General Info

I need a flight from Saigon to Manila or even Clark on the 14th of December. Should I purchase the flight in Saigon or book it in advance. I know about Cebu Pacific, any other discount airlines fly this route?

Martin

[QUOTE=El Vagabundo]I need a flight from Saigon to Manila or even Clark on the 14th of December. Should I purchase the flight in Saigon or book it in advance. I know about Cebu Pacific, any other discount airlines fly this route?

Martin[/QUOTE]
I took Philippine Airlines (PAL) from Saigon to Manila in Sept for about $60. I have found it easier to book online with PAL then Cebu Pacific.

[url]http://www.philippineairlines.com/home/home.jsp[/url]

Robb

[QUOTE=Robbaf]I took Philippine Airlines (PAL) from Saigon to Manila in Sept for about $60. I have found it easier to book online with PAL then Cebu Pacific.

[url]http://www.philippineairlines.com/home/home.jsp[/url]

Robb[/QUOTE]Thanks for the info. I just checked Philippines Air and they only have flights once a week and the fare is $230. 00 one way. Hopefully I can find something on the day I need to travel and a little cheaper too. I will keep an eye on them!

Maybe it has sod all to do with The Philippines (or maybe it has)...

....but even when you are having a really, really bad day ...

...there is still somebody who wants to screw you:D.

[QUOTE=El Vagabundo]I need a flight from Saigon to Manila or even Clark on the 14th of December. Should I purchase the flight in Saigon or book it in advance. I know about Cebu Pacific, any other discount airlines fly this route?

Martin[/QUOTE]

Are you planning on not going back to Vietnam afterwards? If you are traveling to Vietnam and don't have a ticket leaving, some airlines may not let you fly in if you don't have a ticket out of there. Some airlines do check. Maybe you live there I don't know but if you don't, I'd make sure ahead of time that you don't need a outbound ticket before you arrive in Vietnam.

[QUOTE=Key Master]Are you planning on not going back to Vietnam afterwards? If you are traveling to Vietnam and don't have a ticket leaving, some airlines may not let you fly in if you don't have a ticket out of there. Some airlines do check.[/QUOTE]Good advice! At BKK CP refused to check me in for my flight to MNL because I didn't have a return ticket.

[QUOTE=Key Master]Are you planning on not going back to Vietnam afterwards? If you are traveling to Vietnam and don't have a ticket leaving, some airlines may not let you fly in if you don't have a ticket out of there. Some airlines do check. Maybe you live there I don't know but if you don't, I'd make sure ahead of time that you don't need a outbound ticket before you arrive in Vietnam.[/QUOTE]WOW, you bring up a very good point. I have a ticked going into Vietnam, then leaving from BKK 6 weeks later. I was just going to wing it once I get there. I did not think about Vietnam wanting to see an onward ticket out of Vietnam. United sold me the ticket and they consider it a round trip, however perhaps Vietnam Immigration my not. I think I will reserve a flight out of the country and print out the reservation just in case. Good point.

I think I also need some kind of Visa, I saw a company that has an on demand Visa that is waiting for you when you arrive. Do I really need that or can I just pay something when I enter and get in?

I live in Colombia and they are so sloppy and lazy here that I am very used to getting around most of this stuff. One time I was coming in and had used up all my days available on a tourist visa. I convinced the Immigration officer that he was counting the days wrong and he did not want to bother with getting a calendar so he just stamped my passport and off I went, Or perhaps I just know the system and am comfortable with it.

It is going to be a great adventure. I am really looking forward to it.

Thanks, Martin

You could take the (abt) 3 hour drive from Manila to Batangas, then 45 minutes of ride with a banca to Puerto Galera/Sabang where you can have your dirty women... and rent a driver and a Jeep(ney) to take you out in to the forrests of Mindoro (an island southwest of Luzon) where you can experience the ancient life of the "real" pinoys, and ask them to take down a coconut for you to enjoy.


[QUOTE=Spanish Main]I would like to spend a week in the rainforest and two weeks on an idillic beach with palm trees, fresh coconuts and dirty women.

Can one of you experts suggest the best locations. I want to go in January.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=El Vagabundo]

I think I also need some kind of Visa, I saw a company that has an on demand Visa that is waiting for you when you arrive. Do I really need that or can I just pay something when I enter and get in?[/QUOTE]You need a visa for Vietnam. It is misleading when you read that you can get an "on-entry" visa in the travel pages.

What it means is that you have to pre-arrange the visa before you go and you get a serial number to quote when you arrive.

There are companies who can assit you with arranging this type of visa. I think it is safer to go to your local Vietnam Embassy and get a visa before you leave.

If you rock up without any pre-planned visa you will be denied entry.

I'll be coming next month for the first time and I'll be staying in Manila for a while then I want to head out for some mongering in another part of the country. Any ideas for a first timer to the country?

I was thinking of Cebu but all I have now is a ticket in and out of Manila so I'm open to go any where else in the country.

Thanks

[QUOTE=Spanish Main]I would like to spend a week in the rainforest and two weeks on an idillic beach with palm trees, fresh coconuts and dirty women.
[/QUOTE]


I'm afraid my query is a bit similar. My interest in the Philippines is mostly the idea of a gorgeous, uncrowded beach. Where the hassle reaching it is nominal. It's part of a long trip for me and, although it's nice to have 'dirty women' on tap so to speak, I like that the same way as it's nice to have fresh bottled water available (rather than as a primary purpose). Angeles City is obviously a curiosity not to be missed, and the airport is handy to fly out of. But can I find a nice expanse of sand, maybe a beach hut, and not have to shell out a fortune or have brain overload working out how to get there? Sorry to be boring.

Which sim card is better to have: smart or globe?

[QUOTE=Amjeck]Which sim card is better to have: smart or globe?[/QUOTE]


Its best to get the same network as the people you are phoning. if you havent got someone in particular but will be looking for various girls when you re there, my estmate would be that SMART + affiliates have a 50% market share, Globe Plus affiliates have a 30% market shre and Others 20%. So go with Smart.

[QUOTE=GregLondon]Its best to get the same network as the people you are phoning. if you havent got someone in particular but will be looking for various girls when you re there, my estmate would be that SMART + affiliates have a 50% market share, Globe Plus affiliates have a 30% market shre and Others 20%. So go with Smart.[/QUOTE]

if you are there for any length of time or have a dual sim card phomne or can geta very cheap second phone it may even make sense to get both Smart and Globe

Does anyone know or have experience on setting broadband internet access for local girl? I am looking for most economical solution as I would have to (pre-)pay for it. It can be wired or wireless. Probably wireless USB modem is more practical in this case. I have googled on matter and found three providers: Sun Cellular, Smart (Bro) and Globe (Tattoo). She would be mostly using it in her province - Balanga City, Bataan, in Central Luzon.