Angeles City

[QUOTE=Laylow3]Any new updates on Angeles City, guys? I will be in the Philippines for roughly about 6-7 weeks in different locations. Mostly I will be in Olongapo at a friend's house but I will spend some time in Ilocos Norte and of course Manila and Angeles city. This isn't my first time to the P.I. (I was there for almost 4 weeks last Christmas) so I'm not a newbie anymore but I'm just wondering what is "going rate" now and where are the best bars nowadays? ('best' meaning cheapest for the cutest girls) Last year, I went to Geckos and Agasya consistently but I don't remember going to any other bars much.

Also, I plan on visiting Thailand (Phuket/Bangkok) for the first time. Maybe China.[/QUOTE]
Why Phuket? Pattaya is better and cheaper.

This is my own route in Feb Bangkok-Angeles-Manila-Pattaya-Bangkok.

PB

[QUOTE=Ekspat]But for first time 3 days is fine, since most people love or hate the place.[/QUOTE]Love or hate, for sure.

It's funny though -- I gave AC a miss for about ten years after the base closed. Came back around 2002, had an awful first couple days. I was ready to leave except some friends were arriving, so I stuck around. And sure enough, within a few more days I was having so much fun I could have stayed for months.

It can take some time to adjust to the whole AC scene. It's just so unlike anywhere else.

[QUOTE=Bkktg]Hi,

I'm looking for a good deal for a 1-month stay and didn't find too much info here. If you have any recommendations, highly appreciated.

So far I found

Hotel Tiger about 25k (posted here)
Welcome Inn 28k
Donald Paul Apartelle 30k

I'd prefer something around 20k with wifi/LAN.

Thanks for your help.[/QUOTE]
The Sun Moon hotel is under 20k a month and they advertise Wi/Fi. I cannot recommend them as I never stayed there, but I checked out their rooms and they were small and basic. Not sure if this is what you'd be looking for.

FYI, the hotel is located in the area of Eruptions Bar and Gentlemens Club.

[QUOTE=Laylow3]Any new updates on Angeles City, guys? [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Matius]
While the tourists have yet to come in any signficant numbers to Angeles City, this year. The bars are full of girls, with their coming back from the provinces and their extended vacation. Bars are running specials throughout Angeles with free food, extended happy hour prices, door prizes, etc. Understand even the hotels are running specials or promotions. If one can't find a girl in this town, then they must already be dead.

Shooters had a huge line up of girls the other night, a high number met my expectations. The club has a number of VIP rooms, only 700 p for a couple of hours with the girl/s of your choice. Rooms are better than most hotels.

Gentleman's club was a disappointment, but just below it, Dr. Holmes (a very small bar) had its stage full of girls with some stunners. Eruption is always good and Cherry's had a good lineup.

Seemed like every bar I went to had like 10 girls or more to every customer. In most, I found the girls very eager to please. Clear they spent all their Christmas money and needed to replenish the mattress. [/QUOTE]

Posted this a couple of days ago in this forum. If you only spent your time in two bars then you missed most of Angeles, and sounds like your time was spent on Fields, instead of trying any of the perimeter road bars. Gecko's still does a good business, one of the few Fields bars that can say such during this tourist drought. In the past few days, nothing much has changed, very few tourists and most of the bars are quite, but many many many girls. Specials being run all over town with many bars just trying to capture their overhead (so it appears). One Fields bar (can't remember the name) was offerring two drinks for the price of one, but that deal just about puts them in line with everyday pricing at the Perimeter road bars.

Your search for the cutiest and cheapest girl is a little hard to reply. Pricing on Fields for a Barfine is 1300 to 3000 peso, guess which girls are more expensive. On Perimeter road its 1200 peso, with the exception of the new bar Ponytails. Lady drinks are about 150 in most bars on Fields, plus or minus a few peso. Lady drinks on Perimeter are 100 to 120. Local drinks, including SML for the customer are 50 to 60 peso on Perimeter, and with some exceptions such as the Body Shop, fields pricing is around 85 peso for the same. But as stated above, many bars on Fields are offerring discounts, special happy hours and promotions to entice some customers in their door.

[QUOTE=Matius]Posted this a couple of days ago in this forum. If you only spent your time in two bars then you missed most of Angeles, and sounds like your time was spent on Fields, instead of trying any of the perimeter road bars. Gecko's still does a good business, one of the few Fields bars that can say such during this tourist drought. In the past few days, nothing much has changed, very few tourists and most of the bars are quite, but many many many girls. Specials being run all over town with many bars just trying to capture their overhead (so it appears). One Fields bar (can't remember the name) was offerring two drinks for the price of one, but that deal just about puts them in line with everyday pricing at the Perimeter road bars.

Your search for the cutiest and cheapest girl is a little hard to reply. Pricing on Fields for a Barfine is 1300 to 3000 peso, guess which girls are more expensive. On Perimeter road its 1200 peso, with the exception of the new bar Ponytails. Lady drinks are about 150 in most bars on Fields, plus or minus a few peso. Lady drinks on Perimeter are 100 to 120. Local drinks, including SML for the customer are 50 to 60 peso on Perimeter, and with some exceptions such as the Body Shop, fields pricing is around 85 peso for the same. But as stated above, many bars on Fields are offerring discounts, special happy hours and promotions to entice some customers in their door.[/QUOTE]
The downsides to Perimeter (for a visitor as opposed to a resident) are as follows:

1) You have to take a trike. I effing HATE trikes; I am too tall to ride one comfortably--and I'm not even absurdly tall (6 feet even). Same applies to jeepneys. Biggest turnoff for me. And if you're taking trikes, you're eating into the money you're saving on drinks, especially if you take multiple trikes--say Fields to Candy Bar, Candy Bar to Honeyko's, Honeyko's to Roadie's, Roadie's to Stargate, Stargate to Fields. You can walk most of that during daylight, but I wouldn't recommend it after dark.

2) Sure, Perimeter's regular prices are about the same as Fields happy hour prices, but happy hours happen quite frequently. Voodoo and Dollhouse (ugh) are happy hour literally 50% of the time, 6am to 6pm. When they stop, Roadhouse starts. When Roadhouse stops, Valhalla starts. And on and on.

3) You need to do your barhops early on Perimeter. You can't start at 8pm. That's about 6 hours too late. I went to Eruption once at 8pm...dead. Very few girls, and no GREAT girls. The one hot one left I assumed was on menstruation (I had a barfine already, so I didn't bother to ask). If there's a Perimeter bar that's a great time at 8-10pm I'd love to hear about it. On top of the previously mentioned transportation issue, this is the other decision maker for me. Afternoon barhop? Perimeter is great. Evening barhop? I can't imagine heading out there.

4) Some of the bars are very small, and it doesn't take many customers to become crowded. Now I love small bars and prefer them very very much, but as mentioned above, the residents frequent these bars, and they can take over a bar quite quickly. Happens frequently at Honeyko's and Matrix Brawn. I went into MB for a "good time" last trip. The backroom door was closed, and 3 other guys were in the bar. I didn't even bother to ask if they were waiting for their turns, I just moved on.

I don't mean to slag Perimeter bars; I always have great times there. I do a barhop there at least once per trip if not twice. But what you pay the extra money for on Fields is convenience. It's why a gallon of milk costs more at 7-11 than at your grocery store. With my preferences and activities, I figure a Fields barhop costs me at most $10 or $15 more than a Perimeter barhop. An extra dollar per drink (lady or customer), and an extra $3 for the barfine? I can live with that.

@Matius/Rob - That is great that there is very few tourists there. Does that mean I will have many opportunities to choose and pick very attractive stunners since there won't be any competition to go against? :D

I'm thinking I will need about $500 for my entire time there in the Philippines. I will be staying at my friend's house so food and lodging will be free. The only money I will be spending is on girls if I can't get any for free. But like I said, my friend is a resident of the Philippines and he lives in Olongapo. Unless he can get me many different girls for free or cheap then I will probably BF a different girl everyday. So, I think $500 is enough (I don't drink). Heck I might even be able to get by on much cheaper than that. I know on my last trip there, I barfined a girl but then after that I just got her number and went hung out for a couple of days for 'free'. (daily sex included) I just had to feed her. I've heard of guys just skipping the BF altogether and just getting the girls' numbers and meeting them at their place after the girl finishes work. making it even cheaper... i'll see how it goes.

I'll probably avoid Perimeter since it seems like an unnecessary extra but I do want to try blow row at least once since it is close to Fields and this time I'll try a lot of bars instead of only two.

There is now a new bus service available. From Swagman Travel with pick-up and drop-off service in Angeles

Angeles – Manila – Angeles: 3 times daily

Costs: 600 PHP

Takes 2 hours

Angeles – Subic – Angeles: once each Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Have not used the service

Details see jpg

Scans of the latest Angeles map with all the bars and clubs.

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]The downsides to Perimeter (for a visitor as opposed to a resident) are as follows:

3) You need to do your barhops early on Perimeter. You can't start at 8pm. That's about 6 hours too late. I went to Eruption once at 8pm...dead. Very few girls, and no GREAT girls. The one hot one left I assumed was on menstruation (I had a barfine already, so I didn't bother to ask). If there's a Perimeter bar that's a great time at 8-10pm I'd love to hear about it. On top of the previously mentioned transportation issue, this is the other decision maker for me. Afternoon barhop? Perimeter is great. Evening barhop? I can't imagine heading out there.
[/QUOTE]

Please correct me if I am wrong... To my recollection (deep) Perimeter bars are opened earlier already daytime but they also close earlier - most closed 1am?

[QUOTE=Dars Veider]There is now a new bus service available. From Swagman Travel with pick-up and drop-off service in Angeles[/QUOTE]
Nothing new about Swagman bus service to AC although their airport service is newly advertised. About a year ago I think I paid 300 php to the airport in a nice new van. Has anybody used the airport service lately?
[QUOTE=White Whale]To my recollection (deep) Perimeter bars are opened earlier already daytime but they also close earlier - most closed 1am?[/QUOTE]
You are correct sir!

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]The downsides to Perimeter (for a visitor as opposed to a resident) are as follows:

1) You have to take a trike. I effing HATE trikes; I am too tall to ride one comfortably--[/QUOTE]
Returned to AC back in November after over a year absence and stayed at Clarkton Hotel. Everything was excellent about the suite I was assigned. Was also very satisfied with the pool, food and internet connection. You can walk to many of the Perimeter bars but to my surprise Clarkton had free shuttle service to Fields. Leaving every half hour in a Toyota van, they drop you at a their store front waiting area across from all the bars. It ran very late I believe untill 3:00 am; very conveinant!

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow] I do a barhop there at least once per trip if not twice. [/quote]
I don't get it. Why once or twice only?
I usually barhop there every day. After lunch I go for ST bringing back one or two girls in my room for a couple of hours, then let them go and some rest, 7-8pm then dinner and afterwards partying in Fields and picking up a nice, warm pillow for the night. :D
[quote]With my preferences and activities, I figure a Fields barhop costs me at most $10 or $15 more than a Perimeter barhop. An extra dollar per drink (lady or customer), and an extra $3 for the barfine? I can live with that.[/QUOTE]
Me too. When I'm on holiday I don't mind about some bucks.

Nice weekend to all!
Cheers!

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]The downsides to Perimeter (for a visitor as opposed to a resident) are as follows:.[/QUOTE]

Number one rule of an experienced tourist is to follow the locals for the best value for money. True for the ski slopes in Europe, as it is true for the entertainment in Angeles.

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]1) You have to take a trike. I effing HATE trikes; I am too tall to ride one comfortably--and I'm not even absurdly tall (6 feet even). Same applies to jeepneys. Biggest turnoff for me. And if you're taking trikes, you're eating into the money you're saving on drinks, especially if you take multiple trikes--say Fields to Candy Bar, Candy Bar to Honeyko's, Honeyko's to Roadie's, Roadie's to Stargate, Stargate to Fields. You can walk most of that during daylight, but I wouldn't recommend it after dark..[/QUOTE]

The Perimeter road district is much more spread out than Fields and the bars suggested above are one end of Perimeter to the other. One can walk from Pony tails, to Stampede, to Cherry's bar, to Brass Knobb, to Eruption, to Dr. Holmes, to Gentlemen's club, to Touch of Class, to Emotions, all in about five minutes if in reasonable health. I don't know all the bars in this area, but one can walk from Sunshine bar, to Bare Assets, to Candy Bar, to Bada Bing, in two minutes. Same for Foxy Bar, to Nasty Duck, to Fire and Ice, to Sea Dreams, to Midnight Rock, to Happy Rock, and again I've probably omitted more bars in that area. But agree Fields is much more concentrated.

One can also take a Jeepney, which is bigger and less costly, a trike just provides the most direct transportation without stops.

I walk on a regular basis at night in the Perimeter road district. Outside of over a year old report about a guy getting killed for messing with a Filipino's girlfriend, I've not heard of any victimization of tourists on Perimeter at night. And if you are drunk and not in a good state, most Perimeter road bar owners will help ensure you get home in a good condition, find the bar owner in many Fields bars--they are never there.

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]2) Sure, Perimeter's regular prices are about the same as Fields happy hour prices, but happy hours happen quite frequently. Voodoo and Dollhouse (ugh) are happy hour literally 50% of the time, 6am to 6pm. When they stop, Roadhouse starts. When Roadhouse stops, Valhalla starts. And on and on..[/QUOTE]

And Perimeter Road Happy Hour prices are lower than Fields Happy hour prices, and you don't have to search from bar to bar on Perimeter trying to find that reasonable price. And Perimeter road offers Happy hour from about 2 (some even earlier) to seven or eight PM. And if one is cost concious as many tourists are, why pay a $1 more for the same brand of beer, to see the same quality of girls and the same (in many cases) quality of bar venue.

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]3) You need to do your barhops early on Perimeter. You can't start at 8pm. That's about 6 hours too late. I went to Eruption once at 8pm...dead. Very few girls, and no GREAT girls. The one hot one left I assumed was on menstruation (I had a barfine already, so I didn't bother to ask). If there's a Perimeter bar that's a great time at 8-10pm I'd love to hear about it. On top of the previously mentioned transportation issue, this is the other decision maker for me. Afternoon barhop? Perimeter is great. Evening barhop? I can't imagine heading out there..[/QUOTE]

This is dated information and part of urban legend. Perimeter road has a number of morning and afternoon bars, such as Cherry's and Honeyko (both bars have some real stunners on their stage). Nasty Duck on Perimeter also has some real stunners. Candy Bar goes all night, as does Eruption Bar, the later closes at midnight and last time I was in there (yesterday) they had over 30 girls on stage, most were new in the last couple of months, and some real stunners. Saw two guys take out six bar fines at 9 PM. Stampede also goes till midnight. And after an evening of partying, come the midnight hour, there is always the 50 peso ($1 plus) trike ride or even less by Jeepney to Fields for bars that stay open till 3 am. Or walk, depending on where you are at, the "Fields" aveneu bars start around Insomnia, whiich is only a couple of blocks down from arguably the best hotel in Angeles (The ABC Hotel). The best of both worlds.

And this might make sense also, many guys, by midnight, have found their partner/s for the evening and now seek a little rest and relaxation.

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]4) Some of the bars are very small, and it doesn't take many customers to become crowded. Now I love small bars and prefer them very very much, but as mentioned above, the residents frequent these bars, and they can take over a bar quite quickly. Happens frequently at Honeyko's and Matrix Brawn. I went into MB for a "good time" last trip. The backroom door was closed, and 3 other guys were in the bar. I didn't even bother to ask if they were waiting for their turns, I just moved on..[/QUOTE]

Oh, ok you site Honeyko's and Matrix Brawn as examples, give me a break, these are hole in the wall bars that have not had a coat of paint in years. And by the way, Honeyko's is very popular due to the crazy things that happen when the owner gets the girls going, I love this bar. Matrix Brawn is popular as being the Perimeter road equivalent (as is Rio, Nifty's and few others) of blow row on Fields. The other bars you mention on Fields (above) with the exception of the Dollhouse bars, are equally hole in the wall bars, that more fit the stereotype you paint of the Perimeter road bars. And as far as the back rooms, you have any idea how many bars, both on Fields and Perimeter road that have short time rooms, waiting turns could be said about any number of venues in both districts.

Then let's talk about some of these hole in the wall Perimeter bars. Displays of nudity are illegal in Angeles City. I won't mention the bars in this forum, but on Fields, the best you will get is some body paint and maybe see thru top. There are venues on Perimeter, well known that close the doors, that anything can happen for a few peso. Lesbian, blowjob on the couch, partial to full nudity, boom boom in the corner. Not my thing per se, but you won't find that on Fields, except for blow row.

The residents take over the bars: What does that mean, except to say the people that live here, day in and day out, know the best bars to go to for fun and value. You make it sound like a bunch of vagrants moving from one crack ***** to another. A vast number of girls on Perimeter road, have worked at one time on Fields, and the locals know this and refused to pay a 3000 peso bar fine last week for the same girl that now costs 1200 peso on Perimeter this week. And if you want to talk about Dollhouse, look at the pricing of their girls on Fields, then they move the very same girls to Pony Tails on Perimeter, the only thing that changes is the barfine price.

[QUOTE=Rob Woodrow]I don't mean to slag Perimeter bars; I always have great times there. I do a barhop there at least once per trip if not twice. But what you pay the extra money for on Fields is convenience. It's why a gallon of milk costs more at 7-11 than at your grocery store. With my preferences and activities, I figure a Fields barhop costs me at most $10 or $15 more than a Perimeter barhop. An extra dollar per drink (lady or customer), and an extra $3 for the barfine? I can live with that.[/QUOTE]

And I make no excuses for being partial to Perimeter road, being a local resident, and more than enough money to do any bar in any district. But I don't do my grocery shopping at 7-11, and think you even do the Fields bars a dis-service by that comparison.

The only way a Fields bar hop costs you only $10 to $15 more than a Perimeter road bar is if you frequent the small bars on Fields (which are similar in quality to Perimeter road small bars), you don't buy volumes of lady drinks or bar fines, and you attend only during their happy hours or special promotions. You don't bar fine the show girls which cost upwards of 3000 and will expect 1 to 2,000 in tip afterward. In fact don't go to the show bars except to nurse your personal drink and that of your girlfriend.

I think any tourist misses a great opportunity if they don't go to the Fields bars. Some have great shows. The big bars (they are more expensive than being suggested here) have a huge number of girls. There is hardly a week that goes by that I don't go to at least one Fields bar, but often guys are on a budget and best value for money is on Perimeter, as a general statement about a district. There is plenty of entertainment through most of the day and into the night, and plenty of time to do both Perimeter and Fields if you go from sunrise to sunrise.

@Matius - excellent write up. You just convinced me to switch to Perimeter bars this time especially since you are sure that it is safe to walk around at night. Safety is a major concern of mine right behind being ultra frugal. Also, you stated there are a good number of stunners at the Perimeter bars which is great since another poster here said that there aren't many tourists in Angeles City. I speak Tagalog and Ilocano so hopefully I should blend right in with the locals. So I shouldn't pay anything over 1200 pesos on Perimeter even for the stunners, right? but for girls that aren't stunners, I should pay maybe 500-600 pesos (1200 for stunners) or less you think since I can pass as filipino? and tipping is voluntary also, right?

Now, about this anything goes in Perimeter bars stuff. I am very much an exhibitionist so that is right up my alley. When I am in the Perimeter bars should I just go for it or should I give the girls a couple of pesos before I do the deed in front of everyone in the bar(s)? And how much pesos should I give her? Does this depend on if I only want boom boom in the bar in front of everyone or if I plan on taking her with me also? Although I could probably get away with boom boom in the bar for cheap, get her number and then meet up with her after she gets off.... (just a thought)

@Dars Veider - does that map you posted include the bars on Perimeter or only on Fields?

So, where is Perimeter anyway. I have found two maps online. Here is one of Fields:
[url]http://www.acmap.com/fields_complete.asp[/url]

I know the above map well. I recognize a lot of the places there. so I have no problem with Fields. Here is a map of Perimeter:
[url]http://www.acmap.com/map.asp?map=p5[/url]

I do not know that area. I have been looking at other maps and I think that in order to get to Perimeter from Fields you take a jeepney from the terminal that is close to the Chow King. With the Chow king in FRONT of you, you take a jeepney heading to your RIGHT. You just keep going straight until you see some bars. From the way it looks on the map if you are young like I am then you can actually walk from Fields to the Perimeter bars. From one end to the other. I'm in the military so long hikes are nothing for me. I think I will probably walk from one end to the other daily. That way I'll get my PT in for the day also. But I'll take the jeepney after I choose which girls I'll be taking home. :D

[QUOTE=Laylow3]@Matius/Rob - That is great that there is very few tourists there. Does that mean I will have many opportunities to choose and pick very attractive stunners since there won't be any competition to go against? :D[/QUOTE]
"It depends." I said few tourists; I didn't say few PEOPLE. Residents flock to the Perimeter bars. But still, I found a hottie at Nifty's of all places last trip. I didn't barfine her, though, and I'm still kicking myself for it. But if you're heading to Perimeter for more stunners you're heading there for the wrong reason. I'm not saying there aren't any; I'm saying there aren't any in greater numbers. When I go, I go for variety or for the spécialité de la maison.

@Matius: I fear you may have taken my post in a way I didn't intend. I really meant no disrespect to residents at all. In fact, I envy them, not to mention the fact that I consider some of them friends. My comment about residents taking over bars was an observation, not a complaint. Everyone is free to choose what they want in my book! A large number of customers (regardless of origin) in a small bar tends to crowd the bar--that's all I meant. My larger point is that there are reasons that residents tend to visit Perimeter, and tourists tend to visit Fields.

Sure, Emotions isn't far out, but the distance from Kokomo's to Emotions is about 1/4 the distance from Kokomo's to the LIA/Wee George's/Roadie's complex.

I'm glad to hear that Candy Bar goes all night. I wrote before that Eruption was dead at 8pm but I meant Emotions (one of those bars should really change its name). Maybe it was an off-night. I've been in Eruption before, though, when it would have been cheaper to barfine the entire stage than to ring the bell (residents taking over, again). And even if Candy Bar is happening, can you really recommend starting a Perimeter barhop at 8pm to a guy who only has one week in town? And I don't mean Checkpoint bars like Cherry's, I mean real Perimeter bars. I'm talking about starting at LIA at 8pm and working your way east.

I stand by my $15 dollar figure. $1 per drink, on average (50 pesos versus 95 pesos or 100 LD versus 150 LD), $3 per barfine on average (1200 pesos versus 1350 pesos). No, I don't pay 3000, ever. $15 difference amounts to two barfines and three rounds of drinks for all three of us. Or one barfine and six rounds of drinks for both of us. It's usually more like one barfine, 2-3 rounds of drinks for both of us, and 5-6 for only me while I'm hunting--which works out to at most $12 extra. And it's frequently less than that if I hit happy hour bars.

At no point did I ever deny that Perimeter bars are fun. They are quite fun. And yes, they're cheaper! One time (in a bar that will remain nameless) I had some girls asking for LD's. I told them I would buy drinks for the ones with kalbo pek-peks--and they had to show me. That cost me 600 pesos but you can't get that in most Fields bars.

But now I am going to tease you a little bit: I am amused that you keep talking about how much cheaper Perimeter is than Fields, but you plug ABC Hotel, which I think is the largest waste of money in town. A tourist could barfine one of those 3000 peso showgirls every day for the amount he'd save by staying at another hotel.

Anyway, it's all good. I didn't intend to flame the residents. I'll probably be in town next week. If you'd like to prove me wrong, guide me on a barhop! But no way will I start at LIA at 8.