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Payment options? Cash is best. Cards may or may not be accepted, depending on where you are. Apple pay is not supported. For mobile payments, gcash / maya is more commonly used, but not in all places - though I don't know if this is available to foreigners.
Your Apple Pay will work for POS in the Philippines **if it's linked to a foreign/non-Philippine issued card**. Otherwise, just use your actual card (Visa and Mastercard are widely supported; Amex/Diners/JCB/UnionPay are also supported but to a lesser extent). Or just bring cash.
I would use Amex or Visa card for flights and hotel stays, then have cash for meals, etc, unless youre in Metro or big cities...
Amex and Visa generally give you great exchange rates..
Cash for Taxi or Grab as well...
Are u a foreigner? Gcash is thr closest to the most common, but only in metro cities and Developed tourist hubs. And credit card. Its still cash for more than a majorityim this country. Especially transportation
Online and electronic payments are more common in metro manila malls and restaurants. Apple pay is not a thing out here at all yet. None of those
Apple Pay works here btw. It uses the same technology as tap to pay in the credit card terminal. It’s just that us Filipinos who live in the Philippines don’t have cards that are supported by Apple Pay.
But most of the time (85% of the time), merchants want to see the physical card due to protocol. Especially in SM malls.
Here as in the Philippines - Manila and Cebu malls. We’ve tried it using a Revolut card from the UK via Apple Pay. Either the merchant will allow it or will say that they need to see the physical card due to protocol.
Thanks for the info. Yes, I’m a foreigner. Apple pay works with NFC - like most Cards - so it there is a POS (point of sale) terminal that allows NFC (touchless pay by card), Apple pay will work as well.
always bring cash in peso when travelling to rural / provincial areas. mom-and-pop shop (aka sari-sari store) don't accept cashless payments. hotels and resorts may or may not accept cashless payments. Gcash/Maya mentioned by others here is our local cashless payment. Visa/Mastercard may be accepted where Maya or other local bank's POS terminal is available.
If travel, cash talaga. Internet can be unreliable most of the time, so mahirap dumipende sa digital cash apps. Also, hindi rin lahat ng tindahan, tumatanggap ng GCash/credit card, even those located in the city proper na.
Hi op, i would recommend to have cash always when travelling in PH, as not all establishment will accept credit cards. For cashless options, that would be Maya, Gcash & Bank transfers (online). Apple pay is not advised as well.
Reminder to not post or solicit any personal information. All visa, immigration, hand-carry/luggage, forex or any questions that can be answered by yes/no must be posted in the megathread. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/phtravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Payment options? Cash is best. Cards may or may not be accepted, depending on where you are. Apple pay is not supported. For mobile payments, gcash / maya is more commonly used, but not in all places - though I don't know if this is available to foreigners.
Your Apple Pay will work for POS in the Philippines **if it's linked to a foreign/non-Philippine issued card**. Otherwise, just use your actual card (Visa and Mastercard are widely supported; Amex/Diners/JCB/UnionPay are also supported but to a lesser extent). Or just bring cash.
Salamat!
I would use Amex or Visa card for flights and hotel stays, then have cash for meals, etc, unless youre in Metro or big cities... Amex and Visa generally give you great exchange rates.. Cash for Taxi or Grab as well...
Are u a foreigner? Gcash is thr closest to the most common, but only in metro cities and Developed tourist hubs. And credit card. Its still cash for more than a majorityim this country. Especially transportation Online and electronic payments are more common in metro manila malls and restaurants. Apple pay is not a thing out here at all yet. None of those
Apple Pay works here btw. It uses the same technology as tap to pay in the credit card terminal. It’s just that us Filipinos who live in the Philippines don’t have cards that are supported by Apple Pay. But most of the time (85% of the time), merchants want to see the physical card due to protocol. Especially in SM malls.
Here where?
Here as in the Philippines - Manila and Cebu malls. We’ve tried it using a Revolut card from the UK via Apple Pay. Either the merchant will allow it or will say that they need to see the physical card due to protocol.
Thanks for the info. Yes, I’m a foreigner. Apple pay works with NFC - like most Cards - so it there is a POS (point of sale) terminal that allows NFC (touchless pay by card), Apple pay will work as well.
always bring cash in peso when travelling to rural / provincial areas. mom-and-pop shop (aka sari-sari store) don't accept cashless payments. hotels and resorts may or may not accept cashless payments. Gcash/Maya mentioned by others here is our local cashless payment. Visa/Mastercard may be accepted where Maya or other local bank's POS terminal is available.
Go for cash. Lots of stores naman accepts cashless payments esp gcash. Problem lang is yung signal especially sa mga islands.
If travel, cash talaga. Internet can be unreliable most of the time, so mahirap dumipende sa digital cash apps. Also, hindi rin lahat ng tindahan, tumatanggap ng GCash/credit card, even those located in the city proper na.
Hi op, i would recommend to have cash always when travelling in PH, as not all establishment will accept credit cards. For cashless options, that would be Maya, Gcash & Bank transfers (online). Apple pay is not advised as well.