Money-saving campaigner Martin Lewis explains how cardholders should pay when using bank cards abroad, focusing on whether transactions should be made in local currency or pounds. The articles report that he advises choosing the currency option that avoids unnecessary exchange charges and fees, which can arise when cards or merchants apply their own conversion rates. The coverage frames the guidance as a practical holiday tip aimed at reducing extra costs from foreign card payments.

Both sources describe the same core message: the payment screen at checkout may offer different currency choices, and the consumer should understand which option affects how the exchange rate is set. The reporting does not indicate that the advice is specific to any one country or card provider, but instead presents the guidance as generally applicable for card payments overseas. Overall, the articles present Lewis’s explanation as a method to help people limit extra charges when paying abroad, depending on how the merchant and card issuer handle currency conversion.