Originally Posted by pinniped
That is odd - for some reason, that property quotes rates in USD. I spent a week in Moscow years ago and paid for a much cheaper hotel room using dollars, but I would think that Marriott in 2006 in Russia would be using rubles.
If they quote you in USD and allow you to book your reservation that way, then they should charge you in USD. Or, like most international hotels I've stayed in, they should quote you and bill you in local currency.
100% in agreement with you: you and Marriott already agreed on a price point and a currency. That's what you should be billed.
Ive booked countless Hotels on line at all the Majors depending on the Country it will many times be Quoted in US$, however at checkout they dont accept the US$ but the charge is in their Local Currency, all the booking did was to let me know the equivalent in US$ that I will be charged but that I must pay in Local Money.
Then the fun begins as with the OP who was hit with FEX fees. Once when I wanted to pay in Cash they actually told me that I would get a worse rate for Cash and that they would have to charge me Twice, for fees Out of the US$ into Local and then again from Local into the US$. It was less expensive leaving it on my CC.