Manila

[Hobby Knob]

Gonna have my first Philippine mongering experience next month. (hopefully) I have been there a couple times, but never alone, so I haven't been able to sample the goods.I appreciate all the input you guys give here.

I have a question. anybody know how easy it is to change departing flights from Manila?

I would have to change my flight the day of to make it happen. Is this easy? Expensive?

Any input would be appreciated.

[Member #1005]

Although they will tell you its for airline crew, dont believe them. Before you exit from the international terminal go immediately to the right and there is a little doorway that you will see and you can go in there and leave your bag(s) for a fee.
Trim-

Thanks Trim, earlier this year I wanted to deposit some baggage my airline and the information desk were not helpful. They made some excuse that it was due to enhanced security reasons, for no baggage storage. This is strange because NAIA seems to be the only airport in Asia that has no baggage storage. I had to cart my bags with me to AF1. :)

[Anonymous]

I stored my 3 bags there when I flew in from the US last year. Although they will tell you its for airline crew, dont believe them. Before you exit from the international terminal go immediately to the right and there is a little doorway that you will see and you can go in there and leave your bag(s) for a fee. You can also ask any of the security folks there and they should tell where its located. I think if I'm not mistaken, I paid P450 for leaving my bags. Not sure if that's for the day or per hour(s). But you can leave your bags there. You just have to inquire!

[Member #1005]

I have one more does anyone know of a place I can store a suitcase in Manila or MNL? I will be doing some island hopping and just need a place to store my suitcase so I can just island hop with a backpack. And yes I need to bring both the suitcase will be 1/2 full while I am island hopping but nothing valuable.

If I stay in a hotel in Manila will they store it for me until I get back I plan on island hopping for about 10 days.

Strangely there is no baggage storage at Manila airport, but many “decent” hotels can store your bags for some island hopping. I know Swagman hotel can but to be honest it’s not a very good hotel generally. If you trade up to a four or five star hotel this would be possible, some three star hotels could, but you might require a room booking.

[Professional]

Hi guy,

First I would like to thank FD, LAW, Marconista, columpuss, and xman for all your great advice.

Sorry for all the questions but I have one more does anyone know of a place I can store a suitcase in Manila or MNL? I will be doing some island hopping and just need a place to store my suitcase so I can just island hop with a backpack. And yes I need to bring both the suitcase will be 1/2 full while I am island hopping but nothing valuable.

If I stay in a hotel in Manila will they store it for me until I get back I plan on island hopping for about 10 days.

Thanks again you guy you’re the best.

[Firedick]

Marco,

You mis-quoted me. I never said I prefer EDSA and LA Cafe to AC. I did say I love em, but actually prefer AC to everything in Manila.

If I was on a short schedule, I'd be outta MNL as fast as possible.

AC isn't that dusty anymore.

Pro,

As you can see, it's a matter of taste. Best to draw your own conclusions.

FD

[AdventureMike]

I spent 4 nights in Manila over the past 2 weeks and went to LA Cafe all 4 nights since it was only 1.5 blocks from my hotel (The Ermita Tourist Inn has semi-modern tiled rooms with warm water and air-con for only 660 pesos per night and is monger friendly).

I prefered downstairs in the LA Cafe as it was less crowded and had better air circulation. It you are not into getting pawed by all the ultra aggressive working girls, decline the table the hostess offers (say you are looking for your friend) and head to a table in back by the pool tables. Girls will still come up to you but will not be as aggressive as the ones in front. Then if you do not see something of interest, every 15 minutes or so you can make a round of the front section until you find a promising prospect and can bring her back to your table to chat.

If you are sitting alone girls will come up to you but if you are not interested and you say you are looking for other ladies they will still try to sit with you and try to "find" you a lady expecting a 200-300 tip, so speak up and tell them you can find your own (if you cannot find one at LA Cafe you have the wrong hobby) and tell them you would rather not unless you just want someone to talk to (you will have to buy drinks to sit with them, but you can order a pitcher of beer for 189p and share it with her rather than buy lady drinks at 150p+). Be careful not to order a 350p barrel as those things are huge and will require a long stay to drink one with only 2 people. If you play pool get your name on the board and you will be charged 25p per game.

I tended to go to LA Cafe around 9PM each night, but it is open 24/7 so I guess there must be girls there at all times of day or day and night (some claim to be there looking for a client for 16 hours or more), but surely not the same selection.

I thought there was a reasonable selection of girls there at night, mostly 6s and 7s in looks but with a few 8s thrown in (there are some 9s upstairs), more 8s on the weekend. The advantage of downstairs is there is no bar fine (at least with the 4 girls I took out). There were a few mamas around sometimes, but there are also plenty of freelance girls there without, so choose and/or negotiate accordingly. Negotiate everything up front (price, number of rounds, acts, pictures, departure time, etc.). I had no problem getting Long Time from each of the 4 for 1800-2000 p all inclusive (3 rounds, pics, etc. until 9AM or so), although I am sure those who are local can get lower.

Happy Mongering

[LoveAsianWhores]

I forget to mention the short time (3 hours) long time (overnight) thing. Angeles girls tend to stay overnight and Manila girls prefer short time. This has a lot to do with the fact that many Manila girls tend to live with their families, cover up their jobs, and need to get back in the early AM. This is espicially true with the weekend girls who tell their parents they are going out for the night with their friends. In AC, the girls tend to live in dorms, or with their sister/cousin/friend and everyone knows what they do. If having the girl stay overnight is important, AC might be worth a look. Also, if you like to do 3 or 4 different girls in one night, then that can get quite expensive in Manila, but is quite affordable in AC.

[LoveAsianWhores]

[QUOTE=Marconista]Professional!

Are you a "tight guy" (holding on to your cents)?
If so - go to AC ASAP.
If not - stay in Manila and enjoy the possibilities.
I have not been in AC, but enjoyed Manila a lot. I do read the threads, and I understand that AC is low life compared to Manila.
When Firedick states that he prefer EDSA and LA Cafe to AC (and he is one of the guys with experience!), I would say - WHY SAVE A FEW DOLLARS when you can have the variety that you will find in Metro-Manila compared to AC.
Look at the details; a barfine in EDSA is php 1000 - then you pay php 1500 for all night with the girl! In AC you pay abt php 1500 for both, a difference of abt USD 10.
This is when we are talking about WG's. At daytime - you can go to the malls, or other places, hunting down ladies for ST or LT play/stay in your hotel and have fun. Why eat dust in AC when you can have fun in Manila?


Why go to AC when you have it all in Manila?

QUOTE]

Very well said Marconista!!!

I think this concept of "just go to Angeles City as there is where all the girls are" is just plain wrong. Sure, 10 years ago it was true, but today??? I remember my first trip to the Philippines. I just went straight to AC and it was filled with beautiful girls. But that was then. Today, all the cute girls have figured out they can make much more in Manila, and the ones left behind are fat, ugly, or cherry girls trying to sucker a rich Korean/Chinese/Japenese out of 50,000 Pesos.

Are the girls in AC "nicer" then the Manila girls? In general, yes, but there is an inverse relationship between nice girls and cute girls. The more attractive the girl, the more of a *****, and the uglier she is, the nicer she is. Obviously, lots of exceptions to this rule, but in general it is true both in Manila and AC. Just walk into Flamingo bar on burgos and you will find lots of model quality girls who are stuck up bitches. Walk across the street to Mogambo, and it will be filled with some of the sweetest, ugliest girls you have ever met.

And keep in mind Saturday is a little special. AC is a bar town and most of the girls work the bars day in and day out. The Manila bars tend to have a more relaxed policy, especially with attractive girls, that lets them come to work only sometimes. There are many, many girls who only work the weekends in Manila. Saturday night is the best night and should not be missed. Just walk into the Firehouse at about 11:00 PM and WHOA!!!

[Professional]

First I would like to thank everybody for all there great advice and to clarify. Money is not the issue I am just trying to get the biggest bang for the bucks sort of speak. As I read the forum I would say that is true for most of us. Why spend the money if you do not have too?

The way I figure it is if I stay in Manila the hotel will cost me 1500 (executive plaza) fly the bus will cost me 500. If I took a cab straight to AC it would cost me 2200. Thus it would save me money to stay in Manila for one night. The only real expense is I might pay more is the bar fine. The other thing I am considering is I land on a Saturday at 10:00 am and from what I gather from the forum most of the most beautiful women come out on weekend only. I do not mind paying a little more for better quality.

On the other hand if I took the fly by bus straight out to MNL I would pay 500 plus taxi approx 250 total of 750. and can get start from there. Arriving at 10 am gives me a lot of options and I guess that is why I need some advice too many options to choice from.

I can afford a couple of days in Manila but I figure one day in Manila to get my feet wet. Next day to AC and from there I can make my decision. Is the women from Manila worth the extra pesos? But if I started off in AC I would not know if I should cut some time off of AC and head back to Manila or visa versa. What do you guy think?

From the research I have done it seems like the best place for the money is Hotel Royal Amsterdam this seems to give the best value for the dollar from what I have been reading on the board.

Also I would just like to thank everybody again for all your great advise hopefully I can repay this debt.

Thank you very much

[Marconista]

Professional!

Are you a "tight guy" (holding on to your cents)?
If so - go to AC ASAP.
If not - stay in Manila and enjoy the possibilities.
I have not been in AC, but enjoyed Manila a lot. I do read the threads, and I understand that AC is low life compared to Manila.
When Firedick states that he prefer EDSA and LA Cafe to AC (and he is one of the guys with experience!), I would say - WHY SAVE A FEW DOLLARS when you can have the variety that you will find in Metro-Manila compared to AC.
Look at the details; a barfine in EDSA is php 1000 - then you pay php 1500 for all night with the girl! In AC you pay abt php 1500 for both, a difference of abt USD 10.
This is when we are talking about WG's. At daytime - you can go to the malls, or other places, hunting down ladies for ST or LT play/stay in your hotel and have fun. Why eat dust in AC when you can have fun in Manila?

I notice that only a few of our members have been to the "new" Entertainment Complex close to the old domestic terminal (mentionied back in feb/march 2005). They have A LOT OF LADIES, but only a few customers yet, so any guy visiting will have more than a hundred ladies to choose from.

Why go to AC when you have it all in Manila?

This just my humble opinion from being a frequent reader of all the RP-threads for several years (and a re-re-repeating visitor to the capitol for about 10 years, enjoying every minute of it. Except for when working :) ).

[Firedick]

I would agree with L.A.W. with a couple additions.

How much time do you have ? Will 1 or 2 nights in MNL costs you too much time ? If not, definately check out Manila. I, too, am not fond of P. Burgous but love EDSA and checking out the street life in L.A. Cafe.

Victory Liner vs "Fly the Bus"

If you're staying in Ermita F.T.B. is very convenient, with 3 trips a day. It is also easier if you have a lot of luggage. In addition they drop you at your hotel, where as Victory will be going to downtown AC or Dau, so you'll need to trike to your hotel. Yes, the FTB buses are getting a little worn, but they're often not filled up either. They serve drinks and snacks and you will get a drink/food/[CodeWord140] stop en route. Most of the passengers will be fellow travelers on FTB. Victory liner does have many more buses going and is much cheaper. I think I paid 70 p last time and FTB has raised it's price to 350.

So, IMHO, consider the Victory Liner if you decide to go straight from the airport to AC and FTB if you stay in town a couple nights. A taxi from the airport might also be a viable choice, if you find a fellow traveler to share the ride. It has been a while since I've done this, but it was 1500 p for the taxi ride from NAIA to AC.

So, as they say in the RP, "Up to you".

FD

[LoveAsianWhores]

First I would like to thank everybody for such a wonderful site. Thank very much for all the information I have gather so far.

Also I would like to add I am not sure whether I should be posting in the AC board or here so I posted on both.

Now for the question, I will be landing in MNL on Saturday at 10:00 am thus I can make it to “fly the bus” (3:00 run) to AC the same day and save a little cash instead of taking a cab but I was thinking should I try Manila first to just get my feet wet? Maybe try LA Café?

What to you experts think should I stay one or two night in Manila first to get my feet wet or just head out to AC?

Should I save a little bit of money and take the “fly the bus” or should I take a cab?

Thanks again for all your help

First I would recommend taking a victory bus instead of Fly-the-bus. Victory charges about 100 Pesos, instead of the 300 Pesos for Fly-the-bus, and they leave every 30 minutes instead of at certain times (and the fly-the-buses have a havit of leaving early). Just ask any taxi to take you to the Victory bus terminal in Passay, they all know it. Also, the fly-the-busses are getting quite old and the TV's didn't work the last time I used them.

I would absolutely recommend checking out Manila first. I find the Manila girls to be much more attractrive then the AC girls. If you like your girls slim and beautiful (in the eye of the beholder, of course), you may find AC quite lacking, unless you want to spend 50,000 on a cherry girl. I live in Manila and am very picky, and the AC girls for me just don't make the cut. But if you don't check out both, how will you ever know!!! You should check out EDSA complex in Manila, LA Cafe, and Burgos street. Not that I particularly recommend Burgos street, but the girls there are different and as a first timer you should check it out. If you do check out Burgoss, A good selection would be Flamingo, Wild West, Blush, Montana, Bandido, High Heels. Avoid walking into just any bar there as some hire really ugly girls, some just rip you off, and others have beautiful girls that want you to buy them drinks, but wont go with you.

[Professional]

First I would like to thank everybody for such a wonderful site. Thank very much for all the information I have gather so far.

Also I would like to add I am not sure whether I should be posting in the AC board or here so I posted on both.

Now for the question, I will be landing in MNL on Saturday at 10:00 am thus I can make it to “fly the bus” (3:00 run) to AC the same day and save a little cash instead of taking a cab but I was thinking should I try Manila first to just get my feet wet? Maybe try LA Café?

What to you experts think should I stay one or two night in Manila first to get my feet wet or just head out to AC?

Should I save a little bit of money and take the “fly the bus” or should I take a cab?

Thanks again for all your help

[CanContrib]

Can anyone tells me if the Harrizon Plaza still the place for picking up freelancers? what will be the damage for ST / LT.

I'm told it has been ever since it was built about 20 years ago, and likely always will be as long as it's on the boundary between Pasay and Malate.

However, what you find there are the girls that either haven't figured out how to get a guy yet on their own, or the girls who guys wouldn't otherwise go with. You can easily find the better ones on your own. You don't need to pay some pimp for them, and the ones you wouldn't want, well, you don't want those anyway!

Magkano?? Depending on how stupid they think you are, pimps will quote you P1000, P1500, P2000, or even more. On top of that, don't be surprised if the girl hints you might give her a tip, since what you give the pimp mostly stays with the pimp.

If you really want a HP pickup, then avoid the pimps. Sooner or later someone cute enough will approach you. Make your arrangements directly. Proper price is maybe P500, though I suppose you could be extravagent and give her 1000, and if you get along, then offer her breakfast and buy her some cheap clothes the next day - if you don't mind her hanging out with you the next night too.

Short-time? Long-time? Let that sort itself out as you get to know her, unless you really want a crude pump-n-dump. In that case, P300-500 plus a room.

Speaking of room, and if you've not read enough to know this by now, you DO NOT go to "HER" place! Hey, that's Pasay there! Don't do it. Hop on a jeep and go to one of the hotels south of there on Harrison, or go the other way and find Sogo or whatever the place is by DelPilar&Remedios that escapes my memory but starts with an "A". "Anito", that's it! Been there a few times, nice place, a bit more expensive (depending on room and time between 400 - 900P) - try for the jaccuzi room at the higher end if you have a bit of money to splurge - it's a "garage room" (meaning it includes your car when your drive in vrs taxi or walkin). Or, you can get a room further into Malate/Ermita for more money, or you can go further in the other direction into Baclaran. Baclaran is another place you should be xtra careful in. Just be careful and *YOU* choose the place and make sure she doesn't have any nasty people behind her. Do I trust street people at HP??? No! (Don't be too trusting on the street anywhere around there either, especially later at night. You might get lucky. Or you might get injured or worse.)

Though I've never done the HP-pickup thing, if I wanted to then that's how I'd do it. Works everywhere else!