Foreign Transaction Fees

[jazzbeau]

There is a thread here about Foreign Transactions Fees when using US credit cards to pay for Viking cruises.

Has anyone been hit with this on other river cruise lines? We are about to book on AMA and I want to know what to expect.

[aguamel]

Having read the "fine print" for our upcoming Uniworld cruise I learned that our onboard bill will be in foreign currency, thus we will have the foreign exchange charges. So I am looking for a credit card that does not have huge charges. Any suggestions?

[rjscott]

Originally Posted by aguamel

Having read the "fine print" for our upcoming Uniworld cruise I learned that our onboard bill will be in foreign currency, thus we will have the foreign exchange charges. So I am looking for a credit card that does not have huge charges. Any suggestions?

We use our Capital One Visa when traveling outside the U.S. and do no incur a foreign transaction fee on any charges with them.

[shoshona2]

Marriott has a new credit card which does not charge foreign transaction fees. I use it whenever we travel and when we stay at Marriotts around the World.

Sheila

[jazzbeau]

If you have a bank account with Schwab, you get a debit card with no foreign transaction fees and no ATM fees worldwide. But you don't get points...

[LHT28]

We used Scenic tours it was in CAD but we are Canadian so not sure how it would affect you

I am sure you would incur exchange fees but it depends on your CC whether you are charged FTF

[LHT28]

Originally Posted by aguamel

Having read the "fine print" for our upcoming Uniworld cruise I learned that our onboard bill will be in foreign currency, thus we will have the foreign exchange charges.

FTF are different than Foreign exchange fees or conversion fees

[newfirsttimer]

We were on AMA last year and all onboard charges were in US $. Being a holder of a CDN credit card, I paid the bank exchange rate on foreign transactions, no different that if I went to the US and used the card.

[4774Papa]

I have not had this problem with Vantage or AMA.

[jazzbeau]

To be clearer, the problem people reported with Viking is this: Viking is apparently an American company; they bill deposits and final payment in US dollars, so no one expects any "foreign" fees; but they process the credit cards through a bank in Chile. Many credit cards add a Foreign Transaction Fee because of the round trip the electrons take through Chile.

Apparently AMA doesn't do this, since none of the posters has mentioned it. I just wanted to make sure before I give them a Visa card.

[Sittib11]

Originally Posted by jazzbeau

There is a thread here about Foreign Transactions Fees when using US credit cards to pay for Viking cruises.

Has anyone been hit with this on other river cruise lines? We are about to book on AMA and I want to know what to expect.

Capitol one visa card is great for international travel, never have a foreign transaction fee, as always let your credit card company know you are traveling and where so they will not stop the card.

[rjscott]

Originally Posted by Sittib11

Capitol one visa card is great for international travel, never have a foreign transaction fee, as always let your credit card company know you are traveling and where so they will not stop the card.

That's a great reminder and Capital One makes it so easy. All you have to do is call the '800' number on the back of the card and there are prompts to walk you thru it. It's all automated, you just say the dates you'll be gone/return & what country/countries you'll be visiting.

[sk8teacher]

Originally Posted by rjscott

That's a great reminder and Capital One makes it so easy. All you have to do is call the '800' number on the back of the card and there are prompts to walk you thru it. It's all automated, you just say the dates you'll be gone/return & what country/countries you'll be visiting.

You can also do it on line by the way .

Cheers,

[rjscott]

Originally Posted by sk8teacher

You can also do it on line by the way .

Cheers,

Cool! Thanks!

[Jiminkcmo]

Unless you are buying a house full of furniture and shipping it back to wherever your home is or you are a currency trader out to make a living on currency fluctuations, I wouldn't worry too much about foreign transaction fees.

Just use a card like Capital One and don't fret your vacation time away.

Life is too short.

Just my $0.02.

Jim

[Gangway]

We use the Chase Sapphire card to avoid foreign transaction fees. If you stay at a hotel for a few nights and eat and shop it can save a significant amount of money plus you accumulate points to help with your next trip. We were charged 3 per cent on each transaction on our other card we used.

[Polycarp]

We just got a notice from our Capital One Bank that beginning 8/1/12, withdrawals from ATM's outside of U.S. will be subject to a 3% fee. "This international ATM fee is in addition to fees that may be assessed by the ATM operator and the foreign ATM fee Capital One Bank charges for using a non-Capital One Bank ATM." We had heard that Captial One ATM cards were the best to use because there were no international fees. Now we get this notice from Capital One Bank. Does anyone know of an ATM card that has lower charges?

[pixiegirl-loves-travel]

I know when my friend went to Germany four years ago, all of the ATM/CC foreign transaction fees about did her in- because they were so high and she wasn't prepared. She took travellers checks- which nobody would accept. She said next time she goes, she'll just load up on cash and take her chances- it was that ridiculous. She's been warning to to check and double check before I leave this summer for Europe.

[jacksonnh]

polycarp here's a web site listing cards
http://www.cardhub.com/credit-cards/...0:11c1:v082101

There are also many banks with atm cards that have zero foreign trans fees.

pixie - get a good atm and cc. The best rates will be through an atm. Exchanging money into Euros will probably involve exchange fees as well as the conversion rates. You really don't want to walk around with loads of cash on you and yes, no travellers checks.

[blingbling]

Originally Posted by Polycarp

We just got a notice from our Capital One Bank that beginning 8/1/12, withdrawals from ATM's outside of U.S. will be subject to a 3% fee. "This international ATM fee is in addition to fees that may be assessed by the ATM operator and the foreign ATM fee Capital One Bank charges for using a non-Capital One Bank ATM." We had heard that Captial One ATM cards were the best to use because there were no international fees. Now we get this notice from Capital One Bank. Does anyone know of an ATM card that has lower charges?

If you qualify to be a member of either Navy Federal Credit Union, or Pentagon Federal Credit Union, neither of them charge foreign transaction fees on their credit card offering. Also, American Express has a card with a high annual fee, but lots of perks including no foreign transaction fees for a number of months....had seen last year that this offer of no fees was good thru September 2012, so you want to read the fine print to see if this is extended or a regular benefit.

Hope this helps.
Karen