What's the best Travel Route from USA to Manila and how to handle foreign exchange from USD to Pesos?

For those that have read my previous question, I apologize if I am repeating myself. I have two flight routes to pick and a few places to get these plane tickets I have found from the USA,IL to Manila. I just need to know from those that travel from the US to Manila, which is easier to deal with at the last stop before Manila. Hong kong or Tokyo?

Also, when going to the Philippines, would it be better to do the money exchange there or before my trip and how to go about it?

Sorry for all my questions :)
thanks!

Ship

Are you adventurous? I've had experience with the Tokyo stopover, although Hong Kong would be nice too!

When you get to manila find an American Bank (Bank of America) and get your $$ to Pesos exchanged there!
Stay away from Mom & Pop Money Exchange establishments!

the only airline that flies non-stop from the u.s. to manila would be our flag carrier philippine airlines. i am biased towards cathay pacific because i always fly that airline. cathay pacific has better entertainment materials than pal and they fly newer planes. the stop in hongkong is not too long to cause discomfort but time certainly is longer for that route. as to changing your money to peso would be no problem as we have a lot of banks, money changers everywhere. credit cards of master and visa are widely accepted too.**

Suggest Hong Kong, their waiting area is roomier.

Best to have your money exchanged in the Philippines. I suggest going to SM (ShoeMart, now only known by the two letters) malls, they have money changers inside. Please bring an identification with you. The only catch is, SM has a limit to the amount of cash that you can exchange per day.

No need to apologize, Mr. Smith. Happy travels!

Hongkong is a better stop than Tokyo, if the choice was limited to the two. Hongkong is more exciting, and more visitor-friendly than Tokyo. Also, you get by better in Hongkong with the English language, better than in Tokyo.

Regarding money, you do not need to bring cold cash with you. You would not want to travel burdened by the thought that you could accidentally misplace the bag containing your cash. You should open an account in a foreign bank that will allow you to withdraw cash, as needed, in the Philippines. If you have loads of cash to bring, I would even suggest you open two accounts, and have one of the accounts withdrawable by ATM. Cirrus is also accepted in the ATM systems in the Philippines,

Citibank is in the Philippines, in case you do not know.

And if you decide to bring in cash, I would suggest you deposit it in a bank when you get here, so it will not have to be hidden under your bed.

Go to Hong Kong they will give you a 90 day visa if you want to stay for a visit. Leave your cash in a bank in the States and draw it out from the banks here at the ATMs in the Philippines because you will get the highest rate of exchange that way. But make sure your card is a PLUS card it works better than most others.. The money exchangers here tend to rip you off by paying you a lower rate than what the daily peso rate for that given day.
I have been here for 9 months ..enjoy your stay here in the Philippines.

i went thru hong kong, nice airport, people understood my english questons pretty well. i initially brought 500 usd worth of peso's with me. i ordered it from my bank it took 7 business days to order it (exotic money) though once i was there , i found that the hotel i was staying at did the money conversions, at a higher rate than my personal bank gave.

mainly while i was there i used my visa card.

i always take philippine airlines. the attendants are beautiful and freindly.

I usually fly from Toronto to Frankfurt, then Manila because the stops are more convenient. The distance is about the same from the east coast if you fly through Europe.

Bring an ATM card with you or change your dollars there. The dollar is pretty weak at the moment though.