Which is better - choosing With or Without Conversion at ATM in Laos?
I pulled cash out at a Banque Franco-Lao ATM near Phousi Hill in Luang Prabang. It asked With or Without. I chose Without, and Revolut billed me fine. Later at a riverside bar, I met an Aussie traveler who hit With at BCEL in Vientiane - he complained the exchange was terrible, almost 9% worse than XE. We all joked that “With Conversion” is just code for “pay more.” In Laos, definitely skip it.
In Laos, always decline the ATM’s conversion. Whether you’re in Vang Vieng or Savannakhet, the ATMs want you to accept DCC because it gives them profit. I used my Wise card at an ANZ ATM on Setthathirath Road, pressed Without, and everything billed cleanly in kip. If you choose With, the surcharge is bigger than your bank’s foreign fee. Backpackers at my hostel in Luang Prabang all agreed - Without Conversion is the only option to avoid wasting cash.
I landed in Luang Prabang, needed cash for a tuk-tuk to my hostel near the Mekong. The BCEL ATM asked the dreaded question. I pressed With Conversion thinking it would help, since it showed USD. My Wells Fargo account later showed I lost about $11 on just 2 million kip. A few days later I tried Banque Franco-Lao by That Luang in Vientiane, pressed Without, and the rate matched XE exactly. Lesson: always reject conversion in Laos ATMs.
Laos ATMs - BCEL, ANZ Vientiane, and Banque Franco-Lao - all throw up “With / Without Conversion” when you use a foreign card. That’s dynamic currency conversion, where the ATM tries to settle in USD, AUD, or EUR. It looks safer but it’s more expensive. Without Conversion means the withdrawal stays in kip (LAK) and your card company converts at a better rate. I tested BCEL in Vientiane near the Morning Market with my Monzo, pressed Without, and the exchange was perfect. With added 6-7% markup.