Angeles City

[Goferring]

It's not unheard of for guys with specific hotel wants and needs to rent two hotel rooms. One to suit their location or facilities requirements and another to suit mongering activities.

Obviously, this is much more suited to a ST shotgun approach rather than if you like to have someone stay over to handle the morning wood every night.

[AsianPursuits]

I realize that is difficult advice for 2-week warriors.

Difficult but not impossible.

I've had no clear guest policy from my Airbnb that I have used before. In pinoy terms I guess they can't bring them to say something that will offend the foreigner, so they stay silent.

It's relatively cheap compared to Hotels so I will take the Airbnb for two nights. That gives me a known place to arrive and drop bags on the first evening. I'll test the guest policy and then have all of the next day to relocate if needed. I am happy to burn a night accom, in return for not being out at midday with a hangover after my first night back in PH I can just use the room as a base while I confirm my future accom on the ground.

Like others that have posted we have spent years in AC and know the type of experience we want. It suits me to be further away from walking st.

[FuriousGeorge]

Central Park has been excellent. Guests all day every day, whenever. Most of the staff, including the front desk girls, doesn't even wear masks now. The only difference is that the rooftop lounge closes around midnight now. It used to be a good place to take the girls after the bar.

Thanks, good to know that these hotels are still monger friendly. Now considering re-booking or getting a backup.

[Pute Nut]

What hotel is this? And who exactly do they expect to fill the rooms? The families traveling with kids. LOL? Is this hotel anywhere in Balibago or is it further away? Can't imagine any Balibago hotels surviving if they restrict girls from coming in.

This is a bit up Perimeter, used to be no probs around there as well, but reading thru the reviews they actually have families and OFWs as guests now. And some guys complaining about a strict guest policy. It looked good in the pics, guess I was thrown off course a bit when my regular discrete ho-tel told me they're not open for business. Great I caught this issue some days before arriving so I can rebook, adapt, and overcome LOL.

[Expat American]

I just recieved a laundry list of covid measures from my AC hotel. Unfortunately my regular (very visitor friendly) AC hotel is currently closed, so I have no idea how these guys handle visitors, but usually this is of course no issue in AC. So now I'm getting this pre-arrival list including "strictly no visitors". What is worse, when finecombing their reviews I see that some guys complain about actually being strict, so it may not even be flexible, PH-AC style.

Any current experiences re this? Which hotels are currently visitor friendly?

What hotel is this? And who exactly do they expect to fill the rooms? The families traveling with kids. LOL? Is this hotel anywhere in Balibago or is it further away? Can't imagine any Balibago hotels surviving if they restrict girls from coming in.

[Pute Nut]

Best bet, PN: Call the hotel in question and ask them their policy directly (saying it for the umpteenth time). Alternately follow the tip of the spear and stay in the exact hotels where we have good intel (ABC, CP). Other gents who know of recent hotels outside of AC with good ISG-friendly guest policies, please report (especially Manila). Alternately follow Goferring's advice of making your initial rental hotel for just 1-2-3 nights. Even if their guest policy sucks, it gives you a few days to walk the area and find a more guest-friendly place and transfer. I realize that is difficult advice for 2-week warriors.

Thanks Westy, ABC / CP being visitor frendly is good news, although not surprising. CP might work for me. I know this is a divisive subject, but I consider ABC a less good value proposition, each to their own. I will tuck in the visitor part in my now ongoing discussion with my next target hotel. But having lived in AC many years ago I know that formal policies are "not always" adhered to, so I'm interested in what "works". If it means sneaking my BF through a back door or maybe offering someone a small tip, whatever.

[WestCoast1]

I just recieved a laundry list of covid measures from my AC hotel. Unfortunately my regular (very visitor friendly) AC hotel is currently closed, so I have no idea how these guys handle visitors, but usually this is of course no issue in AC. So now I'm getting this pre-arrival list including "strictly no visitors". What is worse, when finecombing their reviews I see that some guys complain about actually being strict, so it may not even be flexible, PH-AC style.

No issues or ID checks at ABC. A friend didn't have problems at Central Park hotel. He was bringing different ones everyday.

Thanks, good to know that these hotels are still monger friendly. Now considering re-booking or getting a backup.

From the reporting of my mates, there still appears to be a discrepancy between AC / Subic and the rest of the country. Recently looking at a condo in Phils (I have rented different units in that Residence previously), I msg'd the host of a unit asking questions about it. The host replied promptly and professionally. Looking closer at his picture on airbb I realized that I knew him from a previous rental before and reminded him of that. "Oh yes Westy I remember you are in my unit in the other Residence". Hey, guy, you know that I am a senior citizen? "Yes". Does this current Residence allow seniors to rent? "No Westy not so". You were ready to take my money for a month's rent and cost me an airline ticket to go there, then turn me away at the door? "Sorry that. Its the policy of the Residence administration, and also the owner don't want any seniors during pandemic". Extremely telling: Part of the world thinks the pandemic is over, another part has no clue. Another telling item: Talking to some owners of units I discovered they themselves don't want any seniors renting during the pandemic. Reason: "What happens they will die in my unit from the Covid? Then I can't get the covid out from my unit? Who can stay there after?" If find that fascinatingly superstitious.

Host, it would be better to have mentioned that in the unit's description? "Yes". Can you also tell me the guest policy of this Residence and unit? "You renting studio for 2 people. You register yourself and your GF only like before. No outside guests allowed. No seniors. The owners they voted that". See? That Residence and owner are still stuck in no-guest land in that place (not in AC). "Westy I have other unit in the previous Residence. They accept seniors". Same guest policy? "Different. You register one guest your GF. Then you can bring in also one additional guest in the daytime only". Well, that's better, but certainly not up to the pre-pandemic standard.

A Residence in Malate has had this flip-flopping guest policy for the past year: At times, no outside guests (just you and your pre-registered GF). Later, 1 additional guest in the daytime, with ID and negative PCR test in the past 3 days. Later no additional guest. Later, 1 additional guest in the daytime, with ID and clear chest xray or covid test. Later, no additional guest. Later they opened the pool for guest use (1 family at a time, reserved in advance, no more than 4 people in the pool area). Later they stopped pool use. Later, 1 additional guest in the daytime, with valid ID, no medical documents required. Later, no additional guests. AND SO ON. Its torturous to watch in action. I rented overnights from this place a number of times when I wanted to take a regular because my Residence was not allowing additional guests in any way (at that particular time).

Another thought: Residence policies are sometimes voted on. At the start of the pandemic, owners came together to vote on these restrictions. Owners who didn't like these restrictions are out of luck. At what point can you get a quorum of said voters to "undo" these restrictions (or, vote on ANY topic)? These kinds of residences could be stuck for years in this lockdown mode.

The rest of the country will at some point fall in line, but who knows when that will be? I mean, look at all the extremely accurate predictions we made about the date (s) of re-opening the Phils to tourists. We started making those highly inaccurate guesses when the pandemic started, and we kept moving the dates further forward (like we knew what we were talking about).

Best bet, PN: Call the hotel in question and ask them their policy directly (saying it for the umpteenth time). Alternately follow the tip of the spear and stay in the exact hotels where we have good intel (ABC, CP). Other gents who know of recent hotels outside of AC with good ISG-friendly guest policies, please report (especially Manila). Alternately follow Goferring's advice of making your initial rental hotel for just 1-2-3 nights. Even if their guest policy sucks, it gives you a few days to walk the area and find a more guest-friendly place and transfer. I realize that is difficult advice for 2-week warriors.

[WalkAboutBoyz]

High conversion rate is an illusion on higher buying power. As the conversion rates have gone up the prices in pesos have gone up. Back in 2014 it was 42-$1. Barfines were 1200 pesos. Rate went to 45-$1 and barfines went to 1500 pesos. End of the day it is the same.

I guess I was going to the wrong places. I remember paying 3000 pesos back in 2016-17. Granted I haven't been since then but it was getting ridiculous at that time. I'm so curious to see how prices rebound after covid.

[WalkAboutBoyz]

I can't imagine these policies of no visitors are being "strictly" enforced. They may just be putting up a front to look good for authorities.

[Pute Nut]

No issues or ID checks at ABC.

A friend didn't have problems at Central Park hotel. He was bringing different ones everyday.

Thanks, good to know that these hotels are still monger friendly. Now considering re-booking or getting a backup.

[Dg8787]

I just recieved a laundry list of covid measures from my AC hotel. Unfortunately my regular (very visitor friendly) AC hotel is currently closed, so I have no idea how these guys handle visitors, but usually this is of course no issue in AC. So now I'm getting this pre-arrival list including "strictly no visitors". What is worse, when finecombing their reviews I see that some guys complain about actually being strict, so it may not even be flexible, PH-AC style.

Any current experiences re this? Which hotels are currently visitor friendly?

No issues or ID checks at ABC.

A friend didn't have problems at Central Park hotel. He was bringing different ones everyday.

[Pute Nut]

Back in 2014 it was 42-$1. Barfines were 1200 pesos.

And back in 2005 it was 55 pesos and BFs 1000 lol.

Value was slightly better back then, perhaps, but it's still good. The problem is more that the fiat dollar is on a slippery slope since Nixon abandoned the gold standard to "fix inflation". But maybe Brandon fixes this now.

[Pute Nut]

I just recieved a laundry list of covid measures from my AC hotel. Unfortunately my regular (very visitor friendly) AC hotel is currently closed, so I have no idea how these guys handle visitors, but usually this is of course no issue in AC. So now I'm getting this pre-arrival list including "strictly no visitors". What is worse, when finecombing their reviews I see that some guys complain about actually being strict, so it may not even be flexible, PH-AC style.

Any current experiences re this? Which hotels are currently visitor friendly?

[Dg8787]

I remember the rate being 40 back in 2013 when I was there every single month while living in Korea. Just got back to Korea so I'm glad to see this rate is much better for when I start up my monthly trips. Now just need covid to go away.

High conversion rate is an illusion on higher buying power. As the conversion rates have gone up the prices in pesos have gone up. Back in 2014 it was 42-$1. Barfines were 1200 pesos. Rate went to 45-$1 and barfines went to 1500 pesos. End of the day it is the same.

[SethMacfarlane]

I see lot of discussions around this topic and not one person suggested to exchange at home country before hitting Philippines. Is the exchange rate too bad at home countries in West? I always exchange at home country (in my case Malaysia) before leaving for Philippines. I'm planning my next trip and wonder if I may get a better rate in Philippines.

Exchange rates from my local chase bank (US) was terrible, I opted to just use atms. In January of 2020 I was getting just under 50:1. Not terrible I'the say but I'm not a big fan of carrying tons of cash. Only time I really used pesos was for working girls, trikes or the casino.