snorkelman

I understand that in general Visa and Mastercard will charge 1% fee for currency conversions. I also know to make sure to check that my credit card company (whichever bank is sponsoring the card) does not also charge its own fee. <BR><BR>I have heard that Chase and First Card charge an additional 2%.<BR><BR>Are there any that are known to have the least amount of costs involved?

sabina

hi, you have to call all your credit cards and find out their conversion fees. the credit cards that i have charge 2-4%, and some even extra fees. find out from customer service of each and use the one that charges the least, thats what we did.

Iris

I have a Capital One credit card and they won't charge you anything beyond what Visa or MC will charge. Most other banks will charge you a second conversion fee. What a rip-off!!

Sizzle

Chase does not charge conversion fee on VISA but it charges 2% on Master Card. We have both but use only Visa when abroad

Sue

MBNA does not charge the extra 2%.<BR><BR>In Acapulco at Christmas, I totally forgot all the Fodors ranting about this and used my Citibank card (got zapped)! What, did I think Mexico wasn't a foreign country?

trying

Just got my bill from US Bank, on a Northwest Airlines card = 3%!!!! Yeah, I should have read the info more carefully, but I was disappointed that an airline card would be so anti-travel (so to speak).

xxx

<BR>AT&T Universal Card also charges 3%.

Barb

MBNA charges only the Visa or MC International 1% with no other add-on, I believe Capital One is the same, but I don't have an account with them.<BR><BR>American Express charges 2%, which is 1% more than my MBNA, but I use Amex as much as possible for my Delta Skymiles benefits. The extra 1% is more than worth it in my frequent flyer status, as this account not only gives miles, but double miles for many purchases and occasionally triple miles for Delta purchases. In addition, the annual fee is offset by a bonus to my BASE mile status of 10,000 miles. I live in Atlanta and usually fly Delta so I find this to be my best deal. I use my Amex Skymiles card for everything--phone bills, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, doctor co-pay, all auto expenses, and all retail purchases including groceries. The bill is always big, but it's just about the only one I pay, since my mortgage is deducted from my checking account. Makes life easier.<BR>

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xxx

I just got back from two weeks in Europe. I used my citibank card and put about $1800 of charges on it (of course, that doesn't include the airfare which was done at home so there was no conversion charge). So it actually cost me $36 to use that card and also get my airline miles (1800 of them). Small price to pay I think, especially since it is the card I use daily to get airline miles on everything at home. I know some wise guy will tell me that it just cost me 2 cents a mile to get those points, but I think it was still worth it, so leave me alone!!!

Sue

Patrick agrees with you, xxx. But to my way of thinking, that means your "free" trip at 25,000 miles really costs $500 or your "free" trip to Europe at 50,000 miles = $1,000. However, you may regard it as a savings account or a way to top off less expensive miles.<BR><BR>For me, it is simply a matter of principal--these outfits snuck (sneaked?) on an additional fee with no real notice and charge this fee with no indication on your bill for a service that they don't provide. MC/Visa provides it.

Sue

Sorry, that should be "principle." (Too many years in the education field, I guess.)

Michele

AAAAHHHH!!!! I never knew this!!! And I have been traveling forever!!!! I am glad that I have my MNBA Visa this trip. I have always used my Citibank Visa!!!!<BR><BR><BR>I learned another thing on this board!

Sue

That's exactly my point, Michele. Since the charge is not posted separately on your bill, you really have no way of knowing.

Duke

Get off it folks! In the big picture the cost to use a convenient credit card in Europe or overseas is peanuts! I have paid $10+ for a lousy glass of wine in a restaurant, so why worry about credit card fees? Instead just carry a wad of cash on your body at all times and really show those shifty bankers. In the big picture of going to Europe this thread ranks right up there with tennis shoes and how much underwear to take.

x

Agree Duke, in the scheme of things the amount we're talking about is a drop in the bucket, and you're right, it's often a matter of being penny wise and pound foolish. HOWEVER, I think this is one of those situations where it's the point of the whole thing, not the $ amt that is irritating. All things being equal, I would go with the card that doesn't charge extra just out of principle.