Confused about customs declaration form.

Id look for another resort that accepts one of the many online hotel booking sites. You also have the hassle of going to a money changer to convert to pesos. A right vulnerability carrying that round with you, especially for a first timer.

Unfortunately there is a cancellation fee for the resort now. 4500 peso. Yeah I understand. If I only took £300 something for resort and send the rest to my gf that would be safer I hope. Don't want any trouble

What! You can' possibly think about sending someone who you have never met a £1000.
Leave it in your bank and transfer some as and when you need it. To pick up.

Hello there,may I know what is the name of the hotel in Manila if you don’t mind?i am a filipina and my husband visited me several times in the Philippines but he never brought a big cash on his pocket as I know there’s always a risk bringing a big amount.

Welcome to the forum

Thank you @Mattecube
Just curious on this young lad post.My husband @Stupot10 told me about it

If you’re staying in zambales I assumed you will be staying somewhere in Subic Area,isn’t it?Just have to be extra careful on bringing cash especially Manila as I know it’s risky for you coz you are a white guy and I’m sure your girlfriend is aware about it.

I can sense something I hope I’m wrong.☺️

Hi thankyou. I sent you a message about that.

Huh? A resort that only accepts cash payments imposes a cancellation fee? How exactly does that work?

Do not take anything like £1000 in cash - if you don't have a credit card then get s prepaid debit card such as Caxton and use that to pay the hotels.

You will be handed forms for both Immigration and Customs during your flight to Manila which you will need to complete prior to landing.

Forgive me for asking this but I note that you are a very young man, are you 100% certain that the young lady you intend to visit and spend time alone with is at least 18 years old?

Haha I don't know. It says on the site.. " This property accepts the following forms of payment: No credit cards accepted, only cash".
I guess it linked my card to the system and if I didn't bother showing up they would just take it of there.
Yeah prepaid might be better than taking my actual card.
Thankyou.

I'm 22 and she is 27. I'm 100% sure. I've known her for 2 and half years.

I think I got as far as Benidorm when I was 22. The world sure is a smaller place nowadays.

Enjoy your trip it' a lovely place, top tips from me are
Carry limited cash
Keep alcohol to a minimum
Have an emergency stash of cash for yourself
Enjoy

I don't see what the issue is with taking that amount of cash.

I used to take over £1000 with me after my credit card got blocked first time I went. I decided it was better to use cash from then on.

No need to declare the ring or the bear, they will not be interested.

For practical purposes it might be better to leave the bear at home and sort something out locally for Valentines day, beer might be more appropriate!

You can carry 50,000 PHP (Philippine Peso recently increased) and other cash up to 10,000 USD (US Dollars) equivalent without having to declare, so 1,300 GBP is well within the limit.

Take as much cash as you can carry and keep it in a safe place. Mine is stashed around my backpack protected by decent combination padlocks.
Some people don't feel safe carrying cash, I currently have an assortment of PHP, USD, THB, IDR, MYR, GBP, EUR and KHR stashed in my backpack.

ATM's are a ripoff in the Philippines, try to avoid them.

• There is a charge of 250 PHP per withdrawal from a foreign account, and it is difficult to find an ATM that allows withdrawal of over 10,000 Peso.
• Generally taking everything into consideration the, you can lose 6% or more on every ATM withdrawal.

I have two preferred cards when travelling.

• My Citibank UK card is great if I can find a Citibank ATM, I get the internal Citibank rate.
  
• Revolut is my second favourite card, unfortunately the 250 PHP charge is levied by Philippine banks ATM's.

Bookings.com takes a credit card number as security, then for many bookings you have to pay the hotel yourself. Unfortunately that means that you can end up losing several percent changing your money.

Is the Customs form still issued, I have read that it was discontinued, I cannot remember receiving it recently, but after a long flight it is easy to forget such things.

I remember arriving in Manila several years ago, there was just one official collecting the forms, and many unhappy passengers waiting. All of a sudden there was a surge of people and the poor chap was trodden underfoot as everybody headed straight for the exit.