When we start planning a trip to the Philippines, we sort out things like flights to the country, accommodation, travel insurance for the Philippines and, obviously, money matters in the country. Exchange before leaving home? Get a card that doesn’t charge fees abroad? Exchange at money changers once in the country? We talk about all of that in detail in the Money in the Philippines guide. Here we’re going to talk about an alternative method that makes things very easy, exchanging euros to Philippine pesos with Remitly online. Or, put another way, sending euros to the Philippines and picking up Philippine pesos there in person to avoid bank fees.
And heads up! In addition to being a fast and secure way, it also comes with a double promotion that lets you get part of the money for free. We’ll tell you everything!
What is Remitly?
Remitly is a U.S. company regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland that sends money around the world almost instantly. Considering that in the Philippines there are countless offices where you can receive the money and that, on the other hand, it’s almost impossible to find ATMs that don’t charge a fee outside Manila and Cebu, it makes it a super useful way to have Philippine pesos quickly and safely.
The website (you can also do it from the app) is, as we’ll show you below, super simple. You choose how much money you want to move from euros to Philippine pesos, the type of office where you’ll pick them up, you pay in euros, and you collect the pesos. You can even do it from the shop itself because it takes really little time.
Why do we recommend Remitly and not other companies like Worldremit? On the one hand, the exchange rate Remitly offers has always been much better than the competition every time we’ve compared it. On the other hand, just go to review sites like Trustpilot to see that it beats all the others across the board. You can see it in this screenshot:
10€ free for you and an improved exchange rate for your first time
Here comes the best part: as a Travél around the Philippines reader we’ve secured a double welcome gift for the first time you use this service (whether you exchange euros to pesos or between any other two currencies).
First, you get 10 euros free by entering through THIS LINK. It’s that easy. When you access their website you’ll see that it automatically applies the code VPFTAKE10 and 10 euros will be deducted. If, for example, you were going to exchange 300 euros, you’ll pay only 290 euros but the amount of pesos you’ll receive will be the equivalent of 300. Traveling as a group or a couple? Then if each person exchanges a portion, the discount will keep adding up because you’ll get 10 euros free each by doing it from different accounts. Keep in mind that the minimum you have to exchange for the promotion to apply is 100€. (As happens with other links like those for travel insurance for the Philippines, besides you getting this promotion it also generates a small benefit for us that helps us maintain the site)
On the other hand, there is currently an active promotion whereby the first time you use Remitly you’ll get an improved exchange rate. That means that for the same amount of euros you wanted to exchange, they’ll give you more pesos.
One more perk? Picking up your money at an office in the Philippines usually has a cost of 2’99 euros with this kind of company. Well, again, with your first time using Remitly you won’t pay for this.
In short. By using Remitly via Travel Around the Philippines for the first time you benefit from:
- 10 euros free.
- Special exchange rate for your first time.
- You don’t pay the 2’99 euros for in-office pickup.
A real bargain to make the most of before they change it, honestly.
CLICK HERE AND GET YOUR 10€ FREE
Send money: How to change euros to Philippine pesos easily
The process is very simple and similar to when you make a Bizum or a bank transfer. The first thing you’ll need to do is open an account on the Remitly website. For that they only ask you for an email address and a password. You can do it here: Remitly website.
Once that’s done, they’ll ask you from which country you’re sending the money and in which country you want to pick it up. Simply select Spain and the Philippines.
Select the amount you want to exchange from euros to Philippine pesos and you’ll see it does the conversion with an improved rate for your first time.
Next, to pick it up at an office in the Philippines, select “Cash pickup”. You’ll see it has a price of 2’99€ but it’s immediately waived so you don’t have to pay it. Now choose whether to pay by credit or debit card and a notice will appear indicating that your money will be available in 20 minutes (although it’s usually almost instantaneous).
IMPORTANT: For the discount of your 10 euros free to apply you must access through the links in this guide. As soon as you enter you’ll see at the beginning that our gift is applied (code VPFTAKE10). For example, for 290 euros you’d receive 300. They give you 10 euros with any currency exchange from 100 to 1,000 euros! Click Continue; you’re almost there.
10$ free with Remitly and you don’t pay the pickup
Now it’s time to click where you want to pick up the money. You’ll see a first list of Pawnshops and then several Filipino banks. Click on the “Pawnshops” list and then you’ll need to enter the first and last name of the person who will receive it. Yours, for example. On the next screen, type the name of the city shown on the document (likely your passport) that you’ll present to identify yourself.
Before finishing it optionally asks for a phone number to notify you by SMS about the transaction. You can safely click “Skip” and skip this step.
We’re almost done. Enter your name, surname, date of birth and the basic personal details they’ll request until you reach the payment step. Once you do, you’ll receive a code (both in your email and in the Remitly app itself) which, along with your ID showing the same details you entered earlier, will allow them to give you your money at the various offices. Go to the office saying you’re there to pick up money and with all that they’ll hand it to you on the spot.
Where to pick up pesos in the Philippines using Remitly
If you haven’t been to the Philippines yet, the word “Pawnshop” may be unfamiliar, but once you’re there you’ll see them everywhere. These are shops that offer services like currency exchange (with an exchange rate and commission that aren’t worth it), loans, pawning jewelry, money transfers… They’re on every corner in big cities and in small towns it’s always easy to find one, even in Malapascua!
These are some of the main chains: Palawan Pawnshop, M. Lhuillier, Cebuana and Lhuillier LBC, but you can pick up your money at any of those listed above.
Pawnshop in the Philippines to withdraw money
Remitly for sending money to businesses
Besides sending money to yourself or to another travel companion, with Remitly you can send money to other people in the Philippines, whether individuals or businesses. This matters because in some cases certain deposits to book excursions are requested (such as El Nido island hopping or Balabac island hopping), and making this kind of money transfer with a traditional bank sometimes costs more than the amount you actually need to send.
If you play around a bit with the Remitly app, you’ll see that by tapping “send” and then “send to new recipient,” when it asks you to choose the “delivery method,” you have the options of making a “bank deposit” or to a “mobile wallet.” In the first case, it’s simply sending money to a bank—i.e., a transfer—for which you’ll need to have the details and then add them in the following steps.
The “mobile wallet” refers to payment methods Filipinos use such as GCash, Maya, or GrabPay, which are basically Bizum‑style services linked to their phone number, so they’ll give you the number to send to. In other words, you’ll be sending money directly to them and usually instantly.
In both cases, the cost of sending via Remitly is just 0,99€. If you want to do it, with our link and the code VPFTAKE10 you’ll get a better exchange rate and they’ll give you the 10€ free for transfers of at least 100€.
Frequently asked questions for using Remitly in the Philippines
Is it safe to use Remitly to exchange euros to Philippine pesos?
Absolutely! Remitly is a company regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, which guarantees the security and protection of the transactions you make. In addition, if you take a look at Trustpilot you’ll see it has a 4’6 out of 5.
How long does it take for the money to be available in the Philippines?
It’s usually immediate, although the website/app estimates about 20 minutes to allow some margin.
Where can I pick up Philippine pesos in the Philippines?
You can pick up the money at most pawnshops in the Philippines, including Palawan Pawnshop, M. Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, LBC and other establishments mentioned in the list above. You’ll find them everywhere, even in remote parts of the country, since Filipinos use them in their daily lives.
What are the benefits of using Remitly for the first time?
When you use Remitly for the first time you get 10 euros free with the code VPFTAKE10, an improved exchange rate, and you don’t pay the 2,99‑euro pickup fee. Enter through this link.
Can I use Remitly from any country to send money to the Philippines?
Yes, it allows you to send money to the Philippines from several countries, not just Spain. Likewise, it can also be used to pick up money in countries other than the Philippines.
Are you ready to get 10 euros free when withdrawing your money in the Philippines? If you have questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll help you.
*Ethical code: in this article updated in November 2025 you’ll find some affiliate links. Thanks to them you benefit from discounts and we receive a small commission that is what helps us work on this page every day. Thank you for your support!
