General Info

[QUOTE=Amavida]The PI telco called SMART requires you to have a minimum balance of P100 & they tell me you cant recharge while out of the PI using a prepaid load card (this may not be correct information from them).[/quote]
You're right, it's not correct. I can and have used Smart load cards while overseas. Texting on a Smart SIM from overseas costs 20 pesos per text and using a load card from overseas will cost 20 pesos for that text message as well. Load cards are normally good for up to 6 months from the date of purchase so I buy a few before I leave the RP. A slightly more expensive online alternative to buying load cards to carry with you is [url]http://www.aryty.com[/url].

[quote=Amavida]One more bit of info, If you are tech savvy and have a reasonably modern phone with a data plan attached you can very easily install a small program on your cell phone called 'Fring'. This is a multiprotocol IM application that lets you IM (ie txt chat) via yahoo, msn, google talk etc through your cell phone. It also allows you to make a skype call through the data connection of your cell phone! Yay! Spoofed phone number! Your speaking through skype by way of Fring on your cell phone but she see's the skpe ID (you use a phone number for this remember).

My point being you no longer need a laptop for eMail, IM, Skype. You can do it all from a modern smart phone. I no longer lug around a laptop or camera. Modern smart phones also have quite decent camera built in.

There was a time when I lugged around a Laptop, Camera, two cell phones, a power board for the 4 chargers, 4 plug adapters & an extension cord. My god! With the airlines getting tough on baggage weight limits it's something to think about..

Only one charger to throw in your bag. No obvious items for theft. No fears of nosy airport/police looking at your.. ahem.. holiday snaps. If you want to be really sure pull the memory card out of your cp & put it in your wallet.

They never look that hard unless you have been a very bad person, in which case nothing will save you.

I realise this may be way too much for many people but I do it & I can tell you it is very easy these days.

Happy cheating! :)
AV[/QUOTE]
Any recommendations from you or other posters regarding such "all-in-one" phones? I normally take laptop with me, but that's because I'm working remotely some of the time. I'm contemplating taking a real vacation trip without the laptop, but internet withdrawal is sorta hard.

Thanks again A.V. Your knowledge is extraordinary for the problem that I had.

Regarding not using a laptop, unfortunatly I do carry one on my trips cause of my profession being a Financial Analyst and I use it constantly.

Regarding using my PI sim in Australia, I didn't know that.

Yes I do have a SMART sim and you are correct : most of the honeys do use SMART sim cards.

Have a good day mate and thanks for the info you and H.G have provided.

Best regards to you and HornyGeorge...........Ace

[QUOTE=Amavida]You're welcome mate.

The two phone solution has another benefit. If you pick up a honey who wants to keep in touch with txt, put your PI sim card on International Roaming before you return to your home country. She can txt to that for the cost of a local PI sms. You can reply with a sim card from your home country.

The PI telco called SMART requires you to have a minimum balance of P100 & they tell me you cant recharge while out of the PI using a prepaid load card (this may not be correct information from them). Globe International Roaming is presently borked so DON'T waste your money getting a globe sim or load. Most girls have SMART or sometimes SUN sims. Globe has better network in most places, more generous pricing. SUN is small company with dodgy network but very cheap. Im not a big fan of SMART (iffy network & higher prices) but it's probably your best choice overall unfortunately.

One more bit of info, If you are tech savvy and have a reasonably modern phone with a data plan attached you can very easily install a small program on your cell phone called 'Fring'. This is a multiprotocol IM application that lets you IM (ie txt chat) via yahoo, msn, google talk etc through your cell phone. It also allows you to make a skype call through the data connection of your cell phone! Yay! Spoofed phone number! Your speaking through skype by way of Fring on your cell phone but she see's the skpe ID (you use a phone number for this remember).

My point being you no longer need a laptop for eMail, IM, Skype. You can do it all from a modern smart phone. I no longer lug around a laptop or camera. Modern smart phones also have quite decent camera built in.

There was a time when I lugged around a Laptop, Camera, two cell phones, a power board for the 4 chargers, 4 plug adapters & an extension cord. My god! With the airlines getting tough on baggage weight limits it's something to think about..

Only one charger to throw in your bag. No obvious items for theft. No fears of nosy airport/police looking at your.. ahem.. holiday snaps. If you want to be really sure pull the memory card out of your cp & put it in your wallet.

They never look that hard unless you have been a very bad person, in which case nothing will save you.

I realise this may be way too much for many people but I do it & I can tell you it is very easy these days.

Happy cheating! :)

AV[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Amavida]The PI telco called SMART requires you to have a minimum balance of P100 & they tell me you cant recharge while out of the PI using a prepaid load card (this may not be correct information from them). [/QUOTE]
About the balance it's correct, but you can reload overseas with such a prepaid reload card.
100%, because I've done it already.

Thank god I'm unmarried and don't have to consider such nonsense, hehe... :D

I carry usually laptop and phone and DSLR.
Sorry, the pics out of a handphone are simply crap.
Personal laptop in hotel room is much more convenient than sitting with dozens of youngsters in a hot internet cafe.
Better carry a cheap simple handphone (call and txt only) in the Phils,
a 1,000$ phone is very attractive for any pickpocket and makes you a target.

Cheers!

And recently I've got a phone here, able to work with two SIM cards.
Functions very well, Chinese brand, MP3 player, video player, touch screen etc.
Not too bad.

Cheers!

Thanks Blair for the info you have provided. yes I do switch off my roaming cell phone but only for about half a day.

Also thanks for the advice regarding the different ring tones for different countries.

Best regards,

Ace

[QUOTE=Blair]Just to add my 2c to the discussion - If you carry a cellphone overseas (roaming), you need to be careful of call progress tones (ringing, busy, unobtainable) and network error messages. Generally the calling party will hear the call progress tones and messages of the (overseas) network you are currently using, and this can be a dead giveaway.

If the calling tone style is more or less the same as wherever you are 'supposed' to be, you should be in the clear, for example it would be hard to tell the difference between a call terminated in UK or Singapore or even Australia. On the other hand an Aus to Thai roaming call will ring with a Thai calling tone, which may cause problems.

You can hear typical calling tones here:

[url]http://www.3amsystems.com/wireline/tone-search.htm[/url]

Another gotcha is network error messages. Again, some voice over girl spouting 'The person you are calling is not available, try later' in Indonesian or Tagalog might raise someones suspicion.

Generally, when I've been in this situation, I leave the roaming phone off, just turning on briefly to get messages and return calls (living with the small risk of an incoming call while I'm doing this). If your roaming phone is switched off, calls should just land in your normal (home country) voicemail service. The other option is just to send all incoming calls to directly voicemail -if anyone asks, the expense of roaming calls and the possibility of calls at unsocial hours are a good excuse.

If this topic is covered elsewhere, please forgive the repetition, but mistakes like this can have serious and long lasting consequences for a monger ;)[/QUOTE]

Using your Paypal account, you can instantly add "eloads" to SMART or GLOBE cellphones in the PI.

You pay a small premium: for example-a 115 Piso load costs $2. 85 CURRENTLY-they do adjust with exchange rate fluctuations whereas at 50 Piso per dollar it should cost about $2. 35). Even with a slight premium being collected, it is WAY better to reload your phone right before arrival so you have load when you arrive at airport. Also for girls you want to be able to text you without sending them money.

[url]www.e-loads.net[/url]

I always make sure I have a spare smart load card in my travel bag.

That way its loaded as soon as plane lands, and already then I'm working phones seeing how quickly I can make a meeting and get laid. The record is 2 hours off the plane having stopped in my condo first.

However. Smart load cards, once loaded only last about 6 weeks I think, so if not used and no return visits to Phils within 6 weeks balance dissapears. Thats why you need to keep spare cards.

I was blown away when I made a visit to China and checked my China sim. I hadnt been there for 18 months. But I still had load. Much better if thats what happened in Phils.

I did try buying once at airport. In that dingy area across from arrivals (down the ramp across the road). I asked for a P300 card and the guy wanted to charge me P350. Bastard. I held out P350 in my hand and let him take the money, but held onto the P50. Walked away.

Thanks HG, excellent site.

Robb

[QUOTE=HornyGeorge]Using your Paypal account, you can instantly add "eloads" to SMART or GLOBE cellphones in the PI.

You pay a small premium: for example-a 115 Piso load costs $2. 85 CURRENTLY-they do adjust with exchange rate fluctuations whereas at 50 Piso per dollar it should cost about $2. 35). Even with a slight premium being collected, it is WAY better to reload your phone right before arrival so you have load when you arrive at airport. Also for girls you want to be able to text you without sending them money.

[url]www.e-loads.net[/url][/QUOTE]

I've been trying to find the answer at the forum first,but it looks like searching a needle in a hayfield.
I got a message from Arizona Hotel that they would pick us (3 guys) by private van at NAIA up at a fare of 4,500P. It is just at a convenient time somewhere afternoon.
Are there cheaper ways to get a decent transport to reach hotel ? Is this a normal rate ?
We don't like to waste lots of time by looking for a bus that make stops on its way, but rather wanna get to the hotel quick. I guess the hotel's van would be our only option ? How about taxi ?
Sorry folks, it will be our first time to Subic - we gotta learn the ways.
Thanks for all your input.

Considering your requirements, and assuming the fee is per three people, it sounds reasonable. You could easily inquire at other hotels just to see if there is a better fee. I'll assume you've already read about the MNL - AC - Subic buses for horntoads.

Taxi might be a better option. The airport taxis are usually newer, ride is more comfortable, and drivers have some smarts (could be good or bad). You probably would want to ask for a nearby hotel / destination and then negotiate from there. Maybe another member could give you contact info to save you the airport runaround.

Have fun,

X









[QUOTE=Asianatic]I've been trying to find the answer at the forum first,but it looks like searching a needle in a hayfield.
I got a message from Arizona Hotel that they would pick us (3 guys) by private van at NAIA up at a fare of 4,500P. It is just at a convenient time somewhere afternoon.
Are there cheaper ways to get a decent transport to reach hotel ? Is this a normal rate ?
We don't like to waste lots of time by looking for a bus that make stops on its way, but rather wanna get to the hotel quick. I guess the hotel's van would be our only option ? How about taxi ?
Sorry folks, it will be our first time to Subic - we gotta learn the ways.
Thanks for all your input.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Asianatic]Are there cheaper ways to get a decent transport to reach hotel ? Is this a normal rate ?[/QUOTE]
Would have to agree with X Man in that it is reasonable. The horntoad shuttles would be in the neighborhood of 1200 php each but you would have to stay in AC for the night. You could of course take a cramped taxi.

The Arizona just acquired a brand new Toyota HiAce 14 person passenger van. So you guys should have plenty of room to spread out. In fact if you want to really go all out, they will get a few of their girls from Score Bar to accompany you guys back to Barretto for a price! Btw, are you staying at Arizona?

Get AWAY from the airport first, or get a departing taxi with no passengers and agree on price before getting in. I bet if you told your hotel only 1 passenger price is more like 2500.

Bigger questions is WHY Subic? If mongering is the priority, Angeles is 100 times better. If going for the beach, LOADS of places are 100 times better.

Thanks for the info brothers. Alright, we have made the reservation for the pick-up van. We really does'nt matter to spend a peso more or less. We just want to make sure that we are not being fooled so now with your info, we feel alright with the fare anyhow.
Yes, we're staying at the Arizona untill Christmas day. After dozens of visits to the region (mainly Phuket), we want to get into something new and check out Subic before we're heading to Boracay and later back to Phuket again.
Mattrick, do you mean the hotel can send ladies to the airport to give us company during the ride back to Barretto ? That's would be nice add to start off our holidays.
Again, thanks for the replies and we can't wait to dive into the Subic nights...

[QUOTE=Asianatic]Mattrick, do you mean the hotel can send ladies to the airport to give us company during the ride back to Barretto ?[/QUOTE]
Yes thats exactly what I mean! But I believe you will have to pay their BF. Either way I'm sure you will enjoy this up and coming destination which now boasts close to 30 bars! Please file a FR upon your return!

Barrio Barretto now has "close to 30" gogo bars? It was closer to 3 when I was there in early 90s). Might have to take a look some time as the drive on the Expressway is so quick nowadays.