I’ve had international trips before but this is the first time that I did it for a concert. It’s the Waterbomb Singapore, to be exact and honestly, I was a little nervous about how I’d handle my money.
My friends, who are seasoned travelers and locals in Singapore, told me that I should use GCash instead of my regular debit and credit cards because of its excellent conversion rates and ease of use. I took their advice and ordered a GCash card about a month before my flight. It arrived in less than two weeks, and I was all set to go.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own, based on my personal experience.
A Little Cash Goes a Long Way
Upon arrival in Singapore, I decided to only exchange $100 USD to Singapore dollars, just as my friends had suggested. Looking back, I didn’t even need to do that much. I ended up using my GCash card for nearly every transaction, and I was only forced to spend all my cash on the last day just so I wouldn’t have to convert it back to pesos when I got home.
One of the things I loved most about the app was the real-time conversion. It displayed a conversion right below my actual balance, making it easy for me to check the current rates from peso to SGD. Some stores even gave me the option to pay in either currency, which was a nice touch.
From Food Courts to Local Markets
I tried all sorts of food in Singapore—from restaurants and fast-food joints at Jewel Changi Airport to milk tea shops and food courts at City Square Mall. I even tried the famously affordable food stalls in the Chinatown complex. For all of these, I used my GCash card without a hitch. I tried my GCash card for the first time at the airport’s Mcdonalds and the transaction went smoothly. The app also texted me the amount of my transaction in real time.
The only time I couldn’t use it was on my last day. The weather was terrible, and the card terminal at a small food stall wasn’t getting a signal. The owner, a kind auntie, asked if I could pay in cash instead. This taught me a valuable lesson: it’s still handy to carry a little cash for backup.
The most surprising thing, though, was that even the local food markets accepted my GCash card. I was expecting to use cash at these places, but many stalls had the official GCash logo on their payment terminals, which made paying even more convenient. I hope such thing exist in the Philippines soon but we are too far from that.
Convenience at Waterbomb
My GCash card was a lifesaver at the Waterbomb Singapore concert. I used it to buy my food and drinks, and it was so convenient to not have to worry about carrying cash in a crowded venue. It worked flawlessly, just like it did everywhere else, even on the beach near the concert area. I also had a transaction with my Filipino friend who happened to attend the concert and it was as simple as sending a normal Gcash transaction and she just withdrew it in an ATM like a normal card.
Shopping and Getting Around
Using my GCash card for transportation was a breeze. Singapore’s tap-in, tap-out system for public transit is very similar to what we have in Manila, but it’s incredibly convenient. I just tapped my card on the reader, and the fare was charged to my account the next day. It was a seamless process that made getting around the city effortless.
I also used the card for all my shopping, from snacks at 7-Eleven to small trinkets in Chinatown. Even the local shops where I bought my souvenirs and pasalubongs accepted card payments.
My first trip abroad was a huge success, thanks in large part to GCash. It made handling money stress-free, and I could focus on enjoying the concert and exploring Singapore. If you’re planning your first international trip, I highly recommend getting a GCash card. It’s the most efficient way to travel and manage your expenses.
