Travel Announcements Only (No questions or comments please)

[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.

[E 7789]

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.

[Fast Eddie 48]

Can some one help.I want to fly to Clark air base on around 7,8,9 Feburary 2007 from Shanghai return. I read there was a cheap no frills air line doing this route. Can some one please give me a name or a contact number.

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

[Paulb]

Can some one help.I want to fly to Clark air base on around 7,8,9 Feburary 2007 from Shanghai return. I read there was a cheap no frills air line doing this route. Can some one please give me a name or a contact number.

[Yankee 617]

National news is reporting the summit in Cebu postponed until January 07,

reason given:

Impending typhoons threaten the area

Might be a good time to check into a room at a bargain rate.
Spamhog

Might also be a good time to check out the ladies for a bargain. Some may have come to town for the conference, but now they have no customers.

[Spam Hog]

National news is reporting the summit in Cebu postponed until January 07,

reason given:

Impending typhoons threaten the area


Might be a good time to check into a room at a bargain rate.


Spamhog

[Guinness]

I've been using Eva Air out of LAX (they fly out of SFO and Seattle as well). You do have a short stop in Taiwan, but I like their "Delux" class. Business class size seat with economy service for under $1,000 RT.

FD

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

[Firedick]

I've been using Eva Air out of LAX (they fly out of SFO and Seattle as well). You do have a short stop in Taiwan, but I like their "Delux" class. Business class size seat with economy service for under $1,000 RT.

FD

[Guinness]

For what its worth:

Everytime I fly to the USA I use either Northwest Airlines leaving from SF to Manila Via Narita Airport in japan (I find the brief stop over refreshing after going across the pacific), or Continental airlines which goes direct out of LA to Manila. I have flown PAL out of LA but never again, they are always late, stop in hawaii for 1 hr refuel etc.

I've flown PAL a few times out of Vancouver BC and SFO and was never delayed, maybe luck? It's a direct flight from Vancouver but SFO has included a 1hr refueling stop in Guam or Honolulu at times (but not always), no deplaning required and I usually sleep right through it. The long flight over the Pacific is brutal no matter how you slice it, I've always splurged a bit and paid for Business class (about $2200-$2500 USD on PAL) and often been upgraded to first class. I once flew NWA from SFO/Narita/MNL. The airline was great but I wasn't a big fan of breaking up the long flight over the Pacific into two segments, I'd rather get it over with in one flight (just my preference). If I remember correctly, the flight from SFO to Narita is approx 12-13hrs then you still have another 6hrs from Narita to MNL. Bottom line; if you're coming from the states there is no way to avoid the long uncomfortable flight across the pond. However, a nice doctor prescribed sleeping pill and 2-3 cocktails on the plane will help pass the time. ;) IMHO.

Guinness

[Spam Hog]

Hey guys, I've searched these forums extensively! I can't find info on a few things, if you could help, I'm buyin!

1. What US citys fly direct to Manila? I'm thinking I can get a cheap Southwest flight to city X and go direct to the PI.

2. What are the best days to fly moneywise? Do I avoid weekend travel? Or make sure a Saturday is included?

3. What is the time difference from the east coast of US?

4. How the hell do you stand 18-20 hours on a plane?

Any advise mucho appreciated! DF

For what its worth:

Everytime I fly to the USA I use either Northwest Airlines leaving from SF to Manila Via Narita Airport in japan (I find the brief stop over refreshing after going across the pacific), or Continental airlines which goes direct out of LA to Manila. I have flown PAL out of LA but never again, they are always late, stop in hawaii for 1 hr refuel etc. Its way off the mark I know but Silkair/singapore air was offering a NON STOP flight from NYC to Singapore, I've flown them from Cebu to Singapore back and forth and they are a first rate airlines IMHO. Weekend travel should always be avoided and you dont want to be anywhere traveling in the Phils on a Sunday if you have to make connections. EVERYTHING shuts down or goes slower than normal which is dead slow anyhow.

Time diffference between East coast and Phils/HK is 12 hrs. We are one day ahead. So 1:30 Pm sunday afternoon as I write this is 1:30 AM sunday morning EST (or what is left of saturday night if you are out partying in New york city)

Flying on a plane always bites, I try to sleep, watch the movies on the back seat screens NWA has... but do the best you can.

Regards

Spamhog

[Dafacer]

Hey guys, I've searched these forums extensively! I can't find info on a few things, if you could help, I'm buyin!

1. What US citys fly direct to Manila? I'm thinking I can get a cheap Southwest flight to city X and go direct to the PI.

2. What are the best days to fly moneywise? Do I avoid weekend travel? Or make sure a Saturday is included?

3. What is the time difference from the east coast of US?

4. How the hell do you stand 18-20 hours on a plane?

Any advise mucho appreciated! DF

[Spam Hog]

I will probably be going sometime October - November next year, I will fill you in all the crazy details. My best friend and I plan to spen about 1 week there and get crazy!!! One of my friends (a trader at major Wall Street firm) quit his $1 milllion USD a year job to move to the Phillipines. He now owns a bar there and is loving it.

LL, its odd, but I often compare Manila with New York city to all the Filipino's who want to go there to work as a teacher/nurse in those systems and have no idea what they are in for, Tondo being Bed Sty and Ermita/Malate the bowery or Harlem. Manila is over priced IMHO, yes plenty of Girls and all types, the bars, freelancers, regular girls in the Malls who flirt with you and even some upscale escorts who are out of work 'actresses".

By all means check it out and of course the obligatory pilgrimage to Angeles which is an entire city dedicated to mongering, however, I suggest you look into some other cities particulary CEBU which has every thing Manila has but on a smaller cheaper scale and the people are nicer. You might even try a little adventure in Davao or Cagayan de Oro, which are much cheaper and plenty of available women, many of whom have never been with a foreigner.
My advice is to check out some of the other boards dedicated for those areas, it might interest you.

If you use PAL airlines to get here understand they are ALWAYS late so dont plan on making any connections on time, look into northwest airlines which I usually fly back and forth to the US by way of Japan.

I can udnerstand your friends flight from Wall street, used to work with a guy who was a floor broker, he walked off the job one day and came to DC, said it saved his life.


Good luck

Spamhog

[Latin Luver]

I will probably be going sometime October - November next year, I will fill you in all the crazy details. My best friend and I plan to spen about 1 week there and get crazy!!! One of my friends (a trader at major Wall Street firm) quit his $1 milllion USD a year job to move to the Phillipines. He now owns a bar there and is loving it.