Manila

[QUOTE=GreenBud;2847557]In Angeles, the cambio gives good rates. Previously, I've only noticed maybe between 0. 1-0. 3 pesos per dollar difference between the exchange houses and the ATM / Visa rate you get (which is the same for ALL ATMs, minus fees / charges), with the Exchange Houses giving you the lesser exchange rate.

The cambio will give you slightly less, but the ATMs will charge you the foreign ATM fee (was it 200, 250 or 300?).[/QUOTE]Here is google for Angeles with Norma's top of the list [URL]https://www.google.com/search?client=avast-a-2&q=cambio[/URL]+angeles+city&oq=cambio+angeles+city&aqs=avast. 69 i57.5174 j0 j4&ie=UTF-8.

I found the one opposite Johnnys on Macarthur the best of all of them. Sometimes their rates differed by 2 pesos / which is significant.

I find the cambios on Mabini St near Robinsons Malate good too.

My bank is a rip off for foreign dealing.

Speaking about rip offs: I am planning a return from Europe (ex London, Paris or Amsterdam) in January / Feb. The air fares from Europe are steep, with Etihad being the cheapest and best (but not cheap or all that good). I usually use kayak and google alerts but no bargain basement prices.

[QUOTE=TjBrazil;2847433]When you guys change money with a cambio vs ATM card at bank of Philippines, do you feel it's about the same, if you consider the 3 or 4 dollar ATM fee which I can't get reversed, since I don't have Schwab anymore. Although, my bank doesn't charge international fees, so I will save there. Will I still get more pesos using BPI vs ATM with 3 or 4 dollar fee included.[/QUOTE]All cambio places have exchange rates posted. You can first check [URL]xe.com[/URL] what the exchange rate is that day. Go check few cambio places and look at what their rate is. I used the cambio place inside Robinson mall and they are generally very close to exchange rate. Mall is open from 9 Am to 9 Pm.

[QUOTE=Sammon;2847703]All cambio places have exchange rates posted. You can first check [URL]xe.com[/URL] what the exchange rate is that day. Go check few cambio places and look at what their rate is. I used the cambio place inside Robinson mall and they are generally very close to exchange rate. Mall is open from 9 Am to 9 Pm.[/QUOTE]I used the booths in Mhabini St, just around the corner from Robinsons. I mention (this) again as, in Angeles, I got massages from blind folk in the mall near Walking St and on the Macarthur Robinsons. The prices were very different, rent being the obvious difference. Also, in both malls, the exchange rate was a total rip off. Small kiosks are much better.

Etihad seem to have a sale on, again. I have to go back to working out my cost per bonk for Jan. / Feb.

I saw a post here of a club full of dancers in Malate last night when, funnily enough, I was chatting to one of the dancers at that club. Bar fine, 6000 PHP, but not for me as I would prefer baby oil and tissue paper to that.

The women jump around and give it their best shot but I don't think "high class" hookers deliver bang for buck. Also such places don't appeal to me anyway. I prefer it simpler. That said, such women can be great banks if they have recently ended their careers as under paid maids.

[QUOTE=Sammon;2847703]All cambio places have exchange rates posted. You can first check [URL]xe.com[/URL] what the exchange rate is that day. Go check few cambio places and look at what their rate is. I used the cambio place inside Robinson mall and they are generally very close to exchange rate. Mall is open from 9 Am to 9 Pm.[/QUOTE]Robinson mall opens at 10 am. I was standing in line behind 2 Korean dudes who were taking a long time. I was curious so waited. I swear they must have exchanged 10 k you. S. Worth each cause their stack of 1 k pesos was around 8" Erect LOL. Both had strap on fanny packs and just stuffed the bills inside without counting them. Cool dudes, we just smiled at each other with thumbs up!

When in Manila or the Philippines, what do you buy for yourself to bring home? I am weighing up returning in the New Year and I think it important that I spend more on myself than on hookers. Last time, I spent quite a bit on medical check ups and a top of the range cell phone. I bought other stuff in the malls, spare memory cards etc but most of it remains unused.

With shopping, I like the convenience. I am on down time, so hit the malls. But I find little in the malls. I buy some underwear, t shirts, towels, mugs etc, Last time, I bought an electric kettle which I donated to a female "business acquaintance". I also gave her the mugs, which was a shame as they were of high quality.

I guess mileage varies. A top of the range laptop would be good but I am not really a laptop guy.

Have folk used Lazada? Might be worth a shot.

[QUOTE=Jarango;2847865]When in Manila or the Philippines, what do you buy for yourself to bring home? I am weighing up returning in the New Year and I think it important that I spend more on myself than on hookers. Last time, I spent quite a bit on medical check ups and a top of the range cell phone. I bought other stuff in the malls, spare memory cards etc but most of it remains unused.

With shopping, I like the convenience. I am on down time, so hit the malls. But I find little in the malls. I buy some underwear, t shirts, towels, mugs etc, Last time, I bought an electric kettle which I donated to a female "business acquaintance". I also gave her the mugs, which was a shame as they were of high quality.

I guess mileage varies. A top of the range laptop would be good but I am not really a laptop guy.

Have folk used Lazada? Might be worth a shot.[/QUOTE]I buy panties, from the expensive clothing boutiques. I gift them to each girl that comes to my hotel room. In exchange they give me the ones they were wearing.

If anyone knows of any casas in Manila kindly PM me. These used to be a gold mine for cuties. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Jarango;2847865]When in Manila or the Philippines, what do you buy for yourself to bring home? I am weighing up returning in the New Year and I think it important that I spend more on myself than on hookers. Last time, I spent quite a bit on medical check ups and a top of the range cell phone. I bought other stuff in the malls, spare memory cards etc but most of it remains unused.

With shopping, I like the convenience. I am on down time, so hit the malls. But I find little in the malls. I buy some underwear, t shirts, towels, mugs etc, Last time, I bought an electric kettle which I donated to a female "business acquaintance". I also gave her the mugs, which was a shame as they were of high quality.

I guess mileage varies. A top of the range laptop would be good but I am not really a laptop guy.

Have folk used Lazada? Might be worth a shot.[/QUOTE]I love Lazada! If you link it to GCash, it is super easy to use. I sent my girl gifts (and a shirt for me by mistake LOL), and still can from back home in US. I bought several things off lazada while I was there, from plants to luggage to Bluetooth sport earbuds (which I absolutely love - $10 is dirt cheap compared to here and they literally last twelve hours and I only have to charge the case once per week)!

But I digress. There is a plethora of shopping options there. I bought my girl lingerie and had sent to her before our time together before I left. Sexy panties, etc. My only critique is that she is tiny and size xs is hard to find. But it's okay. Once her clothes came off, they stayed off until she got ready to leave the next morning, and I liked that better.

I asked here about using Lazada to buy high end products and two guys replied about how good it was to buy panties. Believer me, I don't look well in panties and I am content to buy male underwear from the street vendors. I am looking at things like high end laptops, cell phones etc. There are some other, more colourful electronic gadgets I am interested in.

After posting, I read Lazada reviews and there are all terrible. Discounting for bad experiences, guys not reading prior reviews etc, it still turned me off as having too much of a scam rate. I wish it was otherwise.

Also, some guy posted elsewhere he could not sign up to GCash because he was not a Ph citizen, That looks like he didn't tick the appropriate box as I presume his money is green.

I have been inside this KTV / JTV with my korean friend. As soon as we entered it felt like their messiah have decended.

Anyhow we ordered drink, 4500 peso unlimited drink package of your choice.

Lady drink 550 or 600 peso more or less I could be wrong, she sits with you and you can do light touching. No kiss, or squeezing boobs or pussy finger.

Immidiatly she will ask for your whatsapp or line contact, and try to get you into VIP room, mean more money.

After drinks for two of us, few lady drinks, we were billed 8500 peso. I don't really know what can you do in VIP room I guess dance, or singing.

These girls are considered top notch and top babies.

[QUOTE=TjBrazil;2843053]Anyone know the name of this KTV bar by the inside setup:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tRiGpmdyevE[/URL][/QUOTE]

Is there a website or app for the Philippines that is similar to what ThaiFriendly is for Thailand? Meaning there's a lot of freelancers and also "civvies" that can sometimes be convinced?

[QUOTE=Jarango;2848257]After posting, I read Lazada reviews and there are all terrible. Discounting for bad experiences, guys not reading prior reviews etc, it still turned me off as having too much of a scam rate. I wish it was otherwise.[/QUOTE]Lazada and Shopee are the Phils version of Amazon. Take my words literally: The Phils version. Everything is low-end, dirt cheap, low delivery fees ($1 is not unusual) for slow delivery, and preferred payments until recently were COD (not electronic). All of those items should tell you that ShopZada is bottom of the barrel. However, I have ordered many times and not been disappointed, knowing I was ordering and receiving a set of queen sized bed sheets (1 fitted, and the top sheet not fitted) for $4, includes delivery in about a week. Amazon it ain't (as an Amazon Prime customer, the vast majority of my purchases show up in the home country in 2 days, with about 10% showing up the next business day -- that isn't happening in Phils if you don't live in the NCR).

Also don't expect easy customer service (you might have to open a 'ticket' in the app, rather than talk to a CSR). Customer service might consist of emails or tickets being dealt with every few days (or longer).

Recommend that if you want high-end stuff, visit said brand store (or their website), or hit Amazon. Advise against purchasing quality phones, tablets, or laptops on ShopZada. Its quite possible they have quality products, but I recommend you don't do that.

[QUOTE=Jarango;2848257]Also, some guy posted elsewhere he could not sign up to GCash because he was not a Ph citizen, That looks like he didn't tick the appropriate box as I presume his money is green.[/QUOTE]Negative. Literally their TOS* state the app is for citizens only (at least it did previously). You can get an account as a non-citizen, but you must verify that you are the account owner. The app has a verification process, as I mentioned before, that requires you (in the app) to take pics of your passport page, yourself, and possibly your SIM card. Verification usually completes in 2-5 days (it says 24 hours in the app, but me and my pinoy friends experience says longer). Citizens must also verify if they want to take advantage of the full slate of GC goodies. Its quite possible that the other Board member who downloaded the GC app can create an account and pretend to be pinoy, but he can't take advantage of GC goodies unless he verifies.

*Terms of Service is called TOC Terms of Contract here. Good luck finding it on the GCash website ([URL]https://www.gcash.com/[/URL]).

Amazon has free shipping to phils on orders over $50. Best to order legit products from Amazon but I do purchase a ton from lazada and the only time I have trouble is ordering things from overseas vendors aka "from China". As long as they are located inside the Philippines I have had very little problems with Lazada. I also use my US based credit card to pay for lazada as it is a payment option.

[URL]https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=24436421011[/URL]

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2848674]
*Terms of Service is called TOC Terms of Contract here. Good luck finding it on the GCash website ([URL]https://www.gcash.com/[/URL]).[/QUOTE]"A Foreign National with a PH-based SIM.

Foreign Nationals above 18 years old need to submit their Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) or Passport to get Fully Verified in GCash.

Note: Foreign nationals may also need to submit their DOLE Alien Employment / School Registration Form and their proof of billing as supplementary documents to proceed with their verification.

If you have a Valid ACR card they will most likely agree to the verification, "GCash is duly registered with and licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). ".

As the SSRV allows you to open a real bank account in phils if you present a "PRA ID Card" this should also suffice. They may ask for a proof of residence, power bill or barangay clearance with your name on it which is near impossible if you are not in country to obtain.

[URL]https://help.gcash.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000948786-What-are-the-IDs-I-can-submit-to-get-Fully-Verified-[/URL]

[QUOTE=MontanaMonger;2848700]Amazon has free shipping to phils on orders over $50. [/QUOTE]Was not aware. Good intel.

[QUOTE=MontanaMonger;2848700]I also use my US based credit card to pay for lazada as it is a payment option.[/QUOTE]This part is excellent. Additionally about a year ago, Grab also re-started accepting my home-based CC.

Thanks for the Lazada advice. Just like here, it is a case of buy in haste, regret at leisure. I guess the Philippines is more for human services, medical, dental and, er other. Am I missing anything?

I saw in the SM mall food brand name winter (European) jackets but I presume they are trying to catch the odd local with them.

Amazon is some crew, free delivery to the Phils. They have a big co. Jp outfit too might be worth checking speed wise.

Looks like I will get lots of medical check ups again.

I must say I was quite happy with the service and it is a major draw card, just go in, pay and no BS. Eastern and SE Europe has become too much hassle cashing in on that bubble. Boob and nsioe jobs seem to be the main draw and too much dental treatment. FK that.

I was very happy. Angeles Medic is a bit sloppy but that is fine for me, Online seems to be the same, which is odd as so many call centres are based there (all the hookers say they are call girls) I know there were plans years ago to make the Phils a major medical tourism magnet but it seems they just can't put plans into effect. Someone must be coining.

As regards the guy asking for a Pinay equivalent of Thailove, there is an entire section here dedicated to Pinalove and similar sites. Not so much rtfff as know the forum exists.