FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - What to do when European hotel insists on charging in US dollars

Jul 8, 2011 | 12:12 am

#11

Jaimito Cartero

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Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: HH Diamond, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt something

Posts: 34,505

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ancien Maestro

AFAIK.. When I get charged a foreign transaction on a purchase.. I get charged foreign transaction fee..

When I get a refund, the cc charges me another foreign transaction fee on my refund.. the full amount doesn't get charged back to the card..

So two transaction fees.. my Visa and Plat Amex is at 2.5% US transactions..

If refunded immediately after the transaction, then the transaction is basically voided, and nothing is charged. I regularly have tickets priced in other currencies refunded (airplane tickets, usually). Other than actual currency fluctuations, I get back what I paid.

Paying anything above 1% forex seems a bit foolish. I travel outside the US more than 7 months a year, and even these little 2-3% ripoffs add up big time after awhile.

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