General Info

**WestCoast1** · 06-19-13 09:05

The Manila airport. For all the upgrades, new terminal, etc, some things remain the same. My int'l flight was due in at 8pm, but was delayed and arrived 9pm. Finally thru customs and walk outside at 9:30 to the taxis, and was overwhelmed at the number of people. The yellow taxi line was humongous, snaking all over the place. Some unofficial touts to Malate for me were all p1300. I get in the shorter fixed-price line (about a dozen parties in front of me). Not a single yellow taxi, nor white fixed-price van pulled thru for 10 solid minutes. At this rate, I'd be in line for 3 hours. It was tempting to get out of line and walk upstairs to the Arrivals, but I would lose my spot. A few yellows pull in, but nothing else. Neither line moves. I'm starting to wilt in the heat after 20 hours of flying.

Finally the yellows start pulling in by the bunchload. The yellow line moves a smidge. A bunch of folk in my line jump ship to the yellow taxi line, leaving just two parties in front of me. Sure as filipine rain, two white vans pull up and grab the next two parties. Another pulls up 2 minutes later. About p450.

30 minutes standing in line. If they can fix the terminals inside, why is it this hard to get a taxi at 9:30pm? Is there no bus service leaving the airport? Fortunately there was little traffic, and I was at the hotel in Malate 20 minutes later.

The hotel taxi would have been 600. I save p150 by waiting in line 30 minutes. Never again. For the life of me, I've been at 4 major airports in the last 2 months, and had no trouble getting a taxi or walk-up shuttle from any other than Manila.

Next gripe is Cebu-Pacific.

**WestCoast1** · 06-19-13 06:50

Originally Posted by Natty Bumpo [View Original Post]

By the way, what's the name of the town and the hotel? It doesn't really matter since it could have happened anywhere in the Philippines, but I'd like to know anyway.

I'm still at this hotel. Will turn the info loose later when I'm no longer on this island (will post the pics fromthe ridiculously fabulous several nights I spent in the first town.

**GoodEnough** · 06-19-13 03:04

Great post Westcoast, and a concise description of the consumer economy here managed in accordance with mindless rules enforced by mindless people. I had a friend here in Davao was the GEM of a large hotel, and he told me that HRM graduates, having spent 4 years learning to make beds and fold napkins, while learning nothing about hotel management, were useless in any capacity except waiters. Welcome back to the Philippines, where bland indifference to consumers is the rule and resigned acceptance is the response.

GE

**Member #4698** · 06-19-13 02:44

That's a funny story Westcoast. I can see Netflix turning it into their next in house drama/comedy series. They should call it "Punter in Paradise" and cast Chris Evans to play you. Each episode could take place in another town in the PI and include various humorous run in's between the punter and an assortment of inane colorful locals like 'smiley', 'all-biz' and the 'hot manager' and then each episode would conclude with an 'R-rated' sex scene between the punter and a young provincial lass.

By the way, what's the name of the town and the hotel? It doesn't really matter since it could have happened anywhere in the Philippines, but I'd like to know anyway.

**FreebieFan** · 06-19-13 02:25

Originally Posted by Westcoast1 [View Original Post]

.

So I have good experiences with the chicas in the provincial town from below. After a few days I hop the bus and head to the next province. I'm checking into my hotel, I'm the only customer in the lobby. I'm chatting the two counter clerks. They are both A to honor Analyn's mistake, and talk to Analyn about this. 'Wait sir. I will come back. And don't disturb this bed. ' She was overly concerned that a towel was laying on that bed. They walked out, and returned two minutes later. 'OK sir. Our website is deleted. The email is mistake. But we will honor it. You may disturb the bed. ' Hahaha really! I'm the only one here, why would I sleep in the small bed and ignore the king?

Its a lovely hotel. The lobby is large, open, with overstuffed chairs and couches to sit on. There are conference rooms. A restaurant with room service (or poolside service). A beautiful pool area with a covered eating area outside, and lounge chairs. There is a free breakfast. Why does a hotel this nice (by phils standards) have:

E noise should be ignored by guests)

* ).

Fabulously well reported story. Newbies will never figure out why this is funny and frustrating in equal measures. But those of us that have ventured north south east and west will understand that your story is both normal and repeated every day in every province.

There are Filipinos working with large multinational hospiltaity companies (Marriott, Starwood, IHC, Hilton etc) in GM positions which proves that its not specifically a Filipino thing, but a small minded provincial mindset thing that creates these monstrous rule oriented policies.

I didn't cut and paste your most of your report, as wouldn't want to incur the wrath of the sad old grouchy XYZ's who inhabit this board.

**WestCoast1** · 06-19-13 01:42

so good here. and bad stuff too.

so i have good experiences with the chicas in the provincial town from below. after a few days i hop the bus and head to the next province. i'm checking into my hotel, i'm the only customer in the lobby. i'm chatting the two counter clerks. they are both relatively young and cute. one is all business, the other is chatty, smily, and an airhead. i ask the confirmation questions at the desk: aircon, king bed + single bed good for 3 people, free wifi in the room. 'yes sir. ' got it. check into the room, check the wifi. it comes / goes every minute or two. walk outside to the pool, strong signal and fast internet speed. back in the room the wifi signal drops off the moment i walk in the door. back the front desk, tell them the problem, ask if i can have a room closer to the router. the all-biz gal tells me there is no room with better wifi, that the only wifi is in the lobby or by the pool, not in the rooms.

wait, didn't you just tell me 5 minutes ago there was wifi in the room? 'yes. ' without missing a beat the airhead, smiling, says: 'but sir its not work that way. in your room wifi sometimes only. ' so, it will start, then stop, a lot? 'yes sir you understanding now! ' airhead appeared to have explained the second coming of christ to me, and was pleased as punch. all-biz did the slow-burn, and glared the smile off airhead's face. just for fun: doesn't your website say free wifi in all rooms? 'well. we take down the website now sir. ' really. why? 'we need to change it. customers complain. also owner say its expensive. ' i see. but i have this email from 2 days ago from analyn stating free wifi in the room. see it? 'yes sir. ' well, who is analyn? 'i am sir (all-biz). ' so if i want to use the internet, i go to the pool? air-head, pleased as punch again: 'yes sir! ' i smiled and walked off. welcome to filipines.

i went to the room, turned on the aircon, and went to the pool to both swim and internet. i appeared to be the only customer at the hotel. after enjoying the pool and internet i head back to the room. too cold, the aircon unit was macho. i turn the unit off completely, and a minute later i hear: crack-crack-crack-crack, about twice / second, non-stop. something outside is striking the aircon unit fairly loudly. back to the front desk to explain the noise. air-head: 'oh. yes sir. nothing wrong with your aircon. its fine. don't worry it. ' no hun, the tapping is noisy and won't stop. can you make it stop? 'oh. no sir. don't worry it. ' hon i want to sleep later tonight, and that noise won't do the trick. 'it is the noise from water falling on it sir. from the aircon unit on second floor. you want to transfer room? ' sure. you have another with nobody using the aircon unit above? 'no sir. all downstairs room will have this noise. ' who is the genious that designed aircon units directly above each other? smile, head back to the room.

a minute later a knock on the door. the manager (she's hot!) and a repair guy. they check the aircon. 'unit works fine sir. ' over the noise of the aircon you can still hear the crack-crack. could you sleep through that, ma'am? 'not sure. ' can i have a room upstairs? 'yes. executive room is open. much more expensive. ' or, you can stop the water from hitting this one? 'yes. maybe tomorrow. ' smile, welcome to phils.

i turn on the shower to warm it up, then step inside. no hot water. no warm water. the water is cold-er than the pool. call the front desk. airhead: 'yes sir. hot water units broken. will be fixed tuesday. ' wait, today is tuesday. 'next tuesday sir. ' smile. welcome to filipines!

few minutes later another knock on the door. the manager and the guy. the guy turns on the hot water spigot in the sink, tests the water with his finger. manager: 'yes sir. no hot water. ' they walk out and close the door. what the hell was that? why did they bother testing for non-existent hot water? a minute later they knock on the door again and i let them in. the manager points to the small bed (one king, one single, room designed for up to 3 people). the room is large, airy, modestly luxurious by pinoy standards (nice large flat-screen tv, closets, wall mirrors, fridge, clean). she points to the small bed. i had tossed a towel on it to dry from the pool. 'please don't disturb this bed. ' what? 'don't put things on this bed sir. ' why not? 'if it appears the bed is not in order tomorrow when we clean the room, we assume you have extra guest. p480 charge for that. ' what? i paid for the room to include up to 3 people. i am the only one here. 'no sir. you pay for one person only. extra people stay here in this room you pay 480 each. ' no ma'am, its on your website, good for 3 people, and i sent an email asking about the room. the 1700 peso that i paid is good for 3 people. 'no sir. it is not. who tell you that? ' here, read this email. analyn explains it in the email. the manager read the email. 'analyn is wrong. extra person p480. ' i expect you to honor analyn's mistake, and talk to analyn about this. 'wait sir. i will come back. and don't disturb this bed. ' she was overly concerned that a towel was laying on that bed. they walked out, and returned two minutes later. 'ok sir. our website is deleted. the email is mistake. but we will honor it. you may disturb the bed. ' hahaha really! i'm the only one here, why would i sleep in the small bed and ignore the king?

its a lovely hotel. the lobby is large, open, with overstuffed chairs and couches to sit on. there are conference rooms. a restaurant with room service (or poolside service). a beautiful pool area with a covered eating area outside, and lounge chairs. there is a free breakfast. why does a hotel this nice (by phils standards) have:

* no website.

* previously a long-standing website filled with inaccuracy.

* no wifi in the rooms they claim to have wifi in.

* no hot water for a week (more?). the good news is: just before i sat down to write this, i washed my hands, and there is now hot water (the next day)

* noise that cannot be stopped (aircon) in every lower-floor room (and an assumption by staff that the noise should be ignored by guests)

* a concern that a bed has a towel on it.

ineptitude. lack of caring. the culture that subjugates itself to not complain. more caring about 'the rules' than the customer. its an explanation as to why hrm students spend weeks folding napkins, rather than learning about customer service.

the saving grace: two of my previous f*ck-mates are coming later today from further out in the province for a naked bed-festival photo-shoot. they love camera play. i've made good dogs bust their leash.

more gripin' coming soon about the manila airport and cebu pacific (my fav airline to pick on).

**Sxxxx** · 06-18-13 23:23

Originally Posted by Econo Tech [View Original Post]

If you are a Filipino, not legal. If not, you can be charged, as per any way the Philippines Finest interprets the law (or offer you a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Card, in lieu, priced at 50, 000 peso onwards in AC.)

This, is illegal, if found. 100%

I think its alll P100,000 and up nowadays. So it might be better if he waits for a while, save up more, then travel to Phils, LOL.

**WestCoast1** · 06-18-13 15:38

And its acceptace.

I know, we've covered it many ways. Here's another. I make a reservation at a hotel in the province. I email ahead to make sure the amenities are to my liking, inlcuding free wifi in the room (not the lobby). I arrive, check in, with the counter clerk I re-confirm wifi in the rooms. In the room I discover with my cell phone that there is no existing wifi signal, open, blocked, hotel, or other. I walk the entire floor and get no signal. I head downstairs and discover a signal in the lobby. Walk 15 feet in any direction and its gone. I approach the desk and enquire."Yes sir, no wifi in the rooms. Lobby only." Wait, didn't you tell me 5 minutes ago that there was wifi in the rooms?"No sir." WTF? The secong gal behind the counter shot something to the first in bisaya, so fast and furious that I didn't get any of it. It was angry. Doesn't your website say free wifi in the rooms?"Yes sir, it does." And this email in my hand, from Irma, confirms wifi in the rooms. Who is Irma?"Yes sir. She the manager. She say it." [Gently] So, you folks aren't being honest, are you? The second clerk looked me in they eye and turned it loose: "Sorry po. We say it to all the customer." The first clerk shot the second clerk this look: "Traitor!"

I mentioned another hotel a few blocks up the street. I asked if they could phone and make me a reservation."Yes. Please wait the lobby sir." She tried placing the call, and hung up. A few minutes later she tried again, then hung up. After 10 minutes of this I enquired her progress."Nobody that hotel answer the phone sir." Faster hun if I just run up the block and enquire there. Off I went. Upon arrival at the second hotel I asked if there was a room available with double bed, aircon, free wifi."Yes sir." Can I check the wifi signal in the room before renting?"Yes sir. Please do." So I go in the room and check it, and its up and running. I reserve it.

I walk back to the first hotel."Sir, I try them on the phone again. No answer." Its ok hun, I was just there and made a reservation."But sir, I can make the call again for you." No hun, its done. I'm leaving."But sir wait. I can call again for you." OMG shut up. Just then, guess who walks up: Irma! The clerk explains the situation."Sorry sir. No wifi." The why did you say in this email there is wifi."I did not." Isn't this your name on the bottom?"Other employee maybe answer your email and put my name in it." Liar. Why does your website say free wifi?"I'm not responsible that website sir." Fine, just refund me my money ma'am. Instant consternation among the three ladies. Finally Irma had the girls take the cash from the drawer and hand it over.

More regarding the same kind of thing in the next post.

**KongKing** · 06-18-13 15:19

Originally Posted by Nvslim [View Original Post]

"Mom, You still awake?"

Very funny Nyslim. I suggest you also post that one in the Humour Forum on ISG.

KongKing

**Nvslim** · 06-18-13 12:23

Originally Posted by David_33 [View Original Post]

Sorry, I read it as ANYONE RESPECTIVE OF AGE with a ten year difference. That makes me feel better. I was getting paranoid about having to only have MILFS in my room during future trips.

Beware of Older Women.

I ended up with an older woman at a bar last night. She looked pretty good for a 60-year-old. In fact, she wasn't too bad at all, and I found myself thinking she probably had a really hot daughter.

We drank a couple of beers, and she asked if I'd ever had a Sportsman's Double.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A mother and daughter threesome", she said.

As my mind began to embrace the idea and I wondered what her daughter might look like, I said,"No, I haven't."

We drank a bit more, then she said with a wink,"tonight's your lucky night."

We went back to her place. We walked in.

She put on the hall light and shouted upstairs.

"Mom, You still awake?"

**Econo Tech** · 06-18-13 02:38