Antonio:

Saludos! That was my point in a way. The C/C company makes about 5 to 7 percent per transaction, taking a little from the card holder and a little from the small merchant (or big merchant for that matter).

The solution is to use the C/C only as the last resort and to get money directly from your bank via your ATM access. I have done this in Spain, Portugal and S. America and Canada. I save a minimum of 30 bucks per 1000 dls spent. That is enough for a nice lunch for two. To get money from your C/C company is even worse.

Regards,

Juan