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Hi,

In Phili for 1st time in Feb. 1 night in Manila then to Angeles. Should I go to Pasay or Ermita or Makati?

Swagman hotel okay? Il Tinios ok?

Thanks

James

[QUOTE=Scotian]In Phili for 1st time in Feb. 1 night in Manila then to Angeles. Should I go to Pasay or Ermita or Makati?

Swagman hotel okay?[/QUOTE]
Why not stay at Swagman, only a few blocks from the world famous LA Cafe. Then catch "Fly the bus" to AC in the morning.

I'm headed to the Philippines in March and have decided to try some new area's verses just hanging out in Manila and Angeles. A short stay in Manila followed by a bus/ferry ride to Puerto Galera, which has no ATM's, and then on to Barrio Barretto. My question is, are ATM's available in Barrio Barretto? And if not, will I be able to get a cash advance on my debit/credit card like you can at the Western Union in Puerto Galera? Also, what other area's near Barrio Barretto are good places to visit?

Always on the Quest

Yella Man

[QUOTE=Yella Man]I'm headed to the Philippines in March and have decided to try some new area's verses just hanging out in Manila and Angeles. A short stay in Manila followed by a bus/ferry ride to Puerto Galera, which has no ATM's, and then on to Barrio Barretto. My question is, are ATM's available in Barrio Barretto? And if not, will I be able to get a cash advance on my debit/credit card like you can at the Western Union in Puerto Galera? Also, what other area's near Barrio Barretto are good places to visit?

Always on the Quest

Yella Man[/QUOTE]



I have never been to Barrio Barreta, so I can't answer the question re atms, however, as you may or may not be aware, you can get a cash advance IN PERSON for up to P50K at any Equitable PCI bank, all you need is your passport, make a few copies and your credit card, they like master charge.
Also BPI is the best ATM to use, they take Master charge or visa and I've used it in some really out of the way places in Mindanao.

You can check on bank locations for both PCI and BPI by pulling up their websites. I would imagine there is one of both in Puerto Galera. Barring that, I would contact the hotel you plan to stay at, I know some of the more upscale places will do a cash advance (charge hell out you for it too).



good luck


Spamhog

Unfortunatly I'm a Philippines newbee.

I'm flying into Cebu from HK in mid March and then heading to EL Nido, Northern Palwan before flying south to Puerto Princesa. Finally ending up in Manila.

Please tell me I'm wrong, but I am assuming that there is no action on Palawan

I need help in a couple of areas:-

1/ How long should it take to get from the PAL domestic to the charter airline ITI hanger? Is the 2 hours I have currently schedualed enough. It comes down to how late could the PAL flight be.

2/ Has anyone any expreience of Seair as a carrier?

3/ And what apears to be a common problem now days, is there an ATM in Puerto Princesa?

I am greatly looking foward to getting to the Philippines, a trip several years overdue.

Thanks

Mi Foot - well it was last time I looked.

I've never been to Palawan, but it is well known that you should bring a girl with you. I imagine if you ask a tricycle driver, or maybe even the staff at the hotel, something will turn up.

I flew SEair to Borocay and I was very happy with them. I've heard some bad things about the other small airline...but that was about two years ago.

I believe SEair is owned by a guy named Dornier and the company flys Dornier planes (named after his grand dad). I suspect the name gives him an extra incentive to make sure a plane doesn't fall out of the sky.

X



[QUOTE=Mi Foot]Unfortunatly I'm a Philippines newbee.

I'm flying into Cebu from HK in mid March and then heading to EL Nido, Northern Palwan before flying south to Puerto Princesa. Finally ending up in Manila.

Please tell me I'm wrong, but I am assuming that there is no action on Palawan

I need help in a couple of areas:-

1/ How long should it take to get from the PAL domestic to the charter airline ITI hanger? Is the 2 hours I have currently schedualed enough. It comes down to how late could the PAL flight be.

2/ Has anyone any expreience of Seair as a carrier?

3.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=X Man]I've never been to Palawan, but it is well known that you should bring a girl with you. I imagine if you ask a tricycle driver, or maybe even the staff at the hotel, something will turn up.

I flew SEair to Borocay and I was very happy with them. I've heard some bad things about the other small airline...but that was about two years ago.

I believe SEair is owned by a guy named Dornier and the company flys Dornier planes (named after his grand dad). I suspect the name gives him an extra incentive to make sure a plane doesn't fall out of the sky.

X[/QUOTE]I checked them out against the air safty sites and found nothing, but that doesn't account for actual service only that they don't crash or report failures.

Regards

Mi Foot

PS - Strange I thought that ITI was owned by Germans and Seair was owned by a US/Australian group.

[QUOTE=Mi Foot]Unfortunatly I'm a Philippines newbee.

I'm flying into Cebu from HK in mid March and then heading to EL Nido, Northern Palwan before flying south to Puerto Princesa. Finally ending up in Manila.

Please tell me I'm wrong, but I am assuming that there is no action on Palawan

I need help in a couple of areas:-

1/ How long should it take to get from the PAL domestic to the charter airline ITI hanger? Is the 2 hours I have currently schedualed enough. It comes down to how late could the PAL flight be.

2/ Has anyone any expreience of Seair as a carrier?

3/ And what apears to be a common problem now days, is there an ATM in Puerto Princesa?

I am greatly looking foward to getting to the Philippines, a trip several years overdue.

Thanks

Mi Foot - well it was last time I looked.[/QUOTE]


First, lemme say if you EVER have to be on time, make a connection etc, then forget PAL, their nickname (predictibly always late) is an apt one.
I have flown SEAIR several times, they use "prop jobs" but are capable of
water landing in an emergency, note that coz most of the time in this country your flying over water. Never a problem with them. Also look into the expanded service of Cebu air. I've also flown in to Cebu from HK and used Cebu air, only prob is you arrive in the wee hours.

I have yet to visit Palawan, dont know why anyone would want to unless it is for the diving and there is plenty of diving elsewhere with mongering in reach, reason I say this is that I hear different things from different guys. Yeah you can score ANYWHERE in the phils but it is best to BYO to certain areas.

You can probably find a willing lady in Cebu to be your personal guide to Palawan.


regards


Spamhog


Spamhog

[QUOTE=Yella Man]I'm headed to the Philippines in March and have decided to try some new area's verses just hanging out in Manila and Angeles. A short stay in Manila followed by a bus/ferry ride to Puerto Galera, which has no ATM's, and then on to Barrio Barretto. My question is, are ATM's available in Barrio Barretto? And if not, will I be able to get a cash advance on my debit/credit card like you can at the Western Union in Puerto Galera? Also, what other area's near Barrio Barretto are good places to visit?

Always on the Quest

Yella Man[/QUOTE]
There are no banks in B.BARETTO you can get cash on the base or in Olongapo in the city.It's a 2 jeep ride from the barrio or a 15 minute ride by taxi.Much safer by taxi for 300-p.for an hour.

B.B...

To other BM's - notice EVA is offering one way airfares 300US for early Feb travel!

The $300us is to western destinations (Vancouver, Seattle & LA)

[QUOTE=Spam Hog]First, lemme say if you EVER have to be on time, make a connection etc, then forget PAL, their nickname (predictibly always late) is an apt one.

I have flown SEAIR several times, they use "prop jobs" but are capable of
water landing in an emergency, note that coz most of the time in this country your flying over water. Never a problem with them. Also look into the expanded service of Cebu air. I've also flown in to Cebu from HK and used Cebu air, only prob is you arrive in the wee hours.

I have yet to visit Palawan, dont know why anyone would want to unless it is for the diving and there is plenty of diving elsewhere with mongering in reach, reason I say this is that I hear different things from different guys. Yeah you can score ANYWHERE in the phils but it is best to BYO to certain areas.

You can probably find a willing lady in Cebu to be your personal guide to Palawan.

Regards

Spamhog[/QUOTE]So I should get the earlier flight and be stuck with the 4 hours between.

There are bars close to the airport arn't there?

Are any open at 10..00 anyway?

Its got to be better than 12 hours overnight in BBK between flights!

The problem with being a travel photographer is that occasionally I get a job that takes me to some out of the way place, besides if I keep to mongering areas only one of my staff may get an idear that I plan my trips around those type of places (several of my friends assume it anyway).

Regards

Mi Foot

Thanks for the info Spam Hog and BB. It gives me an idea of how much cash to carry from one jaunt to the next.

Always on the Quest

Yella Man

evening gents, planning a trip to MNL but I'm on a students budget and need to maximize my funds to fun. I know this may be a total nubie question but I've searched and have not seen anyone make post about courier flights to MNL. If anyone has experience with a courier agent or any info on RT tickets well below 1K (around spring break), it would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to flame the nubie if desired.

ACE

Just wondering is it's more advisable for me to buy my air ticket to Bangkok from Manila in Manila or here in California before I go. I heard that the tickets are cheaper around Asia if you buy it in Asia. If not then I will just get it here. There's a PAL fare of $218 RT from Manila. Dates are in early March. Thanks for your help.

I dont know what would be wrong with a 12 hr layover in the City of Angels, always something open in that place, massage, blow job bar etc. but Manila is different, first off, your two hour layover is gonna shrink real fast even IF your flight is on time, (a rare occassion) remember you got to go through customs etc, somebody correct me if Im wrong but I beleive they removed all the luggage storage facilities in NAIA and PAL, worried about bombs, so you'd have to drag whatever you have along you. Anyway not much open in Manila at 10 am, might find a massage parlor, most bars are open later, but you would be rushed, traffic is hell getting back and forth. Also remember there are 3 aiports in Manila, all close to each other, if you are using the the domestic one (Cebu Air) is a 10 minute taxi ride away but now they have a shuttle, use it. So your 4 hours is a good safe bet IMHO.

Good luck


Spamhog