In the UK I used 'Revolut' where you can exchange money before you travel onto a debit card, here you get a rate that is very close to the 'real' rate, so basically 0 fees but also no points.

My understanding is for the US Amex Gold, you get 'no fees' but there are hidden fees in the exchange rate of about 2%. So given that you get points on the transactions maybe that about cancels out? What do people do here, do you use your amex abroad if you can?

I’m going on a Europe trip to several different countries in a couple months. I was wondering what the international fees on the Amex gold card would be like. It says there are no international fees by Amex but, merchants may charge their own foreign fees.

What’s everyone’s experience with this traveling abroad? Are there any fees either from Amex or merchants, especially in Europe?

I was in Canada this weekend where I primarily used my Gold card to pay for everything. After all of my transactions posted this morning, though, I saw that they were all 5 cents more than the pending amount shown Sunday night. I wouldn't have noticed this if I didn't keep an Excel Spreadsheet of my expenses.

Obviously it's not a big deal compared to the 3% foreign transaction fees my other cards have, but I'm wondering if anyone else experienced this too. My first thought was that the conversion from CAD to USD changed before the transaction posted but that wouldn't explain why my $4 coffee and $60 dinner bill both increased by the same 5 cents.

I'm booking some flights and for some reasons I can only get the price in EUR. AMEX charges you 2.99% for every foreign transaction, but whenever you're booking flights you also get 2x points.

The foreign fee is clearly never worth it in most cases, but is it worth it when booking flights and getting 2x the points? Or I'd still fall short in the end?

Thanks!

I just got an AMEX Gold USA. I would be mostly using this for online payments for my business.

I pay marketing in currencies like EUR, GBP and AUD.

Does it mean I will have to pay a 3% conversion fee, or not?

Online it says there are no currency conversion fees (overseas) for this AMEX card, but what about online payments in a different currency other than the USD? IT does NOT specify this.

Can someone confirm?

First time visiting outside USA after getting my amex gold, platinum and few other cards. I understand the foreign transaction fee is 0 but wanted to check if there are additional charges/fees associated like currency conversion.

I am visiting India if that matters. Suppose I make a purchase of INR 8000 which is approx $100. Will I see the amount as something over $100 due to some other fee?

Edit: would it be cheaper to use an Indian credit card with no annual fee and no benefits instead? I am certain that I won’t need return protection etc

Recently got a Gold AMEX rewards and keen to utilise it when travelling to maximise points! We are going travelling this summer (Dubai, Singapore, Thailand) and wanted understand if AMEX charges foreign transaction fee’s for spending outside of the UK

Does Amex Gold have no foreign exchange fee? I am in Europe currently and just paid EUR 18 for a flight. It charged me CAD 29.33 (pending), which is not very off from Google's rate of CAD 29.14. Does it mean that it has no 3% fx fee or will it update the charge once it got posted to my account?

So I'll be travelling to Japan next year, I have an Amex Cobalt, just got approved for Gold and have a BMO Ascend World Elite. That said, I was wondering if the Amex Gold has any foreign fees for purchase there? I see information online it doesnt but then I also see people saying it does. Any recommendations for non foreign fee travel cards for food/hotels there?

Hi All,

I will be travelling to the US with a group of 15x people. I will be spending circa 10k on attractions / meals etc ; I currently have the AmexGold but aware I get charged a ~3% foreign transaction fee on each purchase.

Is there a way to avoid this and or what do you suggest I do.

My thoughts are

A) Take the hit on the 3% fees and enjoy the extra spend = points B) Alternative AMex card available with 0% fees? C) Proceed with another credit card supplier

Any comments / suggestions very much appreciated

Thank you in advance.

Amex card has no foreign transaction fee, but they get you on the exchange rate.

I made a car reservation in Iceland, and the pending charge came up to $898, when the charge posted, it became $905. !!!

Then I had to cancel the rental the same day, and the car rental in Iceland issued the full refund in ISK. Guess what, Amex only refunded me $898. !!! WTF.

I had to call to get the $7 difference back. They were initially saying I have to deal with merchant about this, like really? But eventually refunded the $7.

I never had this problem with Visa tacking extra $ to hide the foreign transaction fee. If you make a foreign currency charge, make sure to keep an eye on the exchange rate. So no more foreign currency transaction using Amex for me.

I’ve been in London the past few days, and am seeing foreign transaction fees on my restaurant transactions on my Gold card. Will these be automatically refunded?

Hi all,

I am an expat (from the UK) considering either a Platinum or Gold card and spoke to an agent to clarify whether or not getting a UK-based card would make sense to build my credit rating.

The agent told that despite incurring a 2.99% foreign charge for every transaction, the bonus point for spending in a currency different to the one that card used will incur additional bonus points that outweighs the 2.99% foreign charge.

The agent said that for every 1GBP spent on that card (in a different currency to that of the account) I will get 1GBP worth of bonus points that can then be spent in the future.

This seems too good to be true. Was there a miscommunication between me and the agent?

The agent also said that it is common for expats to get an Amex card issued in the country in which they are from (to build credit) and then use it for every day use in a different country which they live in and incur 2.99% transactions on every purchase that they make.

Once again, can anyone vouch for this?

Thank you all.

Hello, do foreign currency fees get added to the transaction, or are they billed separately?