Foreign Transaction Fee on Bookings.com

LomonM

Hi, first time on here, and I wondered if someone could help please. I have reserved Holiday Apt on Bookings.com and the money is due before September. Which is the best way to pay this without getting hit with Foreign Transaction Fee? I have a Virgin CC which I thought was without fees, however today I was told by them there is a fee. It's really confusing, any help appreciated...
Thank you 

zagfles

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

CliveOfIndia

Will you be paying in GBP or a foreign currency?  If you're paying in foreign currency, then you ideally want a so-called "Travel Card" that won't impose FX fees: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

But if you're paying in GBP, then you're really at the mercy of whatever fees (and potentially less-than-ideal exchange rate) Booking.com will impose.

born_again

Who took the payment?

Booking.com (bet not) or the apartment owner in their local currency. Your statement description will tell you 👍

[Deleted User]

It will depend on the card, the location and currency of the apartment.  

Some Virgin credit cards do have 0% forex loading globally but the remainder still have 0% forex loading within the EEA where paid in Euro, Swedish Kronor or Romanian Lei (essentially the Eurozone, Sweden and Romania) .

LomonM

I *think* the payment will get taken out in Euros from Bookings.com, sorry for not replying sooner, and I do appreciate your help. 

adindas

LomonM said:

I *think* the payment will get taken out in Euros from Bookings.com, sorry for not replying sooner, and I do appreciate your help. 

I have booked numerous times via Booking.com. To minimize the foreign currency fee, you will need to pay in local currency and use the zero fee for foreign transaction creditcard  to pay for it.Doing this the conversion will be done by the card providers. Above you have got the list of zero fees CC from MSE.

[Deleted User]

LomonM said:

I *think* the payment will get taken out in Euros from Bookings.com, sorry for not replying sooner, and I do appreciate your help. 

If it's in Eurozone then you'll get the Mastercard rate. 

jon81uk

Where are you travelling?

Virigin Money has no fee if it is in Euros in the EEA
Using your card abroad | Virgin Money Credit Cards | Virgin Money UK

jbrassy

I paid for a hotel in Thailand on Booking.com a couple of weeks ago. I was charged in Thai Baht and my experience is Booking will charge you in whatever the local currency is. There were no additional charges from my CC provider (I used Barclaycard Rewards CC) and Booking did not charge me a fee. Therefore, you should use a credit/debit card with no foreign transaction fees. Use your Virgin CC and you should be fine.

born_again

I think people are forgetting that Booking.com do not bill you in a lot of cases, any money is taken direct by either the accommodation or the airlines.
So this will always be in local currency of where they are.