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04-12-22 08:13 #15062
Posts: 102Cash vs Credit card
Originally Posted by Goferring [View Original Post]
Gofer. Thanks for the hotel advice as well. After decades of business travel, I've learned to try to NEVER go on the road without a confirmed hotel for every travel day. So booking a few days then extending or moving is against my nature. I'll have to push back my habits for this and to take your advice.
New question, please: I was reading a long string about money exchange on the AC board and it got me wondering when I should pay by card vs cash. Paying by card reduces the need to bring and exchange cash, and with a Travel Visa card from my primary bank I can avoid or reduce FX fees for most card transactions. I have enough cash to pay off the card bills the next month, so not worried about loading up interest charges. So here's what I'm thinking:
1. Cash for all mongering activities. Barfines, bar bills, ST / LT fees and tips, etc.
2. Cards for all non-mongering activities at "legit" merchants like hotel, restaurants, retail stores, etc. IF they accept cards and IF they have a legit credit card terminal (I used to be in that business so I can spot card scammers. Mostly).
3. Cash for street vendors, 7-11-ish stores, taxis / Grab.
Does this make sense, or should I just go with cash for all except perhaps hotels? By the way, I'm single, retired and no kids, so I'm not worried about PI transactions on my statements.
Thanks again.
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04-12-22 03:55 #15061
Posts: 1562Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
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04-12-22 00:27 #15060
Posts: 3398Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Reviews are great but remember that the whole Covid situation has changed everything. Being closed for several years has forced many previously good hotels to close completely, drastically reduce maintenance spend, or send qualified staff home.
You may find it better to only book a few nights on arrival. Then you can extend or move depending on how you find it. Its very easy to over plan a PI holiday and then find yourself locked into places or times that you may wish to change should you (dis) like a place. Enjoy. G.
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04-11-22 23:40 #15059
Posts: 102Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
I will get a GSM phone and pacsafe this week. Looks like I will need to do more scutt work to research hotels in each city for price / guest policy / location / and quality before I drop any reservations. And I'll have at least one back up hotel in each area just in case. I have also been reviewing several YouTube vlogs about the scene. I agree with some of the feedback here that some of the vloggers are creepy, and that's saying something within a monger blog! But they do give me a decent idea of look and feel of the streets and street traffic. The PAL flight I'm looking at leaves LAX at 11 pm and lands in MNL around 9 pm. So I don't think I'll need to wait in the lobby for hours to check-in. When I flew to Buenos Aires a few years ago, landing at 7:00 am, I solved this by buying a extra day at the hotel for the day before I landed and telling the front desk I was going to do REALLY late check in. It was worth the extra spend.
I'll probably post an update as I get closer to my dates. And I'll post in the Travel Announcements Board in case anyone here wants to join me for suitable adult beverage.
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04-11-22 22:27 #15058
Posts: 3398Originally Posted by Locamotive [View Original Post]
Hotel pick up - 5 k.
Airport taxi. Varies.
Private hire - 3 k.
If you really must, there were also a couple of seaplane and helicopter options. Not sure if they are still running though.
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04-11-22 18:50 #15057
Posts: 15925Originally Posted by DzikaBomba [View Original Post]
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04-11-22 17:56 #15056
Posts: 405Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Once you get your bearings you may consider a move to makati. But given that manila traffic is back and it is not nearly as fun as it was pre pandemic. AC is a better location to start with imo for the uninitiated.
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04-11-22 17:31 #15055
Posts: 405Originally Posted by DzikaBomba [View Original Post]
If you see a hoe near the hotel safe area . move the hoe & if your hoe is carrying bolt cutters with her might want to reconsider.
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04-11-22 09:22 #15054
Posts: 161Travel
Any ideas on getting from Manila to Subic, prefer car. I'm sure travel postings on Angeles but haven't seen anything since travel has resumed. One gentlemen awhile back said moving around required some problems, checkpoints etc, hope this is now not the case. Price range if anyone knows.
Thanks.
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04-11-22 07:33 #15053
Posts: 1562Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
I'm not familiar with Verizon hotspot, but cell providers in the Philippines use GSM carriers. Verizon uses CDMA, a different type of carrier. AP says buy a cheap sim at the airport. Good advice, except that the local sims will not fit in a Verizon CDMA phone. In the states, T-Mobile, AT&T and a few others are GSM carriers. You may want to shop on Amazon for an inexpensive ($60 +/-) unlocked GSM phone. An unlocked phone lets you install your own sim that you purchase at NAIA airport. The two biggest providers, Smart and Globe, have booths near the money exchangers after you pass through immigration and customs. They will install the sim in your phone and sell you 300 ($6 US) or 500 pesos ($10 US) of load. 300 is enough to start with; you can buy additional load on the street when you need it. GSM phones can be used in many other countries, so the phone is not a throw-away.
The barfine and payment to the girl sounds right for the Padre Burgos area in Makati, but I don't believe paying the girl an extra amount equivalent to the barfine is correct for AC. Check out the AC thread for recent discussion about tips.
I think you'll find limited flight options nonstop LAX to NAIA, maybe only Philippine Airlines (PAL). I have flown with them twice SF to NAIA, and they arrived about 5 am. Service and food were decent. Previously PAL flew into Terminal Two, whereas most other international carriers go into Terminal 3. If you buy a PAL ticket, ascertain which terminal you arrive in; taxi and other directions may be different. On the bright side, not much traffic on Manila streets at 5 am, but you may have to wait in the hotel lobby to get checked in. Or stretch your legs on the local streets and inhale all the local odors and noises of Manila. LOL!
One last thought. If you plan seven days in Manila, you might want to purchase a Manila CitiAtlas from Amazon. A little paperback that covers all the streets in the metro area in great detail. In the past it was about $7. Now a new one is $48, and a used copy is $31. Talk about inflation! Or, you can explore via google maps and Google Earth from your computer.
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04-10-22 23:12 #15052
Posts: 462Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
Originally Posted by MrHappyKat [View Original Post]
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04-10-22 22:27 #15051
Posts: 1562Originally Posted by DzikaBomba [View Original Post]
I don't care whether they find my pacsafe. I draw the aviation cable up tight enough so there's no place to get a bolt cutter on it, and I use a padlock designed so there's no way to get a bolt cutter on the shackle. In the states a lock like that costs about $12 at Walmart.
Plastic freezer bags are a novel idea. As to never having had any problems in Africa and elsewhere, you might want to look up the term "superstitious reinforcement." But plastic bags are clearly a cheap solution. You could save nearly $40 from the cost of my pacsafe.
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04-10-22 21:14 #15050
Posts: 102Planning my 1st trip in July.
Planning my 1st trip:
First, huge thanks to all who post here. I've been lurking for some time as I contemplate my next extended trip (past trips to Argentina, Chile, and Dominican Republic) and wait out the worst of the pandemic headwinds. The collective wisdom and occasional humor have been amazing. I think I am about as prepared as I can be, until I get boots on the ground, of course, for an excellent time.
I'd appreciate some feedback on my preliminary plans. I'm looking to optimize for ST barfine sessions, then perhaps FL sessions, and since I have bad knees, minimal walking time to / from bars. I have decent budget available and I want to limit my 1st trip to the Manila and AC areas. Here's my current plan:
Flights: I will be flying business class because I can afford it. Non-stop from LAX to MNL. Prefer to arrive late afternoon to early evening.
COVID Stuff: Fully vaccinated and double boosted. It looks like I'll need the following to fly: One health card, recent PRC (or antigen?) test results, global entry card (already have TSA-Pre), travel medical insurance ($35 K or higher), and identify where I can get new tests in MNL before I fly home. Not sure if I also need "E-health Declaration" and "Case Investigation" - can anyone confirm?
Lodging: I'm thinking of staying 7-ish days in Makati, then 7-8 days in AC, then coming back to the Manila area for the rest of my stay. I'm budgeting about $50-$80 per night for hotel, and looking for girl-friendly and generally more upscale (or at least not shit-hole) locations near the local bars to minimize walking distances as much as practical.
Transport between cities: I'm looking at taking a bus for $5-$10 between Manila and AC. But I can pay more for a taxi if it's a more direct / safer / shorter trip.
Transportation in-city. As mentioned, I have bad knees and as a bigger guy, I'm not sure I'll fit in the trikes. So Grab seems like the way to go for short trips, maybe 4-8 per day depending on daily activities.
Daily routine: I'm getting older, so I'll probably only do a barfine or FL every other day, then recovering and maybe doing touristy crap (cover story) on the off days. Or if I meet a girl I really like, I can extend our session to the next day for additional funds.
Question on barfines in Manila vs AC: From what I have seen in past posts, a barfine in Manila or Makati gets the girl out of the bar, and then she expects an additional amount generally equal to the barfine for a complete experience. While a barfine in AC is "all-inclusive" with the expectation of a small tip (php 250-500) before she leaves. Is this correct? I've seen references to barfines in both areas between php 3 k and 4 k, with FL rates between php 2 K and 4 K. Should I plan on / budget for these rates by time I get there in July?
Packing: I'm an experienced traveler including travel in "poor" countries. But the tip about buying a pacsafe bag is a great idea. Thank you! I want to pack a 6-8 day supply of clothes, and use the hotel or local laundry service as needed. Shorts, light jeans, t-shits and polos, and a swim suit seems appropriate. Plus a baseball hat and sunscreen if I'll be outdoors for a while. Wil I need to bring my Verizon hotspot? Or is that just a waste of space / weight in my luggage?
Medical: I take daily meds, and will bring an ample supply, of course. If I lose my meds, do I need a prescription to refill them at a local pharmacy? And will a US-based prescription be accepted? Next, I am considering starting a PrEP regimen and will be asking my doctor about it. Should I be insisting on only drinking bottled water?
Sorry for the word-wall. I tend to over plan so I avoid surprises.
Anyone see any red flags or landmines in my plan?
Thanks for any and all feedback.
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04-10-22 19:30 #15049
Posts: 39Thanks for the advice all
Originally Posted by GenXBaer [View Original Post]
As inconvenient as it will be, I think on my next trip I will just try to use the buses to get around. Since I don't plan on making mongering the only thing I do, and I'd like to do some legit tourism and exploring, it would be nice to have the freedom of my own vehicle but the last thing I would want to deal with is getting involved in a scam where I could potentially have the police against me.
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04-10-22 15:17 #15048
Posts: 333Rooms Safes are a No-Go
Originally Posted by SoapySmith [View Original Post]
A pac safe is also not needed. I pack everything into refrigerator zip bags and hide it in the room, every room has some good places for hiding. Nobody will find it (unlike the pac safe, who will be found immediately).
I also hided things like that during Africa Trips and never had any problems.