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[QUOTE=Breadman;1669593]How often are pool parties held in Angeles City? Is it only certain hotels?[/QUOTE]Every week or two there seems to be one. More common during the summer dry season, Feb through June. And obviously only the hotels with a pool throw a pool party.
There's one today.
[QUOTE=Jdbkk555;1670074]Every week or two there seems to be one. More common during the summer dry season, Feb through June. And obviously only the hotels with a pool throw a pool party.
There's one today.[/QUOTE]As in: where?
I was at Scorebirds a few weeks ago. There was a poster announcing a bikini party with $$ prizes. This was scheduled for an upcoming Saturday. I think they have them bi-weekly but give them a call to check. It's a nice looking pool and good environment to hang out. They also have rooms to rent for 3 hours for 500 p and you can't wait. LOL.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1670078]As in: where?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1670078]As in: where?[/QUOTE]Personally, I think a pool party is over rated. Perhaps a must do for a newbie.
Just a different venue to drink beer in the afternoon.
[QUOTE=Jdbkk555;1670570]Personally, I think a pool party is over rated.[/QUOTE]I agree to a point and in addition pool parties are just another way to get you to part with your cash, whether it's via drinks for yourself and girls or via the cheap plastic "Mardi Gras" style necklaces they want you to buy as method of voting for the hottest looking girl (s).
On the other hand, it's a good way to check out the talent from multiple bars as usually many of best looking ones go to the pool parties. Also, it's a good way to gleam some phone numbers for private meet ups.
Discovered it's very easy to score outside the bars and fill your day time hunger. Meet them from a few dating websites. Just chat a bit and Most will come over for ST without much trouble.
I'll be visiting AC in the middle of May, was wondering how busy the place might be with other hobbiests? I know in Thailand tourism drops off after the first week of April (and is experiencing a low peak season right now from the reports I'm reading), is it the same case in AC?
What is the best way to get to Angeles City from Manila airport? I was quoted about $2800 for a car, $3000 for a van.
You've already answered your own question. How will you find the driver at the airport?
[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1671142]What is the best way to get to Angeles City from Manila airport? I was quoted about $2800 for a car, $3000 for a van.[/QUOTE].
[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1671142]What is the best way to get to Angeles City from Manila airport? I was quoted about $2800 for a car, $3000 for a van.[/QUOTE]I will be visiting AC in early February for the first time. I've RTFF and done other research. Since I will be arriving in Manila around 11:30 AM, I decided that I will take a taxi to the Victory Liner bus station in Pasay (about 100-150 taxi ride from NAIA), then the aircon buses depart about every 30 minutes to Dau station near AC, then a tricycle to the hotel.
I was tempted to use a taxi all the way, but just cannot justify 2800-3000 pesos one-way. Besides, I don't trust the taxi drivers in Manila enough for such a journey.
There is also Swagman's Fly the Bus, which is 600 pesos from Ermita to AC, but I've been reading that they are having some quality control problems, like broken aircon, etc. , not to mention having to take a taxi to Ermita. So, I think the Victory Liner bus option makes the best sense to me. YMMV.
RG.
[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1671142]What is the best way to get to Angeles City from Manila airport? I was quoted about $2800 for a car, $3000 for a van.[/QUOTE]There is no 'best way' to make this journey. There are various methods (already discussed on the boards). The costs vary. Mostly your time-of-day arrival will effect your time spent in transport. Arrive 9 pm-6 am at NAIA (especially Mon-Friday), and you could conceivably be in your AC hotel 2-3 hours later (Immigration / customs, take ride directly to your hotel from NAIA). Arrive at the busier time of day, and it might be 5-6 hours until you reach your destination. Arriving on Sunday is smart, as traffic is *much* lighter.
Options:
1. Have your AC hotel send a car / van just for you. Prices quoted by you are about right. I prefer this method, even though more costly, as the driver / car is waiting for me, and is at my beck-and-call: literally, he stops if I need to weewee or eat (be nice, buy him a burger when you get some fast food for yourself), I control the radio (not him), and I can stretch out and sleep in the back seat (its all mine).
2. Try the Radical Guy method: Taxi to Pasay bus terminal (p100-200), then take one of the aircon busses (departing every 30 minutes, p200?) to Dau, then take a tryke (p100) to your hotel. This is a cheaper method, but will take longer (could be much longer as trying to get a taxi at NAIA has become difficult), and you are traveling with locals. This seems the 'po man's method.
3. Taxi to Swagman hotel (p150-200), then take the Fly-the-Bus (departs twice / day I think, p6-700).
4. Arrive, grab luggage, take elevator upstairs to the airport Departure area. There are many taxi's dropping off departing passengers. Hail one and ask if he wants to take you to AC. He will quote a very large amount, 4-5000 maybe. Counter with 2500. Bargain. You should be able to hit at about p3000. Remember, for him, its got to be enough for him to go there and all the way back to Manila (could be a 5-hour round-trip for him; he is renting the taxi for a 12-hour shift and must return it in Manila), even though you are only going one way. You might have to attempt this with many taxi drivers. If you are willing to do this, you should re-consider option #1 above (same cost).
Gents, did I miss an option?
BTW, made my Manila hotel reservation a few days ago and requested their van pickup (as usual). Cost is p1000 (previously it was 600, they raised it in August). I'm guessing that they are aware of the rotten traffic lately around NAIA, and it takes an hour longer for the van to make the round-trip to NAIA.
[QUOTE=RumBuddy;1671142]What is the best way to get to Angeles City from Manila airport? I was quoted about $2800 for a car, $3000 for a van.[/QUOTE]After reading WestCoast's post, I rethinked my idea. I will be staying at the Queens Hotel in AC. I just checked their website, and they quote 2600 pesos for a car pickup from NAIA airport to the hotel. Considering that this is door-to-door service, I am thinking that I may use this option.
[URL]http://www.queensangeles.com/transportation/transportation-queens-hotel.html[/URL]
RG.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1671241]2. Try the Radical Guy method: Taxi to Pasay bus terminal (p100-200), then take one of the aircon busses (departing every 30 minutes, p200?) to Dau, then take a tryke (p100) to your hotel. This is a cheaper method, but will take longer (could be much longer as trying to get a taxi at NAIA has become difficult), and you are traveling with locals. This seems the 'po man's method.
3. Taxi to Swagman hotel (p150-200), then take the Fly-the-Bus (departs twice / day I think, p6-700).
4. Arrive, grab luggage, take elevator upstairs to the airport Departure area. There are many taxi's dropping off departing passengers. Hail one and ask if he wants to take you to AC. He will quote a very large amount, 4-5000 maybe. Counter with 2500. Bargain. You should be able to hit at about p3000. Remember, for him, its got to be enough for him to go there and all the way back to Manila (could be a 5-hour round-trip for him; he is renting the taxi for a 12-hour shift and must return it in Manila), even though you are only going one way. You might have to attempt this with many taxi drivers. If you are willing to do this, you should re-consider option #1 above (same cost)..[/QUOTE]My international MNL connection always arrives late 11:30 pm to up to 1 am to get through customs. Traffic is better after midnight but going native through the Pasay terminal would be too much of a hassle and challenge after 30+ hours flying so I always take the taxi. I was always able to get it to 3000 P or under. Make sure you insist that the toll is inclusive of the driver paying the EDSA tolls before you get in the taxi.
I tried a risky method twice and it worked. Problem with even the midnight taxi was arriving so late in AC by the time I got a shower its pretty late and only the late night bars may be open. So I had a 19 yo manila girl who I never met but chatted with check in for me at the casa Bocobo in Ermita and wait in bed, eat cup o noodles and watch tv etc until I get there. I gave her I think 1500 p for transport. To my surprise she was there! I was proud of myself that it worked. So we had a great night and then I was able to take the first Swagman bus a few blocks over to AC the next day. It was risky since I had to prepay the hotel and the girl and let them know she was checking in for me. Tried it with a second girl I knew through cam chat only and it worked again the next visit.
If I am arriving from the province I always time my flight to the Swagman bus schedule 11:30 AM 3:30 pm and 8:30 pm departures from Ermita. I have taken it dozens of times over the years last being August 2014. Its 700 P and they take you directly to your hotel door. It always left on time, never experienced any discomforts but hey its the Phils anything bad can happen on any given day. The Swagman hotel has deteriorated badly but the Fly the Bus is still good.
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1671241]BTW, made my Manila hotel reservation a few days ago and requested their van pickup (as usual). Cost is p1000 (previously it was 600, they raised it in August). I'm guessing that they are aware of the rotten traffic lately around NAIA, and it takes an hour longer for the van to make the round-trip to NAIA.[/QUOTE]Damn good idea. I am going to do that too! (going next month).
As I've posted once before, I've got the name and contact number of a very reliable driver who charges Php2,700, including the tolls, to Angeles. If anyone wants the contact information, I'd be glad to provide it via PM.
GE.