Originally Posted by frisbeeace
It happened to me twice this year. First in Budapest and just recently in Sao Paulo. I made my bookings online in euros and dollars respectively. However, at check out I saw that the invoice was in local currency at a high exchange rate which, converted into dollars by the credit card company, results in a higher hotel rate than the originally booked. In Budapest they didn't accept to be paid cash in euros so I had to charge my credit card. If I opted to change my euros into HUFs at a nearby exchange office I would have needed 10% more to pay the bill. Same happened in Sao Paulo. So, why Marriott quotes in dollars if they are not able to charge your credit card in dollars? Or why they don't use the same exchange rate at their booking central and their hotels?
I'm confused. Being a dumb American, I'll hope that you'll excuse me. The online rates at marriott.com are almost always quoted in local currency. The only exceptions I know of are a very limited number of package rates. If you booked on another site, your issue is with that site, not Marriott.
Marriott is not a financial institution. You choose the form of payment to settle your account at check-out. If you want to pay with local currency, you, not Marriott, determines the exchange rate, based on how you acquired (exchanged for) the local currency. If you want to pay by credit card, the credit card company sets the exchange rate based on pre-disclosed terms, which may include a percentage surcharge over and above the conversion rate.
For future reference, local bank ATMs typically offer the best exchange rate. Depending on your account relationship, ATM transactions are converted at interbank rates and can be fee free.