Filipinos are practical travelers, often planning trips months in advance to get the best deals and make the most of holidays and long weekends. Known for being “budgetarians,” many map out their itineraries and expenses early on, ensuring they can enjoy the season without breaking the bank.
But one sneaky travel expense often gets overlooked: ATM and currency conversion fees. These extra charges may seem small, but they can quietly eat into your travel fund, especially when you’re hopping from one destination to another.
Wise, the global technology company building the smartest way to spend and manage money internationally, recently revealed the most expensive places to withdraw cash overseas – and some of Filipinos’ favourite travel hotspots are the worst offenders. Vietnam topped the list with an average fee of 27.10%, followed by South Korea at 5.80%, Thailand at 2.50%. and the US at 2.05%.1
| Top 10 Most Popular Travel Destinations* for Filipinos: Ranked by ATM Fees | ||
| Rank | Destination | Average ATM withdrawal fee |
| 1 | Vietnam | 27.10% |
| 2 | South Korea | 5.80% |
| 3 | Thailand | 2.50% |
| 4 | USA | 2.05% |
| 5 | Singapore | 1.28% |
| 6 | Japan | 0.87% |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | 0.81% |
| 8 | Taiwan | 0.53% |
| 9 | Switzerland | 0.12% |
| 10 | Hong Kong | 0.03% |
*Data source: BusinessMirror, August 26, 2025.
These charges can quickly add up during a trip. And because every peso counts, especially during the busiest travel season of the year, it pays to plan smartly and keep more money in your pocket for pasalubong!
As the upcoming school holidays and Christmas break approaches, here are some practical tips to help travellers make the most of their money:
Set a realistic budget and commit to it
Use the 50-30-20 rule to plan ahead: 50% of your income for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings. Watch your favorite travel vloggers and check cost-of-living sites to estimate daily expenses, especially during peak holiday season.
Save with automatic transfers
Planning a trip next year? Set up automatic transfers to a separate savings account. This will help you stay consistent and avoid the temptation to use your travel fund for other expenses. For example, if you consistently deposit P3,000 each month starting today, you can save P36,000 in a year—enough for 5 days in Thailand. You can also use Wise’s Jars feature to set aside and organize your savings even in different currencies, so your travel budget stays on track.
Pick practical accommodations
Choose hostels or apartments with hotel-like amenities at lower prices. Look for places with kitchens so you can cook meals and save money. Book early for better rates and options, especially during peak season.
Watch out for international transaction fees
Traditional cards often charge up to 3% in foreign transaction fees, plus poor exchange rates. Some merchants also use Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), charging you in pesos instead of the local currency at inflated rates. Always choose to pay in the local currency to avoid unknown conversion rates and extra fees.
Find a card provider that helps you avoid unfair exchange rates
Most banks add hidden margins to the mid-market exchange rate without telling you, meaning you don’t know how much extra you’re paying. That’s why finding a provider that uses the real exchange rate matters.
The Wise card offers spending in 40+ currencies, and uses Smart Conversion technology that automatically picks the currency with the lowest conversion fee for each transaction. This means you get true mid-market rates and can spend like a local – keeping more money for Pasalubong!
Plus, if something unexpected happens during your trip, friends or family can easily send funds to your Wise account for fast access to emergency money.
Ready to spend wisely on your trip? Consider using the Wise app or visiting their website to start planning your next adventure.
About Wise
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money.
With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40 currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too; an entirely new network for the world’s money. Launched in 2011, Wise is one of the world’s fastest growing, profitable tech companies.
In fiscal year 2025, Wise supported around 15.6 million people and businesses, processing over $185 billion in cross-border transactions and saving customers around $2.6 billion.
About the ATM Fees Analysis
These data are based on 9.7 million ATM withdrawals made with a Wise card over a 6-month period, from February 2025 to July 2025. These ATMs recorded at least 500 transactions per destination during the 6-month period. The percentage represents the average ATM fees in a given destination and does not account for hidden fees in exchange rates.
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