Manila

[Thaifun]

Longtime visitors or regular ones might consider opening an account with BdO, Metrobank etc. Deposits at the local branch are free, other branches will charge 50 Peso. A hotel address worked for me. You need to maintain a minimum balance of 2000 peso.

Those familiar with Manila would simply change an amount of money into peso at their preferred venue. Then proceed to the bank, deposit the pesos and from now on use the atms of that bank for free. The big banks are present in all provincial centers.

Dollar accounts can offer the same service. Deposit US $ and draw on the money in Peso through the ATMs.

The risk of theft is way higher than minor exchange rate differences. The RP ATM cards have the benefit that you dont need to worry if that specific ATM is hooked up to the same network as your foreign bank.

Did I mention the skirts of those BdO ladies? I better dont.

[Econo Tech]

no mate you didn't get it wrong. there are no consequences/
she sounds like she knows the score.

many of these girls do have scruples and don't want to be viewed in a bad light.
your 5000 php the night before was very generous and she was probably embarrassed about being seen as expecting another payment. if she had wanted and needed more cash she would have hung around until you got the message. by leaving the way she did makes it clear to me that she didn't expect anything.

maybe i sound like a sour grape, but while i like your justification that she felt she got paid a lot the previous day, in a country where most earns around 15000 peso for a month for mid level jobs (if she is working in that level), another few thousand peso will not only be making their whole month happy, but would also make them less likely to look for punters.

while i can never place a number, atleast a 1000 peso in the pocket would have made her take a taxi to work instead of jumping into an fx

anyway, that's all my own opinion. if the girl was so nice, i would have gladly done what i suggested.

cheers mate

[GoodEnough]

In the Philippines, like most SE Asia countries, cash is king. ATM's, cash advances and the like are rip-offs. Take clean high serial number hundred dollar bills and exchange at street money changers - you can negotiate the best rate. Get more p***y for your bucks.

I disagree. Having tried various alternatives over the 7 years or so that I've lived here, I concluded a while ago that ATMs are the easiest, safest, and usually the cheapest means of getting local money. Machines are ubiquitous and are rarely empty, and the amount charged by your bank or by local banks is partially offset by the lousy exchange rate offered by many bureaux de change. Plus, you will usually get a better rate from the ATMs than you will from the money changers. Carrying around a pile of $100 bills is just one more thing to worry about. I would advise that you keep two or three such bills tucked away as an emergency stash, and use your ATM for getting pesos. If you have an ATM/Visa debit card, so much the better, as you can use it for hotel expenses and usually in restaurants. Again, you'll get a better rate from Visa than from most currency exchange places.
GE

[Blackangst]

In the Philippines, like most SE Asia countries, cash is king. ATM's, cash advances and the like are rip-offs. Take clean high serial number hundred dollar bills and exchange at street money changers - you can negotiate the best rate. Get more p***y for your bucks.

Well, ATM's give pretty good rates.

And what does a high serial number have to do with anything?

[Red Kilt]

.....................
However good, point made about the possible consequences if I got it wrong - Next time will make sure I get to her handbag before she can leave.

No mate you didn't get it wrong. There are no consequences/
She sounds like she knows the score.
Many of these girls do have scruples and don't want to be viewed in a bad light.
Your 5000 php the night before was very generous and she was probably embarrassed about being seen as expecting another payment. If she had wanted and needed more cash she would have hung around until you got the message. By leaving the way she did makes it clear to me that she didn't expect anything.

[Whatsgoingon]

A curious thought .. wouldn't it have been better to slip some peso into her jeans/pant/hand bag?

After all, these girls need to make a living right?

Pardon my ignorance

Yes, I could have done but I gave her 5k the night before for her "taxi" - which I know was way way too much, was naked when she kissed me and she got to the door and opened it before I could have even grabbed any money. I would have ended up with an open door and naked man trying to get into the safe.

To be honest, after asking the night before for cab fare, I thought she would have done so again if she wanted.

I am also still not sure she was a wg, she spoke about her job earlier the day before and even took photos of me and her friends - none of which picked up any punters despite having significant attention - and e-mailed them to me this morning.

However good, point made about the possible consequences if I got it wrong - Next time will make sure I get to her handbag before she can leave.

[Globe Spinner]

This may sound like a dumb question. Having done very little traveling in recent years I do not have an ATM card (I just don't use it in the States). I am planning on traveling Manila/Cebu/Davao in Sep or Oct. Should I get a ATM card from my bank in advance of my trip or can I affordably use my credit card at ATM machines without excessive fees? I'm guessing that the fees may be pretty steep using credit card instead of ATM card? Is it worth wiring money to a bank with offices in Philippines just for a two week trip?

In the Philippines, like most SE Asia countries, cash is king. ATM's, cash advances and the like are rip-offs. Take clean high serial number hundred dollar bills and exchange at street money changers - you can negotiate the best rate. Get more p***y for your bucks.

[Key Master]

this may sound like a dumb question. having done very little traveling in recent years i do not have an atm card (i just don't use it in the states). i am planning on traveling manila/cebu/davao in sep or oct. should i get a atm card from my bank in advance of my trip or can i affordably use my credit card at atm machines without excessive fees? i'm guessing that the fees may be pretty steep using credit card instead of atm card? is it worth wiring money to a bank with offices in philippines just for a two week trip?

i think you'll get raped if you use a credit card, with all types of cash advance fees, and currency exchange fees most likely. you may get charged the atm fees when using an atm also, but i think smaller than the credit card. i never consider the credit card option. depending on how long you are there, you can always bring dollars to exchange, assuming you are american. bring nice $100 bills. lots of places in manila to exchange and also cebu maybe not so many as manila though, but they're there. i prefer to use atm and cash exchange, just have to be very careful about locking your cash up and keeping it safe. not all safes are safe.

[Key Master]

A curious thought .. wouldn't it have been better to slip some peso into her jeans/pant/hand bag?
After all, these girls need to make a living right?
Pardon my ignorance

That's what I would have done. Lot of weird stuff can happen potentially if not in my opinion.

[Tally Wacker]

Ask your bank.

This may sound like a dumb question. Having done very little traveling in recent years I do not have an ATM card (I just don't use it in the States). I am planning on traveling Manila/Cebu/Davao in Sep or Oct. Should I get a ATM card from my bank in advance of my trip or can I affordably use my credit card at ATM machines without excessive fees? I'm guessing that the fees may be pretty steep using credit card instead of ATM card? Is it worth wiring money to a bank with offices in Philippines just for a two week trip?

[Oakwood99]

Now living in the metro area.

If anyone's ever intersted in a wingman, whether at regular bars or LA Cafe or wherever, let me know.

Will take you up on that PG in October.

[DoingOurDuty]

I can get 10,000 at many ATM in Manila. Downstairs Robinson's Mall Malate, Glorieta in Makati, and the mall in Ortigas that is hooked into the Holiday Inn. Few months I got 10K at an ATM, then tried again later that day, only to be denied for any cash. Tried later that day at another previously trusted ATM, on United Nations Blvd (one of the banks) just a block or two off Roxas, and got the same rejection, the card was declined. Damn. Figured there was maybe a 24-hour lockout (maybe). The next day I tried again in the evening, no success.

I had to call my bank in the US, customer service number. On the phone the agent explained their computers had detected unusual 'out-of-country' activity, and de-activated the card. Once he walked me thru the last several attempted uses as my own, he re-activated it. He said that I should have called the bank before leaving the US and notified them of the dates and countries I was traveling (like I have to do with my credit cards). Lesson learned. 5 minutes later I was getting some cash at a machine.

This may sound like a dumb question. Having done very little traveling in recent years I do not have an ATM card (I just don't use it in the States). I am planning on traveling Manila/Cebu/Davao in Sep or Oct. Should I get a ATM card from my bank in advance of my trip or can I affordably use my credit card at ATM machines without excessive fees? I'm guessing that the fees may be pretty steep using credit card instead of ATM card? Is it worth wiring money to a bank with offices in Philippines just for a two week trip?

[Redman69]

You are to be in Cebu for a week?

Well you should read up on that city in the other city part of the board. There is lots to do there also.

I have been once to Cebu. Not the clubs. But, with a week you can do the mall thing. Just go to a SM or Robinson and walk around. They will let you know they are interested. With a week it is worth a try. If you get one who only wants coffee and chat then you can do the GoGo latter. But, you can have some real GFE fun meeting the shop girls and even moms with the kids. Who manage to find a sitter quick.

But, with only hours in Manila. I think you have plenty of good info

[Marconista]

Been there back in 2006 if I recall correct.
HJ is the only extra available.

I think the whole staff has changed since then, but if the same guy is in charge I guess they have the same policy.

Ran across this:

http://www.freewebs.com/knowfusion/

[Econo Tech]

Angela left at 11am this morning. She didn't ask for any "taxi money" she just kissed me and left. I am completely shagged out now and off home tonight.

A curious thought .. wouldn't it have been better to slip some peso into her jeans/pant/hand bag?

After all, these girls need to make a living right?

Pardon my ignorance