My trip report (Sept 2007)
Ok, so I spent 2 nights in Manila - nothing much to write about here - wish I'd gone straight to Angeles.
I checked out the hotel and got the Swagman "fly by the bus" to Angeles. These buses are really old and uncomfortable - the only upside is that is costs 500 pesos - taxi fare from Manila to Angeles is around 2500 pesos - so your saving 2000 pesos.
The bus dropped me outside the Swiss chalet hotel where I checked in. Nice room for 1480 pesos per night. This was half the price of the Manila hotel, but the room was so much better. Small room, but has a huge mirror next to the bed, AirCon, TV, fridge, in the heart of the action, free wifi use if you have a laptop, big safe to hold a laptop/money, good shower, bed, and good staff. 50 metres walk to the go go bars! Downside is that there are some ladyboys / Baklas hanging around in the area.
First impressions - has a dirt/dusty feel to it and there's not much else to do apart from monger, monger, eat and sleep.
I venture out on the fields strip and ended up meeting a looker from Champagne. I tend to go out late - around 11pm. As I found out most of the lookers get barfined much earlier. Oh well. The champagne girl was hot, but said she had a check up the next morning so suggested I come back tomorrow - how nice - she was thinking of me - I took her mobile number. So the first night I went home alone as I couldn't find another looker after 3am.
Other nights - as it turned out the champagne girl wasn't there - the waitresses said it was here day off - but over the next few days she wasn't there, so I guess she failed her test and hence couldn’t work. I ended up barfining a girls from Stingers, the tequila girl from heartbreakers and the last night a champagne girl. They all like to get their lady drinks - so only try to buy the girl your going to bar fine lady drinks.
Cost - Bar fine is around 1200/1300 pesos for bars in fields - tip the girl the next morning around 200 if she's good. These girls love to sleep so try to get up in the morning so as not to waste your day.
Discos - I think there's only two - Skytrax and Klub Class. Both are on fields and it's best to take a girl from a bar there - there's no real freelanncers within these discos.
Viagra/Cialis sir? Everywhere you get offered this but the street touts - it's all fake so you shouldn't buy it - do not engage in conversation with these guys as they'll pester you all the time.
Trike - the only way to get around - I just said 50 pesos OK as soon as I got into one. PS if you’re a big guy you'll struggle to get into these.
Laundry - I just gave it to the hotel - easy and cheap.
Small world - Angeles is very small and the girls have friends - It's best to bar hop alone and not take a girl along, especially if you’re not going to stay with the same girl for the duration of the trip - they all get jealous as expected.
Mobile phone - I bought a Globe - Sim card and then got a 300 pesos top up. It can be worth getting one. All the girls text message. Be careful what girls you give your number to as they won't stop texting or calling you.
Money changers - a few of these of Fields - but stick to the more official ones and only change a maximum of 100 GBP / 200 USD at a time. I got a rate of 90 pesos per 1 GBP.
Weather - usually rained for an hour to two in the afternoon and evening. But since the hotel was in the center it didn't affect me.
Shopping - The SM (mall) is pretty good - very clean and everything you need under one roof - and it feels good to get away from the hustle and bustle of the fields area.
Perimeter bars - I tried these but went around 10pm - not realising that they tend to close around midnight. The girls appear to be rougher and desperate - just my impression, so I stuck to the fields.
Massage - I tried Roman baths - ok, but these scene is very small in this area. The go go bars open up early so most mongers tend to go to these if they want some action. Dollhouse is open 24hrs a day!
Back to Manila Airport - cost 2400 pesos arranged through the hotel - takes 2 hours. Remember you'll need 750 pesos for departure tax.