Originally Posted by donuteric
Some of my friends actually suggesting me to use MBNA for foreign purchases. However, I often buy several items during the day with different cards to compare them. MBNA tends to be the most expensive one. My brother suggests the best card to use for overseas expenses is MBNA Cash Back, which covers up the 1% convertion charge by MC. But I don't have the card and not planning to obtain one. So I don't have any first hand experience.
MBNA does not charge convertion surcharge; however, MC charges 1%. Those charges normally don't appear as a seperate charge, it is calculated into the total amount for the transaction.
This used to be true for MBMA, but no more. Since July, they charge a 3% surcharge on overseas transactions. Capital One is still 1%. The transaction change (for both cards) still applies even when the charge is made in U.S. dollars. So don't accept any hotel offers to convert your bill (for a fee) to U.S. dollars. You will be charged twice!
Best advice is to call up your card hotline and ask. Also, some like MBMA and Capital One want you to call and tell them you'll be traveling overseas. Otherwise, your card charges may be denied as "suspicious."