I love traveling and shopping, and shopping while traveling is the bomb.

How I feel about a trip is often measured by how much heavier my luggage is when I return.

Then the credit card bill comes and suddenly, the branded bag/shoes/wallet/dress I bought at a bargain doesn’t seem to be such a good deal anymore. But I shrug it off as I think that the bank’s exchange rate is one of the great mysteries of life, up there with why nothing good on sale is ever in my size.

Truth is, it's not rocket science. There is a specific formula to how the final amount is derived. In fact, the formula is in the “Cardmembers Agreement” you receive when you sign up for a new credit card, buried somewhere between Clause 1.1 to Clause 25.9.

When I went searching for what this formula is, I stumbled upon a surprising fact – just like men, not all credit cards’ fees are created equal.

Maewyn Tan is founder of Curated Travel, a customised travel planning agency based in Singapore. For more travel inspirations and insider tips, visit here.

Top photo from here.

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