Best card for foreign exchange?
Aug 14, 2005 | 2:29 am
#376
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Brown medallion
Posts: 184
No foreign transaction fees when using Harvard/Juniper World Mastercard.
http://www.juniper.com/app/japply/lp...&partnerid=394
http://www.juniper.com/app/japply/lp...&partnerid=394
Aug 15, 2005 | 1:28 am
#377
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 18,040
Originally Posted by ajnaro
As far as I can tell *ALL* VISA transactions in Spain are suffering DCC, with a 3% 'mark-up' above the exchange rate supplied by VISA. The print out explicitly says 'no commission' and contains a whole statement to the effect that the card holder has been offered a choice of currencies. But it isn't true. I speak Spanish and asked many times for the charge to be processed in euros, but the Spanish merchants simply have no idea of what is going on.
So did you end up accepting the Dynamic Currency Conversion rates, cancelling the transaction, paying with another credit card, paying cash, or convincing the merchants to call their processing bank?
Aug 15, 2005 | 2:36 am
#378
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
So did you end up accepting the Dynamic Currency Conversion rates, cancelling the transaction, paying with another credit card, paying cash, or convincing the merchants to call their processing bank?
Aug 15, 2005 | 10:37 pm
#379
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 18,040
In the Philippines I don't use ATMs but get cash directly from banks.
Aug 16, 2005 | 9:49 am
#380
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
Originally Posted by vholic
No foreign transaction fees when using Harvard/Juniper World Mastercard.
http://www.juniper.com/app/japply/lp...&partnerid=394
http://www.juniper.com/app/japply/lp...&partnerid=394
(Oh sure...like HE went to HARVARD!)
QL
Aug 16, 2005 | 9:54 am
#381
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,973
Originally Posted by QuietLion
I just got one...thanks!
(Oh sure...like HE went to HARVARD!)
QL
(Oh sure...like HE went to HARVARD!)
QL
Aug 16, 2005 | 9:32 pm
#382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 18,040
They are at the Naval Academy (preferring to say they "transferred"), and are welcome as annual or life members of the USNA Alumni Association. Attorney General Gonzales spent two years at the Air Force Academy.
The Navy Federal Credit Union has the standard 1% international Visa transaction fees, but gives up to a 2.5% rebate toward travel (stepped in $500 increments, with a $50 payable step-overage "grace," but no refunds if below the step) with its $49-annual-fee Travel Value Visa.
http://www.navyfcu.org/credit_cards/...alue_visa.html
The Navy Federal Credit Union has the standard 1% international Visa transaction fees, but gives up to a 2.5% rebate toward travel (stepped in $500 increments, with a $50 payable step-overage "grace," but no refunds if below the step) with its $49-annual-fee Travel Value Visa.
http://www.navyfcu.org/credit_cards/...alue_visa.html
Aug 17, 2005 | 2:26 pm
#383
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
Originally Posted by travelnutz
Are dropouts considered alumni?
QL
Sep 27, 2005 | 7:18 am
#384
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: Starwood, Hilton, Delta, AA, UsAirways, AmWest, NWA, United
Posts: 125
Just got back from St. Maarten and all our charges on Capital One Go Miles Visa showed up exactly as expected (no exchange fees at all); our receipt shows $300 and so does our statement, $30=$30, etc.
Sep 28, 2005 | 9:56 pm
#385
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Texas, USA
Programs: 1K MM
Posts: 151
Yes, use your Capital Visa/Matercard when you travel international 
Oct 15, 2005 | 11:28 am
#386
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM1K,AA EXP
Posts: 1,192
Re:usaa
I got a new USAA card a couple of months ago because of the reputed 1% foreign charge. However, when I compared the USAA bill to the interbank rate(which I track on my screensaver) and the one United MP Visa charge, all of the charges were actually higher. They are either using a different currency conversion base rate or hiding the first 2% in the conversion before they show the additional currency change fee. I'm disappointed and I'm going to cancel the card. I might as well get miles, if the fees are the same.
Oct 17, 2005 | 11:03 am
#387
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Diamond, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 2MM
Posts: 3,637
MBMA No Longer a Foreign Exchange Bargain
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.
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.
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."
Oct 17, 2005 | 12:46 pm
#388
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 468
BA to add 3%
I have been using my Bank of America Visa Check card for European purchases and ATM withdrawals. There has been no ATM charge and no exchange charge. However, with this month's statement was an announcement that starting in November, there would be an additional 3% charge for foreign currency transactions. Bummer.
Bruce
Bruce
Oct 17, 2005 | 1:55 pm
#389
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: AA GLD; UA 2P; HHonors GLD; SPG
Posts: 793
Originally Posted by Bowgie
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."
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."
Oct 21, 2005 | 2:18 pm
#390
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Great Neck, NY, USA
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 44
I am puzzled why this thread is perfectly acceptable for a long time (and I am happy it is), but Gleff just closed a thread titled "Best Online Bank for ATM withdrawals in foreign countries". I was looking forward to seeing answers, and instead I found an unnecessary crack about "Fat Wallet Finance Forum." It is not a crime to have a fat wallet. Nor are most of us interested in this topic because we have fat wallets. And financing foreign travel certainly has a lot to do with earning miles and points. Please let's hear your views.