General Info

[QUOTE=Sammon;1803961]
Some countries charge one fee for nationals and another fee for foreigners to visit a landmark or museum etc. IMHO it should be the same. Right there is a rip off by government no less.[/QUOTE]That's not a ripoff by the government, that's a good practice. Museums, landmarks and cultural sites are good educational opportunities for the locals. Keeping the price low helps to get the population more aware of their culture and heritage. On the other hand, such places are expensive to maintain. Since many tourists come solely to see these places, and since even the tourist price is usually reasonable, they are making best use of the attraction. If they raise the native price, no natives will visit. If they lower the tourist price, then the government has to pay to support it, meaning taxes which will probably fall on the tourists anyway.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1803904]Just a tip for avoiding the NAIA taxi rip offs; take Uber. I know there's allegedly a ban on Uber drivers picking up at the airport, but it's largely ignored. My new tactic is to summon an Uber car as soon as I receive a cell signal on landing, and before the doors even open. In my recent experience it's never taken more than about 5 minutes for the Uber car to arrive at my location and the fees are quite reasonable. You can thus totally avoid the lines, the scam artists and the fear.

GE.[/QUOTE]Came into terminal 2 after the APEC nonsense. Passport line stretched up stairs. Even after that, it still took another 30 minutes to get my check in bag. Economy bags arrived before business class of course. Best text driver you have arrived and to come to terminal driveway after another text saying you are ready for pickup at column number X. Usual inane management at the terminal. Really is in bottom 10 airports of the world. Of course, this assumes you will actually get your bag!

[QUOTE=JjBee62;1804004]That's not a ripoff by the government, that's a good practice. Museums, landmarks and cultural sites are good educational opportunities for the locals. Keeping the price low helps to get the population more aware of their culture and heritage. On the other hand, such places are expensive to maintain. Since many tourists come solely to see these places, and since even the tourist price is usually reasonable, they are making best use of the attraction. If they raise the native price, no natives will visit. If they lower the tourist price, then the government has to pay to support it, meaning taxes which will probably fall on the tourists anyway.[/QUOTE]Sounds like an extension of hotels charging one price for foreigners and a lower price for locals.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;1804004]That's not a ripoff by the government, that's a good practice. Museums, landmarks and cultural sites are good educational opportunities for the locals. Keeping the price low helps to get the population more aware of their culture and heritage. On the other hand, such places are expensive to maintain. Since many tourists come solely to see these places, and since even the tourist price is usually reasonable, they are making best use of the attraction. If they raise the native price, no natives will visit. If they lower the tourist price, then the government has to pay to support it, meaning taxes which will probably fall on the tourists anyway.[/QUOTE]Good points JBee.

It's worth noting that the local tourism industry relies heavily on locals travelling within the country and patronizing the hotels. It's surprising given the levels of poverty but even if it's only 2% of locals that travel then that is a lot of people in a population of 100M.
You can see the data on the DOT website. Regular travellers will notice how there are usually more locals at breakfast in most hotels than foreigners, except of course for the hard-core monger hotels in AC.

There is a "local resident's rate" for virtually all hotels. I always use it when travelling within the Phils.

You just need to show a local driver's licence as proof of residency. Possibly an electric bill or post-paid phone bill showing permanent address might also work.

Last trip to Cebu I received a 50% rate cut at Waterfront Hotel because I always ask for local resident's rate. I also get the same discount at Parklane too.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1804203]Good points JBee.{S N I P}
There is a "local resident's rate" for virtually all hotels. I always use it when travelling within the Phils.{S N I P}
[/QUOTE]I don't know if it is still applicable, but there used to be at least 3 rates at many hotels (excluding corporate):

1. Local Residents rates.
2. Balikbayan rates.
3. Porigner rates.

Fortunately, it is a number of years since I was able to able use Balikbayan rates!

I think that overall, it is a sensible idea that directly benefits Filipinos, and certainly not a rip off.

Cheers

P.S. Sammon, your Chinese GF possibly went to the Divisoria markets near China Town. That place is incredibly cheap, even for locals.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1803930]I forgot to mention that I communicate with the driver as soon as I know he's in the way. I text, and sometimes I call. So far, it's worked.

GE.[/QUOTE]I used uber twice from the airport in Oct. And a text letting the driver know at which number column I will be waiting was sufficient. When I asked about the ban on airport pick up both told me that they were just "hanging out" waiting for a fare after dropping someone off.

Apparently a lot of thirsty guys have been flooding into the Philippines recently. In the past six months, I have seen the quality of girls on the dating sites go down noticeably, and the price has almost doubled. 4 k / night seems standard now? One girl on PL asked for 15 k / night. Wouldn't budge. 7/10. LOL?

In other news, I did have my first (non-pro) threesome the other day. It's been constant threesomes since. (It's my second month in country.) One girl was previously a virgin, both 20 years old, 8/10 looks. But I'm spoiling them like crazy (you guys would call me a fool if you knew how much I've spent on girls per month since arriving here) and too nice to kick them out. It is fun having two live-in GFs. They get jealous though if I pay too much attention to the other. Question for you guys: when you're with a non-pro and you make her leave, what happens? She doesn't try coming back, or calling, or showing up at your doorstep? Never had slashed tires or something? Every girl I've been with so far has tried clinging on for dear life.

I'm renting a house, plan on living here for a while. It's nice because it lets me avoid the walk of shame (my car has tinted windows and the security guards just wave me through). But I'm worried about meeting a psycho someday.

[QUOTE=MuaTur;1804431] <Snip> But you overlooking one point, you are not feeling necessity to supporting the forum with just for 20 bucks in a year.[/QUOTE]Thought it was lifetime. Mine has been anyway. Maybe they forgot to rebill.

Let me get this right. You are living in puusy paradise, and you get a discount for doing so? Life is truly unfair.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1804203]
SNIP
There is a "local resident's rate" for virtually all hotels. I always use it when travelling within the Phils.

You just need to show a local driver's licence as proof of residency. Possibly an electric bill or post-paid phone bill showing permanent address might also work.

Last trip to Cebu I received a 50% rate cut at Waterfront Hotel because I always ask for local resident's rate. I also get the same discount at Parklane too.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Sam14;1804828]Thought it was lifetime. Mine has been anyway. Maybe they forgot to rebill.[/QUOTE]Ha ha my mistake, it is only for 2 yrs and than regulars are promoting to be seniors, even they have few postings. And Jackson forget to re-bill permanently. Alas it is sad to see when some poster reluctant and proudly avoiding to support the forum.

[QUOTE=ImAGuy;1804793] Question for you guys: when you're with a non-pro and you make her leave, what happens? She doesn't try coming back, or calling, or showing up at your doorstep? Never had slashed tires or something? Every girl I've been with so far has tried clinging on for dear life.[/QUOTE]Wouldn't you think (if you could) that on this -- the most elemental level -- that women the whole world over are no different? Or else to ask a question like this, you'd have to never in your life had a girlfriend before.

[QUOTE=ImAGuy;1804793]Apparently a lot of thirsty guys have been flooding into the Philippines recently. In the past six months, I have seen the quality of girls on the dating sites go down noticeably, and the price has almost doubled. 4 k / night seems standard now? One girl on PL asked for 15 k / night. Wouldn't budge. 7/10. LOL?

In other news, I did have my first (non-pro) threesome the other day. It's been constant threesomes since. (It's my second month in country.) One girl was previously a virgin, both 20 years old, 8/10 looks. But I'm spoiling them like crazy (you guys would call me a fool if you knew how much I've spent on girls per month since arriving here) and too nice to kick them out. It is fun having two live-in GFs. They get jealous though if I pay too much attention to the other. Question for you guys: when you're with a non-pro and you make her leave, what happens? She doesn't try coming back, or calling, or showing up at your doorstep? Never had slashed tires or something? Every girl I've been with so far has tried clinging on for dear life.

I'm renting a house, plan on living here for a while. It's nice because it lets me avoid the walk of shame (my car has tinted windows and the security guards just wave me through). But I'm worried about meeting a psycho someday.[/QUOTE]Is it any surprise they are clinging on for dear life? You just suggested you're tossing serious cash around. You're wearing underwear made of raw steak and swimming in the shark tank. It's going to be a feeding frenzy until you're bled dry.

A friend just checked in CP in Cebu and did not have any checked in baggage. They weigh the carry on and it was over the 7 kilo limit. Was charged over P650 for it. I guess they are weighing the carry on for extra money now.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;1804993]Is it any surprise they are clinging on for dear life? You just suggested you're tossing serious cash around. You're wearing underwear made of raw steak and swimming in the shark tank. It's going to be a feeding frenzy until you're bled dry.[/QUOTE]Important to make a story line about living with some office colleagues so cannot take home. Only give cell number and take her to short time hotels. Important that your home is your secret refuge in case of girl going into a frenzy or being a lunatic. A desperate girl may even accuse you of things if she sees no gain.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;1804993]Is it any surprise they are clinging on for dear life? You just suggested you're tossing serious cash around. You're wearing underwear made of raw steak and swimming in the shark tank. It's going to be a feeding frenzy until you're bled dry.[/QUOTE]They're draining me dry, all right, but not money. I have a successful online business that lets me fund this lifestyle perpetually. Honestly, the amount I've spent on them is just a small fraction of what's coming in every month. Any less and it'd feel wrong. I dunno. Maybe it's how they bring new girls over every week, or let me be with other girls while they're living here.

So, you guys just meet them in hotels, cook up a story and call it a day, huh? And afterward, their friends add you on Facebook? Seems hard to believe, but I'll have to try it sometime.