General Info

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]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.
[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]
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.[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]I've been home for 6 days now and I think this is a good time to post some random thoughts, observations and lessons:[/QUOTE]Great reports.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]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.[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]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.[/QUOTE]Spot on!

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]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.[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=MrHappyKat;2805302]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.[/QUOTE]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).

1 of the top 3 most scary moments.

[QUOTE=Transporter;2805460]1 of the top 3 most scary moments.[/QUOTE]And what happened after?

[QUOTE=Transporter;2805460]1 of the top 3 most scary moments.[/QUOTE]Is it yours?

Probably, but it was taken care of.

Great!

Not sure if we covered this recently, but now DEPARTING passengers will need to fill out the e-travel system. Applies only to international flights. Must register etravel within 72 hours before departure. Thanks fellow board member for pointing this out. Its a small headache, but its another headache.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3QdU8mdjQ&t=328s[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jennifer+terri+travel+update[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAq3QQGhcw[/URL]

[URL]https://etravel.gov.ph/[/URL]

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2806879]Great!

Not sure if we covered this recently, but now DEPARTING passengers will need to fill out the e-travel system. Applies only to international flights. Must register etravel within 72 hours before departure. Thanks fellow board member for pointing this out. Its a small headache, but its another headache.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3QdU8mdjQ&t=328s[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jennifer+terri+travel+update[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAq3QQGhcw[/URL]

[URL]https://etravel.gov.ph/[/URL][/QUOTE]Both in bound and outbound I believe.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2806879]Great!

Not sure if we covered this recently, but now DEPARTING passengers will need to fill out the e-travel system. Applies only to international flights. Must register etravel within 72 hours before departure. Thanks fellow board member for pointing this out. Its a small headache, but its another headache.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3QdU8mdjQ&t=328s[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jennifer+terri+travel+update[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAq3QQGhcw[/URL]

[URL]https://etravel.gov.ph/[/URL][/QUOTE]I thought you had to fill out a departure one too but when I showed them they said they only care about arrival and didn't even look at my departure.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2806879]Great!

Not sure if we covered this recently, but now DEPARTING passengers will need to fill out the e-travel system. Applies only to international flights. Must register etravel within 72 hours before departure. Thanks fellow board member for pointing this out. Its a small headache, but its another headache.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3QdU8mdjQ&t=328s[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jennifer+terri+travel+update[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAq3QQGhcw[/URL]

[URL]https://etravel.gov.ph/[/URL][/QUOTE]No need to do e travel for departure. I did travel from Manila to Jakarta and also Manila to back home in March. They do scan on arrival.

[QUOTE=Sammon;2806938]No need to do e travel for departure. I did travel from Manila to Jakarta and also Manila to back home in March. They do scan on arrival.[/QUOTE]Need to do it for departures. Valid from April 15.

[URL]https://immigration.gov.ph/images/News/2023_Yr/03_Mar/2023Mar31_Press.pdf[/URL]

[QUOTE=Pickley;2806929]I thought you had to fill out a departure one too but when I showed them they said they only care about arrival and didn't even look at my departure.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Sammon;2806938]No need to do e travel for departure. I did travel from Manila to Jakarta and also Manila to back home in March. They do scan on arrival.[/QUOTE]For those who watched the vids, it starts April 15.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2806953]For those who watched the vids, it starts April 15.[/QUOTE]Thanks Muttley. See pic, from BI website.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2806966]Thanks Muttley. See pic, from BI website.[/QUOTE]I'm going on holiday in a couple of weeks. Received an SMS from PAL this afternoon confirming requirements.