true, a lot of people just don't understand basic math or the idea that other countries have different currency, and the fact the one USD does not equal one zloty, etc., does not mean you are being charged a premium or fee. The whole world is not pegged 1-1 of their type of currency to a USD. To explain, it would be like saying that if you were paying for something in the US with four quarters instead of one dollar bill, that wouldn't mean you were paying four times as much. I think people started getting confused about this especially when Europe moved to the euro and so both were more likely "one" of a currency, whereas before that, France used francs, for example, and you would never have one franc equal one USD. The USD has rarely been equal to one euro, but it has happened. Or one Swiss franc or one GBP. I don't know what people thought about France when they'd go there and have to use francs versus USD. To really compare, you'd have to be an economist and consider cost of living, average salaries, etc.

There is a BIg Mac exchange rate which the Economist publishes every year to show the true value of currencies assuming the dread burger was the core exchange medium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Mac_Index

thanks for all the helpful replies, including those saying i'm too dumb to try and engage with.

when i paid 1 pound for something in my mind i was paying $1.34 because that's what i had to give up to get that one pound. I think in US currency because i'm American . when i got home and paid my credit card bills i didn't pay 100 pounds for that one hotel stay I paid $134 because my banks require me to pay them in US dollars.

I only care about what came out of my bank account.

Reading this thread is giving me a headache. I do not know how to explain exchange rates so that the OP understands.

"i didn't pay 100 pounds for that one hotel stay I paid $134 because my banks require me to pay them in US dollars."

No, what happened was that you paid for your hotel in £ and your bank converted that payment into $ . It really is that simple.

James did say that in his mind he's paying $134, not £100. I think the phrase "in my mind" says a lot. I sometimes do a mental conversion when paying in another currency. If that's all it is, then maybe he does understand.