Dreaming of a holiday abroad but worried about hidden costs eating into your budget?

This Christmas season, overseas vacations are always a great idea — whether it’s solo or a group trip with friends, or with loved ones and family.

Exploring new food, culture, and shopping abroad is the ultimate reward for a year’s hard work.

However, airfare, accommodation, and other expenses can quickly make such trips costly. Add to that extra charges, like transaction fees and fluctuating conversion rates.

Thankfully, there are several ways to make every peso count when traveling. Wise, a global technology company, offers smart tips to spend and manage money internationally better so you can make your trip more affordable and enjoyable.

Track your expenses

The simplest way to build up for a long-awaited holiday trip is to budget ahead and start saving as soon as you can.

You can start by tracking your daily expenses with budgeting apps. You’ll see how small purchases add up, giving you the awareness to budget more effectively.

For instance, daily spending habits like buying coffee outside can add up quickly. A PhP 200 coffee a day at a major chain equals PhP 6,000 a month, or even PhP 72,000 annually. That’s more than enough for a three-day family trip to your dream destination.

Outside of travel, that can become your funds for Christmas gifts, new clothes, and further treats for yourself.

Deposit travel savings into a separate account

Knowing that you will travel in the future, the next step is to decide where to keep it. You can transfer a portion of your 13th month pay or Christmas bonus to a separate account to grow your travel fund.

This is where Wise comes in handy. For travels, it holds money in more than 40 currencies. The Wise Jar feature also helps users organize money for different trips. It’s a great way to protect funds, stay consistent, and prevent overspending.

Once you’ve secured your travel fund, the next challenge is making sure you spend it wisely abroad.

Prioritize experiences over expenses

A simple mindset of valuing experiences and creating memories over material things like souvenirs can go a long way.

Sure, happiness looks different for everyone, but there are several budget-friendly activities abroad that offer the authentic experience. There are free walking tours and tourist pass bundles for a lower price.

And with just your smartphone or portable camera, those moments will stay with you long after the trip ends.

Be wise with payments

Moreover, it’s easily tempting to use a credit card and pay in pesos when buying goods or shopping internationally. However, while that sounds convenient at first, you could incur additional fees without even realizing it.

Traditional cards charge up to 3% in foreign transaction fees. Plus, conversion rates always fluctuate. Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees when paying via merchants’ POS or withdrawing cash at foreign ATMs also hurt as they’re usually marked up.

Fortunately, the Wise multi-currency card lets users hold and spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market exchange rate, minus hidden fees. It allows you to spend like a local and bypass foreign transaction fees.

For instance, a smartwatch priced at US$ 85 could cost you PhP 5,100 if you pay in pesos. But if you pay in USD using Wise’s mid-market rate, you’d spend only around PhP 5,004.8. This allows you to save roughly PhP 100 on a single purchase.

Multiply that across meals, shopping, transport, and other daily expenses and you could save thousands in a single holiday.

Tap to pay when abroad

Lastly, and as mentioned above, the Wise card can be added to your Google Wallet. This makes it seamless for travelers to pay abroad.

Not only can you pay in over 40 currencies at the real exchange rate without extra fees, but you don’t have to carry a physical card either. You just need an Android phone or smartwatch to pay.

To add a Wise card to Google Wallet and pay with Google Pay, customers can:

1. Open the Wise app
2. Tap the Card tab to view all available cards
3. Select their card to add, then tap “Add to Google Pay.”

Ready to travel smart this holiday season? Download Wise now and make your dream trip happen — without hidden costs.

All-in-one digital bank Maya is urging Filipinos to make their bonus work smarter, grow faster, and set them up strong for 2026.

As it is already the Christmas season, most Filipino professionals have just received or will be receiving their 13th month pay. But before that disappears into holiday hauls, Maya has tips so users be on top of their finances.

Give your extra money an assignment

Bonuses aren’t a windfall; it’s a strategy. Before anything else, Filipinos should give every peso a purpose.

A simple split could look like this:

• 50% bills and responsibilities
• 30% for fun
• 20% for savings and investments

For payments, it makes sense to use Maya. This holiday season, the banking app has a TWINYONARYOS promo wherein a user and a chosen referral can both win PhP 1 million each.

Park money for the future

Those who already have a Maya account can also take advantage of Maya Savings, where money can grow with up to 15% p.a. interest credited daily.

Then, build structure with Maya Personal Goals. Users can create five different goal accounts on the app, each earning 4% base interest. The rate also increases every PhP 20,000 added.

But for those who wants bonus to grow steadily and predictably, Time Deposit Plus comes in handy. Lock money for 3, 6, or 12 months with guaranteed rates of up to 6% p.a. on deposits up to PhP 1 million per TDP account.

Build a buffer for life’s curveballs

Lastly, users can boost their emergency fund using Maya Savings or set up a dedicated Personal Goal just for emergencies.

Maya Easy Credit also gives instant access to funds with no paperwork or collateral so you don’t have to touch your hard-earned savings when things get tough.

There comes a moment in every busy, convenience-loving yuppie’s life when the heart encounters something that simply gets it.

For many, that moment will happen the first time they hear about the new EastWest foodpanda Visa Credit Card.

This cobranded creation from EastWest, foodpanda, and Visa feels like a treat wrapped inside another treat, made for those who thrive on ease, comfort, and a healthy dose of instant gratification.

Think of all the small joys in your routine. The iced latte that turns your morning around; the comforting order that saves an exhausting weekday; or the impulsive midnight craving that somehow counts as self-care.

Now imagine every craving quietly earning something meaningful in return. That is the lifestyle this card was built to support.

Cashback that keeps the cravings flowing

Cardholders receive 10 percent cashback on all foodpanda orders with earnings of up to Php 400 each month.

Cashback continues at 3 percent even after reaching the cap, which keeps rewards flowing for frequent orders.

Users also receive 1 percent cashback on overseas transactions and 0.3 percent on other local purchases. All cashback across categories has a combined limit of Php 1,000 per month.

The card is free of annual fees during the first year and early users receive a complimentary six month pandapro subscription.

Cashback is credited weekly to the user’s pandapay wallet for immediate access. This weekly reward cycle is a first in the local market. It reflects foodpanda’s focus on instant gratification and smooth digital experiences.

EastWest, foodpanda, and Visa aligned on a single goal. They wanted a card that fits into everyday routines, feels simple to use, and delivers rewards in a fast and friendly way.

Lifestyle card for a lifestyle-first way of spending

Younger Filipino consumers are embracing credit cards that care about their lifestyle choices.

The EastWest foodpanda Visa Credit Card fits right into this shift, giving people a financial tool that rewards the habits they already enjoy.

It creates a gentle nudge toward smarter spending without taking away the fun or the flavor.

Visa’s global network makes tap-to-pay transactions fast and secure. With automatic weekly cashback and worldwide acceptance, the card creates a rewarding experience that enhances how Filipinos dine and enjoy their favorite cravings.

This card understands one universal truth: Every order has the potential to be more than a meal. Now, it comes with rewards ready to follow you everywhere.

To learn more or start your application, visit eastwestbanker.com/foodpanda or tap ‘Apply Now’ on the foodpanda app.