General Info

[WestCoast1]

I've only ever met one Pina who was returning from a hooking session there. Smoking hot but she wanted 15,000 peso over night in Manila which isn't that far off some of the prices being quoted on the Dubai forum: 500 AED /7500 PHP ST; 1500 AED /21000 PHP LT. Some simp was probably paying her asking price locally and her outgoings would have been much less.

So its possible that a Filipina will go for P21000 (400 USD) for LT? I say that sarcastically, because of course some girls will go for that much. High-end girls are not always even available to the public, they are by private appt only. All countries have such girls. Yet some guys were writing here previously that it was just too much to give Burgos gogo girls half that amount. The idea that girls from this country or that country are only worth X pesos / dollars because girls in another country are better-looking for less pesos / dollars, is a misnomer. If they are getting a higher amount, there is a market for them in that niche. The better comparison is how much the ladies are going for in this local venue vs a different venue within a country (ie, Burgos vs AC, gogo girls vs SW / FL, Jakarta vs Surabaya, BKK vs Patts, etc).

[Goferring]

You forgot Dubai where the top of the class lot go. Hooking runs in some families and they pass tips to each other, money to carry, line to tell at immigration etc. Like any other trade, you have fast learners and, as you say, country bumkins.

This feeds backwards. Why do short time in Manila when you can make 100 times the amount for less work in the ME.

Is Dubai really that attractive for Asian girls?

I've only ever met one Pina who was returning from a hooking session there. Smoking hot but she wanted 15,000 peso over night in Manila which isn't that far off some of the prices being quoted on the Dubai forum: 500 AED /7500 PHP ST; 1500 AED /21000 PHP LT. Some simp was probably paying her asking price locally and her outgoings would have been much less.

Cheers. G.

[Goferring]

I used to spend a few days in Makati before spending the bulk of my time in AC. The last time I did it, believe it or not, there was way less to do in Makati during the day than AC, especially if you want things within walking distance. I couldn't even find a bar open during the day to hang out at. Makati has a great nightlife scene if you're good looking and have game. And insane amount of non pro hotties that party every night. The girlie bars do, on average, have a better looking girls. But as has been noted, you'll pay at least twice as much. I don't really go with money as an object either, but I kept thinking that this cash would go a lot further in AC. Last visit I got off the plane and got in a private car and went straight to AC. That's what I plan to do in a few weeks. If you've never done it though, Manila is definitely worth a visit.

AC is also better for a guy on his own. Its normal there. The Makati clubs are full of groups of buddies and packs of girls. Definitely not insurmountable but a single guy will stick out anywhere outside Burgos.

G.

[Goferring]

If I decide on Philippines, I only have around a 10 day window before I need to go back to Thailand. Question is how many days should I spend in Makati vs AC? In Makati I would go to the SM malls during the day then Burgos, LA Cafe, etc at night. In AC I don't think there's much to do during the day so really only Fields at night. Or should I just do 3 in Makati, 2 in AC and decide?

Although half the price I have some hesitation on the AC girl quality. I am really picky. Since it's a short trip I'll be a Weekend Millionaire so am not too phased about the high prices in Makati.

AC and Manila (and the girls who live there) are totally different markets. Search my posts as I've listed the comparisons a few times.

There are plenty of transport and accommodation options at both so no need to commit to how many days at each before arrival. Just go have a look for yourself and decide which best suits you.

For a picky weekend millionaire, I'd point out that Manila has a lot more options in clubs, girlie bars and online.

I'd recommend Greenbelt rather than Makati proper. Greenbelt malls and the nearby area have lots to do during the day and evening (eat, drink, movies etc) and is only a very short taxi to Burgos and the Poblacion clubs. Online girls also won't get lost if you say "meet at Greenbelt 5". BGC is another option. Makati around Burgos is just a big city wasteland during the day. A pro top is that an AirBnB condo can have more features and be less intimidating for a good girl than being asked to meet in a hotel room.

Enjoy. G.

[FuriousGeorge]

I used to spend a few days in Makati before spending the bulk of my time in AC. The last time I did it, believe it or not, there was way less to do in Makati during the day than AC, especially if you want things within walking distance. I couldn't even find a bar open during the day to hang out at. Makati has a great nightlife scene if you're good looking and have game. And insane amount of non pro hotties that party every night. The girlie bars do, on average, have a better looking girls. But as has been noted, you'll pay at least twice as much. I don't really go with money as an object either, but I kept thinking that this cash would go a lot further in AC. Last visit I got off the plane and got in a private car and went straight to AC. That's what I plan to do in a few weeks. If you've never done it though, Manila is definitely worth a visit.

If I decide on Philippines, I only have around a 10 day window before I need to go back to Thailand. Question is how many days should I spend in Makati vs AC? In Makati I would go to the SM malls during the day then Burgos, LA Cafe, etc at night. In AC I don't think there's much to do during the day so really only Fields at night. Or should I just do 3 in Makati, 2 in AC and decide?

Although half the price I have some hesitation on the AC girl quality. I am really picky. Since it's a short trip I'll be a Weekend Millionaire so am not too phased about the high prices in Makati.

[Banana Boi]

If I decide on Philippines, I only have around a 10 day window before I need to go back to Thailand. Question is how many days should I spend in Makati vs AC? In Makati I would go to the SM malls during the day then Burgos, LA Cafe, etc at night. In AC I don't think there's much to do during the day so really only Fields at night. Or should I just do 3 in Makati, 2 in AC and decide?

Although half the price I have some hesitation on the AC girl quality. I am really picky. Since it's a short trip I'll be a Weekend Millionaire so am not too phased about the high prices in Makati.

[Dg8787]

Hello all, I am traveling to Cebu on the 18th of this month and wanted to know if there are any reputable car service companies in the area? I really don't want to rent a vehicle given the nature of international companies.

Try posting in the Cebu forum.

[Goferring]

Hello all, I am traveling to Cebu on the 18th of this month and wanted to know if there are any reputable car service companies in the area? I really don't want to rent a vehicle given the nature of international companies.

From where to where? Dumaguete to Cebu City?

"Cebu" can mean the city, the island or the province. Trips can be from one to twelve hours and not all drivers go everywhere.

Of course, the easiest solution is to have your destination hotel come collect you. It's reliable but comes at a cost.

Cheers. G.

[JWill2578]

Hello all, I am traveling to Cebu on the 18th of this month and wanted to know if there are any reputable car service companies in the area? I really don't want to rent a vehicle given the nature of international companies.

[WestCoast1]

Many days after I wrote to CebuPacific Customer Service I received an email back that said if I didn't like the flight they had chosen for me I could go online and change it. EOM. The problem is I can't. Through the very link they resent I could either accept the totally unacceptable date they proposed or request a refund. I wrote them back explaining that I had tried to change my flight online but couldn't. All I heard since was an email saying my issue was resolved. To which I responded that it wasn't. But I have heard nothing further.

I am sorry for your loss. Your loss of any semblance of trust in CP, or your trust in 'the system'. Don't you find it interesting that you must email CP Cust Service. You can't call them, as calling them would require employees to answer phones, and employees to help fix your issue RIGHT NOW. Employees cost money, and they are not interested in your issue. Instead, they reply to your email inquiry / complaint about a week after you send it. Or alternately, they just don't reply. And each time the do reply, a different CSR handles your issue.

PAL has a flight from Manila (instead of AC) that would work for me (and, hey, I'd get Mabuhay Miles!) but it doesn't seem like BMs thin much higher of PAL than Cebu P.

CP is typically the crappier of the two organizations. Regarding cancellations. As an example. PAL offers 3 flights on any give day from your departure city to your arrival city. Most flights are full each day. OTOH, CP offers 6 flights from the departure city to the destination, daily. Each flight is usually half-full. Three of the flights are then cancelled, pushing the passengers on cancelled flights over to the remaining CP flights, mostly filling them (or alternately pushing some CP passengers to flights a different day). CP flights are a bit cheaper.

Six of one (CP), half a dozen of the other (PAL).

I know this is a first world problem, but as a PI newbie I'm open to input.

Recently someone on the board said that its just easier to take your lumps, show up, sit in whatever seat they assigned you at the check-in counter, and shut up. Flights are at most 90 minutes and you can live thru anything for such a short period of time. At issue: Why should you have to live thru your issue without being able to talk to someone about it TODAY?

[Errol Flynn]

There is no customer service in the Philippines when it comes to airlines.

Many days after I wrote to CebuPacific Customer Service I received an email back that said if I didn't like the flight they had chosen for me I could go online and change it. EOM. The problem is I can't. Through the very link they resent I could either accept the totally unacceptable date they proposed or request a refund. I wrote them back explaining that I had tried to change my flight online but couldn't. All I heard since was an email saying my issue was resolved. To which I responded that it wasn't. But I have heard nothing further.

PAL has a flight from Manila (instead of AC) that would work for me (and, hey, I'd get Mabuhay Miles!) but it doesn't seem like BMs thin much higher of PAL than Cebu P.

I know this is a first world problem, but as a PI newbie I'm open to input.

[Shining Wit]

From an aviation related site I frequent, it seems United are now operating non-stop flights to Manila. Daily ex-LOS Angeles, already started. I think this is the only non-PAL non-stop flight from North America.

[WestCoast1]

Tourism. Last full pre-Covid year was 2019, with 8. 2 million foreign visitors (see graph, first pic). Extrapolating from the bar graph, that would add about a half million to a million per year, if not for the pandemic. Website: https://www.statista.com/statistics/...rist-arrivals/.

For the first 10 months of 2023 (see second pic), 4 million foreign visitors. Extrapolating to include the last 2 months, it should be close to 5 million. Not yet back up to the pre-pandemic extrapolation (about half as much this year), and a given is that Phils has been re-opened for 18 months. Website: http://tourism.gov.ph/files/2023/11/...23-October.pdf.

And for fun, you can see the list (third pic) of countries with foreign visitors to Phils, ranked in order from most to least. N Korea is #1 so far this year (1.1 million tourists), then the US (740K), Japan, China, Australia (207K), Canada (180K), Taiwan, and UK (125K). No wonder we're getting waxed in AC. Website: http://tourism.gov.ph/files/2023/11/...23-October.pdf.

[Jarango]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67305693

This is a report on how Thailand is getting a different sort of Chinese tourist: top tier and rich LGBT only. I guess the Philippines is still, ahem, virgin territory, helped by itb only catring to Koreans, Western losers and grand papas like us.

[TooDirty]

Thanks for the feedback.