Fastcompany iconFastcompanySep 13, 2026 ~1 min source read

Traveling to Europe? Beware of the credit card trap that’s costing tourists big money

However, I couldn't help but notice a new tourist trap that could have potentially cost me hundreds of dollars. The trap has to do with a practice known as Dynamic Currency Conversion, or DCC.

Traveling to Europe? Beware of the credit card trap that’s costing tourists big money

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Useful takeaways from this story.

However, I couldn't help but notice a new tourist trap that could have potentially cost me hundreds of dollars.

The trap has to do with a practice known as Dynamic Currency Conversion, or DCC.

Because of it, you're at risk of losing money every single time you pay with a credit card —which, for most people nowadays, is almost always.

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The useful part

However, I couldn't help but notice a new tourist trap that could have potentially cost me hundreds of dollars. The trap has to do with a practice known as Dynamic Currency Conversion, or DCC. Because of it, you're at risk of losing money every single time you pay with a credit card —which, for most people nowadays, is almost always.

How it works

  • Recently, it seems DCC has evolved to make it even easier to fall victim to the trap.
  • Let's say you're visiting Italy, Spain, or Portugal and you decide to make a purchase with your credit card.
  • It's absolutely not, because the exchange rate offered by the terminal is usually bad.

What to take from it

For the uninformed, it may seem like a good idea to pay in USD.

Details worth keeping

dollars (USD), or you can pay in the local currency (in this case, euros).

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