Manila

[Ghost D]

It's been a couple of weeks since I was at LA Café, but I am happy to report that it seems to have survived the pandemic so far anyway.

L. A Café located in Del Pilar St, Ermita (all the taxi drivers know it) which is a good 25 min drive from the center (BGC, Makati) without traffic and 1+ hours with traffic, it has been one of the more interesting places to visit in Manila since I started coming here.

For those who don't know, It is a fairly large venue with a upstairs supporting live music on weekends (and a small fee to go up) and also a rear dining / billiards area that was less busy than the main bar. Inside the main circular bar there was seating at the bar and also on small high tables along with a couple of billiard tables down the back, there were so busy they started to expand into the building across the street.

Pre-Pandemic typically customers would number 1-200 there was easily 2-300 ladies in there (maybe more) so something to suit all tastes.

The place was (still is, I guess) 24/7 for those interested and while there were times it got very busy, it was always open depending on when the urge took you to go there.

Pandemic times, the expansion into the building across the street was closed, and also the upstairs part was closed.

I was there a few times over both L3 and L2 lockdown alert levels (higher is more strict), and being a restaurant LA Café actually managed to stay open through-out although I did hear it was raided a few times.

During Alert level 3, they were mostly strict in checking vaccine documents, and having a reduced volume of customers inside, so mainly ladies were restricted and with the recent introduction of L3 for a short time it lead to a large group of ladies hanging around outside waiting a turn to go in, not sure if they had a rotation system, but I haven't seen anything like that before (more ladies on the street than inside).

For Alert level 2, things are more like normal, with up to 70% capacity allowed inside, so when it got busy once or twice when I was there during this time it really started to feel like old times, the only real difference being no upstairs.

As all the ladies in there are freelancers, there is no bar fine, although there is ladies drinks and the staff will also try their luck at getting you to buy some ladies drinks for them. Prices will vary a lot, so I recommend something like 2 K short time and 3-4 K long time, and then in the moment you need to decide what you want to do, currently it's a buyer's market, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

There is a short term hotel very close to LA Café (it's almost next door), there a room will cost you 600 Php for 6 hours and you can have a few guests if you like (I did during L3.).

I haven't explored the area around LA Café much so would be interested to hear from other forum members if there is anywhere worth visiting before or after LA Café, as it's a bit of a trip out of central Manila.

I am also looking forward to hearing more stories and experiences in those returning or choosing to visit LA Café for the first time, enjoy and stay safe.

[WestCoast1]

You know the drill if you been to Angeles like you said you were. Sheesh.

Ya, what he said. Sheesh. Haha and enjoy this pic.

[D Cups]

Appreciate recommendations on a pub where I can find pretty girls and hook up.

Read the forums and stop asking dumb questions. You know the drill if you been to Angeles like you said you were. Sheesh.

[Raj1587]

Appreciate recommendations on a pub where I can find pretty girls and hook up.

[WestCoast1]

A 'little' something that brings morning joy. Twice. 4' 10", 80-ish lbs. My girls are the gifts that keep on giving.

[South By Sw 3]

Unfortunately traffic is back to "normal".

My friends in Manila said traffic has definitely bounced back, but not to the constant rush hour. They live in the CBD and have drivers, FWIW.

-South By SW 3 (and 2).

[Muttley81]

Upon an online search Genesis bus is back in action but limited schedules. The latest bus is at 5:00 pm. I can double back from Makati for the bus or take a car / taxi to Angeles. I am guessing traffic is not as bad as before covid.

Unfortunately traffic is back to "normal".

[Albert9989]

Why wouldn't leisure tourism be allowed? I chatted with a couple of Filipinas and at least they said "Watch the news they will open for everyone".

Of course it doesn't mean that the pandemic is over and life will be normal and free but it is not supposed to be medical tourism only etc. I think.

Give a look at the thread Phil General Infos, I guess you will find more accurate news.

Give a look here also https://parispe.dfa.gov.ph/.

And here for the full official text https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/d...SO-159-RRD.pdf.

Hope these website and text are valid, please correct me if they are not.

[Dg8787]

Looks like you are correct about the reduced hours thankfully my flight lands during operating hours thanks for looking into that they may increase these hours as the tourists come back but that's a notable concern when booking a flight to phils. I have never actually used this shuttle I was looking forward to it this time around. I usually stay a few days in manila before heading to AC and take a taxi from the taxi mafia on P burgos street. I would keep my eye on Genesis's (https://www.facebook.com/GenesisTransportInc) FB feed for updates they are fairly active on FB.

Taxis from Makati to T3 Arrivals bay 14 are quick and easy using the expressway. Hardest part is explaining to the driver you are going to ARRIVALS with your bags and not departures! Make sure the driver uses the left median and not the far right median for arrivals. This will bypass all the other bottleneck arrival bays.

[Pekkakoo]

Evidently, the link I posted, though published by the government, is not entirely clear, and is meant to apply only to those coming for medical visits and urgent / humanitarian missions, though that's not stated in the announcement. Regular "leisure" tourism is still not permitted and there's been no decision yet made on when the country will open again for tourists. I misinterpreted the announcement, and probably should not have posted it until I had sought clarification from those involved in the ongoing discussions. Evidently no one has a firm idea on even an approximate date for opening to tourists.

GE.

Why wouldn't leisure tourism be allowed? I chatted with a couple of Filipinas and at least they said "Watch the news they will open for everyone".

Of course it doesn't mean that the pandemic is over and life will be normal and free but it is not supposed to be medical tourism only etc. I think.

[Member #4794]

Upon an online search Genesis bus is back in action but limited schedules. The latest bus is at 5:00 pm. I can double back from Makati for the bus or take a car / taxi to Angeles. I am guessing traffic is not as bad as before covid.

Looks like you are correct about the reduced hours thankfully my flight lands during operating hours thanks for looking into that they may increase these hours as the tourists come back but that's a notable concern when booking a flight to phils. I have never actually used this shuttle I was looking forward to it this time around. I usually stay a few days in manila before heading to AC and take a taxi from the taxi mafia on P burgos street. I would keep my eye on Genesis's (https://www.facebook.com/GenesisTransportInc) FB feed for updates they are fairly active on FB.

[Dg8787]

Thank you gents for the info.

It has been 2 years now since I was in PH. I remember now that I took the Genesis bus from Terminal 3 to SM Clark mall. The bus was parked at Arrivals Bay 14. My flight would arrive at 10 pm, buy me a Jollibee meal #3 and I would get on the bus. I am wondering if Genesis still have that service?

Upon an online search Genesis bus is back in action but limited schedules. The latest bus is at 5:00 pm. I can double back from Makati for the bus or take a car / taxi to Angeles. I am guessing traffic is not as bad as before covid.

[Shining Wit]

Thank you gents for the info.

It has been 2 years now since I was in PH. I remember now that I took the Genesis bus from Terminal 3 to SM Clark mall. The bus was parked at Arrivals Bay 14. My flight would arrive at 10 pm, buy me a Jollibee meal #3 and I would get on the bus. I am wondering if Genesis still have that service?

I found this on the internet.

https://www.phbus.com/genesis-p2p-bus-service/

Have fun comparing the timetables! Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.

[Dg8787]

Thank you gents for the info.

It has been 2 years now since I was in PH. I remember now that I took the Genesis bus from Terminal 3 to SM Clark mall. The bus was parked at Arrivals Bay 14. My flight would arrive at 10 pm, buy me a Jollibee meal #3 and I would get on the bus. I am wondering if Genesis still have that service?

[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.