Travelling to the Philippines January 2023

Overlea8_2

Just wondering what is the best way to pay for things whilst in the Philippines bearing in mind that you can only take in so much Philippines currency. I have heard the charges for getting money from an ATM are really high. I obviously will need cash whilst out and about but also wondering about paying in restaurants, shopping malls with a good credit card.
Thanks in anticipation.

tightauldgit

Hi. I was in Philippines in 2018 and can't say that I found ATM charges high (no more than normal for travelling abroad anyway) plus you can bring in up to $10000 of currency anyway so you could bring in USD and then convert it in any number of exchange places. I imagine you could probably convert GBP too but USD might be easier. And even the limit of 50,000 PHP is still $1000USD which will go a long way in the Phils.

Credit cards are going to depend on the place to be honest but most locations you are going to be fine. They are going to accept them in supermarkets and shopping malls but in a small mom and pop restaurant there's a good chance they will want cash. Of course in 4 years that's only going to have improved. 

Taxis probably won't take cards but Grab should, and you can get food deliveries etc and pay by card online. 

Not sure how long you are going for or how much you plan on spending and where you are going to be but if it's a few weeks in major cities or tourist spots and you aren't planning on blowing all your cash on a massive bender on day one then 50,000PHP and your credit card should get you through a normal stay and if you need more you can go to an ATM. Given the hassle of converting to and from PHP I'd be tempted just to take a small amount and then take the rest of your spendsies in USD and exchange as and when needed.

It's a place you probably do have to keep your wits about you if you are carrying decent amounts of cash so credit card is probably preferred from that point of view. 

One thing Phils is not short of are options to get money into and out of the country - there's a Western Union on every street corner almost - so in an emergency you will find a way. 

If you need any other advice just ask. 

Voyager2002

For a start, you are unlikely to get a decent rate buying (or selling) pesos outside the Philippines. Take cash and buy pesos there. If you are going to be in Manila or Cebu then it will be easy to find money-changers happy to accept pounds in cash, although some money-changers may only accept US dollars.