Travel Announcements Only (No questions or comments please)

[Hairy Wonder]

Hey everyone,

Can anyone provide more information like approximate dates when the high season begins and ends? Maybe it would be a good idea if those of us from outside the P.I. knew something about a location there that we could say we are living in. I know that the locals consider anybody, whether it be a returning local or a foreigner, to have lots of extra spending cash on arrival from another country. If they thought we were all living there, maybe they wouldn't expect us to cough up as much either! ;)

Thanks in advance!

H.W.

[Dingdong Bell]

Howdy Bill,

You seem to have hit the nail on its head - there is definitely a great advantage of travelling once the high season is over. The girls get off their high horses!

I am planning to travel to Makati late Feb or early March. It would begin to get warm by then. What kinda hotel would you suggest that is close to the Greenbelt area ? I have some business meetings in Paseo de Roxas.

I am looking for a reaonsably up-market (not exorbitant !) one that is also guest friendly. Would also like to connect with some Forum Members if possible. Your expert opinion would be valued.

Cheerio

Ding Dong

[Bill Buxton]

Come here to the P. I. After high season. The weather might be a challenge but the attatudes will be much better. The reason for that is the CASH is gone and the fishheads rice are on the table again and the steak and prawns are a thing of the past. Humble and nicer are the attitudes of the gals because all the foreign money is gone. And they all know what cheep charlies the local foreign guys are that live here 12 months a year.

B.B.

[Surfer]

Finrod: They are usually pretty accomodating about early arrival and will not charge extra but obviously if they were fully booked you'd be SOL as not many rooms will be cleaned by 7am.

An alternate suggestion is to grab a love motel like the Anito chain as early morning is their LEAST busy time. There is one right on the corner of EDSA and Harrison, VERY close (like 50 yards) from the EDSA complex rhat is convenient if you are coming from the airport.

[X Man]

The first time I went to Olongapo, Marcos was Prez, and there was a midnight curfew (or 1am - I don't remember), and those ladies became increasingly accomodating as the Cinderella hour approached. I usually went to her place, except for when I went out to Subic or baretta and they had rooms in the bar.

I haven't been back since.

X

I have fond memories of Olongapo many years ago so thought I would give PI a try.

Dave

[Finrod]

I booked myself on one of those flights that arrive in MNL at 5:30am. So I'm thinking I want to crash out at a cheap place for the rest of the morning, then check into my regular hotel after 2pm. Is that viable or should I just eat the extra night charge at the nicer place?

UPDATE: I'll ask for early checkin and see what they say.

[Bangkok Dave]

Dave:

As a former BKK resident monger expatriated full time to the PI, just a few words of advice. I've been to AC only once, not long granted, but it doesn't take an experienced monger long to figure out IT DOES NOT HOLD A CANDLE to BKK for a total mongering experience. NO place in the PI compares with Nanaplaza or even the "pong". Rather the PI is a VARIETY of experiences that are oh so different from LOS. IT IS MUCH EASIER to meet regular girls, ie wife or Girlfriend material (define Girlfriend???) As you probably already know Filipina are less mercenary than Thais and by and large less devious. However nothing comapres to the Thai for pure sex.

If you are going to Davao you will be in my old stomping grounds, you may like the flavor of mongering there as you can find regular girls quite easily as well as a few place for commerical sex, IT IS CERTAINLY MUCH CHEAPER THAN BKK, SC MANILA OR CEBU. Davao is not exactly set up for mongering the way Manila or AC is, but you will enjoy it, foreigners are still somewhat of a novelty there.

Regards

Spamhog

Thanks for the info. I'v read a lot of your posts on the Davao forum. The laid back atmosphere is one reason I decided to try Davao. Maybe a few days in Cebu thrown in. The rat race in NEP and soi cowboy in LOS has gotten old over the years. I swear I have seen some of the same bargirls for five or six years. I tried going to Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, and even Phnon Penh in Cambodia to break the monotony, but I guess I'm just burnt out on the scene there. I have fond memories of Olongapo many years ago so thought I would give PI a try.

Dave

[Daring Mood]

Haven't seen Cebu Local on air recently, and I know he's involved in this business.
here is what I am looking for. I'm self employed and spend way too much time arranging travel itineraries around Asia. What I hope one of you guys can recommend is a travel agency / consultant that is reliable, will sort me out with the best available options/take changes at a moments notice/and accept telegraphic transfers, thus leaving me more time to monger.

Input would be much appreciated.
BTW just booked to arrive in Manila next weekend from Europe and the trvel agent in London advised that it is now cheaper to fly to Manila and arrange onward regional trips from Manila then flying to Bangkok,

TIA
Daring Mood

[Spam Hog]

I was planning on skipping AC, but after reading some posts here I have decided to stop for a couple of days. I am flying US/Singapore on Northwest, arriving Sin about midnight Feb.13 (actually 00:35 the 14th) I'm taking Tiger airways to Clark at 07:50. Then Cebupacific on down to Davao, so I thought I would break the trip for a couple of days in AC, just to see what I've been missing. This is my second trip to the Philippines. Only once before, a long time ago while in the Marines. I'v been doing most of my mongering in Thailand with a couple of trips to Buenos aires in between. If it's as good as you fellows report, I might just switch from Bangkok to PI. DAMN! it's getting expensive in LOS with inflation and the devaluation of the $US v the Baht.

I will try to write a trip report after I return March 1st.

See you guys soon, Dave

Dave,

As a former BKK resident monger expatriated full time to the PI, just a few words of advice. I've been to AC only once, not long granted, but it doesn't take an experienced monger long to figure out IT DOES NOT HOLD A CANDLE to BKK for a total mongering experience. NO place in the PI compares with Nanaplaza or even the "pong". Rather the PI is a VARIETY of experiences that are oh so different from LOS. IT IS MUCH EASIER to meet regular girls, ie wife or Girlfriend material (define Girlfriend?) As you probably already know Filipina are less mercenary than Thais and by and large less devious. However nothing comapres to the Thai for pure sex.

If you are going to Davao you will be in my old stomping grounds, you may like the flavor of mongering there as you can find regular girls quite easily as well as a few place for commerical sex, IT IS CERTAINLY MUCH CHEAPER THAN BKK, SC MANILA OR CEBU. Davao is not exactly set up for mongering the way Manila or AC is, but you will enjoy it, foreigners are still somewhat of a novelty there.

Regards

Spamhog

[Buko Max]

evening gents, planning a trip to MNL but I'm on a students budget and need to maximize my funds to fun. I know this may be a total nubie question but I've searched and have not seen anyone make post about courier flights to MNL. If anyone has experience with a courier agent or any info on RT tickets well below 1K (around spring break), it would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to flame the nubie if desired.

No need for a flame since your question is legitimate. There are not many courier flights to MNL if at all. Most courier flights happen between the west coast and Tokyo or Hong Kong. In addition, most courier companies/websites are just glorified travel agencies who charge membership fees for their services. I do know a travel agency that specializes in travel to the P.I. so PM me for details.

[Bangkok Dave]

I was planning on skipping AC, but after reading some posts here I have decided to stop for a couple of days. I am flying US/Singapore on Northwest, arriving Sin about midnight Feb.13 (actually 00:35 the 14th) I'm taking Tiger airways to Clark at 07:50. Then Cebupacific on down to Davao, so I thought I would break the trip for a couple of days in AC, just to see what I've been missing. This is my second trip to the Philippines. Only once before, a long time ago while in the Marines. I'v been doing most of my mongering in Thailand with a couple of trips to Buenos aires in between. If it's as good as you fellows report, I might just switch from Bangkok to PI. DAMN! it's getting expensive in LOS with inflation and the devaluation of the $US v the Baht.
I will try to write a trip report after I return March 1st.

See you guys soon, Dave

[Bangkok Dave]

evening gents, planning a trip to MNL but I'm on a students budget and need to maximize my funds to fun. I know this may be a total nubie question but I've searched and have not seen anyone make post about courier flights to MNL. If anyone has experience with a courier agent or any info on RT tickets well below 1K (around spring break), it would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to flame the nubie if desired.

ACE

Courier flights are about as numerous as dinosaurs nowdays. 9/11 killed them off. In any case they were only viable in NY, LA, and a few in Miami.
Your best bet is a consolidator. You can try <asia.co> . They have some good prices from most cities in the US. I haven't tried them because I'm not sure if you can collect frequent flyer miles with them.

Hope this helps,

If you are young and this is your first trip to the flesh pots, GO SLOW the first few days or you will see your money shrink fast.

Dave

[Mi Foot]

I dont know what would be wrong with a 12 hr layover in the City of Angels, always something open in that place, massage, blow job bar etc. but Manila is different, first off, your two hour layover is gonna shrink real fast even IF your flight is on time, (a rare occassion) remember you got to go through customs etc, somebody correct me if Im wrong but I beleive they removed all the luggage storage facilities in NAIA and PAL, worried about bombs, so you'd have to drag whatever you have along you. Anyway not much open in Manila at 10 am, might find a massage parlor, most bars are open later, but you would be rushed, traffic is hell getting back and forth. Also remember there are 3 aiports in Manila, all close to each other, if you are using the the domestic one (Cebu Air) is a 10 minute taxi ride away but now they have a shuttle, use it. So your 4 hours is a good safe bet IMHO.

Good luck

Spamhog

Excelent, you even answered what I had just started working on - bag storage.

I'm fliying in from Cebu and connecting with an ITI flight to El Nido so I have to get to a hanger for the flight. I altered my flight to the 9.30 departure giving me around 4.30 to get between them.

If anyone knows of a bag storage around the airport I be greatfull, ITI has a very low limit and I'm not flying back with them. With cameras and computer I will be way over.

Regards

Mi Foot - foot massage keeps me sain

[Spam Hog]

I dont know what would be wrong with a 12 hr layover in the City of Angels, always something open in that place, massage, blow job bar etc. but Manila is different, first off, your two hour layover is gonna shrink real fast even IF your flight is on time, (a rare occassion) remember you got to go through customs etc, somebody correct me if Im wrong but I beleive they removed all the luggage storage facilities in NAIA and PAL, worried about bombs, so you'd have to drag whatever you have along you. Anyway not much open in Manila at 10 am, might find a massage parlor, most bars are open later, but you would be rushed, traffic is hell getting back and forth. Also remember there are 3 aiports in Manila, all close to each other, if you are using the the domestic one (Cebu Air) is a 10 minute taxi ride away but now they have a shuttle, use it. So your 4 hours is a good safe bet IMHO.

Good luck


Spamhog

[Sir Dick]

Just wondering is it's more advisable for me to buy my air ticket to Bangkok from Manila in Manila or here in California before I go. I heard that the tickets are cheaper around Asia if you buy it in Asia. If not then I will just get it here. There's a PAL fare of $218 RT from Manila. Dates are in early March. Thanks for your help.