Manila

[Shining Wit]

In planning my future travel, does anyone know about bus service from Manila to Angeles City? Bus company, hours and costs?

As you asked in the Angeles thread regarding bus service from T3 at NAIA, I will include it here. According to Google maps, there is a bus stop on T3 departure road serving Clark. The linked departure list does not indicate any service between 2000 and 2130, although it suggests that it is 24 hours. A dim memory confirms Victory Liner as the operator, but a similar memory suggests the Angeles terminal was in Clark itself, leaving the usual hassle with the 'last mile'. The service did not appear on Victory's website.

Regarding Manila generally, the difficulty is that not only is there no central bus station, but multiple companies operate northwards through Angeles (or Dau, which is the timetable stop) but a number do from multiple terminals. These seem to be clustered along EDSA, particularly in Pasay (junction with Taft Ave) and Cubao (near Cubao MRT station) or in Caloocan. My suggestion would be to check these areas on Google maps or similar,(you may need to scroll in and out to bring them up) and then check websites. On the hotels thread, you seemed to have decided in the Peninsula, so I would recommend Cubao, as it is closer to the NLEX, although I don't know if the North-South connector has made a difference. In that area, I found Genesis, Baliwag, 5 Star, Partas, ALPS and Victory Liner, all of which I have seen heading North.

From the airport, Pasay is the better bet.

One word of caution regarding online timetables. I have only used Victory Liner, so this might not be common across all companies. All routes are shown as Cubao-Olongapo, Pasay-Baguio, etc. So Dau / Clark / Angeles hardly feature, you need to know where the final destination is. Somewhere like Tarlac or Baguio are easy, but Olongapo via SCTEX goes via Dau but non-SCTEX do not, and you don, t want to be waiting for an extra hour or so.

Victory Liner show fares of php 139 from Pasay and Cubao, and the timetable suggests that departures times are dictated by reasonable arrival times at the final destination.

I hope this helps not only Dg8787,but anybody else considering using bus travel.

[TitanX]

In planning my future travel, does anyone know about bus service from Manila to Angeles City? Bus company, hours and costs?

A few years ago, (January 2020) I took Victory from the Victory Liner Pasay Station. It wasn't far from the MNL airport and it wasn't more than 100 pesos to get there in the yellow taxi. The bus ticket to Dau (Angeles) was about 140 or 150 pesos. I think the buses leave every 45 minutes or 1 hour but I'm not entirely sure.

Hope this helps!

[Dg8787]

In planning my future travel, does anyone know about bus service from Manila to Angeles City? Bus company, hours and costs?

[Breadman]

* Side note. Made an Agoda hotel reservation in the NCR, 15 months after the pandemic started. The hotel was nicer than the usual ST places that I had been using so I decided an over-nighter with my lady would be a good change-of-pace. The room has 2 large beds and can be reserved for 1, 2, 3, or 4 persons, with a tiny price increase for the 3- or 4-person option, so I clicked 4 persons. I was considering a 3-some as a possibility. I had one regular gal inbound for the night and was considering contacting a second gal (who had 3-somed with the first gal before). Once at the hotel, checking in at the counter with girl #1, I mentioned to the clerk that 'Jenny' might be joining us later. "No sir. Maximum 2 persons per room. Hotel policy during Covid". Hey, Agoda says 4 persons. "No sir. Last week we were ECQ and it was 1 person per room. Now its not ECQ, maximum 2 persons. Only". The manager came out of the back room and confirmed that info.

Hey, guy, why does Agoda say 4 person? I paid for up to 4 persons. "That agoda is from before the pandemic. Not now". You haven't updated it in 15 months? "No sir". Then I want a partial refund for the 2-to-4 person upgrade. "Yes its fine. But you will not bring additional person here. This is pandemic!" Everything worked out fine with one girl.

And on a side note, remember all of those hotels that suddenly shut down but didn't update with Agoda. Those places are still closed yet with this new influx of tourists might start to get booked once again. Plenty of stories of tourists showing up to boarded up hotels.

Also read the fine print on any Airbnb you might want to book, they vary allot in the wording. Contact the owner before you can't cancel to make sure of their rules.

[WestCoast1]

MY HOPE is they become more realistic about tourists expectations

It will be difficult to argue at the front door of a hotel, condo, or business, with a security guard armed with his covid-protection marching orders (not to mention his gun and taser), that you don't need that mask, or the mandatory hand sanitizer. Or that its stupid that you can't bring unregistered guests to your room. Or that your guest needs a negative PCR test. Or that you don't want to socially distance while waiting in line outside to get into the grocery store (or inside the Jollibee).

and do away with some or all of these nonsensical policies

You are using logic. There is little of that to be found in Phils. Even government leaders might be superstitious and / or educated differently than you. He (or the security guard) might argue with you about the 'sense' of their policy, but it won't change the policy (or his mind). And the policy might change faster than Westy changes 3-somes.

since this is endemic now we need policies that live with this going forward. SNIP they will need to retire these alert levels as well as the fucking liquor ban.

See the above. Someone else makes the policies and others enforce them, and yet others vote the policy makers into office. You and I are not part of that system. We are guests. Concentrate less on the policy madness, and concentrate on the Mocha-Madness. A nice BJ each day takes your mind off that.

😁 If anyone needs bond or bail money while incarcerated, I have low, low interest rates 😁.

[Dg8787]

I'm looking forward to your April reports. Good luck with flying in and telling everyone that you don't need to abide by their rules but are entitled to unfettered access to girls, bars, hotels etc.

Old foreigners getting their dicks sucked for 1500 is sure to be a priority for setting Public Policy by then.

Enjoy. G. 😁.

Be sure to bring lots of $$$ for resolution fees.

[Goferring]

It might have been possible with pliable locals but entitled Gen Z vloggers and your run of the mill monger are not going to obey any of these rules, I know I won't. I won't be there until April so by then my hope is that they undo all of these horrible ineffective restrictions....

I'm looking forward to your April reports. Good luck with flying in and telling everyone that you don't need to abide by their rules but are entitled to unfettered access to girls, bars, hotels etc.

Old foreigners getting their dicks sucked for 1500 is sure to be a priority for setting Public Policy by then.

Enjoy. G. 😁.

[Muttley81]

MY HOPE is they become more realistic about tourists expectations and do away with some or all of these nonsensical policies since this is endemic now we need policies that live with this going forward. Just as they did away with the stop light scheme, they will need to retire these alert levels as well as the fucking liquor ban. While I appreciate that this is the situation in the phils now and it is not Feb 10 yet and they keep moving the goal post however with the influx of tourists this can't be the norm going forward. It might have been possible with pliable locals but entitled Gen Z vloggers and your run of the mill monger are not going to obey any of these rules, I know I won't. I won't be there until April so by then my hope is that they undo all of these horrible ineffective restrictions, however this is the Philippines we are taking about so it wouldn't surprised me if they added MORE restrictions not less when the influx of tourists arrive. I heard on a news cast that the tourists are exempt from the passenger limits they had set in place which is also a good sign.

Half the bars that reopened when alert level 2 was released in November have closure orders placed on them for breaking rules of alert level 3 in January. Appreciate people being optimistic and getting here now opportunities available to them, hope they aren't in for disappointment. On plus side there's always PinaLove, WeChat and a SOGO.

[Member #4794]

1) Number of guests allowed.

2) Medical requirements for you and your guests.

3) Can the guest come / go (which is what we typically want: F / F / F), or does the residence (owner / host) want the guest to live there (what we don't want)? This information is known the host, residents and Admin, but often not spelled out in the hotel or airbb description. See * below.

4) Is this facility an ROF- or Q-faciltiy (see MM's pic)?

5) Does this area have a curfew (or when was the last time there was a curfew, and what time does / did it start)?

6) Same for alcohol ban.

7) What is the current Alert level? Has this residence been locked down before?

MY HOPE is they become more realistic about tourists expectations and do away with some or all of these nonsensical policies since this is endemic now we need policies that live with this going forward. Just as they did away with the stop light scheme, they will need to retire these alert levels as well as the fucking liquor ban. While I appreciate that this is the situation in the phils now and it is not Feb 10 yet and they keep moving the goal post however with the influx of tourists this can't be the norm going forward. It might have been possible with pliable locals but entitled Gen Z vloggers and your run of the mill monger are not going to obey any of these rules, I know I won't. I won't be there until April so by then my hope is that they undo all of these horrible ineffective restrictions, however this is the Philippines we are taking about so it wouldn't surprised me if they added MORE restrictions not less when the influx of tourists arrive. I heard on a news cast that the tourists are exempt from the passenger limits they had set in place which is also a good sign.

[Dashing Don]

I booked 4 nights at the Peninsula. Who knows how it will work out with the usual parade of sex partners coming and going. I'd rather find out myself than wait at home for the all clear which might be months away.

Things are changing so fast that who knows. I sense a feeling of fatigue with the pandemic an also it appears to be waning.

If I got to do it in the bushes in Triangle park then so be it LOL.

[WestCoast1]

7) What is the current Alert level? Has this residence been locked down before?

I forgot to add:

8) Amenities. Throughout the NCR (and many provinces), amenities such as gym, pool, and basketball courts have been closed for the pandemic. On occasion I saw this or that residence open their gym or pool (with restrictions, ie not more than 4 persons in the gym or pool at once, and only the gym or the pool was open -- not both). That would usually last for just a few weeks. Birch Tower in Malate opened their pool briefly in August. My residence opened their gym for a while. Ask your airbnb host or call the hotel in advance.

[WestCoast1]

No outside food? Single person occupancy?

This notice sounds like the disclaimer you get when you book a Pay-to-stay cell in LA county jail the pay-to-stay room at the LA county jail actually sounds more inviting than they make these rooms sound.

https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-...to-stay-jails/

Needless to say I canceled that one immediately until they update these policies. Smh.

I am guessing that is from one of the NCR's many quarantine-only hotels. I believe I reported previously that all 10 of the NCR's Red Planet hotels (and many other chains) have gone to Q-only. They are not for travelers, they are for persons needing to isolate. That might include returning OFW, or anyone who tests positive.

I dislike saying it, but I think inbound tourists next month are in for interesting times regarding accomodations. PLEASE contact your hotel or apartment manager, or condo host in advance to ask about policies that might be of importance to you (but maybe not covered in the Agoda description). Items such as:

1) Number of guests allowed.

2) Medical requirements for you and your guests.

3) Can the guest come / go (which is what we typically want: F / F / F), or does the residence (owner / host) want the guest to live there (what we don't want)? This information is known the host, residents and Admin, but often not spelled out in the hotel or airbb description. See * below.

4) Is this facility an ROF- or Q-faciltiy (see MM's pic)?

5) Does this area have a curfew (or when was the last time there was a curfew, and what time does / did it start)?

6) Same for alcohol ban.

7) What is the current Alert level? Has this residence been locked down before?

* Side note. Made an Agoda hotel reservation in the NCR, 15 months after the pandemic started. The hotel was nicer than the usual ST places that I had been using so I decided an over-nighter with my lady would be a good change-of-pace. The room has 2 large beds and can be reserved for 1, 2, 3, or 4 persons, with a tiny price increase for the 3- or 4-person option, so I clicked 4 persons. I was considering a 3-some as a possibility. I had one regular gal inbound for the night and was considering contacting a second gal (who had 3-somed with the first gal before). Once at the hotel, checking in at the counter with girl #1, I mentioned to the clerk that 'Jenny' might be joining us later. "No sir. Maximum 2 persons per room. Hotel policy during Covid". Hey, Agoda says 4 persons. "No sir. Last week we were ECQ and it was 1 person per room. Now its not ECQ, maximum 2 persons. Only". The manager came out of the back room and confirmed that info.

Hey, guy, why does Agoda say 4 person? I paid for up to 4 persons. "That agoda is from before the pandemic. Not now". You haven't updated it in 15 months? "No sir". Then I want a partial refund for the 2-to-4 person upgrade. "Yes its fine. But you will not bring additional person here. This is pandemic!" Everything worked out fine with one girl.

** Separately, google map your residence location, and find the surrounding Sogo and Victoria Court hotels. Once your boots are on the ground, ask your door guard if there are other ST hotels in the area.

*** Contacted recently privately by chaps who have apparently not been RTTF. They think that now that they will be allowed in as tourists, that 'the pandemic crap is done'. DO SEND US SOME DESCRIPTIVE FIELD REPORTS once you are BOTG.

[Member #4794]

No outside food? Single person occupancy?

This notice sounds like the disclaimer you get when you book a Pay-to-stay cell in LA county jail the pay-to-stay room at the LA county jail actually sounds more inviting than they make these rooms sound.

https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-...to-stay-jails/

Needless to say I canceled that one immediately until they update these policies. Smh.

[WestCoast1]

Sammon, don't lose your faith in Santa. Keep checking your stockings.

Sammon never loses faith. I suggest he take matters into his own hands when he return. "Grab the bull by the horns", so to speak. If you catch my drift.

Hey, who's taking that picture. . . ?

[Soapy Smith]

My experience has been that often Filipinos have a difficult time delivering bad news. In those situations they hem and haw and become evasive rather than saying, "Look pal, your shit out of luck."

Yes. They will say "maybe" when the answer is no, because they don't want to deliver bad news. I assume it also explains some lying. They sometimes lie to avoid delivering bad news and / or to avoid they or the other person losing face.