Travel Announcements Only (No questions or comments please)

[QUOTE=Mortman]OK thanks for that advice. Handy to know I will need to keep some currency in reserve as I am leaving the country[/QUOTE]

Just be wary about what they put on the computer though.

I had a friend who did the overstay and pay fine at departure thing at NAIA and when he returned the next time through Cebu as he checked in the customs officer said to him that he hoped he wasn't going to overstay his visa again. It had been flagged on his record on the computer.

Not good to have anything negative on your record, especially as computers are all linked up internationally these days. I would be going to the BoI and paying my extension/fine there before I left if it was me.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]Just be wary about what they put on the computer though.

I had a friend who did the overstay and pay fine at departure thing at NAIA and when he returned the next time through Cebu as he checked in the customs officer said to him that he hoped he wasn't going to overstay his visa again. It had been flagged on his record on the computer.

Not good to have anything negative on your record, especially as computers are all linked up internationally these days. I would be going to the BoI and paying my extension/fine there before I left if it was me.[/QUOTE]

Good point made. Can you advise specifically what I need to do, what is BoI and will I have this facility in Cebu?
PS I may take you up on that cold SMB if our paths ever cross!

[QUOTE=Mortman]Good point made. Can you advise specifically what I need to do, what is BoI and will I have this facility in Cebu?
PS I may take you up on that cold SMB if our paths ever cross![/QUOTE]
BOI is the Bureau of Immigration, and you can visit their offices in Cebu, Davao, Manilla and, I would guess several other cities as well. It's not a big deal to get the visa extension.

GE

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]I had a friend who did the overstay and pay fine at departure thing at NAIA and when he returned the next time through Cebu as he checked in the customs officer said to him that he hoped he wasn't going to overstay his visa again. It had been flagged on his record on the computer.[/QUOTE]
Immigration and customs are two different departments. I have a friend who overstays his visa by a few days every single visit and has never been flagged. Your friend must have given Immigration a hard time because I have been assured thats it's not a problem. How long did he overstay?

Guys
Thanks for your imput, I will make some enquiries with the BOI next week. Just heading off to Moalboal again for a few days, have got tired of the noise, smells and traffic in Cebu and need some peace and quiet for a few days

[QUOTE=Mattrick]Immigration and customs are two different departments. I have a friend who overstays his visa by a few days every single visit and has never been flagged. Your friend must have given Immigration a hard time because I have been assured thats it's not a problem. How long did he overstay?[/QUOTE]

Sorry I said Customs when i meant Immigration.

I just don't see the point of flaunting visa "rules" every time? It is easy to get an extension for the same amount AND you don't need to pay any fine. Sometimes they will make guys with overstays wait while they deal with the lineup who dont need to have fines calculated.
I wonder who gave you the assurance that it's not a problem. One of the guys at the desk? The current BoI Commissioner Libanan is putting a broom through the Department (he now has CCTV on each booth to watch for attempts at bribes for example)he has tidied up the Retirement Visa requirements, and he has also smoothed out lots of the red tape that used to occur at BoI in Manila.
I personally wouldn't be messing around with overstaying visas. I'd like to see guys try leaving Mongolia or Laos without an extension (2 places I have just been working in).
Some guys want to push the limits on everything and that's OK. Not my style.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]Sorry I said Customs when i meant Immigration.

I just don't see the point of flaunting visa "rules" every time? It is easy to get an extension for the same amount AND you don't need to pay any fine. Sometimes they will make guys with overstays wait while they deal with the lineup who dont need to have fines calculated.
I wonder who gave you the assurance that it's not a problem. One of the guys at the desk? The current BoI Commissioner Libanan is putting a broom through the Department (he now has CCTV on each booth to watch for attempts at bribes for example)he has tidied up the Retirement Visa requirements, and he has also smoothed out lots of the red tape that used to occur at BoI in Manila.
I personally wouldn't be messing around with overstaying visas. I'd like to see guys try leaving Mongolia or Laos without an extension (2 places I have just been working in).
Some guys want to push the limits on everything and that's OK. Not my style.[/QUOTE]

I always just get it taken care of at the NYC Phils Embassy. I love showing that page to them when they think they have me for overstaying. They always look so disappointed. LOL,

just had a dreadful experience there.

tried twice to reserve a room via email. no response to my e mail.

hello. that was a clue!

arrived sunday 2pm may 16.

took trike to geomania with my girlfriend.

thought the trike driver was lost because the location is so out of the way.

arrived and walked into the courtyard pool area, looked for reception desk. there is none. you must go to the bar and the female bartender will give you a card to fill out while (in my case) no less than 5 drunk men sitting at the bar ogled my girlfriend and made strange, rude, comments while i filled out the card. and guess what, two of the drunks were the owners!

it got worse. we were exhausted from our 5 hour drive from puerto galera and needed rest. impossible. doors and windows are so thin every sound from the pool area and bar below filters into your room, and they were playing songs over the speaker system about new york over and over and over again. i kid you not. 20 times i heard "it's up to you ny ny". 20 times.

when i went to the bar and asked that they turn the sound down and stop playing ny ny over and over again one of the drunk owners accused me of being a "nut case".

later that night i took a peek into their "lounge". right out of star wars". my girlfriend actually was somewhat frightened.

next day i went to check out, and was told that they could not accept credit cards. i told them that when i checked in they should have told me they were not accepting plastic. at that point, things got ugly as one of the (once again) drunk owners said "so you stay at the hotel, but have no money to pay? " my face reddened and i simply decided to remain silent, pay cash. and get out- asap.

i gave the owner the cash, received no receipt, got my (our) luggage and left.

worst experience ever in an ac hotel. the worst.

avoid geomania.

There is construction on the building next door (not the fault of the owners of Geomania) but, it added to the uncomfortability of staying at ths "hotel". Bang Bang all day long. And not the kind of banging I like to be associated with.

Also. They have "house" trike driver. His trike was badly in need of new brakes. Each time we stopped the sound was almost painful. Metal on Metal.

[QUOTE=Five10]
Avoid Geomania.[/QUOTE]

Ya know, most of this is your fault.

If they don't respond to your emails, why did you still show up?

If the owners were drunk and made strange/rude comments, why did you proceed with signing in?

If the trike driver got lost, that's not the fault of the hotel.

Nothing on their website said they accept credit cards. Were there any signs on-site that said they accept credit cards? I bet not. That's not surprising -- lots of establishments in AC don't take credit cards. Why blame the hotel if you made a wrong assumption?

Loud noise from a bar in Angeles City hotel? Who would have guessed? No offense, but if I heard you ask a bar to turn down the music or to stop playing a certain song, I'd think you were nuts too. Bars are supposed to be loud. It's a bar, not a law library.

Bottom line is, if things don't look right, don't use the hotel, especially when there are dozens in the area. It's your responsibility to make intelligent consumer choices and not ignore obvious red flags.

Overall, with the exception of a few hotels, AC accomodations are pretty rudimentary compared to those in most Western countries. As I've told many people, if you come here or most places in the Philippines, you must have a sense of humor and patience -- or pony up more money and get better accomodations.

[QUOTE=FurryFriend]Ya know, most of this is your fault.

If they don't respond to your emails, why did you still show up?

If the owners were drunk and made strange/rude comments, why did you proceed with signing in?

If the trike driver got lost, that's not the fault of the hotel.

Nothing on their website said they accept credit cards. Were there any signs on-site that said they accept credit cards? I bet not. That's not surprising -- lots of establishments in AC don't take credit cards. Why blame the hotel if you made a wrong assumption?

Loud noise from a bar in Angeles City hotel? Who would have guessed? No offense, but if I heard you ask a bar to turn down the music or to stop playing a certain song, I'd think you were nuts too. Bars are supposed to be loud. It's a bar, not a law library.

Bottom line is, if things don't look right, don't use the hotel, especially when there are dozens in the area. It's your responsibility to make intelligent consumer choices and not ignore obvious red flags.

Overall, with the exception of a few hotels, AC accomodations are pretty rudimentary compared to those in most Western countries. As I've told many people, if you come here or most places in the Philippines, you must have a sense of humor and patience -- or pony up more money and get better accomodations.[/QUOTE]
Are you fucking kidding me??? He did what he should have done. He tried one night and got the fuck out. I AM sick and tired of the bashing here when someone has issues with a bar or hotel.

The way I read this, you are owner or maybe a friend of owner. I have stayed in at least 75 hotels in the Philippines and NEVER had the issues that he had. All he did was report...You need to get a life.

Robb

PS (Edit): I just read your posts and you have been in AC one time???? I guess you need to write the next addition of the Philippines Lonely Planet to share all of your wisdom.

[QUOTE=FurryFriend]Ya know, most of this is your fault.

If they don't respond to your emails, why did you still show up?

If the owners were drunk and made strange/rude comments, why did you proceed with signing in?

If the trike driver got lost, that's not the fault of the hotel.

Nothing on their website said they accept credit cards. Were there any signs on-site that said they accept credit cards? I bet not. That's not surprising -- lots of establishments in AC don't take credit cards. Why blame the hotel if you made a wrong assumption?

Loud noise from a bar in Angeles City hotel? Who would have guessed? No offense, but if I heard you ask a bar to turn down the music or to stop playing a certain song, I'd think you were nuts too. Bars are supposed to be loud. It's a bar, not a law library.

Bottom line is, if things don't look right, don't use the hotel, especially when there are dozens in the area. It's your responsibility to make intelligent consumer choices and not ignore obvious red flags.

Overall, with the exception of a few hotels, AC accomodations are pretty rudimentary compared to those in most Western countries. As I've told many people, if you come here or most places in the Philippines, you must have a sense of humor and patience -- or pony up more money and get better accomodations.[/QUOTE]Furry, respectfully, disagree. The man possibly stopped in AC with his gal for the day/evening, traveling thru. He might not be aware of the bars and the noise. Ya, a newb might ask them to turn down the noise, especially in the afternoon. Catcalls from the owners or his friends to the man's woman? Unkind in any place on earth.

Failure to respond to email? Do business elsewhere. No CC? For a hotel found on the net? That's odd. Most places would place a placard that reads CASH ONLY NO C.C. If you have cash you pay it, that doesnt mean the gent must be happy with it.

[QUOTE=Robbaf]Are you fucking kidding me??? He did what he should have done. He tried one night and got the fuck out. I AM sick and tired of the bashing here when someone has issues with a bar or hotel.

The way I read this, you are owner or maybe a friend of owner. I have stayed in at least 75 hotels in the Philippines and NEVER had the issues that he had. All he did was report...You need to get a life.

Robb

PS (Edit): I just read your posts and you have been in AC one time???? I guess you need to write the next addition of the Philippines Lonely Planet to share all of your wisdom.[/QUOTE]

DISCLAIMER: I have never been in Geomania and have no knowlegde any of it.

I remember seeing Mathius and KongKing having recent posts:
[url]http://internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?p=1010959&highlight=geomania#post1010959[/url]

Robb, I totally respect your authoritity with ~600 valuable reports... So you have also been in Geomania personally? If not being there, please give opportunity for opposite opinions towards to Your own Wisdow. Please Sir, just tone it down a little.

PS. I do not have a life before I return to Philippines next Summer again. That's why I hangaround plain idle here :(

[QUOTE=White Whale]DISCLAIMER: I have never been in Geomania and have no knowlegde any of it.

I remember seeing Mathius and KongKing having recent posts:
[url]http://internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?p=1010959&highlight=geomania#post1010959[/url]

Robb, I totally respect your authoritity with ~600 valuable reports... So you have also been in Geomania personally? If not being there, please give opportunity for opposite opinions towards to Your own Wisdow. Please Sir, just tone it down a little.

PS. I do not have a life before I return to Philippines next Summer again. That's why I hangaround plain idle here :([/QUOTE]
Thanks:) I was drinking last night and I read Jiggy's report [post]1021291[/post] about all the free Ho's he scored and then this one slamming a hotel post. I have short timed in this hotel 2 times and never had any issues.

I have been coming here for 20 years and living here for the last three. I hate when BM's post about free pussy (most girls on dating sites are really looking for a boyfriend or need money) and his post make newbies think they can do what he posted:(

Five10 just posted his experience and no hotel owners/employees/friends should be making remarks to anyone's girlfriend.

Thanks
Robb

Happy hour at the Executive Lounge there if you want to join PM. Will probably do a run to Sunflower at some point as well if anyone is interested.