General Info

[Albert9989]

1 of the top 3 most scary moments.

And what happened after?

[Transporter]

1 of the top 3 most scary moments.

[WestCoast1]

I've been home for 6 days now and I think this is a good time to post some random thoughts, observations and lessons:

Great reports.

2. Speaking of Grab, addresses in the Philippines, or at least Manila and Angeles, are less than definitive. Google Maps is not always your friend, and locations often have multiple names and addresses. It was not common, but till annoying, that I would input an address into the Grab app and get dropped off a block or more off target.

This has been covered in the past, but not really since Covid. Physical addresses are few / far between. Locations are found more often by landmarks. You are looking for THIS BAR. Google maps might not have it. A given stretch of street in Makati, between two cross-streets, might be 200 meters. There might be 15-20 businesses or homes there. However only 2 of them might be addressed (ie, 2820 Guatemala St). You can send something to anyone there by sending it with their name of it, Care / Of that street address. It will eventually make its way to the recipient. "Robert Dela Vega, 2820 Guatemala St, Brgy Bel-Air, Makati City". Robert does not live at the door marked 2820, but his neighbors do. Hence, few places might have an address.

OTOH, you must know the landmarks to find it yourself. "Sir its near in Robinson's one block over by the 669 Brgy Hall". That's as good as it gets for the taxi driver (and maybe better for the taxi driver than giving him a guess at an address).

Its even difficult for the locals. Few years ago I went to see Robert about a 'thang'. A neighbor said to check at the Brgy hall as they thought Robert was in some kind of Brgy trouble. I walked a few blocks to the Brgy hall and inquired. "No sir he is not in any trouble. Wait sir. We will go to his home and bring him here to chat you". Great: he lives between Hunduras and Yanez streets, on the south side of del Pilar St. Off they went. 20 minutes later they returned without him, unable to find his place, just a few blocks away. I offered to go back over with them. They declined, it was after 5 pm, they told me to come back the next day. How on earth could they NOT find his place? I narrowed it down to one side of Del Pilar, between two cross streets. I walked back over there myself, thinking I'd lost my own mind. There was the house, as described. A local said to me: "They were looking for him. But one block over there. Tell them that Robert lives at the #7 water station. Then they will know it". And yes, right there, was a large water tower marked "Station #7".

Its hit / miss.

6. My inclination to ignore the drama-posts here about fuglies, overpricing, Koreans, and any other attempt to whine and comlplain that we no longer have the Philippines of the 1980's was a good call. I had no problem finding women I wanted to bang, at prices I was happy to pay and (mostly) had the experiences I was hoping for. Lesson: enjoy what is available to enjoy, and don't waste time thinking about what was available in the past.

Spot on!

8. Currency exchange: NEVER buy PHP's at US airports. They will tell you all kinds of reasons why you will spend more when you get to the PH. These are lies. Buy a small amount when you land if you need it for a Grab or Taxi. Buy more from a location near your hotel, or from your hotel if offered. The best rates I found were in a booth in Mall of Asia.

Ya. They charge an up-front fee ($10 USD) and give a crappy exchange rate. Just wait and buy it from any of the several money exchangers just after luggage pick-up at NAIA.

10. I found many more girls who (tried to) insist on condoms than I expected. Despite the comments posted by others, I found I had to ask up front and with specificity before I pulled the Bar Fine trigger.

Condoms rarely used to be asked for. But bargirls can use it as a weapon (and they are aware of it). Once you've paid the barfine, if she insists on a condom, she knows a percentage of gents won't pull the trigger. You get mad and send her home (or she goes back to the bar) and gets her share of the barfine for doing: Nothing. Effing covid.

Any item that is a deal-breaker for a gent should be discussed up-front before pulling the barfine trigger. So says Westy (resident Board vibe-killer).

[Goferring]

2. Speaking of Grab, addresses in the Philippines, or at least Manila and Angeles, are less than definitive. Google Maps is not always your friend, and locations often have multiple names and addresses. It was not common, but till annoying, that I would input an address into the Grab app and get dropped off a block or more off target.

6. My inclination to ignore the drama-posts here about fuglies, overpricing, Koreans, and any other attempt to whine and comlplain that we no longer have the Philippines of the 1980's was a good call. I had no problem finding women I wanted to bang, at prices I was happy to pay and (mostly) had the experiences I was hoping for. Lesson: enjoy what is available to enjoy, and don't waste time thinking about what was available in the past.

7. Hotels:

-Price is not always indicative of quality. Read reviews, send emails with specific questions about specific needs in advance.

-Bring a travel size bar of soap and shampoo. The 1st hotel I stayed at had a shower gel dispenser in the shower that was empty. And it stayed empty while I was there.

-You are almost always within 1-2 blocks of a 7-11 which will have needed items like soap, shampoo, power adapters, and bottled water.

8. Currency exchange: NEVER buy PHP's at US airports. They will tell you all kinds of reasons why you will spend more when you get to the PH. These are lies. Buy a small amount when you land if you need it for a Grab or Taxi. Buy more from a location near your hotel, or from your hotel if offered. The best rates I found were in a booth in Mall of Asia.

10. I found many more girls who (tried to) insist on condoms than I expected. Despite the comments posted by others, I found I had to ask up front and with specificity before I pulled the Bar Fine trigger.

All in all, I allocated a generous budget of $10,000 USD for my 16-day trip, including Business Class air fare, and I came in within budget. But to be sure, I could have made less expensive decisions if needed.

Firstly, thanks for your great reports and up-to-date information. Some general responses:

2/. In PI, Google Maps will get you within 100 m of your intended target, then you're on your own. I have no idea why, but it's programmers take great delight to guiding me to the rear of buildings.

6/. There is always going to be guys with their glass half empty and those having fun at a funeral.

7 a /. The same can be said about girls: price and appearance is no guarantee of quality or performance.

7 b&c /. Toiletries are available everywhere. Remember small, <100 ML bottles for any carryon luggage.

8/. Wise is very useful for cash via ATMs and great FX rates.

10 a /. It's very common for girls to insist on covered when within earshot of friends, mamas etc and mysteriously forget behind closed doors. If that's changed, then a major selling point for the PI has disappeared.

10 b /. I'm $10 k per month. That's flying cattle but with an expensive cover story to maintain while travelling.

Thanks again. G.

[Transporter]

I've been home for 6 days now and I think this is a good time to post some random thoughts, observations and lessons:

4. Its hot. Not warm, not temperate, not balmy. HOT. Ave mid-day temps during my 16 days was mid-90 degrees.

March, April, & May for some reasons seem to be the hottest. This is precisely why if I can only find time to go once a year I choose these months. If you think about it, my condo is extremely comfortable with AC in all rooms. Plus it tends to congregate all the able bodies to places that have AC, the concentration makes my valuable time more focused.

[MrHappyKat]

I've been home for 6 days now and I think this is a good time to post some random thoughts, observations and lessons:

1. Everyone in the Philippines speaks English. Except Grab drivers. LOL.

2. Speaking of Grab, addresses in the Philippines, or at least Manila and Angeles, are less than definitive. Google Maps is not always your friend, and locations often have multiple names and addresses. It was not common, but till annoying, that I would input an address into the Grab app and get dropped off a block or more off target.

3. Grab vs GCash: I was able to attach my US credit card to my Grab wallet. A big convenience. I was not able to do so with a GCash account, and only realized why when I found out that according to GCash's TOS, the service is only available to Philippine citizens.

4. Its hot. Not warm, not temperate, not balmy. HOT. Ave mid-day temps during my 16 days was mid-90 degrees.

5. Lady boys are present, essentially as described in various discussions and reports. I had no problem spotting them, but then I was never drunk during my visit. Those that I did talk to were freindly and quick to self-identify. Never got the sense that a LB was trying to dupe me.

6. My inclination to ignore the drama-posts here about fuglies, overpricing, Koreans, and any other attempt to whine and comlplain that we no longer have the Philippines of the 1980's was a good call. I had no problem finding women I wanted to bang, at prices I was happy to pay and (mostly) had the experiences I was hoping for. Lesson: enjoy what is available to enjoy, and don't waste time thinking about what was available in the past.

7. Hotels:

-Price is not always indicative of quality. Read reviews, send emails with specific questions about specific needs in advance.

-Bring a travel size bar of soap and shampoo. The 1st hotel I stayed at had a shower gel dispenser in the shower that was empty. And it stayed empty while I was there.

-You are almost always within 1-2 blocks of a 7-11 which will have needed items like soap, shampoo, power adapters, and bottled water.

8. Currency exchange: NEVER buy PHP's at US airports. They will tell you all kinds of reasons why you will spend more when you get to the PH. These are lies. Buy a small amount when you land if you need it for a Grab or Taxi. Buy more from a location near your hotel, or from your hotel if offered. The best rates I found were in a booth in Mall of Asia.

9. Do the online eTravel forms a day before you fly. Immigrations and customs at NAIA were fast and easy (for a US citizen).

10. I found many more girls who (tried to) insist on condoms than I expected. Despite the comments posted by others, I found I had to ask up front and with specificity before I pulled the Bar Fine trigger.

There probably other observations I could make. But these are most significant I can think of.

Will I return? Most definitely. But it may be 6-12-18+ months before I can actually schedule it.

All in all, I allocated a generous budget of $10,000 USD for my 16-day trip, including Business Class air fare, and I came in within budget. But to be sure, I could have made less expensive decisions if needed.

[Goferring]

Have never been to phillipines but have always wanted to visit. I prefer the skinny, flat tummy type of girl. The hungrier they look the better.

Also I've never been there before. For a first time visit, should I spend the whole time in manila or should I travel to get the full experience.

The Philippines is an archipelago of thousands of islands rather than one contiguous land mass. Consequently girls from various areas have very different physical features and attitudes. There are many areas with slim, spinner type girls. Sub-40 kgs are not a rarity. One slight difference to Thailand is that they will all be short and flat chested. Tall and slim is very hard to find. Tall, slim and big boobs is a unicorn.

Luzon, Lyete and Samar girls feature highly. You can go there or go to the areas that they migrate to in search or work (legitimate or non). Manila, Angeles, Cebu are good starting points. Regional centres can be fun but difficult for newbies to find their bearings immediately upon arrival.

If staying for only 2 weeks, I would pick two or three areas of interest and stay there. Moving between multiple centres can burn up time and money in relocation and finding new opportunities every time.

Water with girls is Subic, Cebu, Sabang and maybe Bohol.

Enjoy. G.

[Wicked Roger]

Have never been to phillipines but have always wanted to visit. I prefer the skinny, flat tummy type of girl. The hungrier they look the better. There are tons of girls that look like that in Thailand and especially in Cambodia. I've read there are alot of thicker girls with tummies there, but are there plenty of skinny looking girls? I like them as well <25 yo.

Also I've never been there before. For a first time visit, should I spend the whole time in manila or should I travel to get the full experience. I am primarily there to find spinners, but it would be fun to relax on a beach somehere similar to pattaya where I can do the beach and still bang girls. Any tips or itinerary ideas?

Why not just rock up in the country and find out? Alternatively you could look at the PG for advice. Or another idea is to PM me as too much info for one post.

Look forward to the PM.

[WestCoast1]

By good fortune (and Google), its International Beaver Day. Get some.

[TitanJones]

Have never been to phillipines but have always wanted to visit. I prefer the skinny, flat tummy type of girl. The hungrier they look the better. There are tons of girls that look like that in Thailand and especially in Cambodia. I've read there are alot of thicker girls with tummies there, but are there plenty of skinny looking girls? I like them as well <25 yo.

Also I've never been there before. For a first time visit, should I spend the whole time in manila or should I travel to get the full experience. I am primarily there to find spinners, but it would be fun to relax on a beach somehere similar to pattaya where I can do the beach and still bang girls. Any tips or itinerary ideas?

[TitanJones]

Planning a trip in August. How many days / weeks is good to travel and get a sense of the action and girls?

Max is 2 weeks. I primarily am going for the girls don't care too much about sight seeing. But if there is a beach town like pattaya, it would be fund to spend a few days there enjoying the water and mongering as well.

Any tips for a first timer and planning number of days.

[Dg8787]

Who is starving? My advice would be to stop listening to prostitutes hard luck stories that they give to multiple donors.

Most prostitutes have left for their families villages where they can quite happily live off the land, plenty of rice, chickens, vegetables right there in their back gardens / land, plenty of overseas working family members to rely on for extra cash if need be.

As far as no work no pay country then think again, my staff of 120+ have been paid in full till the end of April and then 50% of their salary should the lockdown last longer, even at 50% salary most will be getting 10,000 pesos a month for sitting at home, if you want to help out prostitutes with their claims of I not got food to eat then up to you but Please do educate yourself before making sweeping claims about the phills.

No starvation in PH.

They line up for the bus to AC to fuck fat foreigners for fun. FFFFF program. Sure NS.

[Goferring]

As far as in makati, I have never been or heard of any.

It would be easier and safer just to walk into his favourite Burgos bar, tell a couple of girls what he wants and that there will be a tray of drinks involved and get them to organise it. Most bars have separate rooms and / or quiet corners and the girls can be very resourceful with the right incentive.

Enjoy. G.

P.S. Of course he could go full baller mode and shut the bar. For the uninitiated, that's barfining every girl, they shut the door and the place is his, no rules now apply. Obviously, very expensive, a wild night to remember and best done with a few rich buddies. 😉 😱.

[Transporter]

I'm not sure what you are referring to by "Western style". A quality dance show where pretty girls put effort and skill into the routine? Partial or full nudity? Both are pretty rare now. Quite often now it's an unplanned, spur of the moment thing. Alcohol and $$$ help.
Your friend was probably refering to some of the clubs that cater more to locals. They are more in your face than the foreigner places but 1/ you need to find them and 2/ probably wise to go with a friendly pinoy. It's often not a wise move to walk in as a lone white newbie.
Good luck. G.
PS of course you could just ask your girl where or even to take you.

Ditto. I do venture into these places every once in a while because I like it. As far as in makati, I have never been or heard of any. I have been to a few (many years ago) near the airport in the baclaran area not sure with all the new construction and with resorts world how or if they weathered the changes. When I meet friends in AC they go to fields (not my thing) and I roll in to mabalacat to hit the local bars. Same with olongopo, I like to roll into town to go to the local bars or calapandayan. The local bars all have strip shows and such, some may not have a pole, but it is still the same routine. Now these are not vegas strip girls, so you need to be prepared. Also you will need to be hyper aware of your surroundings (locals) if you go yourself, highly recommend you go with a bunch of locals just to be safe. LMK if you want me to try and dig up some pics.

[Goferring]

I was told by a girl in Makati that their are Western style strip clubs in Makati / Manila but they are hard to find like an underground club.

Have any of y'll found a Western style strip club in Makati / NCR area?

I would love to visit a club like that here.

Thanks.

Kitty Doctor.

I'm not sure what you are referring to by "Western style". A quality dance show where pretty girls put effort and skill into the routine? Partial or full nudity? Both are pretty rare now. Quite often now it's an unplanned, spur of the moment thing. Alcohol and $$$ help.

Your friend was probably refering to some of the clubs that cater more to locals. They are more in your face than the foreigner places but 1/ you need to find them and 2/ probably wise to go with a friendly pinoy. It's often not a wise move to walk in as a lone white newbie.

Good luck. G.

PS of course you could just ask your girl where or even to take you.