General Info

[Goferring]

Anyone correct my digits.

This is very bank and home country dependant.

For me, I have a bank issued 'Travel Debit Card' it has low / no fees and (importantly) wholesale FX rates.

I have no 1st hand knowledge but many Americans report their banks refund all international fees.

Web based peer to peer banks like Wise offer very good FX rates and fee structure.

I can remember in the early days, on my first couple of trips, when I used a standard MasterCard credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM, the highest cost line item over the length of my holiday was bank fees. Now that was crazy.

Neither of us has priced in the risk of holding large sums of cash to be converted. Perhaps not a big deal for a 3 day business trip but certainly a consideration for a month or two of fun. Let's face it, some of the people we have in our rooms could be very tempted by several '000 dollars held in a hotel safe.

Enjoy, G.

[Pute Nut]

For entry / exit it is P10 K local currency. Seriously.

This has been increased to 50 K PHP.

See BSP Circular No. 922.

[Soapy Smith]

Personally, for such a short time, I would hire car and driver. In the current circumstances, many would jump at a 10 or 20 day package at very reasonable cost. However, if frequent mobility to out of the way places is important to you, then it's not a terribly idea.

I agree. Furthermore, these guys drive for a living and know their way around. And they speak the language to ask for directions to places they don't know. Most are decent chaps and some of them can carry on an intelligent conversation in English.

[WestCoast1]

For entry / exit it is P10 K local currency. Seriously. All travelers should keep the following in mind regarding Philippine customs regulations:

SNIP

I will usually carry P4 k which is the max amount I need for a transport NAIA AC. I always have this kept from a previous visit.

Already MM said he was clear on the Phils entry / exit policy. The policy is $10 k US dollars (not P10 k -- pesos, which would be about $200 USD). MM's question was regarding domestic flights inside of Phils: Is there a maximum limit one can carry on a domestic flight (say, from NAIA to Butuan)?

DO NOT exchange any currency and your home country.

Did not understand this. Did you mean 'in your home county'? I would agree, as the fees are too high.

You will be repoorted.

Reported to whom? For what reason? If I exchange $200 USD at my bank in my country for P10,000, why would that be reported, and to whom (and why would I care)? Alternately, if I exchange P10,000 (brought home by me from Phils previously) at my bank for $200 USD, why would that be reported?

I will swing by the ATM at NAIA arrivals and make a local currency withdrawal which gives a competitive rate. Failing that there are currency exchanges at NAIA.

Using an ATM in Phils to withdraw cash from your bank in another country would result in high fees. The ATM would give you pesos at a worse exchange rate than the money changer. In addition, there are ATM fees to be paid at the (usually p250 or such), and probably a $5 US dollar 'out of network' fee charged by your home country bank.

An example. Say today's exchange rate is p50 to 1 US dollar. The money changer is offering p49 per dollar. I hand the money changer $200 US dollars, and he hands me p9800 (200 x 49). I give up $200 and get p9800 (a p200 or $4 loss for using the money changer).

I go to a BDO ATM machine in NAIA. The machine demands a p250 fee ($5). I tell the machine I want p10000. The machine gives me p10000, but takes $208.33 from my US bank account (an exchange rate of p48 per $1 US dollar). In addition, my bank charges me a $5 US dollar fee for an overseas ATM use. I get p10000, and I give up $208.33 + $5 + $5 = $218.33. That's an $18 kick in the wallet.

Anyone correct my digits.

[Soapy Smith]

For entry / exit it is P10 K local currency. Seriously.

All travelers should keep the following in mind regarding Philippine customs regulations:

I will usually carry P4 k which is the max amount I need for a transport NAIA AC. I always have this kept from a previous visit.

DO NOT exchange any currency and your home country. You will be repoorted.

I will swing by the ATM at NAIA arrivals and make a local currency withdrawal which gives a competitive rate. Failing that there are currency exchanges at NAIA.

I find this advice confusing. First, P10 K is only $200 US. My recollection is similar to MontanaMonger: a limit of the equivalent of $10 K US for entering the country.

Second, your "Do Not exchange" statement is unclear. Do you mean don't exchange currency in your home country or from your home country? I have done both of these and nobody reported me. And what's the point of using a currency exchange at NAIA if you get reported for exchanging currency from your home country? In my experience the exchanges at the airport give a slightly better rate than from ATMs and with no transaction charge. Currency exchanges in the city give rates as good or better than exchanges at the airport.

Granted, I have not been in country in nearly three years, but I can't imagine these things have changed that dramatically. Have I missed something?

[Gen X Baer]

Just wondering what the thoughts are on this board about the both the safety and convenience (or lack thereof) of getting a rental car.....Mt. Pulag. And of course, try my hand at some of the country!

If you do this, be sure you have front, back, side cameras on the car. Saved a friend of mine from a car accident where the locals quickly pinned him as a foreigner to be at fault. However, he remained calm and when the police arrived along with his cell recording all the convo, replayed the events of accident and the people were quick to change their tune from burning him on the cross to displaying "empathy and compassion. " he also had a bat in the car in case things got out of hand.

[LoveItHere69]

Wisdom or Folly of a Rental Car..

My guess is Folly.

I doubt you will have this problem but the groups of Koreans in expensive SUVs had problems. Trike drivers would cut in front of the Korean SUV when slowing at an intersection or stop light. Of course the sidecar would be facing the SUV thus limiting the trike driver getting hurt. This way the Filipino gets a new trike.

The mass traffic and horrible roads will not make for an enjoyable drive.

Finding a parking spot is an act of God in so many places.

[AsianPursuits]

Is there in writing somewhere stating how much currency you can carry on domestic flights within the Philippines. I am well aware of the currency limits when entering and exiting the country.

For entry / exit it is P10 K local currency. Seriously.

All travelers should keep the following in mind regarding Philippine customs regulations:

Firearms and pornography are forbidden
Certain items like alcohol and tobacco can be imported duty-free in small amounts only
Foreign currency of more than US$10,000 and local currency of more than P10,000 must be declared upon entry or exit

I will usually carry P4 k which is the max amount I need for a transport NAIA AC. I always have this kept from a previous visit.

DO NOT exchange any currency and your home country. You will be repoorted.

I will swing by the ATM at NAIA arrivals and make a local currency withdrawal which gives a competitive rate. Failing that there are currency exchanges at NAIA.

[Goferring]

Just wondering what the thoughts are on this board about the both the safety and convenience (or lack thereof) of getting a rental car....

What roadside dangers could I expect, both from people and maybe crooked cops?

Maybe this is all a terrible idea. So, coming to the experts!

How comfortable are you driving in chaotic traffic? Do you need a car every day? If that's ok, then it's doable and the risks are managable.

The biggest risk is that if (many would say when) there is an accident, and you are driving then it's going to be your fault, regardless of the circumstances. Without being melodratic, I've seen these go right up to a fatality. Do you have a plan to deal with these should they occur.

Cops and other civilians don't pose much of an issue if you don't give them a reason to.

Personally, for such a short time, I would hire car and driver. In the current circumstances, many would jump at a 10 or 20 day package at very reasonable cost. However, if frequent mobility to out of the way places is important to you, then it's not a terribly idea.

[RandMcNasty]

Just wondering what the thoughts are on this board about the both the safety and convenience (or lack thereof) of getting a rental car. While I'd probably plan on spending maybe half of my time (maybe 10 days) in AC, I'd like the freedom to get out, hit the country side, check out Banaue, head up Baguio and climb Mt. Pulag. And of course, try my hand at some of the country girls.

What roadside dangers could I expect, both from people and maybe crooked cops? Also, if I actually had a car in AC, how much of a pain in the ass is it going to be to simply have it and park there. (I'd also consider getting a rental in AC for when I choose to leave but it looks like most of the good options like National are in Manila).

Maybe this is all a terrible idea. So, coming to the experts!

[Member #4794]

I have a question I really am unable to find a definitive answer on.

Is there in writing somewhere stating how much currency you can carry on domestic flights within the Philippines. I am well aware of the currency limits when entering and exiting the country.

I know that in the US you can carry as much cash as you want domestically. In searching some countries require proof of income. If you can carry up to 10 k USD into the philippines I would assume that you could carry that 10 k onto a domestic flight, I haven't found any law or anything concrete to back this up. And the php limit I did find just says into an airport. The domestic airport of course is an airport. Does anyone have any proof or statutes that specific a limit on domestic flights within the philippines? Everything I have found points to international flights. This could mean there is no limit domestically or that limit is observed in all airports but is not enforced in domestic terminals due to no customs. I have never seen any carriage warnings on currency on phils domestic tickets.

[AsianPursuits]

You should be able to arrive at BNE, two hours earlier than you would normally arrive. That would give you enough time to get the results back?

Yep it won't be an issue. Testing is in International terminal but my departure will be in the Domestic terminal. Provided they send the results electronically I will be able to spend some of those 90 minutes transferring from Int to Dom terminal, drinking coffee and having breakfast. By the time I finish coffee #3 I'll be reading a txt with my results. Check in and then just 13 hours to MNL. Not the most time efficient routing but we all like our frequent flyer perks.

[Muttley81]

She is OK in a kind of Makati call girl way. That said, she and Scully's women stand as warnings these broken babes are dangerous. I can see how she thought she was made meeting this made guy. For me and Tom Hanks, it means Run Pedro, run.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ks-arrest.html

Some further updates today with classics from the wife "Speaking from a prison facility, Abejo said: 'he's good to me. He doesn't hurt me. In the nightclub there was a man who pushed me. My husband was angry.

'My husband had an argument with him and that's how the fight started. I didn't know he had a gun. I didn't see that. '.

Asked about her husband's reign of terror attacking locals, she said: 'I don't know about that. I don't go to bars with him. I stay at home. We have one child together and Darren's good to me. '.

Can't see Secret Door being added to my list of must go places.

[WestCoast1]

My plan is to use an airport service which offers "Express pre-departure COVID test results are returned within 90 minutes" for AUD79. https://www.histopath.com.au/locations/airport.

In my case I'll be doing the test at BNE international, then flying domestically to Sydney to board the international flight.

I'm currently unclear if I can complete the check in and pass through before the result comes through which I assume they will email.

You should be able to arrive at BNE, two hours earlier than you would normally arrive. That would give you enough time to get the results back?

[AsianPursuits]

If other gents from Aus or London have gotten their tests, it might be good for you to tell us the location (or website link) where you got yours.

My plan is to use an airport service which offers "Express pre-departure COVID test results are returned within 90 minutes" for AUD79. https://www.histopath.com.au/locations/airport.

In my case I'll be doing the test at BNE international, then flying domestically to Sydney to board the international flight.

I'm currently unclear if I can complete the check in and pass through before the result comes through which I assume they will email.

As I am still a few weeks a way from departure and knowing the fluid arrangements of Ph rules I haven't narrowed down the fine points.