Fng visiting for 1st time.
Dunno if this is in the wrong thread.
Have rtff.
Arriving in early oct (saigon. Manilla) on cebu pacific (lands at 0200 or so).
1. Any probs w/- cebu cancelling flights or is that a thing of the past?
2. Any probs gettin to AC at that hour of the morning? I want to do the trip as cheap as possible. Firstly cause I'm a cheap charlie. Secondly cause its often more fun this way, collecting life experiences & ancedotes. I have the $ to hop into a cab/limo, but that, to me, is cheating.
Saw this in a prev. Post:
'As you exit the airport after clearing customs, go outside and turn to your left. There is a kiosk where you pay for a taxi in advance. Tell them you want to go to the Pasay bus terminal. It should only cost ˜250 php (US$5)
2- There are 5-6 different bus companies that travel between Pasay and AC. It really doesn't make any difference which bus line you use as they are mostly all air conditioned, and reasonably comfortable and take around 2 hours. So, when you arrive at Pasay just walk into the terminal and ask anyone where is the next bus to Dau (AC). You almost never have to wait
More than 10-15 minutes. All of these buses cost ˜140 php (less than US$3).
3- There will be multiple stops within Manila but after you get outside of town and onto the North Luzon Expressway, then it is only another 45+ minutes. 4- When you arrive in Dau just get a trike and they will take you directly to your hotel. Depending upon which hotel you shouldn't pay any more than 100-150 php (US$3). Guys, it really doesn't get any easier than this and it is quite safe and pretty comfortable.
Trike from Dau Bus station to your hotel (SHOULD be 70P but you will have to bargain to get that price especially if you have lots of luggage). You CAN do it on a jeepney for under 10P (which you must remind the trike driver while bargaining)'.
Comments? Suggestions?
I'm planning on staying at:
1. Koala hotel or
2. Vistillana Hotel or
3. Anchorage Inn or
4. Balibago centre hotel or
5. New Liberty Hotel or
6. The Cold Drop or
7. The Red Tulip or
8. Marble inn or
9. Hotel La Casa or
10. Niagara lodge
I really only want to spend 450. 600 p/nite. Hopefully for a fan room w/- bathroom & cable tv. I hate a/cond. Don't need hot water. Don't need pool. I do need an honest security box/locker setup.
Am I dreaming/deluded? Or is this doable? Will I have to up the ante to 7/800 p/nite?
A friend mentioned he had money go missing from the security box at his hotel. Anyone have any bad experiences at any of the above places?
Does AC have a healthy DIA/mall/street pickup scene like cebu apparently has? Or are the bars my only viable option (not really a bar fan, prefer drinking at 7/11's).
I've visited Pattaya many times, but AC has been highly recommended.
I'll never know unless I go, I guess.
Comments, suggestions & tips greatly appreciated. Insults & opprobrium begrudgingly tolerated.
Recent Developments in AC
I'm just about winding up my fourth trip to Angeles. Some observations:
- The taxi situation at the airport has improved! In the past, as you exit the terminal, there would be a mad chaotic rush of taxi people soliciting you for rides. Now, passengers get into orderly lines. Definitely much more civilized.
- The new Forbidden City bar sucks. I much prefer smaller Fields bars and Perimeter bars as they're more intimate and friendly. I hope these Walmart of bars won't eventually drive away smaller bars on Fields.
- I've begun to find some of the waitresses to be better looking than most of the dancers. I think being a waitress is a better job than being a dancer. No standing up there doing some stupid dance. And because waitresses interact with customers, they have a better chance of being bought drinks and being bar-fined. Not to mention, they collect tips or extra money from customers telling them to "keep the change".
- There are now tons of trans-sexual activity near Blow Row. Although that stuff doesn't offend me, the folks there sometimes make cat calls and comments to passerbys. Those comments kinda grosses me out.
- There are less random people sitting next to you trying to get you to buy drinks. In the past, I'd be minding my own business in a bar and some girl (not a waitress) suddenly sits next to me and starts talking. Often, they're so bold as to say "so, are you gonna buy me a drink?". I'm glad this kind of activity has decreased.
- One annoyance are street vendors walking into bars trying to sell snacks, condoms and roses. Nothing is more annoying than you trying to make rapport with a girl and some vendor hovers over you with a box of peanuts and won't go away.
