Money topic for AC or anywhere (but not NZ specific)
There has already been some good advice to this query. I just want to add a bit. As a repeat visitor I usually have pesos on arrival, but if not I'd change enough at the airport to get me thru the day / night.
Usually Manila exchange rates are a bit better than AC rates. And if you are going out to the provinces you'd want to change money first, and also try to get smaller notes. Big tourist destinations like AC have change, but out in the sticks they don't handle the big 1 kP blue notes so often.
Some bigger malls have money changers, but usually you can get better rates from the private changers out on the street. Don't use the hotels as their rates are often terrible. In an emergency (very late arrival) I've given a hotel some X money as a deposit with the understanding that I'd pay in pesos after changing money. You can do the same trick with a credit card.
Rates are usually better on early weekdays, rather than late Friday and weekends. I suppose many international money markets are closed on weekends.
Most (99.9%) of money changers will count it out in front of you, but on their side of the window. Then they will hand it to you. You should recount. If any changer deviates from this, you should be ready to challenge them. I had one changer do some kind of fancy snazzy meticulous count and stack and then let me recount every stack (ten stacks of ten blue notes). Finally she piled up the stacks and handed me the wad of bills. Warning bells were ringing in my head from the very beginning. I grabbed tightly and sure enough, I felt a tug. She'd pulled a blue note out of the stack. I immediately slapped the money down and asked for a recount. Her recount was done in the traditional way.
[QUOTE=Bellassimo;1874216]Hi,
Soon I'll be visiting Angeles city. Need some suggestions / advice from where to get the currency exchange: Manila or Angeles city.
Pick-up from Manila airport (Hotel transfer).
1) Is it easy get currency exchange for $NZ or Is it better to carry $US or traveler's cheque.
2) Is it Safe to ask the driver to wait as I get the currency exchange from Manila, as he knows, I got good amount of Philippines currency in my pocket.
3) Is there much difference in currency exchange in Manila & Angeles city for $US and $NZ?
4) From where I can get the best rates, please advice some good money exchange in Manila and Angeles City.[/QUOTE]
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Runner Alert: Kings Landing
I met this waitress named Jennifer (Jen Orio on fb) in Kings Landing today evening. Looked like a hot charming girl. She passed the basic interview and I barfine her LT for 3000 pesos. Deal was that she would stay till afternoon and then go. I paid the barfine upfront. Blanquiceleste had joined me and he also barfined another girl named Lelyn from same bar. We settled the bill and decided to head to Hotel (Lewis Grand) where we would contine our party. As soon as we walked out of Kings Landing Jen wanted to meet one of her friend. We walked into Q bar where we met her. She was also a waitress. Jen told me that she had her first threesome with this friend. She later suggested that whether I was interested in it to which I politely declined. We bought her friend a drink and ourselves as well.
We went back to hotel wherein we had few more drinks and dinner. We ensured that these girls were well fed like all we met earlier in this trip. We then retired to our room. One pop later Jen told me that she wanted to meet her friend urgently and hence had to leave. I told her that Lelyn is there in the other room with my buddy and she could leave with her in the morning. Jen told me that Lelyn will also leave shortly. I was slightly surprised to hear her make this statement so confidently. She then told me that she is going to Samar on Friday and needs to meet her friend urgently tonight and it couldn't wait. I gave in and asked her to leave. Didn't tip her a peso after the stunt she pulled on me. Minutes later got a message from Blanquiceleste that his girl had also left but he managed to finish 2 pops before he could let her go.
The only thing which comes to my mind is that one should strictly avoid bar fining girl from Kings Landing. I don't think that this is the first time the girls have managed to run on customers. I don't see a reason to go and complain to the Manager as it would yeild no result. I am going to be here for few more days and this is one bar which I won't be visiting ever.
Jen added me on fb hence I was able to figure out from her pics that she is also a High Society regular. Kindly engage with her on your own risk. You have been warned. I am uploading few pics for easy reference and to avoid if you come across her. Managed to find one pic of her friend as well. Unfortunately don't have a pic of Lelyn to share.
Save your money and find a better girls.
