DCC in Cambodia?
 

Couldn't decide if I should post here or in the DCC credit card thread. I'm aware that the USD is the de-facto standard currency in Cambodia. If I stay at a hotel (major hotel chain like Hyatt, etc) and pay with my credit card, if they present the bill in USD, is that with the horrible DCC rates applied or without? Should I still be looking to pay in Cambodian Riel even though that's not the standard currency?

I have no idea what you are talking about for "DCC rate"' but I sincerely doubt you'll be able to pay an hotel bill with a CC in Riels.

You will be quoted the rate in USD and you will pay in USD regardless of whether it is a chain or local establishment. There's no rate conversion to which DCC can be applied.

Do you really want to carry sums of riel sufficient to pay a 1.2m+ Riel night at the Hyatt? As well as bear the exchange cost and suffer a poor conversion rate?

Nope I definitely don't! I just wanted to make sure that I didn't somehow have to scrounge up Riels just to avoid paying a crazy DCC rate! Thanks for clarifying that the rate will actually be in USD sans DCC.

I'm guessing you have a US credit card. As you say, the de facto currency for high finance (i.e. most things) is USD. The USD system runs smoothly with credit card transactions in that currency. So DCC is simply not an issue for you.

DCC might come into play for payment with a card not using USD as its native currency (honest, they do exit!), but paying with a UK card I've never had that problem in Cambodia.

I recently stayed in a Budapest hotel. Booked in EUR, billed in HUF and the hotel kindly attempted to slip in a conversion to GBP "for my convenience". Now that's DCC at work :D

Thanks, this was very informative. (yes I have a US credit card). Your Budapest experience is exactly what I was worried I might have to deal with in Cambodia, so thanks again.