Fukuoka, Japan: Arrival and Airport Money Withdrawal via Seven Bank
I went back to Fukuoka, Japan last month. It's the first city I visited in Japan back in 2019 and I actually would love to come back again. I've yet to visit Uji in Kyoto so until that day arrives, my favorite is still Fukuoka.
First time in Japan: Fukuoka
Second time in Japan: Tokyo
Third Time: Fukuoka
Second time in Japan: Tokyo
Third Time: Fukuoka
Fourth time... in Osaka???? ⭐🙊⭐
Book your adventure here: Klook Pass Fukuoka
Whenever I go out of the country, I'd bring PHP with me or I withdraw in the country I'm visiting because reserving foreign currency here in PH is a hassle. Actually, BDO offers competitive rates but I am no longer patient enough to purchase from them especially since my branch is in SM North EDSA, sobrang daming tao lagi.
...
Recently, I've been noticing people compare rates of their different cards but I have not seen PSBank's Prepaid Card in any list - the usual cards being compared are Gcash, GoTyme and Maya. I've never had problems with my PSBank Prepaid Card and I actually think it has good exchange rate but like everyone, I want to get the most out of my peso so I'm also confused.
Anyway, I have compared rates in Woori Bank's Machine and a foreign currency exchange counter in Myeongdong before. I was frequently visiting South Korea and my options were to either bring PHP or withdraw and these rates put my heart and mind at ease so I stuck with the latter.
According to my notes in my Seoul 2020 travel,
PSBank Withdrawal Rate in 우리은행: 0.04542115, 22,000 KRW was P 999.2653
Myeongdong Currency Exchange: 0.45454545, 22,000 KRW was P 1,000.00
If this isn't reliable in 2024 or for a GoTyme comparison, it's probably time for me to go back to South Korea. HAHAHA. Yes, Universe?
If this isn't reliable in 2024 or for a GoTyme comparison, it's probably time for me to go back to South Korea. HAHAHA. Yes, Universe?
...
Total of GoTyme withdrawal was P 3,814.94 for 10,000 Yen.
Total of PSBank withdrawal was P 3,938.29 for 10,000 Yen.
Actual Yen rate that day was P 3,725.74
Difference of actual Yen rate and Gotyme withdrawal was P 89.20.
Difference of actual Yen rate and PSBank withdrawal + Transaction Charge was P 212.55.
This was the computation last time when I withdrew in Narita Airport's Seven Bank ATM,
Withdrew 50,000.00 Yen using a Mastercard Debit Card.
ATM Withdrawal Charge: 500 JPY/ 194.11300 PHP
50,000 Yen * 0.388226 PHP = 19,411.3 PHP
Plus 194.11300 for the ATM Withdrawal Charge
Total amount debited: 19,605.413 PHP
Actual Yen Rate that day: 19,360.00 PHP
Difference including card withdrawal charge: 245.413 PHP.
🙎🙎🙎
🙎🙎🙎
I've got no budget to compare another 100,000 withdrawal via PSBank. I just don't know if there's an increase in charges for withdrawals of more than 50,000 Yen in PSBank. But still, P 503.00 may be enough to buy myself more matcha, it is still less than the cost of the rides to and from SM North.
At this point, I conclude that it's just the matter of reliability and convenience. I've been using my PSBank Mastercard for years on all my travels and I've never encountered problems in withdrawing money and for debit transactions. While I never had problems with withdrawal, the GoTyme card was declined three times for debit transactions.
However, I appreciate the higher interest rates and free fund transfer of GoTyme so I want to try using it more and just have my PSBank Card as a spare if GoTyme gets declined again abroad... someday. I'm rarely abroad anyway but fund transfer these days is soooo frequent so I'm thankful for zero fees - still able to save more in the long run.
What do you think?
From Fukuoka International Airport, we took a cab to Hakata which amounted to 2,300 Yen or around 900 PHP. We had three luggage (1 large, 2 medium) so taking the train nor the bus was definitely not an option especially since we were travelling with our mom.
If you prefer more affordable transfers and you're capable of lugging your luggage, you have to transfer to the domestic terminal for the airport train or ride the airport bus outside the international terminal. The train fare from the domestic airport to Nakasukawabata station should be 210 Yen.
I think one of the advantages of travelling to Fukuoka is the proximity of the airport to the city, the cab ride was less than 20 minutes. Since it was a cab and we were driven near the entrance of our hotel, we didn't need to lug around the subway and physically lift our luggage in stations without escalator. I can say that 2,300 Yen from and to the airport were 2,300 Yen well-spent especially since we left Japan with 1 large luggage, 2 medium luggage, 1 small luggage, 2 foldable duffel bags, and 2 backpacks. Definitely sounds like a Japan travel, noh? 😂
Book your adventure here: Klook Pass Fukuoka
Everything, in time. 💖
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