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1. Bring a card with no foreign transaction fees. Some cards charge up to 3% for using it in another country.
2. When asked if you want the transaction in U.S. dollars or local currency, ask for local currency. While you may not know exactly how much it’s costing you, you will typically get a much better rate than what the credit card issuers will give you when it converts your purchase.
3. Take a card that’s widely accepted. While we can use American Express fairly widely in the U.S., that’s not the case in Europe. Take a Visa or Mastercard.
See more tips in our story Travel Tips for Planning, Perfecting Your Trip.