General Info

[Buko Max]

Barrio Barretto now has "close to 30" gogo bars? It was closer to 3 when I was there in early 90s).

Well I'm also including the bars in Subic City (Calapandayan) just 2 km up the road. Five new ones have opened in BB the last six months including two owned by 'Mo' of Angeles fame. Yeah you should give it a try. Good mix of beach and bars!

Asianatic: Check the Olongapo thread.

[Asianatic]

That's great news ! We'll try to check out as much as possible and post a FR. Is there any popular nightclub (discotheque type) in town ? We like to rave and party till sunrise and then get home with a couple of chicks.

I just hope that it'll be fine during christmas eve as well. On Christmas day (25th) we'll checking out from Arizona and proceed to Manila. I guess the only option there would be LA Cafe during that night as I read at another thread on this great forum ?

[HornyGeorge]

Barrio Barretto now has "close to 30" gogo bars? It was closer to 3 when I was there in early 90s). Might have to take a look some time as the drive on the Expressway is so quick nowadays.

[Buko Max]

Mattrick, do you mean the hotel can send ladies to the airport to give us company during the ride back to Barretto ?

Yes thats exactly what I mean! But I believe you will have to pay their BF. Either way I'm sure you will enjoy this up and coming destination which now boasts close to 30 bars! Please file a FR upon your return!

[Asianatic]

Thanks for the info brothers. Alright, we have made the reservation for the pick-up van. We really does'nt matter to spend a peso more or less. We just want to make sure that we are not being fooled so now with your info, we feel alright with the fare anyhow.
Yes, we're staying at the Arizona untill Christmas day. After dozens of visits to the region (mainly Phuket), we want to get into something new and check out Subic before we're heading to Boracay and later back to Phuket again.
Mattrick, do you mean the hotel can send ladies to the airport to give us company during the ride back to Barretto ? That's would be nice add to start off our holidays.
Again, thanks for the replies and we can't wait to dive into the Subic nights...

[HornyGeorge]

Get AWAY from the airport first, or get a departing taxi with no passengers and agree on price before getting in. I bet if you told your hotel only 1 passenger price is more like 2500.

Bigger questions is WHY Subic? If mongering is the priority, Angeles is 100 times better. If going for the beach, LOADS of places are 100 times better.

[Buko Max]

Are there cheaper ways to get a decent transport to reach hotel ? Is this a normal rate ?

Would have to agree with X Man in that it is reasonable. The horntoad shuttles would be in the neighborhood of 1200 php each but you would have to stay in AC for the night. You could of course take a cramped taxi.

The Arizona just acquired a brand new Toyota HiAce 14 person passenger van. So you guys should have plenty of room to spread out. In fact if you want to really go all out, they will get a few of their girls from Score Bar to accompany you guys back to Barretto for a price! Btw, are you staying at Arizona?

[X Man]

Considering your requirements, and assuming the fee is per three people, it sounds reasonable. You could easily inquire at other hotels just to see if there is a better fee. I'll assume you've already read about the MNL - AC - Subic buses for horntoads.

Taxi might be a better option. The airport taxis are usually newer, ride is more comfortable, and drivers have some smarts (could be good or bad). You probably would want to ask for a nearby hotel / destination and then negotiate from there. Maybe another member could give you contact info to save you the airport runaround.

Have fun,

X

I've been trying to find the answer at the forum first,but it looks like searching a needle in a hayfield.
I got a message from Arizona Hotel that they would pick us (3 guys) by private van at NAIA up at a fare of 4,500P. It is just at a convenient time somewhere afternoon.
Are there cheaper ways to get a decent transport to reach hotel ? Is this a normal rate ?
We don't like to waste lots of time by looking for a bus that make stops on its way, but rather wanna get to the hotel quick. I guess the hotel's van would be our only option ? How about taxi ?
Sorry folks, it will be our first time to Subic - we gotta learn the ways.
Thanks for all your input.

[Asianatic]

I've been trying to find the answer at the forum first,but it looks like searching a needle in a hayfield.
I got a message from Arizona Hotel that they would pick us (3 guys) by private van at NAIA up at a fare of 4,500P. It is just at a convenient time somewhere afternoon.
Are there cheaper ways to get a decent transport to reach hotel ? Is this a normal rate ?
We don't like to waste lots of time by looking for a bus that make stops on its way, but rather wanna get to the hotel quick. I guess the hotel's van would be our only option ? How about taxi ?
Sorry folks, it will be our first time to Subic - we gotta learn the ways.
Thanks for all your input.

[Robbaf]

Thanks HG, excellent site.

Robb

Using your Paypal account, you can instantly add "eloads" to SMART or GLOBE cellphones in the PI.

You pay a small premium: for example-a 115 Piso load costs $2. 85 CURRENTLY-they do adjust with exchange rate fluctuations whereas at 50 Piso per dollar it should cost about $2. 35). Even with a slight premium being collected, it is WAY better to reload your phone right before arrival so you have load when you arrive at airport. Also for girls you want to be able to text you without sending them money.

www.e-loads.net

[FreebieFan]

I always make sure I have a spare smart load card in my travel bag.

That way its loaded as soon as plane lands, and already then I'm working phones seeing how quickly I can make a meeting and get laid. The record is 2 hours off the plane having stopped in my condo first.

However. Smart load cards, once loaded only last about 6 weeks I think, so if not used and no return visits to Phils within 6 weeks balance dissapears. Thats why you need to keep spare cards.

I was blown away when I made a visit to China and checked my China sim. I hadnt been there for 18 months. But I still had load. Much better if thats what happened in Phils.

I did try buying once at airport. In that dingy area across from arrivals (down the ramp across the road). I asked for a P300 card and the guy wanted to charge me P350. Bastard. I held out P350 in my hand and let him take the money, but held onto the P50. Walked away.

[HornyGeorge]

Using your Paypal account, you can instantly add "eloads" to SMART or GLOBE cellphones in the PI.

You pay a small premium: for example-a 115 Piso load costs $2. 85 CURRENTLY-they do adjust with exchange rate fluctuations whereas at 50 Piso per dollar it should cost about $2. 35). Even with a slight premium being collected, it is WAY better to reload your phone right before arrival so you have load when you arrive at airport. Also for girls you want to be able to text you without sending them money.

www.e-loads.net

[Samar 2009]

Thanks Blair for the info you have provided. yes I do switch off my roaming cell phone but only for about half a day.

Also thanks for the advice regarding the different ring tones for different countries.

Best regards,

Ace

Just to add my 2c to the discussion - If you carry a cellphone overseas (roaming), you need to be careful of call progress tones (ringing, busy, unobtainable) and network error messages. Generally the calling party will hear the call progress tones and messages of the (overseas) network you are currently using, and this can be a dead giveaway.

If the calling tone style is more or less the same as wherever you are 'supposed' to be, you should be in the clear, for example it would be hard to tell the difference between a call terminated in UK or Singapore or even Australia. On the other hand an Aus to Thai roaming call will ring with a Thai calling tone, which may cause problems.

You can hear typical calling tones here:

http://www.3amsystems.com/wireline/tone-search.htm

Another gotcha is network error messages. Again, some voice over girl spouting 'The person you are calling is not available, try later' in Indonesian or Tagalog might raise someones suspicion.

Generally, when I've been in this situation, I leave the roaming phone off, just turning on briefly to get messages and return calls (living with the small risk of an incoming call while I'm doing this). If your roaming phone is switched off, calls should just land in your normal (home country) voicemail service. The other option is just to send all incoming calls to directly voicemail -if anyone asks, the expense of roaming calls and the possibility of calls at unsocial hours are a good excuse.

If this topic is covered elsewhere, please forgive the repetition, but mistakes like this can have serious and long lasting consequences for a monger ;)

[Ekspat]

And recently I've got a phone here, able to work with two SIM cards.
Functions very well, Chinese brand, MP3 player, video player, touch screen etc.
Not too bad.

Cheers!

[Ekspat]

The PI telco called SMART requires you to have a minimum balance of P100 & they tell me you cant recharge while out of the PI using a prepaid load card (this may not be correct information from them).

About the balance it's correct, but you can reload overseas with such a prepaid reload card.
100%, because I've done it already.

Thank god I'm unmarried and don't have to consider such nonsense, hehe... :D

I carry usually laptop and phone and DSLR.
Sorry, the pics out of a handphone are simply crap.
Personal laptop in hotel room is much more convenient than sitting with dozens of youngsters in a hot internet cafe.
Better carry a cheap simple handphone (call and txt only) in the Phils,
a 1,000$ phone is very attractive for any pickpocket and makes you a target.

Cheers!