Which is better - choosing With or Without Conversion at ATM in Haiti?
For anyone withdrawing money in Haiti, the general rule is to choose ‘Without Conversion’ at ATMs. I tried ‘With Conversion’ at a Unibank ATM once and was hit with extra fees. Letting your bank do the currency conversion is safer, especially if you’re using a card like Visa or Mastercard.
In Haiti’s bigger cities and tourist spots, always decline ATM conversion. Select ‘Without Conversion’ to avoid the ATM operator’s marked-up rates. I used my MasterCard at Sogebank ATMs in Port-au-Prince and never accepted the ‘With Conversion’ option. Your bank’s exchange rate will almost always be better than the ATM’s.
I learned the hard way in Haiti at ATMs like those near Petionville that accepting currency conversion on the spot adds a lot of hidden costs-often around 8% extra. Opt for ‘Without Conversion’ to let your Visa or Mastercard bank handle the exchange; they tend to be more transparent and cheaper. It’s better for avoiding surprises on your credit card statement.
When I was withdrawing cash from ATMs in Port-au-Prince, I always picked ‘Without Conversion.’ The ‘With Conversion’ option looks tempting because it shows the amount in your home currency, but it usually comes with steep fees and poor exchange rates due to Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). By choosing ‘Without Conversion,’ your bank handles the currency exchange, often saving you money on the actual rate and fees.