Sapphire Preferred...outrageous international rate... - Page 2 - myFICO® Forums

rlx01 · ‎11-04-2014

@OP: was this a DCC transaction (as in merchant converted rate)? If so, not surprised.

Otherwise, CSP should match the posted Visa exchange rate (NOT Google, which is interbank) plus around 1% (their no FTF thing is a lie...)

I've had much better rates with my Citi AA Exec WEMC and Barclays Arrival+.

mongstradamus · ‎11-04-2014

@Anonymous wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@eddie84 wrote:
Thanks for the heads-up. I was planning to take my CSP on a trip to Thailand next year and now I might have to take a different card. lol

Last time I was there I used Barclays Arrival to pay for the hotel and the exchange rate was reasonable. The hotel (Hyatt Regency) even showed me the exchange rate before they charge it and I had the choice whether to pay in Thai Bath or US Dollars (which ever is cheaper).
I was just in thailand in september and used CSP, just do local currency,which would be thai Baht. it worked fine for me. Just know thailand is an mostly cash country if you aren't at the touristy places. If you do want use CC in order of most acceptance to least. I think it goes MC, visa, amex , discover in that order. I used my CSP to get my hair cut, and eat at few places and exchange rate wasn't horrible.
Need to return to Thailand as I was a military person stationed there and other areas bordering. Even been to Lopiburi or Korat?

I didn't have enough time only went up to Chiang mai to visit my friend, and then went down to HuaHin with some family. I was going to goto Laos also but didn't have time and wasn't quite sure what the visa situation was with laos. I think its visa on arrival but i wasn't 100% sure.

EX Fico 804 11/16/16 Fako 800 Credit.com 11/16/16
EQ SW bank enhanced 11/16/16 839 CK fako 822 11/16/16
TU Fico discover 10/19/16 814 Fako 819 Creditkarma 11/16/16

eddie84 · ‎11-04-2014

@Anonymous wrote:
Need to return to Thailand as I was a military person stationed there and other areas bordering. Even been to Lopiburi or Korat?

Yup, been to all of that. These days I just go to the islands to relax (love snorkeling). I'm going to Koh Samui next year.

Ghoshida · ‎11-04-2014

@paulko85 wrote:
I was recently traveling in London/Scotland and used my CSP for its no foreign transaction fee. granted they didn't actually charge me such a fee...I did however notice that their exchange rates were WAY over what I can google between 1 gbp to usd.

at the time, rates were 1 gbp = 1.5~1.6 usd. Chase charged me 2 per gbp. I didn't mind since it was a company trip and everything was a reimbursable expense. but I think it would have been cheaper to use a regular card and pay a foreign transaction fee.

anyone experience anything like this?

Did you pay in US Dollars or GB Pounds? As in, how much was the actual price and how much did the merchant charge you during the transaction?

It's important for me to know because I'm planning to travel with the CSP.

paulko85 · ‎11-05-2014

i charged in GBP because no one offered me USD except for 1 hotel while i was checking out, and 1 store at the airport while buying souvenirs. everywhere else they just automatically charged me GBP. when i returned to the US after that trip i learned to always charge in local currency.

however, when comparing the GBP on my receipts and the USD charged on my CSP statements, I felt the conversion was pretty damn high. i'm back in scotland now and do not have access to my original receipts at the moment, but when i'm back in the States I can post some actual numbers as examples.

I have a credit card.

lg8302ch · ‎11-05-2014

I am using CSP, Arrival +, BofA, Cap1, Discover, etc in Switzerland and exchange rates are pretty much the same for all my cards. Discover is the winner with slightly lower exchange rates but nothing to be concerned. Never ever pay in USD.... ALWAYS select local currency ! I cannot believe that GBP/USD would be any different than CHF/USD or EUR/USD

Ghoshida · ‎11-05-2014

Thanks!

Do provide the details when you get the access.

paulko85 · ‎11-05-2014

strange... my current purchases seem accurate and fair.

will have to check last month's receipts and statement.

I have a credit card.

Kellan · ‎11-05-2014

@mongstradamus wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@mongstradamus wrote:
@eddie84 wrote:
Thanks for the heads-up. I was planning to take my CSP on a trip to Thailand next year and now I might have to take a different card. lol

Last time I was there I used Barclays Arrival to pay for the hotel and the exchange rate was reasonable. The hotel (Hyatt Regency) even showed me the exchange rate before they charge it and I had the choice whether to pay in Thai Bath or US Dollars (which ever is cheaper).
I was just in thailand in september and used CSP, just do local currency,which would be thai Baht. it worked fine for me. Just know thailand is an mostly cash country if you aren't at the touristy places. If you do want use CC in order of most acceptance to least. I think it goes MC, visa, amex , discover in that order. I used my CSP to get my hair cut, and eat at few places and exchange rate wasn't horrible.
Need to return to Thailand as I was a military person stationed there and other areas bordering. Even been to Lopiburi or Korat?
I didn't have enough time only went up to Chiang mai to visit my friend, and then went down to HuaHin with some family. I was going to goto Laos also but didn't have time and wasn't quite sure what the visa situation was with laos. I think its visa on arrival but i wasn't 100% sure.

Next tme your there Laos is VOA for Americian citizens. Bring USD and it is about 35 bucks, Pay in Thai Bhat and it is $50. Laos is a wonderful place worth the visit.

EQ: 678

TU: 699

EX: 736