Depending on the credit card you use when traveling abroad, you could pay fees that total 6% or more of purchases. Using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and choosing to make purchases in local currency will nearly always save you money.Cached
Which currency is better to pay abroad?
Research shows that in most cases you can save by opting to spend in the local currency. For example, that would mean choosing euros in Spain or dollars in the US. When you choose to pay in the currency of the region or country you're visiting, Visa or Mastercard will set the exchange rate.
When abroad is it better to pay in sterling?
What currency to choose when paying abroad?
The reason why paying in the local currency will let you avoid additional fees is that when you use your travel money card overseas (or a debit or credit card!) and pay in the local currency, you will pay the standard exchange rate set by MasterCard or Visa (depending on your card issuer).
Should I exchange currency or use debit card?
Skip currency exchange: Use a credit or debit cardCredit and debit cards can be a safer option than cash; they offer fraud protection and safety features (such as the option to freeze them in case of misplacement), but once cash is lost or stolen, it can be impossible to recover.