Manila

[QUOTE=Primusduvel]Hey guys, bewarw when you are staying here tonight I took a taxi to a club in Tomas Morato and when I arrive there after walking 5 minutes I was aproached by a guy that claim to know me from my hotel and claim he work there and also knew my name and room number! Been all staff a little look alike I said sure and he went with me to this club after that he said he knew this great place in Roxas blvd BAD mistake! The palce sucks! Two beers after I ask for the check 15, 000 PESOS! I said no way! And said I will call the police after paying 2000 pesos still a rip off I walk away, this guy follow me and said to give him 8000 pesos I said NO! He start to get violent so I have to push him away and give him a nice hit in the face and took a taxi to retrieve! I went to the hotel and spoke with the manager and she said this was pretty common of course the police did shit so I change hotels and pretty much my travel plans! This really sucks be careful and trust no one! No one![/QUOTE]

Sorry you experienced that...one of the oldest tricks in the book. You got very lucky if you did get physical with the guy...thats a no no. Many times it will atract locals at which case youre fucked. Glad it worked out for you (sort of). Best way to avoid these "Im the guy from your hotel" scams is to simply ignore them. If they get in front of you, say excuse me, dont look at them, and start walking somewhere. Anywhere. They'll fall off your tail.

[QUOTE=D Cups]Thanks. What is the closest (walking distance) and reasonably-priced (~$50 USD) hotel near Havana, please?

I used to stay at Executive Plaza in Malate for LA Cafe but now that LAC is closed I have to conduct my interviews somewhere else hehehehe.

Much obliged and happy horndogging![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mackin]Could use the same info as D cups . Will be in Manila for one night in Sept. Was going to Executive Plaza but with LA closing need some options.
Thanks[/QUOTE]


Remember theres also G Point and Amazonia in Malate ;)

[QUOTE=Sxxxx]UN = United Nations Avenue?

Is Le Bistro off United Nations Avenue or off M H Del Pilar?

As you wanted to keep it a secret I pm'd you, but you dont have pm facility it seems.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]Yeah, on UN a block (or two?) off of Del Pillar going away from Roxas.

Next block from Pillar is Manibay?

Just walk on United Nations. It's right on the corner.

R

[QUOTE=Mackin]Could use the same info as D cups . Will be in Manila for one night in Sept. Was going to Executive Plaza but with LA closing need some options.
Thanks[/QUOTE]That's a common trick.

I once stayed in Executive plaza, and a guy who had been observing me and my friends had already figured out my name ..

And a day later, he shows up in front of me when I am heading out, and says "Hello Mr Kevin, I met you in Singapore .. " blah blah ..

I virtually vomited on him and ran inside and confronted the manager .. and the Manager calmed me down and said he had seen me wearing Singapore T shirts and the guy figured out my name when I was having smoke outside with some of my friends .. No way was the hotel involved.

Anyway, ever since, I don't entertain new friends, and if somebody persistatly follow me, I switch to plan B - head back to the hotel, and get the hotel taxi, pay a bit more, to get out of the vicinity.

I never has such problem staying in Rivera Mansion - next to Executive Plaza, as they don't allow strangers to hang around the entrance.

BTW, if you are in AC, some hotels like Savannah and Phoenix do pass a little note about being 'street wise .. ' this is the oldest trick in the book - almost everywhere in SEA - with Philippines being notorious due to the fact that they speak english ..

I got a similar story in Malaysia, but the guy was struggling to strike a conversation and I wisely didn't try to converse ..

If you want a simple, hassle free massage and sex go to MP in Cubao.

Cubao sauna- in street behind the sogo at corner of edsa and aurora, just get mrt.
400P at the counter for 1 hour massage, choose a number on the wall for the MPA (if you know a no. recommended by friend etc) or ask receptionist to choose.

Upstairs, take a shower and then go to that room no.

You then negotiate extra service with the MPA in the room, - usually 500-700p, don’t choose no. 96

Similar place is Happy Sauna on E Rodriguez. 1 block up edsa cnr edsa and aurora.
500p at counter, min 500p for extra while in the room.

[QUOTE=Primusduvel]Hey guys, bewarw when you are staying here tonight I took a taxi to a club in Tomas Morato and when I arrive there after walking 5 minutes I was aproached by a guy that claim to know me from my hotel and claim he work there and also knew my name and room number![/QUOTE]As my fellow posters have stated, this is a very common scam.

The others that can often happen is " hey I know you, I was the guy who drove you to your hotel from the airport recently"

The other one is " hey man, I like your shirt/shoes whatever. " anything to enable the guy to start a conversation with you and sell whatever BS hes selling that day.

Theres at least 4-6 guys who try "work" this scam in Glorietta.

Rule 1. Anything that sounds too good to be true is.

Rule 2. Anyone who talks to you with no reason is probably running a scam. Either do not reply, or call security if in a mall, or take your phone out your pocket and try and take a photo. You should see how quickly they scamper off.

[QUOTE=Primusduvel]Hey guys, bewarw when you are staying here tonight I took a taxi to a club in Tomas Morato and when I arrive there after walking 5 minutes I was aproached by a guy that claim to know me from my hotel and claim he work there and also knew my name and room number! [/QUOTE]

I had one of these encounters last week inside Robinson's Mall in Malate.
I knew he was a bullshitter because I have my own condo and haven't stayed in a Manila hotel for 10 years, so I had some fun with him, asking him which hotel and what was my name etc.
He was a clever bastard and had the clever answers so I could imagine him sucking in anybody who stopped to listen to him.
Best advice has already been given here - just keep walking; no eye contact and tell him to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off.

I had that exact same thing happen to me in Robinsons Mall in Malate two weeks ago. I was trying to find the cellular store that I was in the day before. Its a big place and easy to get turnned arround.

All of a sudden I heard some guy from accross the way say Hi and he approached me. I expected a con or him to ask for a hand out. He said yea I'm the door man at your hotel. I said what hotel? He replied with Palm Plaza which is where I was staying. So I believed him. He did not ask me for anything. I said I was looking for the cell store and did he know where it was?

He answered yes its over there. He started walking with me to the store. I said just point me in the right direction and he replied its ok its over here. I'm a sucker for a nice helpful person. LOL.

He went into the store with me and walked me up to the counter and tried to help me a little with the transaction. I shushed him up so I could negotiate a little. I then started to be on to him but he did not ask me for anything yet.

After I bought my few things he walked out with me and started to get too friendly and I told him so sorta.

Then came the scam. LOL. He told me his family was down stairs and he asked me to buy a bottle of milk for his kids. I was not used to the currency yet so I pulled out a 20P and said I did not want to go to the market with him. He said no sir. I figured out a bottle of milk is more expensive. At that point I wanted to get rid of him and gave him 40P.

After I seperated with him I told myself quit thinking there are nice regular people here that you can trust. Another 40P leson learned. LOL.

I kept looking for that guy at the door of the Palm Plaza so I could give him a glare but never saw him working there.

After two days in Manila I trusted nobody. I went to Angeles city after that and did not have one problem for the next two weeks. Partyly because I was aware of the simple scams and Angeles seems to not have the educated scammers like in Manila.

Just a little info for others to learn from my mistakes.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]I had one of these encounters last week inside Robinson's Mall in Malate.

I knew he was a bullshitter because I have my own condo and haven't stayed in a Manila hotel for 10 years, so I had some fun with him, asking him which hotel and what was my name etc.

He was a clever bastard and had the clever answers so I could imagine him sucking in anybody who stopped to listen to him.

Best advice has already been given here. Just keep walking; no eye contact and tell him to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]I had one of these encounters last week inside Robinson's Mall in Malate.
I knew he was a bullshitter because I have my own condo and haven't stayed in a Manila hotel for 10 years, so I had some fun with him, asking him which hotel and what was my name etc.
He was a clever bastard and had the clever answers so I could imagine him sucking in anybody who stopped to listen to him.
Best advice has already been given here - just keep walking; no eye contact and tell him to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off.[/QUOTE]

I am embarrased to admit that I was taken by a similar scam my first trip to P.I. about 3 years ago. Having worked and travelled through Thailand I thought I was pretty wise but No... He met me in SM in Makati and introduced himself by saying he worked security at my hotel - obviously I didn't remember him - but he helped me when I'd arrived the previous night. He got lucky because I had arrived the previous evening and was still jet lagged (& stupid). It wasn't until we sat down to coffee 2 hours later and I suddenly asked what hotel did he work at and he baulked - that I knew I'd been had. Damage was about $150 but I lost a lot of confidence and spoiled the next few days. That was fixed by meeting a lovely pinay who is still my main squeeze in Phil but this scam is common - particularly from middle age men.

P.

[quote=pompolino]i am embarrased to admit that i was taken by a similar scam my first trip to p.i. about 3 years ago. having worked and travelled through thailand i thought i was pretty wise but no... .[/quote]

hey guys we all got through it unrep001hed so no sweat but i hope our stories are a helpful "heads-up" for newbies.
like the other guys, i thought i was immune to all the scams.
just beware and don't think they will never get you because these guys are real professionals.
unfortunately it makes you very distrusting of everybody including the nice people who genuinely wish to help you.

yeah well said red kilt, thanks everybody for their support but thankfully there is no greater loss here, i am now in ac and ready to wash bad memories.

but i can't help to think that now i cannot trust any pinoy at all i know that you cannot label people but i just can't help it!

lesson learned and guys don't let your guard down ever! specially if you are taveling solo!

ok enough of this lets get back to our favorite topic!

[quote=red kilt]hey guys we all got through it unrep001hed so no sweat but i hope our stories are a helpful "heads-up" for newbies.

like the other guys, i thought i was immune to all the scams.

just beware and don't think they will never get you because these guys are real professionals.

unfortunately it makes you very distrusting of everybody including the nice people who genuinely wish to help you.[/quote]

Also happened to me very recently but it was generated inside of the hotel. I immediately got the duty manager and head of security. A couple of hours later I got a phone call in my room from the same guy. Fucker even knew my room number. It had to be somebody from inside of the hotel as only one other person in the world knew I was in Manila, at that hotel and the room number.

[QUOTE=Puerto La Cruz]Also happened to me very recently but it was generated inside of the hotel. I immediately got the duty manager and head of security. A couple of hours later I got a phone call in my room from the same guy. Fucker even knew my room number. It had to be somebody from inside of the hotel as only one other person in the world knew I was in Manila, at that hotel and the room number.[/QUOTE]

Did you move hotels? That sort of internal shit is very scary. It happened to a friend of mine in Shangri-la Makati in 2008 and the caller made all sorts of threats to him because he reported the initial scam to security. He was very disturbed and moved hotels immediately because the guy told him he could easily get access to his room.
Even in 5 star hotels??

[QUOTE=Tally Wacker]
Then came the scam. LOL. He told me his family was down stairs and he asked me to buy a bottle of milk for his kids. I was not used to the currency yet so I pulled out a 20P... I figured out a bottle of milk is more expensive. At that point I wanted to get rid of him and gave him 40P.

[/QUOTE]

It is terribly sad to say that virtually no 'favor' is for free! Almost always these conversations end with the words "can you give me some money for ...". Sure there might be some exceptions, but you have a 90% chance for being ripped off. So, better do not rely on the help from a stranger!

Cheers!


Hesekiels

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]Did you move hotels? That sort of internal shit is very scary. It happened to a friend of mine in Shangri-la Makati in 2008 and the caller made all sorts of threats to him because he reported the initial scam to security. He was very disturbed and moved hotels immediately because the guy told him he could easily get access to his room.
Even in 5 star hotels??[/QUOTE]

This happened at Diamond Hotel, a five star in Manila. I left the next day for other accomadations. As a result of what occurred, and as much as I like Diamond, I really don't know if I would stay there again.