Successfully used e giftcard at le meridien taichung

Exchange rate applied: 30.527 ntd to USD

Google exchange rate: 30.49

Marginally in my favor

Looking at their interface, I can see how most locations can charge spot rate by selecting local currency, and shady locations like sky city Marriott Hong Kong charge obnoxious exchange rates.

There's a drop-down to pick the currency, and it's either local or you can select a foreign one. A location can select USD, calculate a terrible rate and then charge the giftcard for that amount