nb Wells Fargo PMA account gives only four foreign withdrawals per month for a sensible account balance ($25K).

ATM (foreign bank fee): most banks in Thailand and apparently in PI charge an ATM fee, in addition to what your home back charges. See http://forum.myredbook.com/dcforum2/intl/6877.html for more information.

CREDIT: Capital One Visa does not charge a currency transaction fee, but whether they convert at a fair rate or not is another question.

Anyone studied the conversion rate for their ATM and/or Visa transactions? Is it market rate? or is there a stealth fee built into the conversion rate? Where are all our bankers when we need advice?

Second hand, but a non-mongering Japanophile friend frequently goes there and got a Capital One card to use, and reports that the exchange rates are at-market for US$-JPY (were almost spot-on with what I got on a non-CapOne ATM when we were there within a few days of one another - although I got hit with the currency exchange fee.)

Can't comment about their THB or PHP rates.

In regards to Citibank, Citibank does charge their customers 3% on overseas transactions even when using their own ATM. Same goes for Bank of America customers when using the China Construction Bank or other partners' ATM. There are two fees to worry about - a flat fee for using someone else's ATM, and the transaction fee. Citibank obviously doesn't charge for the ATM usage on their own machines, but they do charge for the transaction fee.

Separate question - I haven't been a United Mileage Plus Visa card holder for almost 8 years now, but recently they sent me an offer for 50,000 free miles plus 1 year waived. Is it worth jumping at the offer, or is there something better? I'm beginning to travel a bit more on United again, maybe upwards to 25K per year but not much more. I only carry one 1 Visa and 1 Master Card and like to keep my credit score high, so I'm very judicious about this.

I have never called and that is what happens to me each year unless they have in fact changed their policies.

I checked my Schwab Visa card. As of 2 months ago, I was given market rates. They even refunded me the charges from Thai banks for ATM transactions.

50K miles with first year waived is a targeted offer- best thing out there now on United- I would take it if offered (sounds like you haven't had a United credit card for several years, so you should qualify for the bonus 50K)...

Friendly

and as of last week, there was a hack you could use to get the card even if not targeted. see the last few pages of this topic:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus/1069868-chase-milage-plus-visa-50-000-miles-sign-up-promotion.html

>Capital One exchanges at market rate- only US credit card I
>use overseas.
>
>50K miles with first year waived is a targeted offer- best
>thing out there now on United- I would take it if offered
>(sounds like you haven't had a United credit card for
>several years, so you should qualify for the bonus 50K)...
>
>
>Friendly

---
obligatory mention of whores

Are you saying that Capitol has a Visa card that offers 50k miles that can ne added to my existing United FF mileage without a hitch, and that their are no usage fees at overseas ATMs? If so, I will apply immediately since they sent me an offer.

Another benefit of the Schwab VISA card is 2% cashback on all purchases which is paid out into your Schwab brokerage acct.

Also, for the Schwab VISA and the ATM card, I also received market rates for China, HKG, and PI. However, for the VISA card, you have to make sure the merchant does not convert your charge in US$.

When travelling abroad and using a CC, always use a card that is Visa or MC and issued from a bank that explicitly does not charge the arbitrary "foreign exchange fee" -- Capital One is one of the few companies that advertise this and if you call their customer service, they will tell you that they will not charge additional fees for using your CC abroad. You should also use this card when purchasing something online from a different country where they use a different currency.

Are the exchange rates from Visa and MC the best? I've gone thru my billing statements and checked with the exchange rates on the street, local banks, or airports and the exchange rate they have given me were better than those that I could find anywhere else at the time and were very very close to the published market rates.

The other issue when travelling abroad is many hotels and tourist attractions that cater to foreigners offer to charge your credit card in US Dollars to save you from the foreign exchange rate fees or currency transaction fees. Never allow anyone to charge your credit in US Dollars when travelling abroad because you will always get a terrible exchange rate.

Keeping 1K wil be more difficult this year unless there is another Fall Double EQM deal like last year. Bummer there was no Spring Double EQM but I still hold out hope for another September to December 15 Double EQM deal. Two trips to SE asia during that period will make it easy to requalify for 1K.

My Platinum is looking like Silver already. CO sold me an AC seat on CO ticket stock, then wouldn't give me same day change even though they were holding 7 seats at $900 a pop for revenue. Can't get anyone to do anything for you because there have been layoffs in Houston and everyone's afraid if they do something even slightly off the menu, they'd get fired or laid off.

I also don't see any double EQM in the horizon. Actually, the new mantra coming from Smisek and Tilton seems to be, "if you don't spend $30K/yr with us (Global Services or Presidential Platium), fuck you, no matter your status."

So, good thing Delta matched...even though SkyMiles sucks, I get treated very well by Custo Care and I usually get upgraded. I have a decent chance of making PL with them this year.