I used my US card in Gabon & the ATM just asked me Accept or Decline Conversion - I feel like I should choose Accept coz it seems more appealing but it had these super confusing numbers on the screen saying 8% markup so not sure. What should I do?
In Gabon, I always declined because ATM conversion fees are highway robbery. Letting MasterCard or Visa handle rates saved me tons. Had no problems with machine glitches at BGFIBank-just make sure your card is enabled for international use.
Declining is a must in Gabon. That 8% markup is a total rip. Use Banco Gabon ATMs and check if your card has international ATM partnerships to reduce withdrawal fees. Carry small cash in CFA francs as fallback.
I got caught once in Gabon by accepting conversion with my US card; ended up paying way more. Since then, I always decline conversion prompts and use Visa rates, way cheaper. Banco Atlantico and Park’ng ATMs are common spots.
Gabon ATMs have the same dynamic conversion trick. Always hit ‘Decline’ so your card network does the currency switch-that 8% fee will drain your money fast. I used BGFIBank ATMs mostly and avoided DCC.