Originally Posted by
Happy
In theory it should be processed as the Visa rate. In reality it seems totally depending on the properties. I chose not to use the gift cards at both Marriott Skycity in Hong Kong and the Sheraton in Macau because both properties refused to use the system auto conversion but insisted to use the Very Inferior exchange rate the hotel used when customers pay with cash in foreign currencies. European hotels seem to be much fairer.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Definitely should clarify all these upfront before swiping the GC.
I remembered when i last use a GC in Canada- it wasnt marriott, some other hotel chain's GC, might be Fairmont, it wasnt favorable to me, and they used the rate like what you described happened for HK/Macau. but i wanted to just get rid of the GC (small denomination) anyway and i got that GC for 20% off though the actual savings is probably more like 17%