My first trip to the Philippines

[GaryFifer]

I made sure I had the money in my wallet before I went. I just had no idea if International money is reliable there. You can never tell with ATM, power or banks in Philippines. I remember the 2nd time I went, I tried to withdraw money from Philippines ATM. Denied, from my own bank. Basically, a machine in the UK, searches for fraud and Philippines is a black-listed country. Ensure you tell you bank, credit card companies what dates you are going,so they know.

Another point to note. I was going to get some money in the UK from the high street from good source. M&S money. You may try them.

http://money.marksandspencer.com/tra...xchange-rates/

[Northerner]

I made sure I had the money in my wallet before I went. I just had no idea if International money is reliable there. You can never tell with ATM, power or banks in Philippines. I remember the 2nd time I went, I tried to withdraw money from Philippines ATM. Denied, from my own bank. Basically, a machine in the UK, searches for fraud and Philippines is a black-listed country. Ensure you tell you bank, credit card companies what dates you are going,so they know.

Another point to note. I was going to get some money in the UK from the high street from good source. M&S money. You may try them.

http://money.marksandspencer.com/tra...xchange-rates/

66.44 pesos to the £

And it was only a couple of months ago when it was sliding around 80 pesos....

[JimOttley]

66.44 pesos to the £

And it was only a couple of months ago when it was sliding around 80 pesos....

At that time M&S would have been around 72 peso.


Jim

[Dedworth]

At that time M&S would have been around 72 peso.


Jim

M & S generate most of their profits from people with the word MUG tattooed on their forehead

[Dedworth]

Another point to note. I was going to get some money in the UK from the high street from good source. M&S money. You may try them.

http://money.marksandspencer.com/tra...xchange-rates/

Looks like a contender for Rip Off Britain they are better at flogging overpriced sandwiches and sweatshop produced clothing have a look at

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

On the Euro Marks & 'Spensive 1.025 untold others 5 percent better at 1.072

[JimOttley]

I made sure I had the money in my wallet before I went. I just had no idea if International money is reliable there. You can never tell with ATM, power or banks in Philippines. I remember the 2nd time I went, I tried to withdraw money from Philippines ATM. Denied, from my own bank. Basically, a machine in the UK, searches for fraud and Philippines is a black-listed country. Ensure you tell you bank, credit card companies what dates you are going,so they know.

Another point to note. I was going to get some money in the UK from the high street from good source. M&S money. You may try them.

http://money.marksandspencer.com/tra...xchange-rates/

As Northerner is going south, my advice is perhaps not so applicable as most of my experience is based around places in Luzon.

You are right about the UK banks and they will pull this crud even if you have told them where you are and on what dates, sometimes though the refusal is not a result of the problems on the UK systems but just communication problems in the Phils network, problem is it costs a fortune to call them to sort it out :(

Regards M&S they are offering 8 peso less than the published exchange rate today, that's a 10% charge most good places over there would offer 6 peso better unless everything has changed in the last 6 months!

You need to have some confidence that you can fix problems when you are there and Northerner's idea of splitting between cash, UK card and Phils card is the best option in my view.

I'm assuming Rizza has access to private internet i.e. internet at home as you don't want to do any personal banking from an internet cafe unless they let you plug in your own laptop and you know you have a good firewall. (beware key loggers!)

If she does have private internet or you can get a cafe that lets you plug in your own laptop then you can always do additional transfers from the UK via the likes of Xoom.

There are always ways to manage, you just have to think hard about where you are and what the problems might be.

I hope you are lucky mate and things are a lot cheaper in the south, Manila is not that cheap these days especially with the decline in the pound :(


Jim