Travel Announcements Only (No questions or comments please)

[FireWalker]

I have a few questions I am sure this forum can help me with. I will arrive in Manila on 1/28/07 at 10:55pm after a 22 hour trip and then intend to end up at the Grand Central Hotel in A.C.

At what point do I convert some money to pesos and where do I do this?

With your travel experience should I just stay in Manila the night I arrive and
travel to A.C. the next day?

Thanks

Change for higher rate at airport over Angeles City, if you have safe in room in AC. Otherwise, change $200 and use ATM in AC.

Things will still be rockin' in AC even if you arrive at 12-1230 am. Things are less expensive in AC and more in one place. You'll want availability of quick barfine your first night. If you do all carry on, you can be out of airport in 10-15 minutes (highly recommend). You do not need that much clothes, there are plenly of laundries. After customs, you change money. Look at rates at various bank outlets.

If you need a good competent driver let me know. You can set up pick up by email before arrival. This guy is used by a friend of mine for 10 years (he is pretty well off and picky). Clean nice car at 2500 pesos. You can get a driver for a little less, but for 4 or 5 dollars less, trust me. Use him.

I will be in AC already, if you want to hook up with me and some others, PM me. I can give you a contact number for when you arrive. We are a multi-generational group, so you will fit in somewhere just fine.

[Spivey24]

I'll reiterate Spam Hog's point - make sure the bills are new and crisp - preferably year 2000 or newer 100s and 50s. I was unable to exchange one bill I took because it was a little worn.

I was able to get money at the ATMs in Manila. I had to go to 3 before I fond one that would take my card though - I think it was RPI or BPI or something like that. Make sure you find one that will give you 10,000 at a time. It only cost a 3$ service charge and I got a decent exchange rate with the ATMs.

[Spam Hog]

I have a few questions I am sure this forum can help me with. I will arrive in Manila on 1/28/07 at 10:55pm after a 22 hour trip and then intend to end up at the Grand Central Hotel in A.C.

At what point do I convert some money to pesos and where do I do this?

With your travel experience should I just stay in Manila the night I arrive and
travel to A.C. the next day?

Thanks

The suggestion by Fast Eddie is indeed a good one, change a 100 bill (or any other hi denomination note) at the airport exchange as soon as you go through customs. ALL EXCHANGE PLACES like the higher end notes and give you the best rate for them, make sure they are unwrinkled, untorn and UNFOLDED or they may not accept them. You can also get quick cash from an ATM machine, there are several at NAIA, but once again they may or may be working with your particular credit card, may or may not have cash etc. I have found that nationwide, BPI and Equitable ATM machines work best with my particular credit cards you can get up to $200 US, spit out in 500 peso notes (about ten thousand pesos). Try to change large noteds to smaller as most taxi's and other place cannot change the larger bills. Also I would not use the hotel to change a lot of money, lousy rate, the best exchange places are run by the Chinese, find where they are, they're safest too.

DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MONEY ON THE STREET no matter how good the rate, probably give you counterfeit notes.

regards
Spamhog

[Fast Eddie 48]

I have a few questions I am sure this forum can help me with. I will arrive in Manila on 1/28/07 at 10:55pm after a 22 hour trip and then intend to end up at the Grand Central Hotel in A.C.

At what point do I convert some money to pesos and where do I do this?

With your travel experience should I just stay in Manila the night I arrive and
travel to A.C. the next day?

Thanks

to e 7789


I always change 100 usd at the airport so you have peso for taxi and trip to AC , Malate and emita area have many money charge rate is better than the airport and in AC .

Becareful on hustler on the st that offer very high rate you will get short change in small bill , current rate is about 49 peso to one usd lowest in 5 yr you should stay in manila for a few day if you never been to PI or AC there is
alot to do in manila than AC.


fast eddie 48

[E 7789]

I have a few questions I am sure this forum can help me with. I will arrive in Manila on 1/28/07 at 10:55pm after a 22 hour trip and then intend to end up at the Grand Central Hotel in A.C.

At what point do I convert some money to pesos and where do I do this?

With your travel experience should I just stay in Manila the night I arrive and
travel to A.C. the next day?

Thanks

[Jambo]

I will be in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), about 12 Jan.

[Spam Hog]

I will be escorting Mrs spamhog and her unattached younger sister to dinner Friday night (12/29/06) at Olio's resuraunt Banilad crossroads Cebu, if anyone wishes to stop by and say hello. i would get reservation if any one else is planning a dinner as the entire uptairs is dedicated for a party (not mine).

Regards


Spamhog

[FireWalker]

I'll be in AC from Jan. 17th-Feb. 7th if anyone wants to meet for a beer.

I'll be staying at Our Lady of Angeles Hotel. In other words, I'll be staying in my girlfriends apartment. Apparently, a lot of other girls like to come by to watch TV there. Should make an interesting report. Hehehehe

[Cebu Local]

Dragon Slayer has lambasted me for posting False Information,I made a notye that the Mayor of Davao Rodrigo Duterte is going to be in Nanning,Guangxi China on January 8-12,He says that it is false information.So i have Challenged Him that If this does not take place,I leave the Philippine Boards Permanently,If He does,I think He owes me an apology on the Davao thread,This notice will self destruct in 2 days

[Hobby Knob]

I've taken that flight out of Seattle too. It get's you into MNL around 11am (perfect time of the day to arrive in my opinion). However, there's a 2 hr layover in Taipei on the way to MNL but more like a 3 1/2 to 4hr layover coming back to Seattle. And, I think the layover in Taipei on the way back to SFO is more like 5hrs, yikes (There's not that much to do in the Taipei airport). Still, I agree with FD, a great deal for the Business class seat.

Guinness

Thanks to this board, I was able to book this "great deal" as well. Philippine airlines wanted $950 for when I am going. Eva was $750 or $950 for business class. It is well worth the $200 for the bigger seat, electrical outlet for my laptop and the better meals (I hope).

I can't wait for my trip now!

[Cebu Local]

I just had Dinner with one of The ASEAN Ambassadors,It is reset for Jan 10-13.But The East Asian Summit got moved to Febraury.

[Fast Eddie 48]

CR Airways No longer exists,It was purchased by Hainan Airlines which rebranded it as Hong Kong Airlines last Nov 28 and Will be flying starting today 4 times a week between HK and Clark Sun,Tue,Thurs and Fri.Later on Hong Kong Express which Hainan also purchased will be merged into Hong Kong Airlines early next year.Your best take is take Hainan Airlines Shanghai to HK,then Hong Kong Air to Clark.Same Airline all the way.By the way If anybody wants to fly Clark to Hong Kong Roundtrip for 120 Dollars plus taxes round trip on a Hong Kong Airlines Flight,Which is full service with Hot meals,Business Class etc Please send me a PM and I can arrange for the special Travel agent rate.

to cebu local

So what is cost for the fare on hanian air from Shanghai to Hong kong can you save enough not to fly direct to Manila from Shanghai .

fast eddie 48

[Steve74]

Am iIcrazy to plan on a trip to the Philippines by myself? I just hope once I get there I will find enough company to keep me busy. I plan to land in Manila and then go where ever I see opportunity.

Traveling by yourself in the Philippines should not be a problem. I've made 2 trips there by myself & had no major problems. One big advantage is that most filipinos speak english at least reasonably well. Manila is a big city and there are many foreigners there, especially in Makati which is the business district. If you're looking for opportunity of the mongering type, you'll have no problem finding it. In Manila, you can check out the EDSA complex, LA Cafe, & Burgos street (in Makati). Angeles City is only about a 2 hour trip & is one of the mongering capitals of the world. Taxis are all over so getting around isn't too difficult. Try to use taxis that run the meter or else you'll be overpaying a bit.

Do not drink any water (including ice in drinks) other than bottled or you're likely to be spending a day in your hotel doing something you didn't go there for. Also, be catious about the food - avoid street vendors to be safe. I picked up giardia from something i ate on one trip and although its pretty easy to get rid of once you know you have it, diagnosing it isn't so easy.

For the most part, its pretty safe in the PI for foreigners although you should always use common sense. Most of the people there are friendly and of course some of the girls are extremely friendly.

Have a great time. Wish I were going also.

[Cebu Local]

Am iIcrazy to plan on a trip to the Philippines by myself? I just hope once I get there I will find enough company to keep me busy. I plan to land in Manila and then go where ever I see opportunity.

90% of the Mongers Travel by themselves here

[Cebu Local]

to paul b

CR Air have flight from hong kong to clark airport 3 time a week , You can fly from Shanghai to Hong Kong with dragon air or fly to Shenzhen and take the train to Hong Kong fare is alot cheaper if you have th time, If is was me I just
caught a direct flight from Shanghai to manila and take the bus 2 hr to AC.

fast eddie 48

CR Airways No longer exists,It was purchased by Hainan Airlines which rebranded it as Hong Kong Airlines last Nov 28 and Will be flying starting today 4 times a week between HK and Clark Sun,Tue,Thurs and Fri.Later on Hong Kong Express which Hainan also purchased will be merged into Hong Kong Airlines early next year.Your best take is take Hainan Airlines Shanghai to HK,then Hong Kong Air to Clark.Same Airline all the way.By the way If anybody wants to fly Clark to Hong Kong Roundtrip for 120 Dollars plus taxes round trip on a Hong Kong Airlines Flight,Which is full service with Hot meals,Business Class etc Please send me a PM and I can arrange for the special Travel agent rate.