General Info

[Muttley81]

That's a tourist scam. Don't buy into it. Before you get going in a taxi, always use your iPhone to take a picture of the driver, the car, and his license. Let him see you do this and do it with a smile. Send the pics to an email or something. That will discourage him from playing games with you. I always sit in the front seat because the view is better but you can also lighten the mood and personalize the conversation.

I live in the Philippines, you can do what you suggest, but you quickly learn living here just to go with it sometimes or forever be on verge of a heart attack from anger. "Welcome to the Philippines" as everyone says with a great deal of sarcasm.

I would personally deem a tourist scam to be not having the meter on at all or taking you wrong route. One of my friends got in a taxi on Burgos, asked to go to Greenbelt, but was so drunk he woke up in the taxi at the base of mountains beyond BGC! That's a scam!

While it's great to share advice this isn't something I'll be following. The times when an extra 50 has been requested were on public holidays or when it was raining heavily. With the situation with grabs at the moment, I'd prefer to pay 50 than not get a ride at all. If it was 500 or something then there'd be an issue worth arsing about with.

[DzikaBomba]

That's a tourist scam. Don't buy into it. Before you get going in a taxi, always use your iPhone to take a picture of the driver, the car, and his license. Let him see you do this and do it with a smile. Send the pics to an email or something. That will discourage him from playing games with you. I always sit in the front seat because the view is better but you can also lighten the mood and personalize the conversation.

When I arrived last time in Cebu I had to fight with the Taxi mafia.

At The exit they All had lists which "official prices."

I said no way.

What Kind of tourist scam is that?

And believe me no one would take you with Meter. They Just leave you there.

I went to the other Terminal.

Again the same, no Meter. Only official lists quoting 700 p to my hotel!

No way.

I went up to the Street and took a taxi from the Street.

He also did not wanted to use meter, but was ok with 500 p.

Was it always that Bad in Cebu airport?

One of the most things I hate is these taxi mafia.

[The Rose]

Most have been on meter but some have asked for extra 50 PHP on top of meter fee.

That's a tourist scam. Don't buy into it. Before you get going in a taxi, always use your iPhone to take a picture of the driver, the car, and his license. Let him see you do this and do it with a smile. Send the pics to an email or something. That will discourage him from playing games with you. I always sit in the front seat because the view is better but you can also lighten the mood and personalize the conversation.

[WestCoast1]

Great advice from the guys who have been there! Love the idea of getting a Taxi drivers number. .

Are there any app for calling a Taxi in AC and / or near P. Burgos?

Yes, the 'Grab' app (similar to Uber in the US).

[MrHappyKat]

Just to add to these excellent points, Grab at present is a disaster, they've have done PR releases to apologise for demand exceeding supply. If you're travelling peak hours you simply may not be able to book at all. Been getting taxis myself or walking. Majority of taxis will ask where you are going before letting you in. Most have been on meter but some have asked for extra 50 PHP on top of meter fee. In grand scheme of things, and considering it's rainy season, things could be much worse.

Honestly speaking if you have problems with your knees you'll struggle to get in tricycle. I'm same height, you have to step in and almost fall backwards, getting out is trickier. Jeepny are also likely to be a struggle as they have limited height available, unless you're able to park yourself right next to door. Just a note also, tricycles are generally banned within Makati, so you may get one around Burgos area but they wouldn't for example take you into Salcedo to one of nice restaurants there.

If one of taxi drivers is decent always option to get his number and text him in advance of your journey.

Great advice from the guys who have been there! Love the idea of getting a Taxi drivers number. .

Are there any app for calling a Taxi in AC and / or near P. Burgos?

[Muttley81]

If you stay on Burgos or Walking Street, you could cover all the major bars in a few hundred yards walk, esp if you stop for drink stops on the way. If you do find your self unable to continue, the bar or girl will happily find you transport. All you need to do is ask.

For travelling further away, I've never had issues with Grab not taxis but I will admit that was pre pandemic.

Enjoy. G.

P.S. You don't want to stay in your room the whole trip but it's very easy to have girls come to you if you aren't feeling well.

Just to add to these excellent points, Grab at present is a disaster, they've have done PR releases to apologise for demand exceeding supply. If you're travelling peak hours you simply may not be able to book at all. Been getting taxis myself or walking. Majority of taxis will ask where you are going before letting you in. Most have been on meter but some have asked for extra 50 PHP on top of meter fee. In grand scheme of things, and considering it's rainy season, things could be much worse.

Honestly speaking if you have problems with your knees you'll struggle to get in tricycle. I'm same height, you have to step in and almost fall backwards, getting out is trickier. Jeepny are also likely to be a struggle as they have limited height available, unless you're able to park yourself right next to door. Just a note also, tricycles are generally banned within Makati, so you may get one around Burgos area but they wouldn't for example take you into Salcedo to one of nice restaurants there.

If one of taxi drivers is decent always option to get his number and text him in advance of your journey.

[Goferring]

I am 6'1" tall and I'm a big guy. Over 300 lbs. From the dozens of YT Vlogs I've seen I'm fairly sure I will never fit in a trike. And with bad knees, I'm not really able to walk more than a few hundred yards at any one time.

If you stay on Burgos or Walking Street, you could cover all the major bars in a few hundred yards walk, esp if you stop for drink stops on the way. If you do find your self unable to continue, the bar or girl will happily find you transport. All you need to do is ask.

For travelling further away, I've never had issues with Grab not taxis but I will admit that was pre pandemic.

Enjoy. G.

P.S. You don't want to stay in your room the whole trip but it's very easy to have girls come to you if you aren't feeling well.

[MrHappyKat]

My trip is scheduled for mid-July and I'm so ready!

A question about getting around within Manila and AC safely and reasonably priced: I am 6'1" tall and I'm a big guy. Over 300 lbs. From the dozens of YT Vlogs I've seen I'm fairly sure I will never fit in a trike. And with bad knees, I'm not really able to walk more than a few hundred yards at any one time. I know trikes are probably fairly safe and certainly cheap for short distances, say from Walking Street to my hotel or to Perimeter Rd. But it looks like I probably can't use them? Am I correct?

So that means my next best options seem to be:

Grab. I have the app, of course. I know its a bit more expensive than a trike, but I can handle 7-10 trips per day if they cost $5-6.

- Saw some recent posts that wait time for a Grab is getting longer. Over 20 minutes?

- Probably best for taking a girl back to my hotel?

- Probably best for getting to other local regions like Ermita to P. Burgos, Malate to Greenbelt?

Taxis. Seems like a bad option: more expensive, taxi mafias, scam drivers who "forget" to use the meter.

For longer rides. Jeepnys? Not sure they are safe from pickpockets, don't really know the routes, and not door to door, but very inexpensive.

Are there other options? Are my assumptions above accurate?

Thanks for any advice.

[PedroMorales]

What about the one health pass? Are we still required to do that be / S does anyone know? It was required when I went there in March. I am planning on another trip in July.

Comrade: The advice to check Phillipines Airlines was a good start, but only a start. Check other airlines as well, especially those using the join sherpa system. That will tell you eg fly NYNY-Manila, change Narita, USA passport, (not) fully vaccinated: then these are the conditions.

Eg: there is a new change tomorrow, 30th, where proof of a negative pre departure Covid result is needed for vaccinated. If you want to be a dumpsky, relying on some youtube loser, go ahead.

You would be best checking several reputable airlines as they all outsource that stuff to firms like join sherpa.

[GDreams]

Until we hear otherwise, its probably still on. Please follow Jennifer Terri's updates on youtube.

I looked up the Philippine Airlines website. The Pass is still required and they had already updated the removal of the PCR test.

Annoying as I could have arrived a day earlier if I had known. As for insurance I could cancel but it was not expensive so will keep it. I dint see anything about insurance on the P A website.

[WestCoast1]

What about the one health pass? Are we still required to do that be / S does anyone know? It was required when I went there in March. I am planning on another trip in July.

Until we hear otherwise, its probably still on. Please follow Jennifer Terri's updates on youtube.

[Nightrider1]

What about the one health pass? Are we still required to do that be / S does anyone know? It was required when I went there in March. I am planning on another trip in July.

[Barney Rubber]

You sound good to go, Albert! I'the get the 2nd booster if you have time but I think the requirement is only one booster!

To everyone else. I appreciate the responses from my first post regarding this matter! We can now all cancel travel insurance as well.. Just bought that a couple days ago. damn!

Good news.

But there is something I cannot find, its about what they call a full vaccination schema or this booster shot.

Is there any delay for this booster shot? One month old, two month, six month?

Example for me, I had 3 Pfizer in 2021, the last one which could be the booster one I guess, was in Dec 2021. So is that ok or should I take a fourth one and how long before the travel?

Can we arrive with a last injection six month old?

Unclear for me up to now.

[SpirouleGroom]

This is June 2022 almost and people are still inquiring about boosters.

Covid is dead in the water as they just stated in Davos. The window is shutting down fast. Too fast.

But monkey pox will save the year. PCR tests have been ordered from China. Pfizer and Moderna are about to release their stuff. Everything is ready to go.

Now, for those who got jabs three times last year and will get monkey pox shots, the borders are all yours! For a few weeks.

Good news.

But there is something I cannot find, its about what they call a full vaccination schema or this booster shot.

Is there any delay for this booster shot? One month old, two month, six month?

Example for me, I had 3 Pfizer in 2021, the last one which could be the booster one I guess, was in Dec 2021. So is that ok or should I take a fourth one and how long before the travel?

Can we arrive with a last injection six month old?

Unclear for me up to now.

[Albert9989]

Good news. And lifting the travel insurance requirement. From the article:
"Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) Inbound travelers no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry provided they are vaccinated and with a booster shot, according to new rules released by the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The government also lifted the travel insurance requirement.

Good news.

But there is something I cannot find, its about what they call a full vaccination schema or this booster shot.

Is there any delay for this booster shot? One month old, two month, six month?

Example for me, I had 3 Pfizer in 2021, the last one which could be the booster one I guess, was in Dec 2021. So is that ok or should I take a fourth one and how long before the travel?

Can we arrive with a last injection six month old?

Unclear for me up to now.