Thank you Fodorites for warning travelers about the add-on conversion charges that many banks are leveling on foreign purchases. Call your bank and ask about the rates they are charging and COMPARE them BEFORE you travel. Thankfully, we did that and saved much money on a recent trip by getting a Capital One Miles Select card which charges only 1% versus the 3% charged by USbank and NWA (which is the card we always used to use). I am told that Wells Fargo charges a whopping 5% on all foreign purchases. Forewarned is forearmed!

Good advice, but I wonder if NWA/US Bank has increased their conversion fee rate since early May since my charges have a rate of 2%, not 3%. (1% is still better than 2% of course.)

I was in Paris in March and April, and my NW/US bank card gave me 1.9% conversion rates. However, I'll be back in Europe in a couple of months, so I'll check out my other cards to see if I can get lower!<BR><BR>Jennifer

I've seen these posts before, and others complaining about a 1-2% drop in exchange rates - just wondering here, is it really worth worrying about, or is it a matter of principle? <BR><BR>I, too, hate paying money for nothing, but assuming you spend $10000 total on a trip, and charge 40% of your expenditures (which is probably high), a difference of 2% in card fees is only $80. Considering you just spent a total of $10K, is that $80 really worth the hassle of obtaining and cancelling a new credit card just to use on your vacation?<BR><BR>Again, I'm not being sarcastic, just wondering...

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Considering you just spent a total of $10K, is that $80 really worth the hassle of obtaining and cancelling a new credit card just to use on your vacation?<BR><BR>I wouldn't do that (I also can't afford that expensive of a vacation)! However, many people possess more than one credit card, and it would take little time simply to call each card and ask their rates. Personally, I always travel with two credit cards (not together), so if something happens to one, I always have a back-up.<BR><BR>Jennifer<BR>

A reasonable question, xxx. I guess it would depend how exactly how much of a hassle it is to obtain a new card. If, for example, it only takes an hour at the most, and you end up saving even $80, you just earned $80 (tax free) for an hour's work. Not quite what someone like Gerry Spence earns per hour, but not bad either.

Let me begin by saying that in my original post I should have been clearer about what I learned regarding conversion fees on credit cards when I called various card companies... First of all, both VISA and MC levy a 1% conversion fee on all foreign currancy transactions. It is then left to the discretion of the issuing banks as to what fees if any they wish to charge their bank card customers. NWA USbank places a 2% fee on top of VISA's standard fee. In addition, they charge a hefty annual fee and SEVERLY limit the seats they have available for desirable international flights or upgrades. Capital One Miles Select chooses (as of this writing) not to add additional fees on their cards, so their customers pay only the 1% charged by VISA/MC. Capital One's card costs only $19 annually and the miles earned can be used on any airline with no blackout dates. The downside of their card is that the miles expire in 5 years. The reason for my post was simply to alert my fellow travelers who wish to be informed consumers. I agree that $80. is not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but please remember that whomever issues your card is also in addidion to conversion fees, annual fees, etc., making money off the top of each and every purchase you make!

Helen,<BR>Can you tell us how many miles are required for award travel with Capital One? Thanks.

Hi Helen,<BR><BR>The 3% must be new because I double checked, and just a couple of months ago, it was less than 2%.<BR><BR>Ack, sometimes it's frustrating because just when you think you have the ideal situation, you find out hidden fees or disadvantages!<BR><BR>They keep us on our toes....<BR><BR>Jennifer

Thanks for the additional info, Helen. I wasn't aware of this 1% conversion fee levied by VISA. The only fee that is specifically listed on my statement is the 2% fee charged by US Bank. <BR><BR>The annual fee, as I recall, for NWA/US Bank's card is $55 so there's a $36 -- per year -- savings right there. <BR><BR>Very interesting about the frequent flyer miles policy with Capital One's card. Being able to use miles earned on any airline with no blackout dates seems like a very reasonable tradeoff for having the miles expire in 5 years.

Check their web-site for the miles needed, but I recall that it was like 50% more. A 25,000 mile ticket was 40,000 miles.

This is beginning to turn into an apple vs orange discussion because the mileage plans aren't comparable. To earn 40,000 miles with Capital One you actually have to spend $40,000 wheareas with WP you can earn miles from a variety of sources including the USBank WP Visa.

Jerry,<BR><BR>You're absolutely right. I spend $65. a year for an annual fee for the World Perks Visa, and I also get frequent flier miles from my MCI account, and of course from the (rare) ticket that I buy. {grin} However, I put absolutely everything I can on that Visa and always have enough miles for a ticket to Europe once a year with it, using only miles accumulated from the credit card and MCI!<BR><BR>Thus, for $65. a year, I get an annual ticket to Europe.... <BR><BR>I also usually plan ahead and although there are blackout dates, I've never had a major problem getting to the destination I want on the days I desire.<BR><BR>Jennifer

<BR>In response to Sally's question regarding milage awards on Miles Select, this too, is ever-changing but as of now 50,000 miles are required for a RT to Europe from the US, 40,000 miles from contiguous US to Alaska or Hawaii, 25,000 miles within contiguous US with the exception of 18,000 miles within a zone.

I agree with Jennifer and the special promos have been fabulous since last fall, too. A LOT of miles can be racked up in a hurry with that card.

Just before they stopped being a WorldPerks partner, Sprint was offering 40,000 WP miles just to sign up with them for 18 months. Sure beats spending $40,000.00!

Right, well, the other ways of gather miles don't exclude the possibilities with the card. You can do them all. Moreover, you often don't have to spend $40,000 to get 40,000 miles. A recent promotion allowed that total to be earned with $2,000 on NWA tix/services, for example.