Manila

[Robbaf]

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

Very good info GE. I agree 100% and I keep a $1000.00 for emergencies...Maybe ATM down or if I need to go back to US for an emergency I have dollars.

Robb

[WestCoast1]

Continuation of my previous post http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...postcount=5190

Spent 2 consecutive nights pulling from different go-go bars at the complex.

EDSA - Cotton Club

Arrived late. Past midnight. A dozen or so girls left on stage. Thin on talent, no-one too inspiring. Walked right in ignoring the stage and sat at the bar next to a pretty GRO (not a regular stage dancer) I eventually pulled. Definitely not a SYT but I was in the mood for curves and maturity. ;) BF PHP 1600, DFK, BBBJ, DATY, multiple shots offered and received. GFE quotient high but bordering on fake. Left my room happy the next morning at about 8 am with a PHP 3000 tip. (Was quoted ST for PHP 2500 - turned into semi-LT so I gave what I thought was fair)

EDSA - Casino

Arrived even later than the day before. Around 1 am. Also a dozen or so girls left on stage plus a few Japanophile hopefuls circulating on the floor. About 2 or 3 do-able. Made my choice on a Japanophile SYT. BF PHP 1600, DFK, BBBJ, DATY, multiple shots offered and received. GFE quotient high. Left my room happy the next morning at about 9 am with a PHP 3000 tip.

Had a late flight out the following day. Texted her to meet me at a no-tell motel in Malate. Arrived late due to traffic, only had an hour to spare. Same GFE service offered and received. Tried to get out of paying BF but couldnt as she was supposed to get to work at 5:30 pm. Bull? Stuffed PHP 3000 in her purse before she left, meaning for it to be all in (BF + tip) but she pulled a face, saying it should be BF PHP 1600 + PHP 2500 for ST = at least PHP 4000. Mercenary. So much for the repeat.

Wow!

Did I read that right? Paying working girls 2500 for ST? PLUS a barfine? To each his own, but this is alcohol talking? AC girls go for 1300 (no tip needed, she only gets half that for her salary, the bar keeps half). FL girls from LA Cafe and other places in Malate a few months ago were LT with me for 1500 (tip = p100 taxi) and were plenty GFE. Listen, the girls will tell you all kinds of lies about how much you should pay them. Both before and after. If you are (not so smart) to ask her how much she wants before leaving the bar, she will quote high prices. Don't do that. Tell them how much you are offereing FIRST. Just say an amount you don't want to go over. She's already getting p1000 from the EDSA barfine. She's willing to work LT for 2000 total. If the barfine is 1600, offer her p400 tip. If she balks or says higher, smile and walk away over to another girl or to LA Cafe. Once inside LAC, offer p1500 LT. Of course she'll balk at that. Don't go over 2000 pesos to get a LT in Manila.

If girls in AC are willing to work LT for p650 and girls in LA Cafe are p1500, why would you shell out p3-4000 for EDSA or Burgos? You are driving the prices up for the rest of us.

[Econo Tech]

Nope, no offence taken. Its my first trip to Phil in 13 years so I appreciate the guidance from difference viewpoints. I spoke with her today and she said she didn't ask for any more money because after giving her the amount I did the previous night she would have felt ashamed to ask for more. I will make up for it next time I see her, likely to be beginning July. She said she would explain more then. Will let you know the conclusion to this story then!

If you have worked or lived with filipinas, they lie to avoid making the other person feel bad. Well, that's my experience. Like the times I have met some friends who worked in Singapore, and when they are back for good in Phil, they are ashamed to ask. That doesn't stop me from ensuring something useful gets across, like some gift vouchers, or similar stuff. Well, as a matter of fact, I know the difference one faces, when she was earning about 3000 US$ a month in Singapore, and now back to Philippines for less than 1/3rd of that pay.

Anyway, not to dwell on it more. Since you had fun. Let's talk about other stuff.

PS: to save bandwidth, Thaifun's suggestion seems good. I better check with BDO in Singapore, as they issue Philippines ATM cards.

[Thaifun]

Didn't know banks accept hotels as addresses. Considering the amount I spend on the Cirrus/Maestro withdrawal, your suggestion seems better.

And the banks when I asked here (all Philippine Banks have branches in Singapore.) all insisted a load of documents, Philippines style. Maybe to drown me in paperwork.

Let me give it a shot during my next visit.

I forgot to mention that I m going to date a BdO lady in a few weeks when visiting my favorite province. I will expand my inquiries with her to more economic matters if time permits :))

BdO = best looking women 25+ and up

[Thaifun]

That is a VERY interesting post. Previously some guys said banks were reluctant to open bank accounts to guys not residing in the phils with the noticable exception of HSBC which requires you have always at least 100K pesos on your account. I don't want to "freeze" 2, 000 USD or 1600 euros in a phil bank.

Hotel adress worked but. When they ship you the new atm card or the statements when you'll leave the hotel it will be returned to the bank as no longer live there. Isn't it going to be a problem?

Can you confirm that a european (or american) can open a bank account in any BdO in MNL with let's say 20 or 30K and get an ATM card?

All I need is an IBAN to cash in and an ATM card to cash out.

My story. I walked into a BdO branch in Mindanao. Got lucky to get one of the 10s working there. She had, however, an ugly ring around the wrong finger. Shit!
Anyhow I was there for banking and not bonking. So I paid 10K peso into the account. The deposit was free as this would be "my" branch. The ATM card took 10 days and I picked it up at the bank. As the address I gave my hotel, not even a room number. They new I would not be found there but they dont mail statements etc. You do all at the ATM.
The 2000 peso balance is to avoid banking charges. If you keep less they start charging some peanuts.

The whole thing took 10-15 minutes, way too quick to check out all that candy working in the branch.

For me it worked. I have a residence visa but that did not really make a difference they told me.

So try your luck. Metrobank is more a headache plus the ladies are not even a far second to BdO. You might decide on BdO on Makati avenue, the main branch. If that is not working, the local branch manager in the province might be more eager to have that extra customer who keeps cash in his bank.

[Raverboy]

Continuation of my previous post http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...postcount=5190

Spent 2 consecutive nights pulling from different go-go bars at the complex.

EDSA - Cotton Club

Arrived late. Past midnight. A dozen or so girls left on stage. Thin on talent, no-one too inspiring. Walked right in ignoring the stage and sat at the bar next to a pretty GRO (not a regular stage dancer) I eventually pulled. Definitely not a SYT but I was in the mood for curves and maturity. ;) BF PHP 1600, DFK, BBBJ, DATY, multiple shots offered and received. GFE quotient high but bordering on fake. Left my room happy the next morning at about 8 am with a PHP 3000 tip. (Was quoted ST for PHP 2500 - turned into semi-LT so I gave what I thought was fair)

EDSA - Casino

Arrived even later than the day before. Around 1 am. Also a dozen or so girls left on stage plus a few Japanophile hopefuls circulating on the floor. About 2 or 3 do-able. Made my choice on a Japanophile SYT. BF PHP 1600, DFK, BBBJ, DATY, multiple shots offered and received. GFE quotient high. Left my room happy the next morning at about 9 am with a PHP 3000 tip.

Had a late flight out the following day. Texted her to meet me at a no-tell motel in Malate. Arrived late due to traffic, only had an hour to spare. Same GFE service offered and received. Tried to get out of paying BF but couldnt as she was supposed to get to work at 5:30 pm. Bull? Stuffed PHP 3000 in her purse before she left, meaning for it to be all in (BF + tip) but she pulled a face, saying it should be BF PHP 1600 + PHP 2500 for ST = at least PHP 4000. Mercenary. So much for the repeat.

Misses
Didnt make it to:
Cafe Havana, Harrison Plaza for mall pickups, Bautista *****houses, Quezon City Clubs. Can anybody feedback on these recently?

Left the PI and already missing it. Lessons learnt on this trip:

1. Mental note to revisit LA Cafe. Worth the risk with the FLs for that Pinay GFE minus the BFs, the go-go bar drama, the hassle of mamasans, supervisors and her schedule for indentured slavery.
2. Dating sites not worth the time and effort, statistically speaking. Unless you have the time trolling the sites spouting nonsense for months before you arrive.
3. Taxi to EDSA, just say "Complex, EDSA and Roxas". No need to say Firehouse, EDSA extension and Roxas opposite Heritage Hotel, blahblah... as suggested by other sites.
4. Next trip to the PI, maybe AC will be worth a revisit :D

[Red Kilt]

.............. I spoke with her today and she said she didn't ask for any more money because after giving her the amount I did the previous night she would have felt ashamed to ask for more. .........

Aha just as I predicted in #5223

Good to know I am correct sometimes, but many filipinas are difficult to "read".

[Whatsgoingon]

snip....

Whatsgoingon: hope I didn't offend you, but I guess you catch my drift! Nope, as long as you didn't ask her, or given her a few hundred pesos, and as long as she didn't obviously look at you with a disgusted look. Which is not the case as she spent another day with you. You are cool.

Nope, no offence taken. Its my first trip to Phil in 13 years so I appreciate the guidance from difference viewpoints. I spoke with her today and she said she didn't ask for any more money because after giving her the amount I did the previous night she would have felt ashamed to ask for more. I will make up for it next time I see her, likely to be beginning July. She said she would explain more then. Will let you know the conclusion to this story then!

[Robbaf]

1. If you open a BPI account through the manager you can arrange go to bank to collect your ATM.

2. Theres no issue with the P 90,000 balance. You oepn the account with it and then withdraw it. no one checks that you keep a P90,000 balance. If you really need the money, then redeem the cash, and send it your other non Philippines accounts by TT.

I have a BPI dollar account and I have to maintain $300 balance or I am charged a $5 monthly service fee.

Robb

[Amavida]

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.

Some of them are thinking longer term. Some don't want to be paid for an hour (she does'nt think of it as hooking), they want to get their hooks in for much bigger rewards than that. Putting her through college etc.

Or maybe she was just out for sexual adventure, they do exist.

AV

[Amavida]

That is a VERY interesting post. Previously some guys said banks were reluctant to open bank accounts to guys not residing in the phils with the noticable exception of HSBC which requires you have always at least 100K pesos on your account. I don't want to "freeze" 2, 000 USD or 1600 euros in a phil bank.

Hotel adress worked but. When they ship you the new atm card or the statements when you'll leave the hotel it will be returned to the bank as no longer live there. Isn't it going to be a problem?

Can you confirm that a european (or american) can open a bank account in any BdO in MNL with let's say 20 or 30K and get an ATM card?

All I need is an IBAN to cash in and an ATM card to cash out.

Yes it could be a problem. You are supposed to have an acr card these days but enforcement of rules can vary from branch to branch. If you have contacts, it's all too easy, if not shop around branches.

Once you have money in there, the account will stay open.

AV

[Econo Tech]

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.

Didn't know banks accept hotels as addresses. Considering the amount I spend on the Cirrus/Maestro withdrawal, your suggestion seems better.

And the banks when I asked here (all Philippine Banks have branches in Singapore.) all insisted a load of documents, Philippines style. Maybe to drown me in paperwork.

Let me give it a shot during my next visit.

[Econo Tech]

I wouldn't think another thing about it mate.

Not all girls go out looking for punters because they need the money. Some of these girls have more than enough money and they just like being chased after and having sex.

If she is not a "prostie" then giving her money she doesn't need may well be more of an insult to her than NOT giving it to her.

Ok, before I get called for ranting, my 0.02 $ worth.

I have had enough Filipino/filipina friends, professionals, and middle class, who would not fuck for money, and if at all they need money, they will ask for say. "it's late. Can I get some cash for taxi" and it is only taxi fare. If you palm them 3, 000 peso, you will get back 2, 500 and keep just the amount for taxi fare.

So, my justification is simple. If she did expect money the first day, it would have been nice to give her some on the second day as well, considering the cost of living and earning capacity in Philippines, a few more thousand peso would have kept her off the street, as those girls who part time would prefer to not to be fucking and spend quality time with their friends and family.

Now. All that does not apply to full time *****s. I would take a chance and would assume that the girl in question is a 'part time' girl. And the other poster's comments just confirm it.

Well, as I mentioned, in a country where the average wage for mid level staff varies below 30,000 peso, a few thousand peso- which just equates to a few hundred $. Something I could easily afford for the GFE. And would not hurt my wallet.

Well, every person has their own opinion. Above is mine!

Whatsgoingon: hope I didn't offend you, but I guess you catch my drift! Nope, as long as you didn't ask her, or given her a few hundred pesos, and as long as she didn't obviously look at you with a disgusted look. Which is not the case as she spent another day with you. You are cool.

[Whatsgoingon]

I wouldn't think another thing about it mate.
Not all girls go out looking for punters because they need the money. Some of these girls have more than enough money and they just like being chased after and having sex.
If she is not a "prostie" then giving her money she doesn't need may well be more of an insult to her than NOT giving it to her.

Funny that you mention this. This girl was classy, had perfect english, looked nothing like a WG and wasn't attempting to find a punter - if I had been in any other country I would have assumed that we just had chemistry and thats why we went back to my hotel - because at the time that's what it felt like.

After she asked for taxi money on night 1 I then assumed that she was a part time WG and gave her money. I have of course thought both ways since - did I insult her? - I may have been wrong.

Anyway regardless or what she is/isnt, I am planning on a return trip soon and will make sure I give her some money to help her out with things.

Hope to see Manila again soon!

[Red Kilt]

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.
..........

i wouldn't think another thing about it mate.
not all girls go out looking for punters because they need the money. some of these girls have more than enough money and they just like being chased after and having sex.
if she is not a "prostie" then giving her money she doesn't need may well be more of an insult to her than not giving it to her.