Makati

[quote=Volpone]Could someone make me a sum up? On this board, that would be great, so everybody could enjoy it. A sum up for every city in Metro-Manila, that would be great.[/quote] Back in October 2004 I wrote and posted [post=307743]A Naive Guide to Punting in Makati City, version 0.5[/post]. It hasn't been updated since, though most information still applies. It is written from the perspective of what is handy for the Makati visitor, some of which is just outside Makati.

My recent experience suggests that prices have not changed much, nor locations, except that Glorietta has been less of a hunting grounds than before. Then again I could have just been there during a quiet time.

I see some people say you can have the girls from the bar without barfine after hours. That is right, but remember that most of the bargirls need to be barfined at least twice per week or they are (really) fined. If you like one and pay their barfine twice, they can and will spend the whole week with you for little extra money for as much boom boom as you like. I have always thought that a good investment.
My favourite bar is Bottoms as I like the aggressive kind. You get to see what you get. Pressure for drinks can be high in that place but if you befriend the mama and give her a nice tip they will not push too hard in my experience.

Hey guys -

I will be in Manila, staying at the Heritage Hotel near the EDSA complex.

I was wondering if it's worth it for me to make the trip to Makati? Or is EDSA a better deal?

Hi guys,

I'm in Makati for a couple of days and wondering if anyone else is interested in hitting up AF1 or Pegasus?

White guy here, early 30s, used to live here but haven't been back for a couple of years.

Always safer w/ a pal I think.

A friend was asking about hotels in Makati and asked about Regines and Artina. As I was typing a response, I thought it might be of some help here. If not, oh well.

I know Regines and I stayed there before. I think it was under $50 a night but I wouldn't stay there again. It wasn't very clean.

The Artina is probably the one where your friend walked into because the pictures look new. However, looking at the location, it is not walking distance to anything. You would have to take a taxi anywhere you go. I have actually been in that area and there is nothing near there except City Hall and the police station.

You may want to consider the Ortigas area. There's a 4* hotel called Richmonde Hotel for about $75-$80 a night that is around the corner from a Starbucks and about a 2-3 block walk from the Mega Mall (one of the largest malls in Manila) and 2 other malls. It is also about 5-6 blocks from yet another mall and about 4 - 5 blocks from the Call Centers.

There is also a Linden Suites which is a block from the Richmonde and about the same price and a Discovery Suites which is a block further from Linden. I don't know if you follow boxing but Discovery Suites is where Larios stayed while he was training for his fight with Manny Pacquiao. There's also a Holiday Inn another block down which is attached to a mall. They all are about the same price although I've found Discovery Suites to be a few dollars more.

The Ortigas area doesn't have much to do at night so if you like the nightlife, Makati is the place to be.

2 blocks form the Penninsula is the Mandarin Oriental. 2 blocks the other way is the Shangri-la and also 2 malls. The Oakwood is connected to the mall (Glorietta mall) which is also where a lot of American restaurants are (Outback, Tony Romas, CPK, TGIF, Hard Rock). Shangri-la is about a block away.

The Mandarin is not too close to anything either but within a safe 15 minute walk to the malls and about 3 blocks from a lot of bars and a red-light district. The Regines is considered in the red-light district. It isn't bad and it is a street that has to be driven going from Makati to Mandaluyong. Hotels are cheaper in that area. Some decent ones are Makati Prime, Oxford Suites, City Garden and Best Western Astoria. All are probably in the $40-$60 range.

Hope this helps. It probably just added to the confusion but I'll help you figure it out.

I'm still here in Makati, easy walking distance to P.Burgos. I will be here a few more weeks so anyone up for a drink or two at The Matrix?

After showing me some "casas" (aka "dormitories"), my local contact took me to the "Asian Entertainment Center" (?), a KTV bar that cost 6000pp to take the girl out. Mine was a gorgeous 19 year old with beautiful tits and a rock-hard tummy, but she was a lousy lay. Bleah! The "casa" girls could be had for 3000pp for overnight though I rather suspect the white skin tax is in effect. But some of those girls looked doable and I intend to partake when I am not so busy working. You have to know someone to be let into these places.

After the poor experience at the KTV, I pretty much have balked at paying the barfines in P.Burgos so I have not partaken there. Instead, I found a couple of girls off FilipinaHearts website, and a couple more at coffee shops. To paraphrase another poster, I would term these girls "semi-professional types pretending to be girlfriends looking for boyfriends" Have usually not paid more than 2000pp + taxi fares for overnight for these, though there were 2 girls whom I took out to dinner, then took to my bed that night. That was 1600pp for dinner and drinks (a lot of drinks), then 1500pp for each girl the next day, phrased as "I need some help for my family" or something like that. And don't forget the taxis. Service was alright, girls took their turns with me, no girl-girl action.

I haven't made it LA Cafe or to the EDSA complex or to Malate. Hope to do that soon.

I am planning a trip in September which will include some time in Makati (around 1 week). I do have both a question and a contribution.

Question: Hotels - I do like to stay in relatively nice hotels. I don't quite have the budget for the Shangri La, but am debating between:

1) Mandarin Oriental
2) Peninsula
3) Dusit - although this appears to be a little older for me.

Does anyone have any insight around these hotels??? I am leaning towards the Mandarin based on location to Burgos & it seems a little more modern. Any insight would be appreciated.

Contribution:

I have attached an Earth Google picture of where I believe all the hotels are relative to Burgos. I hope it is accurate, I more or less put it together by going through hotel websites, maps, etc.

If anyone could let me know about those 3 hotels it would be appreciated.

[QUOTE=Finrod] The "casa" girls could be had for 3000pp for overnight though I rather suspect the white skin tax is in effect. But some of those girls looked doable and I intend to partake when I am not so busy working. You have to know someone to be let into these places.[/QUOTE]Finrod: Every hotel I know of in greater Manila has a tout outside who is linked to a casa that is within a block or so of the hotel. In Ermita I paid 2,000 pesos for an all nighter from a casa 1/2 block from LA Cafe. I'm not sure of any white or foreigner tax and did not try to negotiate down. The girls were 5-7.5 and not as hardened IMHO as the LA cafe girls.

[QUOTE=Steve74]
Billboard - very good selection, but i barfined one cute girl who turned ot to be a runner. Maybe just bad luck.

[/QUOTE]

Not bad luck, just the wrong bar. Bilboard is different from all of the other bars on Burgoss. Looks the same at first glance, except the particularly cute girls around and the professional dancers. As opposed to the other bars on Burgoss, the girls are not expected to barfine customers, but are welcome to do so if they please (except for the professional dancers on the back stage). And if they do barfine, they are also not expected to put out, but again, are welcome to do so if they chose. Because of this policy, the bar attracts a lot of girls that want to make some money, but not have sex with customers. Don't sweat it however. I certainly made the same mistake when I was a newbie, as I am sure many others have. And of course, if the girl really likes you, she still may put out, especially on the second barfine (if you want to take that risk with your time and money).

[QUOTE=Finrod]I'm still here in Makati, easy walking distance to P.Burgos. I will be here a few more weeks so anyone up for a drink or two at The Matrix?[/QUOTE] Send Cebu Local a PM. He and I met for a drink the last time I was in Makati. He's a great guy and a good source for local knowledge. Good luck.

Guinness

Weekender123,

If you can afford the Peninsula or Mandarin Oriental in Makati ($80-100), then go for it. In Manila, the Pan Pacific or Diamond is a bit better at around the same price. Check out [url]www.asiatravel.com[/url]

[QUOTE=Fog Ducker]Finrod: Every hotel I know of in greater Manila has a tout outside who is linked to a casa that is within a block or so of the hotel. In Ermita I paid 2,000 pesos for an all nighter from a casa 1/2 block from LA Cafe. I'm not sure of any white or foreigner tax and did not try to negotiate down. The girls were 5-7.5 and not as hardened IMHO as the LA cafe girls.[/QUOTE]Your point is well taken, thank you; I just never listen to the touts on the street. My local contact who showed me the "casas" is someone given me by a pinoy friend back in the States. And again, from the way my friend talked about the rates in the past to what these particular "casas" would charge me, I strongly believe they are charging me the foreigner rate. The girls I saw were also around 5-7.

[QUOTE=Weekender 123]I am planning a trip in September which will include some time in Makati (around 1 week). I do have both a question and a contribution.

Question: Hotels - I do like to stay in relatively nice hotels. I don't quite have the budget for the Shangri La, but am debating between:

1) Mandarin Oriental
2) Peninsula
3) Dusit - although this appears to be a little older for me.
.....[/QUOTE]

I stayed at the Renaissance (New World) last month. I like the convenience of being close to Greenbelt and only a few minutes away to P. Burgos. The room is very plush. The bathroom has a detach shower room, separate from the tub. Next to the bed is a master console which controls all your room lightings, air temp and music. I have stayed at the Ritz and Four Seasons (regular rooms) here in the US and I’ve never seen anything close to this device.

I paid around $130/day w/o breakfast. Taxi ride to P. Burgos is about $3 round trip.

I maybe coming back in September for business and I may again get a room @ the Renaissance.

[QUOTE=santaclaus]I stayed at the Renaissance (New World) last month. I like the convenience of being close to Greenbelt and only a few minutes away to P. Burgos. The room is very plush. The bathroom has a detach shower room, separate from the tub. Next to the bed is a master console which controls all your room lightings, air temp and music. I have stayed at the Ritz and Four Seasons (regular rooms) here in the US and I’ve never seen anything close to this device.

I paid around $130/day w/o breakfast. Taxi ride to P. Burgos is about $3 round trip.

I maybe coming back in September for business and I may again get a room @ the Renaissance.[/QUOTE]I prefer to stay at the Dusit as it is an excellent property, you can get a good rate often if booked through a broker over the internet ($55. a night at times), and you receive coupons for a excellent breakfast buffet. The rate for your room is the same for single or double occupancy, so when you check in be sure to check in as Mr. & Mrs. James Doe. This way you can take your girl for breakfast in the morning as the front desk will provide you 2 coupons. All the properties you requested information on are nice properties.

I am considering Dusit, intercontinental or Mandarine oriental hotel. Does anyone know if these are guest friendly.

Last year I stayed at Hyatt Regency. It is quite nice. EDSA complex is next door and unlike Heritage hotel you dont need to cross that busy dangerous street to get to the EDSA complex but they charged me $20 for the chick I was with.