General Information

[Shoebridge]

Am about to book a trip, would be in Cebu in 10 days. I can't figure out how badly it was affected by the Typhoon, and there are no new reports on the board that discuss the ladies.

Anyone there that can comment on what its like in the bars right now?

Thanks

[Wicked Roger]

Just some basic information about Cebu's airport since the typhoon.

The airport is much busier with loads of cargo planes using Mactan as a staging post so exepct some delays to your flights. Even the BBC are here on the roof interviewing each other.

However, the main cause of delay as always is the limited capacity at Manila airport with the ATC and airport unable to cope with the huge volume of traffic so flights are being stalled in Mactan with some an hour or more wiating on the tarmac. And of course flights are late arriving due to the heavy traffic at the airport (am sure they have never seen as planes before)

As usual taxi times to the airport are variable depending when you go. Roughly around 45 mins if gong in the early afternon from Ayala to the airport and cost is around 200-250pesos. Can be faster and cheaper at other times especially very early morning or late evening (naturally!)

But expect a few more delays for a while would be the message . The PAL 0450 flight was delayed as was the 11am flight delayed and the passengers from both arrived in Manila after 2pm (though I suspect PAL did some consolidation of flights as well but blamed it on a number of factors) Cebu Pacific at the time of writing had 3 delayed planes from the 8 scheduled but it was getting worse (ie more delays) as you get into the 'rush hour' for flights arriving at Manila.

[Red Kilt]

Just a small correct RK, as I know something about this. Sheraton signed a management contract with the owners to manage it, based on the building being deemed to be safe, proper foundations etc. This is standard practice for all management contracts, particularly for US based companies, based on potential future litigation. (Sheraton being part of Starwood, a NYSE traded company ). Sheraton and Starwood had no financial stake in it.

Owners were unable to provide the relevant building safety reports that were required, and so the management contract lapsed, as the hotel wasnt opened as a Sheraton, and thereafter the contract was deemed null and void. Everything you say is correct apart from Sheraton being "sold out of it." They had no financial stake whatsoever. Now I also know something about Radisson contracts, but thats another story.

That's cool FF. You know more of the "fine print" than me and it's good to have the "big picture" stuff corroborated.

[FreebieFan]

. I visited Cebu 8 times each year between 1997 and 2001 for work. I watched the shell of that hotel (planned as a Sheraton but now Radisson) , being completed by 2000 but then watched it stand unoccupied and untouched for the next 8 years because of structural irregularities and defects in the foundations. There were regular updates about it in the press at the time and there were also engineering views that it was much too tall for the reclaimed land upon which it was built. There was no attempt to hide the problem in the press.

The general view was that it should be demolished and rebuilt but nothing happened.

Then it was announced that Sheraton had sold out of it, and not long later it suddenly opened as a Radisson Blu and a few eyebrows were raised as it was believed that patch-up work could NOT possibly pass proper inspection.

There is NO WAY that I, personally, would ever set foot in that hotel regardless of rates or special offers.

Just a small correct RK, as I know something about this. Sheraton signed a management contract with the owners to manage it, based on the building being deemed to be safe, proper foundations etc. This is standard practice for all management contracts, particularly for US based companies, based on potential future litigation. (Sheraton being part of Starwood, a NYSE traded company ). Sheraton and Starwood had no financial stake in it.

Owners were unable to provide the relevant building safety reports that were required, and so the management contract lapsed, as the hotel wasnt opened as a Sheraton, and thereafter the contract was deemed null and void. Everything you say is correct apart from Sheraton being "sold out of it." They had no financial stake whatsoever. Now I also know something about Radisson contracts, but thats another story.

[Wicked Roger]

Just so the newbies can get a fix on this.

There are 3 ways to get a taxi from Mactan airport to the city or anywhere else for that matter.

1. Go up the ramp into departures, come out the other side and grab a white cab (metered). OK if you don't have huge luggage (the up ramp can be a struggle if tired). Price is around PHP 150-175 on a normal day.

2. Take a yellow cab from outside arrivals. The flag fall is PHP 78 and it is metered. Cost to city is aorund PHP 250 on a normal day.

3. Take the rip off merchant cabs (basically private vehicles) for PHP 475 fixed fare to the city. Never quite sure what car you get but it gets you there and is OK (for comparison, it is PHO 440 to Burgos fixed fare, whte cab, from NAIA and that is a longer drive)

Now, a normal day is not rush hour when the city is slow and the bridges are full of traffic jams nor a weekend early evening (which would add up on a metered cab). But there are choices although #3 is a rip off IMHO especially as the yellow cabs can be scarce (mostly when I arrive LOL). Have arrived at midnght and been at the hotel in 20 minutes and the meter was less

There maybe other ways to the cty etc but these are the 3 ways I woud recommend to a newbie at least.

[Wicked Roger]

I would bet that all those who have any financial interest in the Radisson have much more important concerns at this moment than a recounting of historical facts and a personal opinion posted on this site.

They can come after me if they want for mentioning that workers at the hotel where I am staying have friends who work at the Radisson. They say that rumors there have the hotel closing and the workers are very nervous about being left without a job.

I would agree with David on this, far more important things to worry about especially f does need major surgery after this bold statement by the GM.

http://www.inewmedia.org/radisson-bl...ors-true/2137/

[Member #4351]

You must not have any fear that the richest of them all could make your NGO / PI Government job disappear.

I would bet that all those who have any financial interest in the Radisson have much more important concerns at this moment than a recounting of historical facts and a personal opinion posted on this site.

They can come after me if they want for mentioning that workers at the hotel where I am staying have friends who work at the Radisson. They say that rumors there have the hotel closing and the workers are very nervous about being left without a job.

[Stroker Ace88]

This is not an urban myth nor is it a rumor spread by competitors.

I arrived in the Philippines for a work assignment in 1997 and I have been here ever since. I visited Cebu 8 times each year between 1997 and 2001 for work. [SNIP]

Then it was announced that Sheraton had sold out of it, and not long later it suddenly opened as a Radisson Blu and a few eyebrows were raised as it was believed that patch-up work could NOT possibly pass proper inspection.

There is NO WAY that I, personally, would ever set foot in that hotel regardless of rates or special offers.

I find your statement rather interesting. You have been around the Philippines for awhile and I'm sure you are aware of the anti-slander laws that exist. They cover all kinds of public statements including online content. You must not have any fear that the richest of them all could make your NGO / PI Government job disappear.

There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant.

[Wicked Roger]

You definitely earn your forum name with stunts like that.

Thanks M for the compliment and for PJ for using it successfully LOL.

As for the Elizabeth, seems a solid place as I was there when the first quake hit and there was no damage. The smell maybe busted sewer pipes nearby

As for Radisson I would concur the RK on this. Not my favourite location also.

[Red Kilt]

. .

I had never heard about any structural problems here before. All the talk centered around the ghosts of workers that were killed during construction. Like maybe there will be some mysterious singing into one of the microphones after all the bars are closed and the bands gone home, bwahaha.

Maybe the bad structure thing is true. Then again the same taxi drivers saying that may also say that Yamashita's treasure is buried under the basilica. They're a good source of urban legend and wild rumors. When I'm on my way to the airport to go to Davao a lot of the taxi drivers have earnestly warned me that my life will be in grave danger. Those of us who go there know that there's rarely a problem security-wise.

Also, keep in mind that it's a common trick in this county to spread these kinds of rumors about a business or political enemy. .

This is not an urban myth nor is it a rumor spread by competitors.

I arrived in the Philippines for a work assignment in 1997 and I have been here ever since. I visited Cebu 8 times each year between 1997 and 2001 for work. I watched the shell of that hotel (planned as a Sheraton but now Radisson) , being completed by 2000 but then watched it stand unoccupied and untouched for the next 8 years because of structural irregularities and defects in the foundations. There were regular updates about it in the press at the time and there were also engineering views that it was much too tall for the reclaimed land upon which it was built. There was no attempt to hide the problem in the press.

The general view was that it should be demolished and rebuilt but nothing happened.

Then it was announced that Sheraton had sold out of it, and not long later it suddenly opened as a Radisson Blu and a few eyebrows were raised as it was believed that patch-up work could NOT possibly pass proper inspection.

There is NO WAY that I, personally, would ever set foot in that hotel regardless of rates or special offers.

[Pip Jaeger]

Try that with the cutie in bed, make the bed shake (I don't mean the tradional way) and see her reaction, then do the "I will protect you" routine. Works wonders LOL

Should have been here today WR, a few strong tremors that may have ranged into 5+ range. I happened to in bed banging cutie during one of them. She was riding me cowgirl and as the room started to shake she stopped, tensed up and buried her head into my chest. When she tensed up, she also involuntarily tightened up her pussy so hard I thought I thought someone clamped a velvet lined vise around my cock. After comforting her a few times with: "Don't worry babe, it's fine" and "We're safe here", we talked about how her pussy got tighter. Naturally we practiced the routine and it became our inside joke as we spent a good part of the day in bed. I wouldn't say she now has total pussy control, but we're working on it! And I will definitely be repeating with this one to continue her training; jeeez, the things I do for you guys!

[Mahku]

IMHO the panic is over and by then all will be fine. Internet was slow in some hotels as the cables got the odd shaking but is fine. Can't see any reason to change plans.

You are 3 weeks away from the visit so by then some food will be given to the survivors in Bohol and everyone will still be runnng about like headless chicken at any shaking. Try that with the cutie in bed, make the bed shake (I don't mean the tradional way) and see her reaction, then do the "I will protect you" routine. Works wonders LOL

You definitely earn your forum name with stunts like that.

[Mahku]

I was there on earthquake morning on the 8th floor. As I said before the building swayed back and forth. And as others have said this is the way it should be during an earthquake. This is my second worst earthquake, after being on the fringes of Kobe in '95. That one was truly scary even though I wasn't really in the damage zone. The one the other day didn't bother me so much but I knew that in this country people would be in trouble somewhere.

Damage in the hotel was superficial. A few marble wall tiles fell off in the lobby and landed on some tables. There were other tiles off here and there. In my own room there was nothing amiss other than a bit of plaster dusting here and there. I heard that other rooms had more damage. Some glass showers broke and some doors warped a bit so that they were hard to open. I didn't see broken glass in any public area.

Since we were kept out of the hotel way past checkout time I extended by one day to the 16th, Wednesday. When I tried to do that, I found out that the hotel wasn't taking new reservations until Sunday due to inspections. That probably explains why events were moved to other places like that Marriott.

I had never heard about any structural problems here before. All the talk centered around the ghosts of workers that were killed during construction. Like maybe there will be some mysterious singing into one of the microphones after all the bars are closed and the bands gone home, bwahaha.

Maybe the bad structure thing is true. Then again the same taxi drivers saying that may also say that Yamashita's treasure is buried under the basilica. They're a good source of urban legend and wild rumors. When I'm on my way to the airport to go to Davao a lot of the taxi drivers have earnestly warned me that my life will be in grave danger. Those of us who go there know that there's rarely a problem security-wise.

Also, keep in mind that it's a common trick in this county to spread these kinds of rumors about a business or political enemy.

If the hotel is on reclaimed land that may be the bigger worry. I know that it's in the reclamation area. But is that particular ground reclaimed land? I know that SM has been there for the whole 20 years that I've been visiting Cebu. Is there some point when reclaimed land settles and becomes more stable? Or is it always and forever liable to liquefaction during earthquakes? I'm just asking because I don't know.

Anyway, I'm in Hotel Elizabeth for a night before I go to Davao. It seems ok so far, except there was an awful smell in the lobby like a large rodent died or a party of drunk guys pissed all over the place.

[Wicked Roger]

Another quake and aftershock only 5. 2 am told woke everyone around 5am. My cute friends all text me about this and was a shame I am not there to offer my protecton and safe passage

Anymore like this and the Radisson, the subjet of much chat recently, could fall down? Or have huge structural issues?

[Stroker Ace88]

I was just lookimg on expedia. Com. The prices at the Marriott looked good.

There are daily after-shocks in the 4. 5-5. 0 range around the Bohol strait, although the past 12hrs have been relatively quiet. From what I hear through the bamboo telephone the Blu remains open, but with limited available (read undamaged) rooms. I'm hearing there was a ton of cosmetic damage. Broken windows, broken tiles, buckled laminate floors. The usual earthquake damage.

Is there any serious / minor structural damage at the Blu? Hard to say. The management has put out a news release (link below) with the "all OK" approval from engineers. Personally I do not buy it. If you look closely at the letter it states on the bottom "date issued: January 3, 2013, place of issue: Quezon City", which means IMO it was a copy of a yearly inspection preformed back in January. Rubber stamped rushed letter to calm fears of damage.

I have stayed at the Blu in the past and have enjoyed the hotel. Very good level of service which is hard to find in CC. It would have to take some serious promo specials and / or free room nights / upgrading including access to the club lounge to get me to return if ever. YMMV.

If some one stays at the Blu, post a review of what's open and what's closed. The info would be helpful.

http://www.inewmedia.org/radisson-bl...ors-true/2137/