• Travel

  • 🇵🇭 Philippines: bunq Community Travel Tips

✈️ Heading to Philippines? We've gathered some tips from the bunq community to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be. 😎

Check them out below! 🌈 👇


Using your card

💳 Do I need cash in Philippines, or can I use my card everywhere?

Most major places take cards, however smaller shops may require cash. It is highly recommended to carry cash when leaving the city, as smaller community's are mostly cash driven.

💰 What currency do they use here?

The currency here is Philippine peso. The symbol is ₱ or PHP.

🏧 Which ATM’s can I use for free?

The bunq community has reported free withdrawals at these ATMs.

  • HSBC

💵 If I want cash, how much should I take out of an ATM?

6 000 PHP should be enough for a few days.

💳 Should I choose local currency or Euros when paying?

If you're asked to choose between local currency and Euros, always choose local currency.

That way bunq does the conversion for you, and you get to take advantage of the best rates with bunq ZeroFX.


Staying connected

📱 Can I roam, or should I get a local SIM?

Most EU mobile plans will charge you for roaming.

Wifi is readily available, especially in coffee shops.

If you want to get a local SIM card, you can learn about your options here.


Useful things to know

💁‍♀️ How does tipping work?

Tipping is not expected, but is appreciated by service staff.

🍺 How much does a 0.5L beer cost?

€0,90

🍽 How much does an average meal cost?

€2,70

🚨 What’s the emergency number?

911

🔌 What type of plug do they use?

This one! It’s the standard American plug.

🚗 What side of the road do they drive on?

They drive on the right side of the road here.

🗺 How do I navigate my way around?

Google and Apple Maps both work well here.

Otherwise, we recommend Rome2Rio as the best way to find out how to get anywhere. It even tells you the cost of each option. 🙌

👀 Any other good tips?

  • Go whale shark watching!
  • Use the Grab app for several services such as taxi fares, food delivery and paying in-store.

If you've been to Philippines 🇵🇭 share your experience! The following would be really useful for other bunqers to know:

  • Which ATMs are free to use?
  • What card should I use and where?
  • Any other info you think may be useful.

Share your experience with us in the comments below! 🌈 👇

    2 months later

    Every ATM used across Philippines charged PHP250 flat fee per withdrawal.

      3 months later

      I was not able to add any Bunq credit cards (virtual and travel card) to the Grab taxi app when in the Philippines. After arriving in Malaysia, I was able to add a virtual card without a hitch. So if you want to use Grab with a cc, I recommend adding them before arriving in the Philippines.

      Also, PayPal is not an option in the Grab app while in the Philippines.

        Write a Reply...