General Info

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1798578]60 k in 100's? That's a thick wad of 100's. Are not 1 k bills better as it can fit in ones pocket easier with no security issues. LOL Just saying.

PC out.[/QUOTE]It's not one wad. Each wad is P10,000.

We high rollers need lots of cash. Change is important, never get stuck with them saying "I aint got change". The 60 is with me now back home, minus some. A nice stack of change. Got it all from one long term friend who is cashier in a healthy business, lots of cash coming into her place, on a daily basis. No need for money changers, she matches the best rate in that town on that day. And yes I have counted odd wads to see if there is a hundred or two missing in the wads, but nothing missing. When I can get my hands on a nice bundle of change, and that is when I am in that particular town / city, I get it, grab it. P1000 are no good with taxi drivers, paying for one drink etc. Change, its all about change. I don't carry it around with me, so P1000 denominations not necessary.

Get ahead with your change and transactions go smoothly. No "I haven't got change" coming back at ya. Yeh, I do take a few five hundreds and one thousand denominations when I go out partying at night. I expect my bill to be 2/3000 at some places. Do not use P100's for that.

We high rollers know a thing or two, LOL.

In addition to change I am hedging against currency downgrade. My currency got me 42 last year 32 this year and predicted by all experts to get me 25 or so next year. So got a bundle already at 32 for next year. Little bit of saving there, if the experts are right. Helps.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1798685]It's not one wad. Each wad is P10,000.

We high rollers need lots of cash. Change is important, never get stuck with them saying "I aint got change". The 60 is with me now back home, minus some. A nice stack of change. Got it all from one long term friend who is cashier in a healthy business, lots of cash coming into her place, on a daily basis. No need for money changers, she matches the best rate in that town on that day. And yes I have counted odd wads to see if there is a hundred or two missing in the wads, but nothing missing. When I can get my hands on a nice bundle of change, and that is when I am in that particular town / city, I get it, grab it. P1000 are no good with taxi drivers, paying for one drink etc. Change, its all about change. I don't carry it around with me, so P1000 denominations not necessary.

Get ahead with your change and transactions go smoothly. No "I haven't got change" coming back at ya. Yeh, I do take a few five hundreds and one thousand denominations when I go out partying at night. I expect my bill to be 2/3000 at some places. Do not use P100's for that.

We high rollers know a thing or two, LOL.

In addition to change I am hedging against currency downgrade. My currency got me 42 last year 32 this year and predicted by all experts to get me 25 or so next year. So got a bundle already at 32 for next year. Little bit of saving there, if the experts are right. Helps.[/QUOTE]I hear you and I usually get 2-3 k of 100,50,20's for tips. I usually run out after 5 days and need more so 60 k in $2 bills a good idea. The Uber drivers love a 50 p tip on a 150 p fare. So do the waiters and waitresses when you leave them more than the service fee.

PC out.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1798760]I hear you and I usually get 2-3 k of 100,50,20's for tips. I usually run out after 5 days and need more so 60 k in $2 bills a good idea. The Uber drivers love a 50 p tip on a 150 p fare. So do the waiters and waitresses when you leave them more than the service fee.

PC out.[/QUOTE]Highrolers and only 60 k? I assume we talk pisos here and not $? I don't understand Sxxxx. Whats so highroling?

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1798685]It's not one wad. Each wad is P10,000.

We high rollers need lots of cash. Change is important, never get stuck with them saying "I aint got change". The 60 is with me now back home, minus some. A nice stack of change. Got it all from one long term friend who is cashier in a healthy business, lots of cash coming into her place, on a daily basis. No need for money changers, she matches the best rate in that town on that day. And yes I have counted odd wads to see if there is a hundred or two missing in the wads, but nothing missing. When I can get my hands on a nice bundle of change, and that is when I am in that particular town / city, I get it, grab it. P1000 are no good with taxi drivers, paying for one drink etc. Change, its all about change. I don't carry it around with me, so P1000 denominations not necessary.

Get ahead with your change and transactions go smoothly. No "I haven't got change" coming back at ya. Yeh, I do take a few five hundreds and one thousand denominations when I go out partying at night. I expect my bill to be 2/3000 at some places. Do not use P100's for that.

We high rollers know a thing or two, LOL.

In addition to change I am hedging against currency downgrade. My currency got me 42 last year 32 this year and predicted by all experts to get me 25 or so next year. So got a bundle already at 32 for next year. Little bit of saving there, if the experts are right. Helps.[/QUOTE]Please educate me. Didn't know where else to put this.

So coming from Oz. Obviously have to use money changers. How do I get lots of change? How much do you carry around each day? - just food & mongering. I usually get 2 days worth and then top up when run out in Thailand. Can I ask for smaller denominations when I buy stuff? What sort of daily " float" do you have on you?

Sorry but appreciate your experience / knowledge.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1798760]I hear you and I usually get 2-3 k of 100,50,20's for tips. I usually run out after 5 days and need more so 60 k in $2 bills a good idea. The Uber drivers love a 50 p tip on a 150 p fare. So do the waiters and waitresses when you leave them more than the service fee.

PC out.[/QUOTE]Yeh, I got a hundred 50's and hundred 20's at same time. Handy.

As I am a high roller, didn't mention those smaller denominations before, LOL.

Dropping those tips creates good kharma. Came back to me in AC when I left a bag with $2,500 valuable item inside. Trike driver returned bag and contents to me. Had him few times before. Good vibes from me, in the past, got that bag back to me, I reckon. Miracle a trike driver would be so honest. Had to be the positive vibes I had sent out to him on previous occasions, read: "tip" , LOL.

Change for tips, yeh, I agree.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1798685]We high rollers need lots of cash. SNIP

I expect my bill to be 2/3000 at some places. Do not use P100's for that.[/QUOTE]Nothing wrong with the high roller (or partying) style. But note the difference in styles, both of which seem to work among vets. When I'm planning to barfine (say, AC), I typically walk out the door of my hotel in the evening with enough for a barfine, plus 500-1000 more. When I'm not planning to barfine, I rarely take more than 1000 P with me on a night out. Its quite the opposite of high rolling. If you were to chance upon me on the street in Burgos, Malate, or Mango Square, there's a good chance that I'd have well under 1000 in my pocket (however, I keep an debit / credit card with me, both for ATM if needed, and for restaurants that accept CC). While I buy things for my chicas, its usually after the deed, and includes Jolibee, not Lady Drinks. As I don't hang in bars (unless there's a band to my liking) and I don't drink much alcohol (1-3 for an entire evening), there's not much to spend money on. All chica transactions take place in the room where the money is.

Typically when I depart phils, I have spent myself down to my last 3000 or so, which I will use next time I arrive for taxi to my hotel in Manila.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1798685]My currency got me 42 last year 32 this year and predicted by all experts to get me 25 or so next year. So got a bundle already at 32 for next year.[/QUOTE]S, I didn't understand this. Your currency is USD? AUD? Current PHP-USD is about p44-45 to 1 USD? Last year it was about p42 to 1 USD?

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1798816]Nothing wrong with the high roller (or partying) style. But note the difference in styles, both of which seem to work among vets. When I'm planning to barfine (say, AC), I typically walk out the door of my hotel in the evening with enough for a barfine, plus 500-1000 more. When I'm not planning to barfine, I rarely take more than 1000 P with me on a night out. Its quite the opposite of high rolling. If you were to chance upon me on the street in Burgos, Malate, or Mango Square, there's a good chance that I'd have well under 1000 in my pocket (however, I keep an debit / credit card with me, both for ATM if needed, and for restaurants that accept CC). While I buy things for my chicas, its usually after the deed, and includes Jolibee, not Lady Drinks. As I don't hang in bars (unless there's a band to my liking) and I don't drink much alcohol (1-3 for an entire evening), there's not much to spend money on. All chica transactions take place in the room where the money is.

Typically when I depart phils, I have spent myself down to my last 3000 or so, which I will use next time I arrive for taxi to my hotel in Manila.

S, I didn't understand this. Your currency is USD? AUD? Current PHP-USD is about p44-45 to 1 USD? Last year it was about p42 to 1 USD?[/QUOTE]Westie.

Your a little behind on the forex as $ to Peso was 46.8 -1 at NAIA just last week.

Dam your a frugal old fart LOL.

PC out.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1798685]In addition to change I am hedging against currency downgrade. My currency got me 42 last year 32 this year and predicted by all experts to get me 25 or so next year. So got a bundle already at 32 for next year. Little bit of saving there, if the experts are right. Helps.[/QUOTE]It makes sense to hedge against currency downgrade. This also highlights one of the risks of becoming an expat monger on a fixed income in the Philippines. The Aussie dollar has taken a brutal flogging from the peso. A fall from P42 to P32 to the AUD means an effective increase in prices by about 24% for Aussie mongers in one year; a further decline to P25 to the AUD would mean an increase in prices by approximately 40% over a two year period. Mongers who retired to the Philippines on a pension close to the minimum amount required for living and mongering there when the exchange rate was P42 to the AUD are now feeling the squeeze. Some may be forced to cut back or cease mongering, making their presence in the Philippines pointless.

Going from rooting choice bar girls from Burgos St and EDSA bars to lurking in LA Café until 4:30 AM hoping to score some bargain bin toothless veteran street meat is a significant drop in quality of life for a monger. Guys planning to retire to the Philippines on a negligible amount of money should take note of possible currency downgrades before buying into the many "you can live like a king" on some ridiculously small amount of money claims that are widely circulated on the internet.

[QUOTE=ChochaMonger;1798874]It makes sense to hedge against currency downgrade. This also highlights one of the risks of becoming an expat monger on a fixed income in the Philippines. The Aussie dollar has taken a brutal flogging from the peso. A fall from P42 to P32 to the AUD means an effective increase in prices by about 24% for Aussie mongers in one year; a further decline to P25 to the AUD would mean an increase in prices by approximately 40% over a two year period. Mongers who retired to the Philippines on a pension close to the minimum amount required for living and mongering there when the exchange rate was P42 to the AUD are now feeling the squeeze. Some may be forced to cut back or cease mongering, making their presence in the Philippines pointless.

Going from rooting choice bar girls from Burgos St and EDSA bars to lurking in LA Caf until 4:30 AM hoping to score some bargain bin toothless veteran street meat is a significant drop in quality of life for a monger. Guys planning to retire to the Philippines on a negligible amount of money should take note of possible currency downgrades before buying into the many "you can live like a king" on some ridiculously small amount of money claims that are widely circulated on the internet.[/QUOTE]Yes those Aussie are having it tough nowadays too. I remember an Aussie guy retiring in Phils with a bundle of cash, based on the high interest rate he could get in Phils, about 18% on deposits if I remember right. But over the years it went down down, plus he realised living in Phils is quite different to visiting Phils, and didn't like what he was experiencing. Back to his home country with tail between his legs, never to return. Yeh more choices when you visit the place, less when your trying to eek out a living on a modest cash flow.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1798828]Westie.

Your a little behind on the forex as $ to Peso was 46.8 -1 at NAIA just last week.[/QUOTE]Ya, I was thinking Sxxx was discussing the USD / PHP at first, obviously he was discussing another country's currency. My last trip in-country was running p45 (Manila / Cebu) - 45.5 (provinces) to 1 USD.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1798828]Dam your a frugal old fart LOL. [/QUOTE]Yes. And no. I'm not old.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1799039]Ya, I was thinking Sxxx was discussing the USD / PHP at first, obviously he was discussing another country's currency. My last trip in-country was running p45 (Manila / Cebu) - 45.5 (provinces) to 1 USD.

Yes. And no. I'm not old.[/QUOTE]LOL, jk. I know you are Studly haha.

Macten Airport rates are the worst as it was 44.5 a few days ago at the place down at baggage claim.

Thanks to RK, I never even made it to Mango Square yet. Kudos to RK.

PC out.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1799057]LOL, jk. I know you are Studly haha.

Macten Airport rates are the worst as it was 44.5 a few days ago at the place down at baggage claim.

Thanks to RK, I never even made it to Mango Square yet. Kudos to RK.

PC out.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1799057]LOL, jk. I know you are Studly haha.

Macten Airport rates are the worst as it was 44.5 a few days ago at the place down at baggage claim.

Thanks to RK, I never even made it to Mango Square yet. Kudos to RK.

PC out.[/QUOTE]Never change at Mactan Airport, rip off, par excellence.

Changers on the Terrace, Ayala Mall. Near Gilligans Restaurant. And good one at Fuente Osmena (alongside KFC, not the other one closer to Casino). Strange, but Angeles best place for me for good exchange rate and honesty, no sleight of hands tricks. Norma's best for me. But don't walk away from there with a bundle, arrive on a trike and depart with same trike. Guys have been shot in the head after changing at Norma's (and other Money Changers). Alternatively walk backwards. I practice doing that at home, right now.

On arrival at Mactan ask what the exchange rate is (all the same) and then compare what you can get in Cebu City proper. Airport one is for sucker tourists.

Forgive me, for I have sinned. This post should have been in Cebu thread.

[QUOTE=NewImage;1798776]How do I get lots of change?[/QUOTE]Visit a bank during business hours. At night buy mints or gum at a convenience store. Pay with a large note.

[QUOTE=NewImage;1798776]How much do you carry around each day? - just food & mongering.[/QUOTE]Tough to answer because there are many variables; where you eat and where you party will determine how much you need, right? The FRs have barfine and ST / LT costs so you can figure that out on your own. I almost always go out with a girl from a dating site, so don't need worry about a barfine. At night I usually ride a taxi unless it's a short trip and I'll take a jeep. Taxis will run you between p100-p200. When I dine out the meal for two will run from p300 (Chic-boy) to p800 (Army Navy Burger) to p6000 (Top of the Citi). I usually drink at Filipino bars so that's affordable, can be less than p40 per beer, but I prefer to drink rum or vodka and order a bottle plus mixer. They hold the unconsumed for a next visit. When I go to a nightclub I get a table so there's the consumable table charge. The cheapest I've paid is p2000 but it can go much higher. Again, the nightclub will hold any unconsumed spirits for the next visit.

[QUOTE=NewImage;1798776]Can I ask for smaller denominations when I buy stuff?[/QUOTE]Yes and no. Stores burn through small notes quickly - you don't want to be weighed down by a pocketful of coins. If you ask to break a p500 note for p50 and p20 notes that may be asking too much. To make sure I have plenty of small notes I rarely pay the exact amount in a store; keep using large notes and soon enough you have a collection of small ones. This is more important in the provinces than in the big city.

[QUOTE=NewImage;1798776]What of daily "float" do you have on you?[/QUOTE]When I go out during the day I usually have a minimum of p1000 on me. I know I'll stop by a coffee shop and that will be p200. Have lunch on my own and that's p150-p300. At night I'll carry p5000+ unless it's just grabbing a bite to eat, the cinema, and a post-film drink or two.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx;1799068]Never change at Mactan Airport, rip off, par excellence.

Changers on the Terrace, Ayala Mall. Near Gilligans Restaurant. And good one at Fuente Osmena (alongside KFC, not the other one closer to Casino). Strange, but Angeles best place for me for good exchange rate and honesty, no sleight of hands tricks. Norma's best for me. But don't walk away from there with a bundle, arrive on a trike and depart with same trike. Guys have been shot in the head after changing at Norma's (and other Money Changers). Alternatively walk backwards. I practice doing that at home, right now.

On arrival at Mactan ask what the exchange rate is (all the same) and then compare what you can get in Cebu City proper. Airport one is for sucker tourists.

Forgive me, for I have sinned. This post should have been in Cebu thread.[/QUOTE]No worries, we always give the High Rollers benefit of the doubt LOL.

I'm going to wait and change in Cebu next time as I lost prolly 500 p on tha transaction LOL.

PC out.

Hey Guys.

Are all the pretty gals gone home around Christmas? Is everything shutdown at this time? Or can I expect to get lucky in the usual places? I am talking about LA cafe, Burgos St, EDSA in Manila or Angeles / Subic bay / J Avenue in Cebu?

I've never been to PP in December and I am apprehensive that things might approach a total shutdown in the festive season. Planning stages right now and thought I'd hear some opinions before purchasing my tickets.

Thanks.

P.