Manila

[Charm City Dave]

I share your concerns about privacy but having worked in the Internet era have made peace with the fact there is none. Fortunately for me and how I live my life right now, I can live with that. As for Google Fi yes it will work as soon as you are wheels down. Basic costs are $20 a month for unlimited talk and text in the US, and then $10 per gig for data. They meter by the meg so if you use 250 Meg it is $2. 50. Not the perfect plan I someone who used vast amounts of data, but perfect for me. I use 1 to 2 gigs per month, $10 to $20 a month for data. Making calls outside the United States is 20 cents per minute in most countries and usually free to call back to the States on WiFi. But double check that on their website. Only other thing to know, they have a relatively small selection of Android phones. No iPhones. I'm very happy with the pixel. Go to the website and check it out, if you're interested I can get you a link for $20 off your bill.

One of the really nice feature of Google fi, is that they give you a second data Sim chip. If you have a data enabled tablet you can put it in there. I put it in my old cell phone, which is what I take with me if I'm going someplace sketchy. Then I don't have to worry about loosing my $900 phone.

[Charm City Dave]

Although I hate big brother Google and consider them a potentially dangerous entity, I also must admit that it is an amazing company. I recently booked an otherwise unlisted / unavailable multi city flight (not round-trip flight) from the USA to Asia and back by a different route for the same cost as a round trip ticket. My multi city ticket is issued by United, but it is only available through the link supplied from Google Flight to the United website. WOW!

Now here is an easy softball question so even I can understand Google FI: let's say I have subscribed to the service while still at home. I get off the plane in MNL or BKK and I still have my American sim card installed in my phone. So as I am waiting for my suitcase at the baggage turnstyle; can I make a local call? Can I Line or Viber text one my sexy little friends? Can I arrange for an Uber pickup? In other words, can I access the internet straightaway using Google FI and at no addtional cost other than the monthly subscription rate?

I share your concerns about privacy but having worked in the Internet era have made peace with the fact there is none. Fortunately for me and how I live my life right now, I can live with that. As for Google Fi yes it will work as soon as you are wheels down. Basic costs are $20 a month for unlimited talk and text in the US, and then $10 per gig for data. They meter by the meg so if you use 250 Meg it is $2. 50. Not the perfect plan I someone who used vast amounts of data, but perfect for me. I use 1 to 2 gigs per month, $10 to $20 a month for data. Making calls outside the United States is 20 cents per minute in most countries and usually free to call back to the States on WiFi. But double check that on their website. Only other thing to know, they have a relatively small selection of Android phones. No iPhones. I'm very happy with the pixel. Go to the website and check it out, if you're interested I can get you a link for $20 off your bill.

[Dg8787]

Although I hate big brother Google and consider them a potentially dangerous entity, I also must admit that it is an amazing company. I recently booked an otherwise unlisted / unavailable multi city flight (not round-trip flight) from the USA to Asia and back by a different route for the same cost as a round trip ticket. My multi city ticket is issued by United, but it is only available through the link supplied from Google Flight to the United website. WOW!

Now here is an easy softball question so even I can understand Google FI: let's say I have subscribed to the service while still at home. I get off the plane in MNL or BKK and I still have my American sim card installed in my phone. So as I am waiting for my suitcase at the baggage turnstyle; can I make a local call? Can I Line or Viber text one my sexy little friends? Can I arrange for an Uber pickup? In other words, can I access the internet straightaway using Google FI and at no addtional cost other than the monthly subscription rate?

Were you able to use the qualifying miles on the United flight?

[Member #4698]

BTW I use Google Fi for data traveling internationally. It is wonderful (and cheap) to have data right off the plane, no buying and managing sim cards. It is wonderful. I can hook anyone up with a discount, just PM me if interested.

Although I hate big brother Google and consider them a potentially dangerous entity, I also must admit that it is an amazing company. I recently booked an otherwise unlisted / unavailable multi city flight (not round-trip flight) from the USA to Asia and back by a different route for the same cost as a round trip ticket. My multi city ticket is issued by United, but it is only available through the link supplied from Google Flight to the United website. WOW!

Now here is an easy softball question so even I can understand Google FI: let's say I have subscribed to the service while still at home. I get off the plane in MNL or BKK and I still have my American sim card installed in my phone. So as I am waiting for my suitcase at the baggage turnstyle; can I make a local call? Can I Line or Viber text one my sexy little friends? Can I arrange for an Uber pickup? In other words, can I access the internet straightaway using Google FI and at no addtional cost other than the monthly subscription rate?

[Charm City Dave]

Yes lads, sign of a professional (monger), "leave no trail".

No financial / expenditure trail, no personal ID trail, and you will live a long monger life too, like me (and other 'wise men' , LOL).

Cash, misleading ID info, Hit and Run (M. O). What more could you want in life?

I used to be like that but just don't care anymore. It was such a hassle to engage in all that clock and dagger, multiple phones etc. Not married, no girlfriend, no longer working. Most of my friends and family know who I am and how I relax. Been fixed so don't have to worry about a baby momma. I use one phone traveling, if I exchange numbers with a girl she has my real number. I stay with legal. BTW I use Google Fi for data traveling internationally. It is wonderful (and cheap) to have data right off the plane, no buying and managing sim cards. It is wonderful. I can hook anyone up with a discount, just PM me if interested.

[Soapy Smith]

There are now 3 choices. Yellow, coupon or regular metered cabs.

I was enroute when you posted this, but I observed it first hand yesterday. At terminal 3 after clearing customs and entering the last area of the terminal with the money changers, turn left and head toward Wendys. Across from Wendys go out the door labeled Gate 2 and follow the walkway directly across a couple of roadways and there are indeed regular white cabs waiting there. Perhaps it's a matter of luck, but I have occasionally had regular metered cab drivers pull a roap-a-dope on me and never experienced that with yellow airport cabs, so I prefer the latter from the airport, even though they're a little more expensive.

[Sxxxx]

My biggest fare ever is maybe $6 US and cash leaves no trail.

Yes lads, sign of a professional (monger), "leave no trail".

No financial / expenditure trail, no personal ID trail, and you will live a long monger life too, like me (and other 'wise men' , LOL).

Cash, misleading ID info, Hit and Run (M. O). What more could you want in life?

[Bushes]

Load-and-go travel cards? Prepay and different currencies. No ATM fees.

Looks good for Aussie travellers. However the website say there is a AUD $2 + ATM provider fee for withdrawals and inquiries. Appears to be no monthly fees which is good. Other fees are FX but reasonable on the high end.

Thanks.

[Dg8787]

Not true any more Soapy.

There is now a rank for ordinary metered taxis at all airports. They are permitted to pick up from the designated rank. There is a security guy standing there (usually but not always).

There are now 3 choices. Yellow, coupon or regular metered cabs.

Also at T3 there is a stand for Grab rides.

[Red Kilt]

<SNIP> Average white cabs that you see out around the city are cheaper than either the yellow or coupon airport taxis but are not allowed to pick up passengers from the airport.

Not true any more Soapy.

There is now a rank for ordinary metered taxis at all airports. They are permitted to pick up from the designated rank. There is a security guy standing there (usually but not always).

There are now 3 choices. Yellow, coupon or regular metered cabs.

[Joel Goodsen]

Am still looking for a prepaid credit card that works internationally without killer fees.

Load-and-go travel cards? Prepay and different currencies. No ATM fees.

[Crazy4Thai]

The problem is that Grab and Uber leave a paper trail at times when you don't one. Am still looking for a prepaid credit card that works internationally without killer fees.

My biggest fare ever is maybe $6 US and cash leaves no trail.

[Bushes]

There is a reason why Uber and Grab have a market! A good half if not more of Uber and Grab customers are Filipinos.

I'm new to this scene but this statement supports what I have seen in the past week here. I was quoted a one hour wait at a Grab stand by Greenbelt Mall on Saturday night while white taxis were cruising by empty. We hailed a white taxi and got on our way, this time hassle free.

The problem is that Grab and Uber leave a paper trail at times when you don't one. Am still looking for a prepaid credit card that works internationally without killer fees.

[Mr Enternational]

I took yellow taxi last Monday from NAIA2. I ended up paying skyway 600-650 pesos to Makati very close Greenbelt to Perla Hotel. Do you think I was ripped off?

Definitely. Maybe he charged you for round trip plus tip and will be waiting to take you back to the airport when it is time.

[Slippery]

Yes, you will be aggressively approached by the white coupon taxi mafia, and they'll want 20,000 or more to take you into the city. You can get a "legitimate" white coupon taxi for about 750 or less. Time is money. I look for the white coupon taxi stand. No muss, no fuss, no waiting. Zoom and I'm on the way. It's worth the extra $7. 50 or so that I pay. Am I going to wait 2 hours to save $10.00? No thank you.