arthurly:

"Probably" the rate charged includes a "loading fee" of around 2.75% mentioned in the card terms & conditions.

If you travel frequently think about a pre-loaded € travel card which doesn't charge this fee (and given that the £ is in decline v the € ) and fixes the exchange rate when you load the card.

I've just had my credit card statement for some purchases I made in the euro zone last week and the conversion rate is £1=1.0655 euros! How can the bank charge this when the tourist rate at the time was between 1.08 -1.10