Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Philippines or cash is king?
I was in the Philippines for 3 weeks in April, staying mostly in Siquijor and Dumaguete. All my hostel bookings were through Agoda and Hostelworld, paid online with my Monzo card, but once I arrived, most places asked for cash for the balance, deposits, or even towel rentals. A few had a card reader but said it only worked “sometimes.” Even a few expat-run hostels preferred cash to avoid transaction fees. If you're traveling outside major cities, it’s 100% cash-first.
I used my Wise and Revolut cards in some hostels in Cebu and Davao, but it was hit or miss. Some like Murals Hostel accepted card at check-in, but others like Mad Monkey in Nacpan Beach charged extra if I used anything but cash. One guy in the dorm had to walk 15 minutes to find an ATM because the POS wasn’t working. It’s safer to assume you’ll need cash, especially in beach towns and islands.
Just spent a month traveling in the Philippines and it’s definitely a cash-heavy country. I stayed in places like Abraham Manila, Dormitels in Boracay, and a homestay in Siargao. None of them accepted card directly. A few let me pay via GCash or Maya (local payment apps), but that only worked because a staff member helped set it up. Honestly, if you’re hostel-hopping, plan to pay in pesos. Keep small bills too - they never have change.
I backpacked around Palawan and Cebu earlier this year and stayed at Mad Monkey, Spin Hostel, and a few smaller places. Most of the bigger hostels in Manila and El Nido say they accept cards, but when I tried to pay, a few said their card machine was down or they added a 3-5% fee. Ended up using cash for all my stays. ATMs are everywhere but sometimes run out of cash, especially on weekends, so I started withdrawing ahead of time.