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Thanks Sleepy Floyd. I've read about Marju-crisel hotel in Lonely planet. It's owned by the mayor. , . But as everyone pointed out, Calbayog is not one of the prefered destinations, especially because of the extreme poverty. But as I have said in my previous post I will just tug along with my friend for a couple of days. Thanks for the info SF and everyone else who contributed to my question.

Ace

[QUOTE=Sleepy Floyd]Marju Crisel hotel, a few kilometers from city center is supposedly the best in Calbayog. Aircon, cable TV, hot water rooms 700-800 pesos. Large swimming pool seems to be run as a sort of community pool. They had swim meets going on when I was there. As for other options, I've only seen the outsides of some hotels in town and they didn't look like much to write home about. There is also Samar Sea resort in Bgy San Joaquin, about 30 minutes out of town. Dak sand, dark water beach, definitely not a destination resort, but if your friends girl lives near there it is an acceptable option.[/QUOTE]

Too many tricycles! It was fun exploring the place, but going during Christmas was probably a mistake. Lots of kids singing christmas songs for tips (a local custom apparently)...and as a foreigner I was a prime target.

I reported back in December.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=828135&postcount=760[/url]

X

[QUOTE=Genghois]Here’s my trip report from Legaspi to Cebu via Samar/Leyte, from about two years ago.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?p=621268#post621268[/url]

How did you like Tacloban? Kind of a filthy little city, but there’s something about it that I quite liked. Or maybe it was just Schooners![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=X Man]Too many tricycles! It was fun exploring the place, but going during Christmas was probably a mistake. Lots of kids singing christmas songs for tips (a local custom apparently)...and as a foreigner I was a prime target.

I reported back in December.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=828135&postcount=760[/url]

X[/QUOTE]

Here’s my Tacloban report from a year and a half ago.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=671788&postcount=573[/url]

Know what you mean about the trikes, X Man. I stayed at Leyte Park and there were always a line of them outside the hotel. I like to walk. The exercise is good for me to sweat out the previous night’s beers. Hell, I even walked all the way back to Leyte Park from Schooners at 2:00 a.m., one night (I must have a death wish). Besides, at 6’2” I don’t fit in a trike very well. So I’d walk out of the hotel and get the standard, “Hey, Joe!” from the trike drivers. I would answer, “Hey, Bob!” (my polite way of saying “My name’s not Joe, you twit!”) They would then answer with, “Where you going?” I would point in the direction I was walking and say, “That way!” (my polite way of saying, “None of your damn business!”) After the first day or two, they realized they weren’t getting any fares from me and we got on a friendly basis.

The one I hated was the jeepney driver from the airport who tried to charge me twice as much as he was charging his Pilipino customers. I just gave him the same as he was charging them, and walked away. He cursed me up and down but the concierge at the hotel patted me on the back and told me I’d done the right thing.

Schooner to Leyte Hotel! That's a long way man.

I did an urban hike from Alexandria hotel to Leyte Hotel (decided not to change) and back and I was exhausted. I think we need to find some nature hikes and save our energy for the urban opportunities.
X

[QUOTE=Genghois]Here’s my Tacloban report from a year and a half ago.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=671788&postcount=573[/url]

Know what you mean about the trikes, X Man. I stayed at Leyte Park and there were always a line of them outside the hotel. I like to walk. The exercise is good for me to sweat out the previous night’s beers. Hell, I even walked all the way back to Leyte Park from Schooners at 2:00 a.m., one night (I must have a death wish). Besides, at 6’2” I don’t fit in a trike very well. So I’d walk out of the hotel and get the standard, “Hey, Joe!” from the trike drivers. I would answer, “Hey, Bob!” (my polite way of saying “My name’s not Joe, you twit!”) They would then answer with, “Where you going?” I would point in the direction I was walking and say, “That way!” (my polite way of saying, “None of your damn business!”) After the first day or two, they realized they weren’t getting any fares from me and we got on a friendly basis.

The one I hated was the jeepney driver from the airport who tried to charge me twice as much as he was charging his Pilipino customers. I just gave him the same as he was charging them, and walked away. He cursed me up and down but the concierge at the hotel patted me on the back and told me I’d done the right thing.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jet Guy 2]Hello,

I will be traveling from Manila to Puerto Galera, specifically El Galleon Small LaLaguna. I really don't want to get up early enough to make the 0800 Sikat bus after a night partying. And there are plenty of other ferries to PG on the schedule, no?

The hotel offers private transport but it's outrageous: $310 round trip (for up to 6 but we are only 2).

It seems a good option would be to get a driver to take us to the Batangas Pier at our leisure (say 1200 departure!) and catch the next ferry.

Anyone suggest where I can look for such a service and what I should expect to pay? $50 one way for the car seems about right (guess). What do you think?

Finally is it better to get the boat to PG or Sabang? Sabang looks closer to El Galleon but there's no pier. And I have 2 heavy bags (dive gear) and carryon. SO I was thinking to go to PG and get a cab.

All comments welcomed.

Thanks[/QUOTE]I'm going to answer my own question so that it may be useful to others. I have located a taxi service that will take us from Makati to Batangas pier for 2800PHP one way. It is Beeline Travel ([url]http://www.beelinetravel.com/taxi_index.htm[/url]). This is great for us as it will allow us to leave Makati more like noon (instead of getting up at 0700 for the 0800 bus!) and the price is reasonable

It looks like they offer a really good pickup service from MNL arrivals direct to AC also, FYI.

I think you meant Alejandro's Hotel Xman. I prefer walking than taking trikes, especially at night when it is cool enough to do so without sweating. Jeeps are WAY better than trikes (but watch your wallet etc) as fleece the foreigner is much more difficult for them, and you meet LOTS of sweet girls on jeeps that you would never get a chance to talk to (read: flirt with) otherwise.

Actually most trike drivers away from Angeles (the absolute scum of the earth) are ok. The less foreigners visit place, the less hassle you will have with the trike drivers. Less beggars, Viagra and rolex salesmen etc also. Angeles and Ermita are the worst (Makati does a better job of policing the scum than other foreigner enclaves).

JG2

[QUOTE=Jet Guy 2]Hello,

I will be traveling from Manila to Puerto Galera, specifically El Galleon Small LaLaguna. I really don't want to get up early enough to make the 0800 Sikat bus after a night partying. And there are plenty of other ferries to PG on the schedule, no?

The hotel offers private transport but it's outrageous: $310 round trip (for up to 6 but we are only 2).

It seems a good option would be to get a driver to take us to the Batangas Pier at our leisure (say 1200 departure!) and catch the next ferry.

Anyone suggest where I can look for such a service and what I should expect to pay? $50 one way for the car seems about right (guess). What do you think?
[/QUOTE]Go to Sabang if you can. If not, boat to PG is fine. It will cost you 200PHP for a trike. Somone from El Galleon will come and pick you up in Sabang and most likely carry your bags. Great hotel, superb staff. Just call when you arrive in Sabang.

For various reasons I did not get the bus. Took an airport taxi (rate agreed with his office) 2100PHP plus return tolls one way. There were two of us.

That was around lunchtime.

[QUOTE=Jet Guy 2]Finally is it better to get the boat to PG or Sabang? Sabang looks closer to El Galleon but there's no pier. And I have 2 heavy bags (dive gear) and carryon. SO I was thinking to go to PG and get a cab.[/QUOTE]Go to Sabang if you can. Saves the trike ride. But the road and views are impressive.

There is also a recommendation of a driver [i]somewhere[/i] on the board. I a trying to find it as I want him for this weekend. If I do, will post it again.

Finally. When are you going? PM me if you can.

WGS

Just take the regular bus to Batangas at the corner of Taft and Buendia avenue. Just as fast and much cheaper plus more fun as sometime you can meet chicks there on the bus. Cost is only a couple of hundreds or 300+ at most. Boat at pier is a 100+. All pesos of course. You just need to leave early to arrive at the pier before 4 pm or 5pm or so cause after that the public boats stop and the rip off with private boats start.

[QUOTE=Denom]Just take the regular bus to Batangas at the corner of Taft and Buendia avenue. Just as fast and much cheaper plus more fun as sometime you can meet chicks there on the bus. Cost is only a couple of hundreds or 300+ at most. Boat at pier is a 100+. All pesos of course. You just need to leave early to arrive at the pier before 4 pm or 5pm or so cause after that the public boats stop and the rip off with private boats start.[/QUOTE]
I've done the bus too. They leave as early as 4:45am or so from that bus yard (on Taft very near Buendia; there's an LRT stop there if you're looking at your map). The only downside for me is that the seats are small, but at least the trip is less than 2.5 hours at that time of day. Really big guys will need to pay for two seats. Then there's a ferry fee. Then you land there and want to get to your resort: the only option there is trike. Negotiate, should not be more than 100-120 pesos unless your resort is really far away. Better yet, if you brought a honey with you, let her negotiate.

Or just stay at City State Tower and catch the bus across the street. You can have free breakfast at the hotel and they sell bus tickets next to the dining area by the reception desk. Ticket window opens at 7:00 a.m. and bus leaves at 8:00 a.m. That's my routine and I will be doing it again in a couple of weeks.

NO NEED to deal with the trike mafia in PG unless you are staying in a remote location as there are boats from Batangas that stop at Sabang, White Beach and even Aninuan (Tamaraw resort). Poblacion is NOT the only landing spot for the Batangas boats.

And MOST trikes are NOT the same as the MFs in Angeles. Some will try to fleece you, but almost always if you keep walking another trike will come along who will accept the real fare (no more than 100 from Poblacion to Aninuan and only 30 to Sabang) The ones who wait at Tamaraw are the worst.

If you are going for action, then stay in Sabang to avoid the need for trikes at all. If you are bringing a girl, or find one you want to keep on the first night, there is absolutely NO REASON to stay in Sabang at all (unless you want to take her barhopping).

One other point that bears noting is that the crossing can be VERY ROUGH (the fetch may not look large but you'd be amazed how big the waves can be out on the middle of the channel-the first 30 minutes or so from Batangas is like a lake, but once you exit the bay it gets rough at times (if the wind is blowing when you are in Batangas BEWARE!). Taking dramamine or other anti nausea pills before going is a great idea if there is any wind at all.

I have had 2 bad experiences with beeline where the price is agreed then they ask for extra money or petrol money. I stopped using them and found a reliable and similar priced driver. He also does Manila to Angeles, Subic and Bagio. Here is his details:

Name: Jesse Saludares
E-Mail: [email]jessesaludares@yahoo.com[/email]
Phone: +639194732951

[QUOTE=Jet Guy 2]I'm going to answer my own question so that it may be useful to others. I have located a taxi service that will take us from Makati to Batangas pier for 2800PHP one way. It is Beeline Travel ([url]http://www.beelinetravel.com/taxi_index.htm[/url]). This is great for us as it will allow us to leave Makati more like noon (instead of getting up at 0700 for the 0800 bus!) and the price is reasonable

It looks like they offer a really good pickup service from MNL arrivals direct to AC also, FYI.[/QUOTE]

You can negotiate your own taxi from Makati to Batangas for 1500 (As I did in January).coming back is even less if you can find a taxi returning to Manila who has no passenger-walk OUTSIDE the port area and IGNORE THE TOUTS who merely add to the cost-find the driver on you're own but the toutsa wil try and hit him up for a finders fee if they see you and you are inside the port perimeter). Can also take a jeep a bit a away from port then flag taxi on roadway.

Would greatly appreciate if anyone could provide anyinsight into 1. Autobus. Which seems to be the only mode of transportation from manila to banaue. Looks like they are imposisibe to book / reserve in advance as I am planning to leave the next day after I arrive in manila for banaue. Hence would like to reseve the seat in advance. Also do they have assigned seats or is it free seating. Or are there any other choices in transportation 2. What is the best and clean hotel to stay in banaue. 3. How do you arrange transportation to go from bamue to bataad.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

[QUOTE=Snow Koala]I have had 2 bad experiences with beeline where the price is agreed then they ask for extra money or petrol money.[/QUOTE]You mean the driver hit you up for more, or Beeline itself came back and demanded more? If the former, you should report it to them -- I've always found them to be straight and honest.