Wizard or Amex?

[sinophile888]

When booking an overseas hotel which charges in the local currency, am I better to pay with my Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard to avoid foreign exchange fees or with my Ultimate American express card to gain the frequent flyer points?

 

[markis10]

When booking an overseas hotel which charges in the local currency, am I better to pay with my Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard to avoid foreign exchange fees or with my Ultimate American express card to gain the frequent flyer points?

Comes down to the difference in the bills, thats the price you are paying for the points, depending on where you stay and for how long that could be a small amount or a large amount.

Put it this way, are the points you are getting worth the 3% extra charge as an example?

 

[Natt]

When booking an overseas hotel which charges in the local currency, am I better to pay with my Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard to avoid foreign exchange fees or with my Ultimate American express card to gain the frequent flyer points?

Its also more complicated than the 3% fee as each service will use their own rate to convert the foreign currency to AUD.

So it will depend on that too

 

[drewbles]

Comes down to the difference in the bills, thats the price you are paying for the points, depending on where you stay and for how long that could be a small amount or a large amount.

Put it this way, are the points you are getting worth the 3% extra charge as an example?

Amex has been charging what seems to be more than 3% recently too, as well as a pretty poor exchange rate.

I stick to my Wizard card overseas rather than my Amex.

 

[auriga]

I would use Wizard for any foreign currency transactions, unless you need the points desperately!

 

[zig]

I would use Wizard for any foreign currency transactions, unless you need the points desperately!

+1
I always put foreign currency transactions on the Wizard, I dont' think the points are worth the extra cost charged.

 

[serfty]

It does depend - my Plat Amex CC earns @ 1½ MR points per $.

I value each point at 3½¢, so it's a near thing. Note there are some things that $ can't buy, but "points" may.

(I still use WMC for Cash however.)