The final rate quoted by Agoda usually is cheaper though.


Agoda will bill you once you've submitted your credit card details.

Last time it was possible to select to pay in USD or RM (when the system detects your credit card is issued in Malaysia) but this option is no longer available now. It always automatically bills you in RM and the foreign exchange rate quoted by Agoda is always so high


No. That's not true. Not especially if you're using a Maybankard VISA or MasterCard.

Is it ? We've done the comparison many times over at the credit card subforum and Maybankard VISA/MC provide an unbeatable rate.

I am not sure if Agoda bills all the hotel rooms they sell in USD but for those hotel rooms from countries such as Thailand, Taiwan and Brunei, they do bill their customers in USD. Back in those days when we can choose to pay Agoda in USD (exchange rate to be determined by your credit card issuer bank) or MYR (during the last stage of the checkout process, when it detects your card is issued in Malaysia), the converted rate (MYR) is always higher than Maybank VISA/MC. Not only so, the converted rate is even higher than HSBC VISA/MC and HSBC is known not to give a very favourable final converted amount for transaction made in foreign currency. There were a few times that i used a HSBC credit card to pay them as i can get #% discount from the hotel room rate. I always chose to settle the bill in USD last time (when the option was still available) and also wrote down the converted rate done by Agoda itself, HSBC's final converted amount is always cheaper than the rate i was shown by Agoda.

Erm... many other online travel booking sites have similar rules as well. Some rates are prepaid and can't be canceled. If you must, then your money is burn.

The bottom line is, always read the fine prints