DMBTraveler

As a frequent and as some would say "frugal".. (budget minded, ok cheap) traveler, I am always frustrated by all those "foreign transaction fees" when I get back home.

Although I have a rich uncle, I don't like parting with anymore of my inheritanance than necessary. With that in mind, I have come up with a few options to avoid these fees. Although the first one is not really an option for me but it maybe for you.

1) Stay at home
2) Use ATM to get local currency
3) Pay for hotels online by using your Pay-pal account

Although these tips maybe a given for most people, you have to remember Jenny, "I might not be a very smart man ... but I know what foreign transaction fees are".

Maybe you can help me by sharing your tips like your favorite credit card for travel or other things that might help me someday be able to afford a shrimp boat.

If you do this, I promise I'll teach you how to swing

thursdaysd

There have been many, many threads about this. The short answer is Capital One ATM and credit cards. Use the search function.

Rastaguytoday

thursdaysd - Correctamundo.

I looked at the various CCs that I have, and I don't have a CAP1 card, so I've just applied for one.

It helps that they keep sending me application forms. You know the story "you're eligible!".

DMBTraveler

thursdaysd,

"I am not a smart man, I don't know what search is"

What I do know is that I can always count on people smarter than me, like you, to point me in the right direction.

Maybe I can teach you how to swing or send you a box of choc-o-lits

Thanks, like "Rastaguytoday" as soon as I have enough money to buy me a shrimp boat, a CAP app will be on the way.

"What's in your wallet"

MissGreen

If folks are willing to spend $10,000 on a trip what are a few extra small fees?

thursdaysd

No doubt it will come as a surprise to some, but not quite ALL fodors posters spend that kind of money on their trips. And even if you have that kind of money, you may have acquired it by being careful what you spend it on. Finally, some posters, even on fodors, travel for more than two weeks at a time, and on a several-month long trip the fees do add up. So if you're a 1%er and are happy throwing your money around, find something else to read.

DMBTraveler

MissGreen,

Some of us got our thousands of dollars by watching our pennies or by being in the shrimping business

DMBTraveler

thursdaysd,

Valid points. Somehow, I think many people believe that travelers always have to spend big money on trips.

I always travel on a modest budget and only lay out big bucks when I have no other options for the trip I am taking like going to Antarctica.

1% here and there can become a lot of money over time especially if you are spending a significant amount for traveling.

mlgb

I just applied for a CapitalOne credit card. I realized that I don't have a MasterCard anymore so got the one with no annual fee.

No it won't save me a huge amount, more that I also hate bank fees.

Rastaguytoday

Here's the list.

http://www.cardhub.com/credit-cards/...ansaction-fee/

DMBTraveler

mlgb,

I feel the same way.

However, others would say we are wasting our time because when you do all the complex calculations you still come out ahead paying the bank fees.

I am not sure I agree with that position and just feel better not paying extra money to a bank for what should be a normal transaction as a part of having a credit card.

520

The Chase Visa British Air cc also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees and you get BA miles (now Avios points) which you can also use on all the One World partners, on various hotels and other partners in their plan. We've never had to pay an annual fee with it because the first year was free, and the following year when we said we'd cancel, were offered it free--which it has now been for about eight years or so. We had Capitl One but don't believe it offers any FF or other points.

DMBTraveler

520,

Thanks for info. I have been thinking about CapOne but will give Chase a look as I already have one of their cards.

520

You might want to also check out the other thread here "Best Credit Card w/No International Transaction Fees." It mentioned the Chase BA card, along w/ a couple of other cards--and a lot of cons and pros about the Cap One card. I forgot to mention that the Chase BA card has the chip that is being used more and more internationally.