they advertise no foreign fees. I'll be taking it for a test drive next month in Aruba. A lot of Fodorites recommend Capitol One for overseas travel, that's why I got it.

sandi

Are you paying for the Namibia tour in NAZ (Namibian Rand)? And, using a Namibian tour operator? And, of course if you have expenses in Namibia for which you would use plastic - meals, sourvenirs, then makes sense to have a card that doesn't assess a fee.

But if you're paying for the tour to a US tour operator in USD and your SAA tickets in USD, there shouldn't be a currency exchange fee.

christabir

If you get points, cash back or miles with your cc it might make sense to use the ones you have. As P_M says, Cap One has no fees. You might be able to get a credit union card that has no fees, too. Also make sure your debit card will work, and it's better to have two (on different accounts) just in case for ATM's.

JerryS

Cap one has an excellent exchange rate and no fees, including no annual fee.
We have used the card extensively outside of the US since 2005 and enjoy not having the 3% fee added to our purchases, hotels, etc.
We always carry one or two other cards also plus 2 debit cards for ATMS.
Have a great trip.

heasereb

Thanks everyone. Yes, I booked through a foreign operator and when you purchase tickets on SAA, even through a US agency, you still have to pay a foreing transaction fee since they charge in Rand.

I'll check into the Capital one. I have plenty of cc's and am well experienced with my ATM card in foreign countries. I've been to Africa and Turkey within the past 3 years and used my ATM without any problems and of course I contact my bank ahead of time.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

sandi

<i>"when you purchase tickets on SAA, even through a US agency, you still have to pay a foreing transaction fee since they charge in Rand.</i>

That's strange. My best friend and her sister booked about 1/month ago SAA tickets. My friend did hers direct online with SAA here in the States, while her sister used a US agent... both charged/paid in USD, no foreign exchange fees.

Even the SAA site is quoted in USD. As is Kayak.

TC

We have used a Capital One Visa for years on our International travels. No fees. Two things to remember:

You must call the fraud department before departing with your itinerary.

You should always ask to have your charges put through in the local currency and let Visa do the conversion at their preferred rate. If you don't, the merchant can charge a conversion fee (nothing to do with Visa) and the exchange rate will not be the best.

We use an ATM card from Schwab -- our brokerage firm. It is connected to an account in which we load money. Schwab charges no fees for using the cash card and rebates any fees from the outside ATM banks.

TC

If I may add, <u>you don't have to leave home to pay a conversion fee.</u> If you shop on-line, you might want to read this. Might answer your SAS ticket question.

http://www.creditinfocenter.com/word...ion-fee-fever/

thursdaysd

I, too, have had a foreign conversion fee charged when buying a plane ticket paid in US dollars and bought from the US office! That was with Citibank, they even charged me for buying books from Lonely Planet that were charged in USD and shipped from a US location, claiming LP was based in London!

In addition to my Cap One CC card (1% cash back and no conversion fee) I now have a Cap One checking account - no conversion fee and no ATM fees.

sandi

<i>"You should always ask to have your charges put through in the local currency and let Visa do the conversion at their preferred rate. If you don't, the merchant can charge a conversion fee (nothing to do with Visa) and the exchange rate will not be the best.</i>

Allowing the foreign merchange do the conversation of local currency is a "dynamic conversion" which is never ever to the users benefit. When presented a slip in foreign/local currency, many establishments will ask if you'd prefer it to be in USD... say NO emphatically... let it go thru in Euro, GBP, other and your credit card will do the conversation.

There were many threads a few years back (believe on the Europe forum) about the "dynamic" conversions and it's a complete rip off. Not only is the rate of conversion terrible, but the company who's software does this also adds on as their profit. In fact there are some locales in the States with large numbers of foreign tourists, i.e., Las Vegas, who started providing this "dynamic" option... not a good idea, but good to remember to be aware when traveling anywhere.

TC

That's it, Sandi, I couldn't remember the name for that fee -- "dynamic conversion". There were lots of articles (NY Times, etc.) a couple of years ago about this awful rip off to consumers.

Banks, like airlines, are going under fast, therefore looking for any way to pass on a fee to their customers to make up for lost profits. Too bad we have to pay for their mistakes! If banks believe these fees are fair and justifiable, why are so many of them <u>hidden?</u>

sandi

TC, just put a few heads together and the gray matter's still there... a bit foggy, but we get there

As mentioned above (especially with BofA, the worst bank ever) to many loopholes in the new Credit Card bill, and recently signed Financial Services bill. Believe this is another issue that should be brought to the attention of our Congress/Senate folks to "fix-it"

But, of course as soon as they do (somewhat) these thieves find some other way to "screw the public." We can't win for loosing.