Which is better - choosing With or Without Conversion at ATM in Hungary?
I pulled cash from an Erste ATM in District VII near Szimpla Kert ruin bar. Got the dreaded screen, hit Without, and my N26 billed me in HUF with no issue. Met an Aussie at the hostel who pressed With at Euronet on Andrássy Avenue - he lost nearly $30 AUD in one withdrawal. Budapest trick is simple: skip Euronet and pick Without Conversion every time.
Hungary’s one of the worst places for DCC. Every machine wants to trick tourists into pressing With. The right move is always Without Conversion. Stick to OTP, Erste, or K&H Bank, and say no to conversion. I used Raiffeisen in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter with my Revolut and got the proper rate. Don’t worry about wording - Without is always safer.
I stayed in a hostel near Nyugati station and used an Euronet ATM because it looked convenient. Pressed With Conversion since it offered GBP. My Monzo statement later showed a horrible exchange. Felt scammed. Switched to OTP Bank ATMs around Astoria, pressed Without, and it was perfect every time. Moral of the story: avoid Euronet and never press With.
Budapest is notorious for this. ATMs from Euronet, OTP, and Erste constantly push “With Conversion.” That’s dynamic currency conversion, and it’s a scam. With = ATM sets a terrible HUF→EUR/GBP/USD rate. Without = you’re billed in forints, and Visa/Mastercard converts at the fair rate. I used OTP near Deák Ferenc Square - pressed Without, and my Capital One card billed at the mid-market rate. Tried With at a Euronet machine once for testing and it was nearly 10% worse.
Erste Bank charges fees and shows currency conversion prompts-always decline those!