Yup that's what's happening at least in MX and Spain. Chendraui is 17.5 and it's 18.6 USD to MXN. Pemex is 16.5. There's no way around that rate if you use a card.
Bayou City said:
Not all places give you the option to decline the conversion and more places are moving to exchanging at a flat rate far below spot and not given the ability to decline. It's going to become more and more prevalent.
Report them to Visa or Mastercard and they'll be at risk to lose their merchant services contract.Bayou City said:
Yup that's what's happening at least in MX and Spain. Chendraui is 17.5 and it's 18.6 USD to MXN. Pemex is 16.5. There's no way around that rate if you use a card.
I always carry a little cash for tips but I carry two CCs. One is in my wallet in my front pant pocket and another in a money belt around my waist inside my shirt.Wahoo82 said:
Watch out for pickpockets. i had a guy try to get mine in Pisa at the train station. Tried my jacket and back pocket, but I had my wallet in the front pocket. it all happened faster than you can imagine. Also very bad at Naples as I understand it. But be alert around people.
Just trying to provide a counterpoint to your advice, which is hyper-specific to a few locales.Bayou City said:
Pemex and Chendraui ain't losing their merchant services contract with anyone. Ones the state owned equivalent to Exxon and the other is equivalent to Kroger.