Manila

[Tachibana]

The gimmicks around drinks and attitudes of some servers are annoying. But some of the attitudes may be understandable...

Thanks for the perspective. It's something I knew but we all need reminding from time to time. I've worked some service jobs back in the day and my attitude was probably less than stellar at times.

Though, I do believe we all have our crosses to bear and regardless of our situations we should strive to not be venomous to people. Or maybe if there's one group of people it is justified to despise it is degenerate punters! But, I for one think its admirable for people with crummy jobs to be bright and friendly, and I have seen a lot of that in the US.

Reminds of a good Louis CK quote - "do your job. Because its your job. Because you're the person standing there, doing that thing. So just do it! Do the shit out of it!

All that being said, I digress. I'll concede that it's probably just as bad to be complaining about bad service as it is to give it.

[Kabul Guy]

One hotel kept my ID and I forgot to collect it when I checked out. I discovered the missing passport when I was in the taxi on the way to the airport. I called and made the hotel staff bring it to me in a taxi because I didn't have time for the round trip. Luckily the hotel's number as on their receipt. (keep your receipts). Stressful.

Grab Express could also have worked well in this case. They will bring stuff by motorcycle so it can zip through traffic quickly.

I have used them a couple times for sending small packages and it is quick and cheap.

I also would never let anyone keep my passport. The only exception would be if it was actually needed for getting a visa or other reason that required a passport to be surrendered, at a hotel they can take a photocopy or I would give them a DL or something that I could survive without in case it went missing.

[Soapy Smith]

The server who led us to our seats was a real *****. I right away called her out on her crappy attitude and asked her "why are you angry? To which she cracked a small genuine smile before returning to bad face. Later on I would find she harassed my friend for a "ladies drink", which my he ignored but that she put it on the tab anyways. Friend just went "fuck it" and paid.

The gimmicks around drinks and attitudes of some servers are annoying. But some of the attitudes may be understandable. During slow business hours I have inquired about how much servers are paid. Both they and p4 ps have advised me that LAC servers' pay is about half what retail clerks in the stores are paid, presumably because owners assume they'll get rich on tips. Another annoying practice is when your server circles back with a bottle of some booze and tells you the managers insist that they sell at least five shots or mixed drinks of the particular booze during their shift. I'm pretty sure that stuff is put on them by the managers.

Another indicator of the working conditions: it takes forever to get your server back to settle your bill when you want to leave. I'm pretty sure that they're not making themselves hard to find intentionally; after all, much of their takehome depends on the tips from customers, which they don't score until the customer settles the bill. Having tried to chase down servers under these circumstances, I have usually found them running around serving drinks or collecting from other customers. In other words, when it's busy, they're running their asses off.

More than 20% of Filipinos live in poverty. Within Southeast Asia, only Laos and Myanmar are worse. Yet the Philippines has one of the fastest growing economies in the world; problem is, during the last couple decades of economic growth the Philippines is one of about a half dozen countries in which income inequality is getting worse. What does this have to do with finding horizontal talent in the bars of the Philippines? Servers accept these awful working conditions because they don't have alternatives; likewise with our p4 ps. If you're expecting smiles and thankyous from servers or p4 ps in the Philippines, it's better not to expect Western standards of hospitality.

Don't know what country you're from, but as a Yank contrast, how often do we get smiles and thankyous at Walmart or McDonalds?

[Blanquiceleste]

Interesting. Have stayed Gram several times. Also Milano and Knightsbridge. Front door security takes my girl's eye dee every single time.

Surprising indeed. When you get to the front doors, you enter from the left door (facing the building), there is usually one or sometimes two guys standing there who do nothing but smile and open the door. Then in the lobby there is that ugly circular reception area, which is manned by 1 - 4 staff depending on time of the day. They don't even bother to look. You simply walk past to the right and duck into the elevator lobby. But I always fetch the girls myself. I never allow them to walk into Gramercy unaccompanied. I usually tend to meet them across the street at 7/11 and walk back with them. That allows me to buy some snacks / food for the cutie, and they are always hungry.

[Sammon]

Once again, just let the chick leave first then you come out a couple of minutes after to avoid that drink stuff. Hell the chicks are the ones that taught the trick to me. They were really trying to fuck you over if they tried to make you buy them drinks AND pay 3000 ST. And please don't give them hoes 3000 pesos again, not even for Long Time. Although I have never given that much, I would say 2500 max for LT.

Another piece of advice is do not buy any drinks for the girls. They charge double as lady drinks. If a girl asks for a drink and if you want to buy just give her the money under the table. If she buys herself it is cheaper. Another trick is get the phone number after negotiations and wait at a convenient point. Some of those mamasan are downright mercenary although they should not act as mamasan. Only Koreans use them to get them girls but then they are big spenders.

[Sidtip]

I have a couple expired driver license from home that I will leave with security. So far they have never objected to that. Now if they lose my ID it is not much of a loss.

Security anywhere has never lost an ID but one place put my ID with the tag from another person's ID and they had to search for about 30 minutes, only found it when the other person returned and they went to give her my Canadian DL.

They kept wanting to serve the people behind me before returning to look for my ID, I was pretty firm that first come first served and any fall out for the line taking too long was not my concern. Did end up with one person dedicated to looking for it.

One hotel kept my ID and I forgot to collect it when I checked out. I discovered the missing passport when I was in the taxi on the way to the airport. I called and made the hotel staff bring it to me in a taxi because I didn't have time for the round trip. Luckily the hotel's number as on their receipt. (keep your receipts). Stressful.

[Mr Enternational]

Before we left stank breath bitched at us about how the rule was we need to buy a ladies drink for the ladies, or else LA cafe will charge the girl for a drink.

Once again, just let the chick leave first then you come out a couple of minutes after to avoid that drink stuff. Hell the chicks are the ones that taught the trick to me. They were really trying to fuck you over if they tried to make you buy them drinks AND pay 3000 ST. And please don't give them hoes 3000 pesos again, not even for Long Time. Although I have never given that much, I would say 2500 max for LT.

[WestCoast1]

I always stay at Gramercy in Makati. Yes, I have to get my own ID done along with a photograph and copy of passport / other identity document. Not once has anyone asked for the identity cards of the myriad of girls I have brought back, No one even as much blinks.

Interesting. Have stayed Gram several times. Also Milano and Knightsbridge. Front door security takes my girl's eye dee every single time.

In Cebu at a recent condo stay, security made me sign a release form before letting my non-eye-dee'd girl into the elevator (she is a regular, lost her eye dee, we replaced it).

[Blanquiceleste]

I stayed in an airbnb there at the end of November. Every single thing is exactly as you have described it. I think I was on the 35th floor. I remembered asking my girlfriend how the fuck they only have 4 elevators for a building this tall. And like you said, they only use 3 at a time. I went into one of the hotel operations to ask about the rooms. They took us up to see a few. They were much more basic and more expensive than the airbnb that I was staying in.

Oh, and your guest has to turn in their ID, get processed, take a picture, and get a visitor's badge to get past the front desk. There is a turnstyle that you have to scan the badge on to get to the elevators. You have to do it upon arrival as well and they keep your passport or ID until you check out.

I always stay at Gramercy in Makati. Yes, I have to get my own ID done along with a photograph and copy of passport / other identity document. Not once has anyone asked for the identity cards of the myriad of girls I have brought back, No one even as much blinks.

Prices in the range of $50 - $70 a night, I usually get a room on level 60 or above.

[Tachibana]

By the way, headed to Manila again in a couple months (by chance). Anyone have experience with club freelancers and could give me an idea of price ranges and good places to go?

[Tachibana]

Against the advice of a Japanese guy we met at the casino who described LA Cafe girls as "the worst", my friend and I dropped by after a long gambling session. Time was about 1 am.

Japanese guy was right, although as most people say cuties can be found there. Although I'm not sure if it looks that way because everything is relative and the fuglies make any decent looking girl stand out.

The server who led us to our seats was a real *****. I right away called her out on her crappy attitude and asked her "why are you angry? To which she cracked a small genuine smile before returning to bad face. Later on I would find she harassed my friend for a "ladies drink", which my he ignored but that she put it on the tab anyways. Friend just went "fuck it" and paid.

Anyways I took a skinny young looking girl with grey contact lenses that looked good on her. Almost looked part Indian. My friend, I don't know what the hell is wrong with him, took this savage 40 plus year old with a stanking breath because she looked like some famous Japanese celebrity. The girl brings her own pool cue there, so she must go a lot. They asked 3000 K for short time, and in hindsight it was probably dumb not to negotiate either for longtime for that price of 2 k for short-time but we were on Thailand prices so it seemed more trouble than worth at the time.

Before we left stank breath bitched at us about how the rule was we need to buy a ladies drink for the ladies, or else LA cafe will charge the girl for a drink. I pointed out that stank breath already had drinks ordered. She said okay just buy grey eyes a drink. I asked an army guy at the next table and he said the policy that the girls either have to buy one drink or have one bought for them during their night is true, but that I was under no obligation to buy one for her. Whatever, got her the drink which she didn't even drink and we left.

Walking back to the hotel stank breath was really getting on my nerves, and even my girl I noticed she had kindof a raspy breath which made he seem a little older and worn out than I liked and her clothing was kind of bargain skank style. Add that to the fact that Karaoke girls were leaving their shifts and looked mighty tempting, I was quite regretting my decision as I felt I had picked up a worn out LA cafe broad. I also had previous period girl experience the night before.

Back in the hotel, well, turns out contacts was an incredible F. After riding me I take her to the corner of the bed and pound mish. Her eyes roll back and she basically gives herself up to me to use, as if she were in overwhelming pleasure that just took control of her body. Choking, slapping, all OK. If acting, A plus performance. Finish with cum on tummy, how I like it. Enthusiastic all the way through and really friendly even after. Stuck around for a bit and chatted. Can't remember exactly but I think her age was around 23 (at least according to flimsy PH ID). All in all worth the 3 K but my next trip I will certainly be negotiating.

[Kabul Guy]

If you balk about them keeping your passport, they will ask you for a p300 deposit and you get to keep the passport. ...t.

I have a couple expired driver license from home that I will leave with security. So far they have never objected to that. Now if they lose my ID it is not much of a loss.

Security anywhere has never lost an ID but one place put my ID with the tag from another person's ID and they had to search for about 30 minutes, only found it when the other person returned and they went to give her my Canadian DL.

They kept wanting to serve the people behind me before returning to look for my ID, I was pretty firm that first come first served and any fall out for the line taking too long was not my concern. Did end up with one person dedicated to looking for it.

[WestCoast1]

Oh, and your guest has to turn in their ID, get processed, take a picture, and get a visitor's badge to get past the front desk. There is a turnstyle that you have to scan the badge on to get to the elevators. You have to do it upon arrival as well and they keep your passport or ID until you check out.

If you balk about them keeping your passport, they will ask you for a p300 deposit and you get to keep the passport. They give the 300 back when you check out of your unit and turn in the security pass. Soapy my wifi speeds were always good enough for streaming in any unit. The largest downside is the elevators (compare to similar waits in Makati's Citadel Inn on Burgos St). From about 4-8 pm, even with all 4 elevators operating, the crowds outside the elevators mean 10 minute waits to get up to your unit. Coming down from floor 35 might also be no fun, as it might stop at 13 different floors on the way down. Studios are 22 square meters (that includes the balcony, the interior is 20 sq meters), relatively a tight fit.

[Engine Driver]

Best Western is an okay choice, but there are hotels in Malate that are closer. Apologies for posting this numerous times previously: the dividing line between Ermita and Malate is Pedro Gil. Thus New World Hotel (2 blocks from LA Cafe) is in Malate. Other Malate hotels and their distance from LA Cafe include: Las Palmas (3), Executive (3 1/2), Riviera Mansion (3 1/2), Palm Grove (4), Rothman (4 1/2), and Eurotel (5 1/2). All are easy walking distance, and the walk takes you past various restaurants and convenience stores. Eurotel is directly across Pedro Gil from Robinson's Place. In Ermita the closest hotel is Boulevard Mansion (1 1/2 blocks), then Duck Inn (4) and Best Western (4). There are numerous other Malate hotels at greater distance. If proximity to Robinson's Place is important, most of the Malate hotels I named are closer than those in Ermita. Quality varies among these hotels, and none are exactly high-end. You should go on one of the hotel sites like Agoda and check out customer ratings and remarks. Sam is correct that you should book for two, and this applies to all these hotels. This probably belongs in the Manila Hotels thread, but I'm to lazy to copy and past it all.

One of the better hotels in this area is the famous Diamond Hotel which is 5 star (Phillipines standard). It's a useful landmark if you are walking up and down Roxas Boulevard on a hot day looking for a root. It's about 250 metres from LA Cafe if you head west. There are regular specials on line and you can often get a room for $140. If you pay a few dollars more, you can access the club floor. If you have a late flight that night, you can hang out in the executive lounge after checking out, eat their free food, skol down a few g&t's and type up a few forum reports until it's time to go. I've asked for a late check out for 1. 30 pm, gone to LA Cafe at 12.00 noon, picked up a hooker, taken her back to the room and squeezed in a last minute, final root before leaving.

[NewImage]

This is a change since I was last there about two years ago. Grand Regency has its check-in counter to the left inside the door, right alongside the cafe. Another hotel operation, JRR Grand, has its counter to the right as you come in, and another outfit, Birch Condotel, is in the back of the first floor, or maybe up a flight of stairs from the first floor. The turnstile thing is new, because, after my initial check-in, my guests and I we were able to walk on in as though we owned the place. I guess privacy is losing out to security.

I suppose the hassle is worth the security aspect. I suppose.