Manila

[Nazgylg15]

Hello gents,

Would you recommend visiting Manila / Angeles in mid Aug. 10-20 ?The purpose of my visit would be solely for mongering and am bit reluctant because of the rain. I have seen reports on tripadvisor of manila getting flooded and people advising against visiting albeit for tourism. I checked the weather reports and most suggest sporadic showers / thunderstorms for most days. Would weather affect availability of girls?

BR,

Nazgyl.

[Mr Enternational]

Natty, the much better alternative is Grab! Download the app, choose the credit card payment option, and enjoy the ride.

Slow down buddy. There are many times when Grab is not available when you come in to the airport. Like Dg said, you have to hop on that Resorts World shuttle and go over to those hotels and try to order one from there or get a taxi from over there.

[Bigstud]

I tip the porters too when there are large lines. They seem happy with 100 p and it is worth every centavo.

Good advice about arrivals too. I waited in line about 20 minutes for a metered taxi last time I arrived and I thought that was an improvement from the time before. But don't get me started on MNL taxis. LOL. One night I couldn't find a taxi to save my soul. I ended up walking from the Fairmont (GreenBelt) to Burgos St. It only took about 30 minutes. Another night I started out in a taxi, but traffic was at a standstill halfway there, so I bailed a few blocks from Burgos St. and walked the rest of the way. I think the taxi beat me there by a head. No problem getting a taxi at COD (Aseana City) however.

Natty, the much better alternative is Grab! Download the app, choose the credit card payment option, and enjoy the ride.

[Member #4698]

I tip the porters 100-200 pesos. Some times I slip the gate keeper at the senior check in 50 pesos.

I tip the porters too when there are large lines. They seem happy with 100 p and it is worth every centavo.

Good advice about arrivals too. I waited in line about 20 minutes for a metered taxi last time I arrived and I thought that was an improvement from the time before. But don't get me started on MNL taxis. LOL. One night I couldn't find a taxi to save my soul. I ended up walking from the Fairmont (GreenBelt) to Burgos St. It only took about 30 minutes. Another night I started out in a taxi, but traffic was at a standstill halfway there, so I bailed a few blocks from Burgos St. and walked the rest of the way. I think the taxi beat me there by a head. No problem getting a taxi at COD (Aseana City) however.

[Soapy Smith]

Soapy,

T3 has always been swamped. Over the past year or so a few more International carriers have relocated to T3 from T1. Huge crowds form from outgoing and incoming Filipino OFW's, along with sendoff or welcoming families.

(snip)

I tip the porters 100-200 pesos. Some times I slip the gate keeper at the senior check in 50 pesos.

(snip)

You didn't say where you were going to from the airport. It might help to know that.

Thanks G and Dg for your replies. The increased number of carriers moving to T3 makes sense. Tipping suggestions are helpful; 200 php is not a lot of money for anybody who can afford to travel to and from the Phils. It strikes me that average Filipinos don't think in terms of large tips, to cabbies, waiters, porters, or anybody else, and then they extend a sort of class deference to foreigners who do give comparatively large tips--by Filipino standards. It's the same sort of class deference that leads Filipinos to keep re-electing the same families to national office, as though only a small group of wealthy families are capable of performing these duties.

Last two trips I had a condo near SM Manila. Both times the taxis, one regular, one coupon, took me down Roxas Blvd. and crossed over to Taft at Luneta Park. The taxi travel time was not bad at all. I guess I was spoiled my last time in via PAL from San Francisco in November. Arrival at 4 am and departure at 9 pm, thus missing the worst of the crowds at T3. Perhaps PAL has the luxury of planning around NAIA traffic, especially for flights that cross the International Date Line.

[Wicked Roger]

I'm a reasonably frequent user of Cebu Pacific and don't have roo much trouble. Having said that most of my flights are red eyes so that helps with limiting numbers in the terminal.

If I arrive early or have a longish transit, I make use of things Airport Liunge to get away from the hordes and rest in peace. The Capsules are well worth it.

http://jipang-group.com/thewings/

Enjoy. G.

That is what I do but the international flights can arrive mid afternoon at times and that is likely what Soapy experienced as then a dogs breakfast. What I do dislike are the large number of people meeting friends and family as this just adds to the overall throng of people in the terminal. You can't stop it but why do some bring lola, lolo and all 15 relatives for one person and then stand and greet them etc thus holding up others at times who are trying to get out. This happened a lot in some Middle East airport but there was stopped when kids actually ran into the arrival hall area when the doors opened. And then the parents followed!

DG has a sensible solution to the taxis.

[Goferring]

WTF is going on with terminal 3? Are other people experiencing these same clusterfucks? Any advice for avoiding these bottlenecks other than paying the porters and pre-arranging drivers to pick you up on the arrival level?

I'm a reasonably frequent user of Cebu Pacific and don't have roo much trouble. Having said that most of my flights are red eyes so that helps with limiting numbers in the terminal.

If I arrive early or have a longish transit, I make use of things Airport Liunge to get away from the hordes and rest in peace. The Capsules are well worth it.

http://jipang-group.com/thewings/

Enjoy. G.

[Dg8787]

Soapy,

T3 has always been swamped. Over the past year or so a few more International carriers have relocated to T3 from T1. Huge crowds form from outgoing and incoming Filipino OFW's, along with sendoff or welcoming families.

A few years ago there were very long lines of awaiting taxi passengers with no taxis in sight. Now there are some lines of taxis. I guess this is an improvement!

Your best bet to enter T3 and bypass the x-ray line is to use the porters. I use the porters all the time. Not only do they bypass the long lines they take me directly to the senior citizen check in counter. Usually there is only 2 or 3 in line.

I tip the porters 100-200 pesos. Some times I slip the gate keeper at the senior check in 50 pesos.

It is strange but most people don't mind you cutting in line with the porter, they are kind of happy that the porter will be getting a tip. They graciously let the porter in from of them. Same with the check in people.

Arrival is a different story. You can go to Bay 13-14 and hop on the Resort World shuttle bus and get dropped off at one of the hotels and get a taxi from there. Last month I used the Resort World shuttle and got off at the first stop, Belmont Hotel, used the Grab app and got a car within 5 minutes.

You didn't say where you were going to from the airport. It might help to know that.

[Soapy Smith]

I'm interested to know about others' recent experiences at NAIA 3. I arrived about 8 pm on May 9th and found the area beyond customs comparatively crowded with those arriving and others presumably waiting for them. In other recent trips I have walked across the several driveways / roadways and gotten a regular white cab at the furthest roadway--with no waiting, no fuss, except for occasional drivers who don't want to use the meter. Prior to white cabs being allowed at the terminals, I usually took the yellow airport taxis, with little waiting and without drivers trying to bargain around the meter.

Now the regular cabs have been moved to bay 12, and still out at the furthest roadway. A long line of at least 200 cab seekers was on the other side, with the line backed up way under the skyway. Forget it. So I went looking for yellow airport cabs, which are only a little more expensive than regular cabs but better maintained. Again, long, long lines. I don't ever remember lines that long, not at any of the terminals within the last three or four years. I finally settled for the more high-priced coupon cabs, and even then had to wait in line about 20 minutes. There were also long lines waiting for Grab.

I asked the driver why the taxi lines were so long, and he suggested that there were a lot of late arriving planes. But the lines for taxis were disproportionately long relative to the crowds inside, so it seemed more like a bottleneck situation.

Departing on the morning of the 29th I encountered a different kind of bottleneck getting into the terminal. Previously it was sufficient to arrive two hours before departure. Not this time. Long, long lines trying to get through the two entry door security checkpoints. (These outside security checkpoints are so ineffectual that their only apparent utility is for the cab-driver-and-security-agent-collaborators who worked the old "bullets in the luggage" bribe game.) I did notice a lot of porters in purple / burgundy outfits offering to help people bypass the usual lines--presumably for a fee. I was getting a little nervous when I was still in line outside the terminal at 75 minutes before flight time. There were signs near the entry doors indicating that senior citizens and "persons with disabilities" could bypass the line, so I asked a nearby porter whether this applied to foreign senior citizens as well. "No, only Filipinos. " But he asked if I was alone, and since I was, he whisked me past the line. I moved quickly to get my bags onto the conveyor, and when I looked back he was gone before I could tip him.

Inside there were no long lines at any of the airline ticket counters, so this was a specific kind of bottleneck that could have been solved by opening a third and / or fourth entry door. I should note there were also long lines to get through the three or four metal detector security checkpoints between ticketing and the departure gates, but these lines were moving fairly quickly.

WTF is going on with terminal 3? Are other people experiencing these same clusterfucks? Any advice for avoiding these bottlenecks other than paying the porters and pre-arranging drivers to pick you up on the arrival level?

[Blanquiceleste]

Is it a smart phone app? Stupid question but my google apps does not show it?

Strange! Its available on Android and iOS. This screen shot is from Oct 2018.

[Free2]

Pasay rotonda is much safer than Malate / Ermita at night time (that my opinion). It can be impressive / scary because it is poor area, crowned and dodgy but that OK. And yes some street girls are as pretty as the one in hooker bar. At least 4 or 5 beauties on 30 - 40 prostitutes.

I have walked all around there many times and only saw super fuglies standing outside the couple cheap hotels. The guy is calling you in, but I declined. The girls try to get you in also.

I am very interested in what area the 30 to 40 hookers are to be found. Are they standing on the street or under the LRT extension towards Baclaran or. ?

[Kabul Guy]

Is it a smart phone app? Stupid question but my google apps does not show it?

It is a web site that has listings of actively working girls, when they are listed they are available for immediate encounters. Rates pics etc all shown. You can get a premium membership that provides access to reviews and you can live track her progress to your hotel.

There is a banner ad on most pages here. They operate in many cities around the world.

[Jbj64]

Is it a smart phone app? Stupid question but my google apps does not show it?

Great report, thank you for the time and effort.

P.S. - You don't "hunt" on Smooci. It's an app to connect with escorts.

[WSlover123]

As for the local girls I used to talked; every body had a common impression about this place. That is 'Most unsafe place in Manila." Snatching, pick pocketing, mugging etc all things happening here.

The girls are hanging around the Hotel Sogo or seated on the steps of over pass. If you walk through the foots pimps are knocking you to pick one. Filthy, nasty and Dirty; Huge possibilities to be infected if some one even touch any of them. You are making me surprised if you see these girls are beautiful or acceptable for penetrate your tools.

Sorry for very late reply I didn't connect here since my last posts about China and Manila in October.

I am not tall and strong, I don't look impressive but as I said I go in pasay rotonda for years, I walk the area all the time, even at 3 am, never been problem. Of course I never bring big money and never bring my smartphone (I have a simple one to put my Philippines simcard) and I wear simple t-shirt, short, sleeper or shoes. In short: I does not look like I am carrying 5000 pesos in cash with me.

That funny because the only time I had trouble in Manila was in Malate / Ermita area at 5 pm the 1st time I ve been there when after I exit the Robinson I refuse to give money to a man who told me he is working in my hotel and today that her niece birthday blablabla. And the same day, when a man try to pickpocket me in Adriatico street meanwhile another show me sunglasses he was selling.

Pasay rotonda is much safer than Malate / Ermita at night time (that my opinion). It can be impressive / scary because it is poor area, crowned and dodgy but that OK. And yes some street girls are as pretty as the one in hooker bar. At least 4 or 5 beauties on 30 - 40 prostitutes.

I like to stay there, you can go every where by public transport (or taxi that not a problem to have one) : makati malls, BGC (with a change), MOA, Malate / Ermita, karaoke bar in paranaque, the airport (both T1, T2 and T3) and even as far as Cubao. A good night for me is to go eat at MOA, then go back to my hotel take a shower or directly go to a a small karaoke bar (in paranaque (not far from solaire) where they sell beer cheaper than in the 7 / 11, have some beer drinks, sing along (20 pesos for 3 songs) . Then take back the jeepney to pasay rotonda and fuck 1 or 2 times and then go sleep safely in my room (shogun now urban traveller is good budget place)! Total damage for 1 night full of fun: 1000 pesos - 1200 pesos. I also sometime make friend, both men, girls and ladyboy. Filipino are warm-welcome, when they see you in places you are not suppose to be they often come to talk with you. Otherwise if you make friend with girl (not the waiter of the bar or the karaoke because they are professional) and pay her drinks, some entertainment that often she will reward you by going to your room for 1 hour or for the night. That already happened to me at least 3 times in 8 trips.

Otherwise if you are not too old the best it is to find a regular girlfriend from DIA. I always find for free who want more or less serious relationship. In 8 trips to the Philippines I have always find a nice educated girl between 21 and 29 years for free (or little damage like 5000 pesos for 1 week if she take a work leave) and me I was 32 to 39 years.

[Goferring]

When I got an opportunity I asked the girl how in hell she remembered me after such a long time and she just smiled and said "It's my job".

Or she is one of 13 kids and lives in an area where everyone knows everyone else. Remebering others' details is definitely an acquired skill. Compare that to the west where it's getting more common not to know the name of your next door neighbor.

Enjoy. G.