FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Hotels charging in USD instead of stated currency
Old Jan 14, 2015 | 12:57 am
  #77  
Fanjet
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This is a trend amongst several hotel chains. Not just Hilton. Generally, I am asked at checkout if I want the bill in local currency or in US dollars. However, it is a major rip-off; as I think most Americans will prefer to have the bill in dollars. There are two problems with this. First, the conversion rate ( or markup) they use; generally 3-5%. And secondly, most U.S. banks do not have a "foreign currency transaction" fee anymore (except for ATM withdrawals), but a "foreign transaction" fee. Meaning: no matter which currency is being used in the transaction, it is a foreign transaction (outside of the US and its territories). So you lose out of the conversion rate and are also hit with the foreign transaction fee; which generally is around 3%.
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