Travel Announcements Only (No questions or comments please)

[QUOTE=Jimmy Red Cab]Thanks for your reply but as this will be my first visit I do need to see Angeles City, just wondered how many days I should stay there, I am a newbie to The Philippines but have been to Thailand 17 times in 7 years.[/QUOTE]Hi Jimmy,

It depends on what else you want to do while there and how you will be getting around. In two weeks you can see a lot. Besides mongering what else do you like (especially for longer stays it is good to pursue other interests with or without company) Will you be driving or driver/taxi. Do you dive? Trek? Are you looking for resorts?

I would probably not stay in Oxford in Makati. In fact I would not stay in Makati at all unless I had to be there for other reasons like business. P. Burgos in Makati is certainly worth an evening the girls are high quality but the prices are high too. It does get boring after a short while and you need more variety.

The major mongering sites in Metro Manila are, in no particular order: 1) Makati, 2) Quezon City 3) Paranque, 4) Roxas Blvd, 5) Ermita, 6) Malate, 7) Edsa Entertainment Complex. And the bar in most any 5-star hotel. Did I miss any? If you have the time you will want to visit all and you can do more than one in a single night. For some you may really need a guide. Staying downtown is probably the most central for these (Paranque, Roxas Blvd, Ermita Malate and Edsa Entertainment are all downtown). After 9pm traffic is not bad and you can easily and cheaply cab to the others. I am told that the most beautiful, and expensive are in Quezon City, but I have not checked this out. There are also beautiful and expensive at the theaters on Roxas Blvd.

I personally would stay close to LA Café in Ermeta. LA is the Mecca of mongering in the Philippines (or maybe the Medina and Angeles is Mecca) and open 24 hours. It is also fun with pool tables and decent bands at night. (Burgos is just [mostly board] dancing girls). The girls range from hot to homely, with a few stunners. And all are cheap. Around it also are lots of other bars with bands and discos. It is more seedy than Burgos (stop laughing), but more of an adventure. Nearby are the Hyatt and Manila Hotels, if you are looking for 5 Star, and lots of 3-star and below. There are also restaurants, museums, Ocean Park, golf, Intermoros (old city) nearby to explore with your new friend (s).

In two week's time you can easily add stays in Subic (girls/diving), Baguio (trekking), Porto Galera (girls/diving), Cebu (girls/diving/resorts/historic), Vegan (historic). You could also do a circuit, like Manila- Subic- Bagio- Angeles- Cebu- Manila. I think there are flights from Angeles to Cebu. Though maybe that is too much for two weeks, maybe skip Baguio and maybe Cebu. If you want culture add Vegan.

[QUOTE=Jimmy Red Cab]Thanks for your reply but as this will be my first visit I do need to see Angeles City, just wondered how many days I should stay there, I am a newbie to The Philippines but have been to Thailand 17 times in 7 years.[/QUOTE]Jimmy,

I think it all depend on you some like AC and stay for week ,I think you should go to manila first and then go to AC there are not much to do here except p4p and most people get bored in just 2 days .

I think you will like Thailand much better and I know I do just much more to do in thailand than in PI but I think you should give it a try for yourself.

Fast eddie 48

What is the longevity of a SIM card if you do not reload it? I thought it was one year.

I was rude to Mr. Hawaii earlier, but after some thought I realized that I usually visit the Philippines twice a year. Maybe I'm the one who's got it wrong.

BTW, I always buy load cards to take back with me, because I can use them to reload when I return. It's kind of exciting to be dialing up contacts while waiting for my baggage to come out.

Sorry Hawaii for busting your balls.

X



[QUOTE=Mr Hawaii]Did your phone really die? I have mine also that I bought and use only in P. I. I thought it had died cause it would not turn on. Battery dead? I plugged it in, waited 1 minute, and. Presto. So, if it is a reliable Nokia and you have the phone jack, try that. At the worst you have to buy new battery and sim card, usually the sim card expires after 6 months of nonuse.[/QUOTE]

I've been in a lot of different countries and never understood the need for a cell phone. Always travel with my laptop. But this upcomming first visit to Manila has me rethinking things. I'm of the older generation that has never texted...but I know it's popular in the Phils. So I guess I should buy a cheap one in the mall, buy a card, and create my address book of the DIA gals. Question: after my two weeks in the Phils, I have two weeks in Indonesia. Will I be able to use the phone in Indo? With a different card? thanks
I'm computer literate, but not cp literate. Any other suggestions/comments?

[QUOTE=Xdentx]I've been in a lot of different countries and never understood the need for a cell phone. Always travel with my laptop. But this upcomming first visit to Manila has me rethinking things. I'm of the older generation that has never texted...but I know it's popular in the Phils. So I guess I should buy a cheap one in the mall, buy a card, and create my address book of the DIA gals. Question: after my two weeks in the Phils, I have two weeks in Indonesia. Will I be able to use the phone in Indo? With a different card? thanks
I'm computer literate, but not cp literate. Any other suggestions/comments?[/QUOTE]
If you have time before your trip, I would advise you to go on-line to a auction site and buy a cell phone prior to your trip. First, you will not get caught up in a sales pitch from a cute sales girl and end up buying more phone then you need and second, it is cheaper then buying here in the Philippines. If you want to use your cell worldwide buy a Quad or Tri band, unlocked. If you are interested PM me and I will help you out. I just brought two new V3i, 3G Razors for 1/3 the price of any cell phone store/booth that I have been in the Philippines. Then, when you arrive go to any 7-11 or Mini-Stop and buy a sim for 45P.

Robb

[QUOTE=Xdentx]I've been in a lot of different countries and never understood the need for a cell phone. Always travel with my laptop. But this upcomming first visit to Manila has me rethinking things. I'm of the older generation that has never texted...but I know it's popular in the Phils. So I guess I should buy a cheap one in the mall, buy a card, and create my address book of the DIA gals. Question: after my two weeks in the Phils, I have two weeks in Indonesia. Will I be able to use the phone in Indo? With a different card? thanks
I'm computer literate, but not cp literate. Any other suggestions/comments?[/QUOTE]
I paid about 20 usd for a used cell phone last year. I have used it on 2 tips now with no problem.

If I can not answer a girls text message to me in a couple of words or less, I just call them. You can say a lot to her in under 1 minute and save a lot of time trying to text.

Nothing worse then responding to text to a girl, and in the middle of your typing you get another text from her saying "why are you not answering me, are u mad at me?

I still use the phone here at home in the USA as an alarm clock

[QUOTE=X Man]What is the longevity of a SIM card if you do not reload it? I thought it was one year.\X[/QUOTE]
I just purchased a new sim card and reading the fine print from Globe, the sim will expire one year from purchase if not used, two months from expiration date if activated and no prepaid minutes are loaded, and four months from expiration date if no prepaid minutes are loaded. Also, it states that you can roam to over 100 counties with a prepaid sim if you go to Globe and have them set the sim for roaming.

Robb

SIMs aren't expensive, but I'd hate to have to transfer my phone number list to a new card.

I have used a SIM card for several years, only reloading during my twice a year visits. If you continue to reload, then I don't think there is an "expiration date". Robbaf, does your card have a specific "exp" date? I'm still confused!

The load cards tend to have an exp. date a year into the future, so I always buy one or two before I leave. That way I can reload upon arrival. Once you add the load, I believe it will expire within six months. Since I visit only once or twice a year, that means any load at departure is lost.

Last visit I bought a NEW phone in Philippines for only 1500. I think I bought a used phone for 1000 about four years ago. Money well spent.

X


[QUOTE=Robbaf]I just purchased a new sim card and reading the fine print from Globe, the sim will expire one year from purchase if not used, two months from expiration date if activated and no prepaid minutes are loaded, and four months from expiration date if no prepaid minutes are loaded. Also, it states that you can roam to over 100 counties with a prepaid sim if you go to Globe and have them set the sim for roaming.

Robb[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=X Man]SIMs aren't expensive, but I'd hate to have to transfer my phone number list to a new card.

I have used a SIM card for several years, only reloading during my twice a year visits. If you continue to reload, then I don't think there is an "expiration date". Robbaf, does your card have a specific "exp" date? I'm still confused!



X[/QUOTE]
X

My Globe SIM expires end of ths month according to the package unless I reload. As SIMs are so cheap am not all that bothered and in fact sometimes prefer as I then dont get pesky unwanted calls on my return. But it can be a pain transfering numbers I agree

[QUOTE=X Man]Robbaf, does your card have a specific "exp" date? I'm still confused!X[/QUOTE]My sim cost me 45P and if unused it will expire 31 Jan 09. I believe that it expires if unused to free up the number. But I think X you are correct, as long as you load the sim with prepaid minutes, it will stay active, but you do lose your load if it is not comsumed within 60 days of loading.

Robb

[QUOTE=Wicked Roger]But it can be a pain transfering numbers I agree[/QUOTE]Check your cell, mine has a option to save contacts to the phone, instead of the sim. When I change sim, the numbers are maintained in the phone.

Robb

I retire in October and arrive in Manila the first week of November. The RP is my first stop in checking out countries as a potential places to settle. I know where I'm going to visit (Cebu, Davao, AC / Subic, Bacolod, CDO, Baguio are the main ones) but am asking advice as to when. I don't want to be competing for rooms, flights, ferries when everyone else is. Or competing for girls, though from what I've seen there are enough to go around.

If there was no such thing as peak season, I'd plan my travels to alternate towns with active P4P scenes and those that don't and minimize air / bus / ferry costs.

I've read that Dec - Jan is peak for foreign tourists, and March to May is peak for locals as they travel on summer vacation.

So, what are the actual peak travel times? Is one better off in larger or smaller towns at those times. How necessary are hotel / pensione reservations? My preferred travel habit is to make a reservation for the first night or two then check around for a better place for the rest of my stay. Is that going to work during the peak times?

Thanks.

[QUOTE=Robbaf]Check your cell, mine has a option to save contacts to the phone, instead of the sim. When I change sim, the numbers are maintained in the phone.

Robb[/QUOTE]
Thanks Robb

But I dont want to save to the phone as too many prying eyes when I have it switched on/left unattended .....;) Also I lend the phone to friends who may ask why I have so many numbers (theya re non P4P friends and would not undestand).

And of course some Filipinas can be a tad jealous at times - I just dont know why as we are all a one woman man :) So I try to keep their eyes off my phone

Your "preferred" travel strategy is sound, and that's what I do. Your questions are also great since if you don't have a reservation at a peak time, you might spend the whole day looking for a place. I did that once in Pattaya, Thailand just before New Year. Duh.

Unfortunately, I don't have any answers other than those that are obvious. PI is a Christian country, people travel around Easter and Christmas/NY. Holiday traffic will include the overseas Filipinos (balikbayan) traveling in/out and you can expect more strain on airline/hotel services.

A good start would be to search the Internet for national holidays, and then also search for local festivals.

That being said, I was in Tagbilaran, Bohol for a recent July festival and got rooms, air in, ferry out on short notice with no problem.

I found the street fireworks chaos of New Year Eve a bit scary. I think Davao has a tight ban on this, good place to head on New Year Eve. New Year is a family thing, so have a date set up in advance.

Have fun,

X



[QUOTE=Further]I retire in October and arrive in Manila the first week of November. The RP is my first stop in checking out countries as a potential places to settle. I know where I'm going to visit (Cebu, Davao, AC / Subic, Bacolod, CDO, Baguio are the main ones) but am asking advice as to when. I don't want to be competing for rooms, flights, ferries when everyone else is. Or competing for girls, though from what I've seen there are enough to go around.

If there was no such thing as peak season, I'd plan my travels to alternate towns with active P4P scenes and those that don't and minimize air / bus / ferry costs.

I've read that Dec - Jan is peak for foreign tourists, and March to May is peak for locals as they travel on summer vacation.

So, what are the actual peak travel times? Is one better off in larger or smaller towns at those times. How necessary are hotel / pensione reservations? My preferred travel habit is to make a reservation for the first night or two then check around for a better place for the rest of my stay. Is that going to work during the peak times?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

I once got a call within ten minutes of reloading at the MNL airport -- from a lady I hadn't seen in six months. When I had first met her, she was a very hot EDSA go-go girl, but I knew she had retired on the fiance-visa plan to her hometown in the Visayans.

I assumed she was there and gave her a call when I got to (city in Visayans), but damn if she wasn't in Mnl....doing who knows what. Fortunately, she flew back within a few days and I was able to enjoy her charms one last time.

I kept her phone number in my phone for a while hoping she'd given the phone to her younger sis, but no such luck.

Not all of them are pesky and unwanted.

X

[QUOTE=Wicked Roger]X

My Globe SIM expires end of ths month according to the package unless I reload. As SIMs are so cheap am not all that bothered and in fact sometimes prefer as I then dont get pesky unwanted calls on my return. But it can be a pain transfering numbers I agree[/QUOTE]