Good idea to pay in local currency versus dollars

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There was a comment in the June 2018 issue from someone who got stung by paying in dollars as opposed to euros, and being stung by a double currency conversion charge. (See P.48 of the print issue.) This is old news but it bears reminding people that you should pay in the local currency when using a credit card. Our experience has been that we have been asked if we wanted to pay in euros (or whatever the currency is) or dollars. This poster paid 4% more on one charge and 3% more on a second. His warning was if you have a credit card that doesn't charge a conversion charge, pay in the local currency. This is what we have done for MANY years.

A worthwhile reminder, indeed. By mistake my wife told the server at the Zurich airport to pay in dollars instead of Euros. Yes, it cost more than if we had paid in Euros because our card does not charge exchange fees. Thanks for reinforcing this.