Manila

[Cunning Stunt]

As an expat its easy to tell them enough so that they quickly know 'Hindi turista ako' (Im not a tourist). But even if you're a tourist being friendly & engaging goes a long way in this society. they get enough shit from snooty upper class pinoys. Often when I get to a destination I ask how much & get 'S'up to you'. I have an idea of the fare dont short change them, they have family's to feed.. So before you leave on journey ask somebody even hotel staff, how much should a cab fare be from a to b. You will quickly get the hang of it. Lastly remember, the fares are peanuts in our currency, don't ruin your day over a lousy couple of bucks.

Happy mongering

AV

Good advice Amavida, I think that Manila taxi drivers are unfairly demonised and those assholes who sit outside bars etc probably deserve it but the average working joe taxi driver is, like you say, just trying to earn a crust and is basically honest and decent. They work incredibly long hour, something like 16-18 hour days and earn peanuts so don't be mean with your tips guys.

One thing that amuses me with taxi drivers is that you can 99% guarantee that the first words out of their mouths after you tell them your destination will be "Oooh traffic". Guaranteed every time. They will use their meters (it is after all the law, hahaha) but they will normally ask for 100-150 pesos over the meter price so it sometimes better to prearrange a fare before you get in.

Also remember that their knowledge of Manila is somewhat rudimentary at best (their is no 'knowledge' tests here) so it helps if you have some idea of how to get where your going, just in case your driver gets lost! Don't laugh, it happens a lot. I love driving in Manila, its a real adrenalin rush and you need eyes in the side as well as the back of your head. Indicators. What the fuck are they for. Hazard lights. Great at New Year or when your feeling happy. Carve me up. Please do. I love it. I'll do it to you first chance I get. And remember your horn is for getting the attention of that cute chick on the corner or any other reason except alerting other roadusers of your presence. Remember these simple rules and you'll have a ball. Oh I forgot, overtaking on tight bends is mandatory and all motorcycle riders are on a kamikaze mission.

[Soapy Smith]

Taxi fares

I keep reading about these guys insisting on using the taxi meter.. It's like some crusade or something.. Guy's, you're in asia now, land of the haggling price, nobody uses the meter's here! You hail a cab stick your head in the door & tell them where you wish to go, sometimes they say 'no' which is fine, step back & hail another. Usually you get a 'ok', next you ask how much? If you know where you are going & have an even rough idea of the fare you will get a figure from them in the ball park. If not you can haggle a little usually with success or say 'no thanks' step back & hail another.

This is all done at the kerb side before you get in. Once in the cab its a good idea to chat the cabbie up a little. You find the majority are decent family men who will appreciate your kindness in chatting to them. In this cuture silence is very uncomfortable, people here feel much more comfortable to smile & chatter.
As an expat its easy to tell them enough so that they quickly know 'Hindi turista ako' (Im not a tourist). But even if you're a tourist being friendly & engaging goes a long way in this society. they get enough shit from snooty upper class pinoys. Often when I get to a destination I ask how much & get 'S'up to you'. I have an idea of the fare dont short change them, they have family's to feed.. So before you leave on journey ask somebody even hotel staff, how much should a cab fare be from a to b. You will quickly get the hang of it. Lastly remember, the fares are peanuts in our currency, don't ruin your day over a lousy couple of bucks.

AV,

I think you underestimate how much more you know about what's what and what's where in Manila as compared to average mongers, and you overestimate how much individual hotel staff members know about where things are and how much they should cost. Taxi meters appear to run on some combination of mileage and time. This makes it very difficult to estimate what the fare ought to be, not only because many mongers don't know how far it is from point a to point z, but they also have no idea whether heavy traffic is going to bring the cab to a standstill at particular times in the day and particular parts of the metro area.

I found that after a few months navigating about I knew more about getting around in some areas of metro Manila than did locals who have lived here all their lives. I happen to have a very good sense of direction, attention to detail, and a good Citiatlas map. But most Filipinos don't own cars. You know that as well as anybody. Their only experience in cars is when they occasionally ride in a taxi or an employer-owned car. So some hotel employees will tell you what a ride ought to cost and may occasionally be right. Others will tell you a price that's inaccurate because they don't know but want to please by giving some sort of answer.

Your experience, wisdom, and confidence in getting around in PI is commendable, but it doesn't transfer very well to newbie or occasional visitors. Taxi meters are useful for newbies. You've accused me of stinginess in the past; I don't need the sensation of you pissing in my pocket to know what's going on.

Skip

[Amavida]

Hi Guys,

WL's & Taxi's
Speaking as an expat who used to live in Manila & still visits frequently from elsewhere n the Phils I would advise if you're a tourist and going to be spending a significant amount of time on LA Cafe I would suggest avoid the whole taxi thing & get a hotel within walking distance. Yes I know all *****s world wide are born lame but thats their problem. There are _plenty_ of nice hotels nearby.
Emrita/Malate is pretty low rent. If you have your wits about you & a clear head its safe enough but don't walk long distances at night, ever.
It has been known for the cops to stand right outside the front door LA Cafe & accost guys leaving with chicks. You can try to bluff your way out of it but i suggest you don't try getting cute with the cops, they hold all the aces. If caught in a compromising situation like this, keep your mouth shut, smile & hope your girl will stick up for you / be quick on her feet with an explanation. Name dropping helps, sometimes when experiencing a 'problem' I mentioned that maybe I should ring my friend 'Judge L***' or somebody but if you're just in town for a short time as a tourist how likely is it that you're gonna remember a name under pressure?
I strongly recommend that you DO NOT carry important documents like passport around with you. Its probably better to pay a small amount with an apology for the 'misunderstanding' n your part than get dragged into a cell & face really big cost's. Better to avoid in the first place. Check the exit before your leave or arrange to leave separately & meet up. frankly I cant be bothered with all this but those with a lot of time on their hands must think its ok hang out in FL bars like this.. If you are gonna try different areas maybe move to a hotel near to EDSA bars spend time there & then move to a hotel near to Burgos & sample the delights there next. Nothing beats having a hotel within walking distance of a mongering area.

Driving in Manila
The only times my vehicle has been stopped was for a 'legitimate' offense by my driver. In this case I let the driver sort it out with the goons & stay out of it. For reasons of prestige my pinay wife insisted on owning a luxury car here which sat in a garage most of the time here except when we asked one of our staff to drive us to a nice restaurant or some important meeting. Its much easier to grab a cab. They (usually) are nice & very helpful.
Why any expat would bother self driving in Manila is completely beyond me. Traffic is horrendous & parking is practically non existent. A collision will require you to be fully insured & ready to stand your ground if its not your fault. Either way you will be in for significant delays as you get dragged back to the police station to wait for your insurance coverage to come to your rescue.

Taxi fares
I keep reading about these guys insisting on using the taxi meter.. It's like some crusade or something.. Guy's, you're in asia now, land of the haggling price, nobody uses the meter's here! You hail a cab stick your head in the door & tell them where you wish to go, sometimes they say 'no' which is fine, step back & hail another. Usually you get a 'ok', next you ask how much? If you know where you are going & have an even rough idea of the fare you will get a figure from them in the ball park. If not you can haggle a little usually with success or say 'no thanks' step back & hail another.
This is all done at the kerb side before you get in. Once in the cab its a good idea to chat the cabbie up a little. You find the majority are decent family men who will appreciate your kindness in chatting to them. In this cuture silence is very uncomfortable, people here feel much more comfortable to smile & chatter.
As an expat its easy to tell them enough so that they quickly know 'Hindi turista ako' (Im not a tourist). But even if you're a tourist being friendly & engaging goes a long way in this society. they get enough shit from snooty upper class pinoys. Often when I get to a destination I ask how much & get 'S'up to you'. I have an idea of the fare dont short change them, they have family's to feed.. So before you leave on journey ask somebody even hotel staff, how much should a cab fare be from a to b. You will quickly get the hang of it. Lastly remember, the fares are peanuts in our currency, don't ruin your day over a lousy couple of bucks.

Happy mongering
AV

[JoseMarti]

Hi,

I am headed to Manila and would love to have a wingman for Sunday 13 April evening.

I am armed with printout from the forum to guide me. Would love to hang out with a veteran to learn the ropes.

Respond here or send me a PM.

thanks,

-JM

[JasonKramer]

For a short time, the best way to avoid those asshole cops is to just tell the girl to meet you at Sogo Hotel. It's a nice hotel....clean, safe, and just a few blocks away. Give her 50 pesos. Sogo caters to the short-timers. The cops won't mess with someone alone in a cab. I think it's only about 400 pesos at Sogo.

Or you can just walk about a 75 yards to Amazonia Hotel. It's not as nice as Sogo Hotel but you it will literally take you 20 seconds to walk there from LA Cafe.

[Cunning Stunt]

Used to get pulled over a lot in Makati when driving. One tip. And same for all LA cafe mongers. Is to photocopy your passport page and entry stamp.

It shows cop you are legitimate. But also your not handing over an important document which they will keep to get money from you.

They would always hate seeing my photocopied driving licence. But invariably meant I never paid anything.

And yes. Never be shy to namedrop. I even had a fake phone number of Mayor Jejomar Binay on my phone. And whenever I was stopped. Would show that I had his personal mobile number and ask them if I should call him. Of course I never did but they always let me go. Play the game they play.

Manila Traffic cops are the best that money can buy! Must admit that I've been lucky and have yet to be stopped by them. May be because I drive a battered old van and they don't expect to see a foreigner driving such a vehicle. I was always extra careful near NAIA as this is a favourite haunt for bent traffic cops (they like to stop and shake down returning OFW's). A lot of times they are not really cops but uniformed civilian traffic enforcers who are really only there to try and keep the traffic flowing.

Couple of times I've been stopped in Las Pinas by these assholes. Both times it was because I was out driving on colour coded day, a stupid regulation that prohibits use of your vehicle at certain times on one day a week and dependant on your reg no. Both times a bribe of a couple of hundred pesos solved the problem.

Its easy getting a Philippine driving license (no test involved although you need a drugs test for some reason). But you are best having a Filipino along to help with the paperwork and greasing the right palms. All you need is your national license and some patience. With the help of a relative (who an expert fixer as many Filipinos are) it took about 2 hours and I had my cute blue license which you can use as ID in lieu of your passport.

[Sugoi]

The taxis have a number on the back. Text it with their license plate number and the details of them not using the meter along with the location.

It's always the same people in front of the clubs and if they start getting complaints, they will get fined.

[FreebieFan]

Used to get pulled over a lot in Makati when driving. One tip. And same for all LA cafe mongers. Is to photocopy your passport page and entry stamp.

It shows cop you are legitimate. But also your not handing over an important document which they will keep to get money from you.

They would always hate seeing my photocopied driving licence. But invariably meant I never paid anything.

And yes. Never be shy to namedrop. I even had a fake phone number of Mayor Jejomar Binay on my phone. And whenever I was stopped. Would show that I had his personal mobile number and ask them if I should call him. Of course I never did but they always let me go. Play the game they play.

[HornyGeorge]

Good points re transport from LA Cafe, but you are NEVER "guaranteed" an honest taxi in Manila. ALWAYS insist he turn on the meter before you even sit down. NEVER take a taxi that is waiting in front of a nightclub or LA Cafe.

If you want to stay within walking distance and have the dosh, the Diamond Hotel is 5star. Most guests are Japanese or Korean. The Executive Plaza, same block as Las Palmas, is about $50 and is fine but many rooms are noisy. The Cherry Blossoms in only a couple blocks further and is both cheaper and quieter.

If the girl complains about walking (many do), I find just saying "OK we'll pay the taxi from your tip" increases their enthusiasm for going as a pedestrian.

[Blackangst]

Just arrived home from a trip to Manila. I usually go once every six months.

Made very elaborate plans to visit this place and that place. However, I stopped at the LA Café (as usual) and wound up not going to any other place. It was filled with a number of great gals, and I eventually picked one each night I was there. Yes, it also had a number of night creatures, but they can be avoided.

Also, did not know the LA Café took over the bar directly across the street, I guess they are trying to deal with the overflow crowd.

Lastly, I highly recommend you head the Sammon’s advice (recent post) regarding getting a cab in front of the LA Café. I actually forgot about the Police stopping mongers - which I have first hand knowledge of - and it was the girl who suggested walking a few blocks (separately) away form the LA Café to get a taxi. Also, the taxi drivers in front of the LA Café are bastards, they are trying to charge 200-300ps for a 75ps ride.

If your coming to Manila and plan on spending a lot of time at the LA Café I would recommend the Las Palmas Hotel. Its not the Ritz, however, for added safety you can walk back to this hotel separately. Just have your friend meet you in the lobby.

I came 2 or 3 times before I stayed at Las Palmas and havent stayed anywhere else. Another 4 or 5 times I guess. The staff is friendly, rooms are decent actually, cafe in the lobby. Besides being 5-10 minute walk to LA its 5 mins from Robinson's Mall. MMMM yummy eye candy there and great pick up spot. Almost always busy. Little convenience store across the street, pharmacy a block away, and a money changer across the street. Great setup.

I also always just end up at LA. If you are fairly patient you will find 10's and lots of 8-9's. Plus the atmosphere is relaxed. After chatting up a girl and we agree for her to come home with me, I ALWAYS give her 50p and tell her to meet me at the hotel and to leave 10 mins after me. Avoids ALL kinds of problems. Even if they dont know where it is, its so close they wont get confused.

[JasonKramer]

the cops want a bribe. they set up these "checkpoints" during the hours when it's time to take the girls back to the room. you notice, they have it at the places where all the taxis drive by. what they are looking for is id....if you or the girl does not have an id card, then they will take you to jail. you end up paying a bribe to be released. always carrry an id with you. if the girl does not have one, they will threaten to take her to jail and of course, you end up paying a bribe.

worse case scenario is if the girl is working with the cops and she is ****. i heard a ton of stories about this before but now it doesn't happen as much. still, be careful. many of the cab drivers in front of la works with the cops and they will purposely drive to the checkpoint and get a percentage of the bribe you will end up paying.

one time, i was just in the mood. i had my id and so did the girl. i finally looked at the cops and said, "i'm not a tourist and don't fuck with me. my friend is a politician and i will have him fuck your career." they both apologized and let me on their way. i also pulled out my camera phone and tried to take a picture and they started to freak out.

the taxis outside of la are a ripoff. it's also a one way there and it will take you directly to the checkpoints.

what i do is walk up the street to the 7-11, hail a cab and tell the cab driver to take roxas, make a u-turn and take buendia. ( i live in makati ) i insist and demand he follow my directions. works every time, there is no checkpoints in that direction and it always costs me less than 100 pesos to my home.

editor's note: i would suggest that the author or another forum member consider posting a link to this report in the reports of distinction thread. please click here for more information.

[Cunning Stunt]

Lastly, I highly recommend you head the Sammon’s advice (recent post) regarding getting a cab in front of the LA Café. I actually forgot about the Police stopping mongers - which I have first hand knowledge of - and it was the girl who suggested walking a few blocks (separately) away form the LA Café to get a taxi. Also, the taxi drivers in front of the LA Café are bastards, they are trying to charge 200-300ps for a 75ps ride.

Further to this useful suggestion, I find that it advantageous if you walk 50 yards, down the side road that adjoins LA Cafe, towards Roxas Boulevard (the seafront) onto the access road at the side of the same (ignoring the squawks of the girl who all seem to have a pathological fear of walking). Here you are guaranteed a normal (non rip-off) taxi plus you get where you are going a bit quicker (particularly if you are heading towards Pasay/Makati) as the driver can avoid the traffic on Del Pilar. Also your not getting eyeballed by 20+ starers on each passing jeepney whilst awaiting your cab (always have a paranoic fear of been seen by someone I know from my non-mongering life). As a frequent user of the Malate ST hotels, I find that I can sometimes save valuable minutes by this method, quite important if you've trapped a hot chick and have a horn the size of Africa: D

[HenryV]

Just arrived home from a trip to Manila. I usually go once every six months.

Made very elaborate plans to visit this place and that place. However, I stopped at the LA Café (as usual) and wound up not going to any other place. It was filled with a number of great gals, and I eventually picked one each night I was there. Yes, it also had a number of night creatures, but they can be avoided.

Also, did not know the LA Café took over the bar directly across the street, I guess they are trying to deal with the overflow crowd.

Lastly, I highly recommend you head the Sammon’s advice (recent post) regarding getting a cab in front of the LA Café. I actually forgot about the Police stopping mongers - which I have first hand knowledge of - and it was the girl who suggested walking a few blocks (separately) away form the LA Café to get a taxi. Also, the taxi drivers in front of the LA Café are bastards, they are trying to charge 200-300ps for a 75ps ride.

If your coming to Manila and plan on spending a lot of time at the LA Café I would recommend the Las Palmas Hotel. Its not the Ritz, however, for added safety you can walk back to this hotel separately. Just have your friend meet you in the lobby.

[Pthalo]

I have found 3-somes to be pretty easy to get here and very worthwhile. However, if the girls being bi-sexual is important to you (it isn't for me) then that could take a little more work, but is still very possible.

Just pick a bar girl that you like (or really any other service provider) and tell her what you want. Ask if she has any co-workers/friends that she knows who would like to participate. She will, even if neither one of them has ever done this before. Make sure you specify to both of them that you want both in bed at the same time (else one may want to hide in the bathroom then switch, LOL.) If you want them to kiss each other, etc. tell them then.

I met a beautiful girl at EDSA (Casino), then the next time I made plans to see her she asked if she could bring someone. Both had big tits and it was a great time. That's how I usually do it, instead of barfining two girls at once. It's much cheaper. I usually will give them P3000 total for both.

I have also got them the same way from LA Cafe and from Amazonia. They are usually eager to give you what you want. Just ask! If you want a two-fer session right then, I'd recommend LA Cafe since most girls there ply their trade with a group of friends. I do recommend that you choose two girls who are friends, instead of just two hot girls that don't know each other. Things go much smoother that way.

[FreebieFan]

In addition to changing the passwords, recommend that byou also check that Just Jim isn't a name thats linked to any other sites you use. Such as YM MSN etc. I got caught out like that.

Addiotionally do a google serch of your old name. There might still be traces, again I also learnt this from experience.

Good luck in finding an Eden experience. I haven't found one yet like that in Phils.