When you are abroad you will often be asked if you would like to pay in the local currency or pounds. This is quite common, particularly when paying by card in somewhete like a restaurant.
It often sounds appealing to pay in your home currency. Should be cheaper, no conversion or commission, right? Wrong!
Often they will use an inflated conversion rate and you will find yourself paying upto 15% more for the ‘convenience’ of paying in pounds. This of of course isn’t always the case but always check before you pay.
This is why its always sensible to take cash or a prepaid card with you in the local currency.