Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zulethe]

Ok, so I'm going to the Philippines for about a month and I'm concerned about how to manage my funds.

I plan on taking about one million won in cash. I've also got an America debit card that I heard works in the philippines.

My basic wory is what happens if I get ripped off lose all of my money and debit cards?

My idea is to send a million won via western union just in case of an emergency and to take it out about before I leave.

I got ripped off in Thailand before and had to beg a taxi driver to drive me to the airport for almost nothing and then I had to beg fellow travelors for money for the airport tax that they had at that time.

No fun experience.

Ideas?

[phoneboothface]

Aren't traveler's checks an option instead of straight cash?

If you're worried so much about losing all your stuff keep it in like 3 different places right? Bag, money belt, pocket...

By ripped off do you mean robbed?

[losing_touch]

Yes, just take TCs. I had some stolen once in Thailand. They were replaced within 15 minutes at a bank on a small island in the south. Be very careful with your ATM card. Yes, it should work. Notify your bank that you will be using it.

[oldfatfarang]

It's always best to take a combination of safety measures: travellers' cheques, credit card, and some USA cash.

Once in Thailand, I had a hotel owner steal $2,000 from my combination-lock hotel room safe. Thankfully, they didn't steal the travellers cheques. The police didn't do anything (surprise).

I wouldn't recommend carrying a large amount of cash around anywhere - especially in SE Asia. However, it's also pretty dangerous just taking travellers cheques - as I once had all mine spoiled (by moisture), and no one in Thailand would cash them.

Whatever you do in SE Asia, never give your credit card to ANYONE. Don't let it out of your sight. Don't even let a bank teller take it away to show a supervisor. That's just asking for trouble (double invoicing).

Good luck.

[joeyjoejoe]

ATM withdrawal limits in the philippines for foreign cards are really low. 75USD equivalent sounds familiar, but it was a while ago. so watch out for fees you might incur doing this. i was having to make 3 or 4 or 5 back to back withdrawals rather than just 1 large one. at $5 per transaction it adds up.

take USD, just don't store it all in one spot.
take travellers cheques.

don't ever take won anywhere. you will get a horrible rate almost anywhere you try and use it, if they will accept it all.

[D.D.]

[Zulethe]

All good advice. It sucks being on vacation and having to be paranoid about your cash all the time.

thanks.