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Holiday time

Discussion in 'General Chit Chat' started by David jordan, Sep 10, 2016.

  1. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Take pounds with you and change a hundred quid or so at the airport, when you get to your final destination ask your missus which is the best money changer to go to for the best deal and change the rest.

    Definitely inform the bank that you are going to the Philippines so that your cards are not declined when using them there.

    I can inform my bank online that I am going overseas, I expect you can do the same.
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  2. David jordan
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    David jordan Member

    Thanks Timmers
  3. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Check the current exchange rate before you fly, write it on a piece of paper and put it in your wallet.

    Throw a box of your favourite teabags into your case as well if you are a tea drinker. :like:
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  4. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    If you are going to transit Dubai, it would be well worth a stopover. Lots to do and see here. You will recieve visa on arrival if you hold UK or European passport.
    Change money before you leave UK, you will get a better exchange rate. That applies to all your overseas travels. Agree its best to advise your bank if you're going to be using debit/credit cards out of country.
    Re clothing, I wear shorts most of the time in Fils, as I do in Dubai during social hours. T's and polos, work fine. Some people are more prone to mozzie bites than others, depends on blood type I guess. If you are prone to bites, you would do better with long sleeve shirts and trousers.
    I have visited Manila couple of times, but only for 4 or 5 days at a time, so cannot offer advice about places to visit apart from malls, bars, restaurants. I do know that traffic is very bad and that it floods very badly during rainy season. Road to our hotel was so flooded one night, the taxi couldn't get to the hotel. Drove around for ages trying to find a route through.
    Oh and I often wear blue and green......:p
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  5. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Aargh, no, no, NO!

    Unless you have some "secret" that you want to share...
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  6. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    The UK is the worst place to change your money that's for sure, especially at the airports.
  7. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    Its not a secret. You will always get a better exchange rate changing money in the country of that currency. For the same reason you do not want to take foreign currency back to UK as the reverse applies and you will lose on the rate they will buy your pesos for.
  8. David jordan
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    David jordan Member

    Thanks chaps
  9. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    No, you are mistaken David.

    Please budget more carefully, check what you get against the XE.com rate, not the tourist rate.

    In both Thailand and Philippines I get better than the interbank rate using local moneychangers, and no commision is charged.

    I never change money back to GBP.
  10. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    We must agree to differ.
  11. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I don't agree, but if you want to differ then please share the date, time, rate you obtained, and exchange mechanism you used.

    Might add the xe.com rate at the time of exchange as well, this could become a competition. ;)
  12. David jordan
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    David jordan Member

    Can you get Marmite in Fili ?
  13. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    Yes, always safest to phone your bank, and they will flag up that it will be used in the (considered dodgy) Phils, between the dates of your holiday.

    I take a few hundred quid cash and change it at money-changers there... £20 notes or 50s, plus my cards of course.
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  14. graham59
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    graham59 Banned

    I'd take one of those little jars with you if you're partial to it (which I am).
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  15. David jordan
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    David jordan Member

  16. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    There's no one size fits all answer. Sometimes you can get a better rate outside the country. But I'm afraid david that in this case you do generally tend to get a better rate in the Philippines in my experience if you are talking about money changing kiosks.
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2016
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  17. David jordan
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    David jordan Member

  18. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Handy tip for finding a reputable money changer is to use google.

    "Best money changer in {Place name}" will often return discussions from local expat forums, tripadvisor, or similar.
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  19. joi1991
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    joi1991 Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Don't change money in Western Union branches, Robinsons Malls business centers or banks. Better do so in not know money changers in the malls or in the streets. Better value.
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  20. David jordan
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    David jordan Member

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