Angeles City

In the past I have always looked for the HSBC ATM *because they were the only ones that let me withdraw 20, 000 per a transaction. On last months trip I tried just about every other banks ATM and the most I could withdraw was 10, 000. Most of the ATMs stated "your bank will not allow that amount of a withdraw" (not the exact wording, but you get the idea). But for some reason my bank, Wells Fargo, trusts me to withdraw 15, 000 from HSBC*

Still prefer the good ole days when they offered 20, 000, but I had no other choice. *The only HSBC I found was the one mentioned below, across the street from the terraces of Ayala mall in Cebu.

Also as noted below, my iPhone and iPad both convert I'd into I'd. It's an Apple thing.

[QUOTE=Bob Bowie; 1368187]In the past I have always looked for the HSBC ATM *because they were the only ones that let me withdraw 20, 000 per a transaction. On last months trip I tried just about every other banks ATM and the most I could withdraw was 10, 000. Most of the ATMs stated "your bank will not allow that amount of a withdraw" (not the exact wording, but you get the idea). But for some reason my bank, Wells Fargo, trusts me to withdraw 15, 000 from HSBC*

Still prefer the good ole days when they offered 20, 000, but I had no other choice. *The only HSBC I found was the one mentioned below, across the street from the terraces of Ayala mall in Cebu.

Also as noted below, my iPhone and iPad both convert I'd into I'd. It's an Apple thing.[/QUOTE]Limited access to $$ is probably not a big deal in low cost countries like the Philippines but most US cards limit ATM to $200USD. Burn that in a day real easy in Europe. I bank with a smaller bank and they allow $400 ATM withdrawals. I also have two ATM cards linked to different accounts so it doubles that figure. Will report on how much they let me take in Angeles. I called them to let them know I will be traveling for the month and there was no mention of limits.

I came across this post as I was browsing this thread for a future visit. I use First Republic Bank (branches in NYC, SF, etc) it's a small boutique bank with no tellers, you have a personal banker. Their polity is to refund all ATM fees worldwide charged by other banks. I've been using them for years and can't recommend it enough.

[QUOTE=SimonHeSays;1367327]All my accounts were opened at the same branch. I make it a point to show my face often. Keep the personal in personal banking. (it's 5 blocks from my place) There are some fees that are non-refundable. As in there is no mechanism programmed at corporate level to allow for it or they are limited by regulation. I'm not sure about Wells and BoFA (like they really care about customer service) but my district manager has discretionary funds that he can spend as he sees fit. I also have a considerable line of credit that I have never used. The yearly fee is $50. I have never paid for this.

I'm pretty brutal when it comes to the banks. I see them as worthless. Customer service has gone to shit and all they care about is turning profits. And I'm with ya! These asses borrow money from the fed for 0% or the give us. 024% on our deposits. They went from "too big to fail" to "government guaranteed profits" All Dod Frank did was make it impossible for the average guy to get a mortgage.[/QUOTE]

I understand that the PI pretty much shuts down on Good Friday and Easter. No public transportation, bars closed, etc. Can someone please confirm if this is true or not. My main concern, besides finding cold beer, is getting from AC to Manila on Good Friday. As a last resort, I'm sure one of the hotels will provide transportation at a premium.

[QUOTE=Retired Army;1368329]I understand that the PI pretty much shuts down on Good Friday and Easter. No public transportation, bars closed, etc. Can someone please confirm if this is true or not. My main concern, besides finding cold beer, is getting from AC to Manila on Good Friday. As a last resort, I'm sure one of the hotels will provide transportation at a premium.[/QUOTE]Don't know about public transport on Good Friday / Easter weekend, but Margarita Station offers car service; they do charge an extra 250php holiday surcharge over their regular rates (2, 600php for a car). The car should have a cooler for your beer and, of course for an extra fee, they can even stock it for you as well.

Link to their rate chart:

[url]http://www.margaritastation.com/oets.html[/url]

You may also want to look into "Fly the Bus" with Swagman, they'll probably be running, but don't know if you'll have to pay a surcharge and I believe its BYOB

http://www.swaggy.com/index-bus-service.php

[QUOTE=Retired Army;1368329]I understand that the PI pretty much shuts down on Good Friday and Easter. No public transportation, bars closed, etc. Can someone please confirm if this is true or not. My main concern, besides finding cold beer, is getting from AC to Manila on Good Friday. As a last resort, I'm sure one of the hotels will provide transportation at a premium.[/QUOTE]I was there a couple of years ago over Easter.

The ATMs at the mall were closed, as was the Mall itself. Other ATMs ran out of money over the weekend, so bring some cash.

Bars seemed to be mostly open on Fields (I didn't visit them all, but there were enough open to satisfy my, ahem, 'needs').

You might find that the holiday means that there is not that much traffic on the roads to and from Manila, making your trip a little quicker. Outside church hours that is.

[QUOTE=Popper1; 1368170]. There are two reasons why I like this gal: the right and left one.

-Popper[/QUOTE]Nice rack on that one, Popper.

Thanks

Ok, I have some vacation time coming up, and have long been curious about visiting the Phillipines. I have been to the spectacle that is Pattaya, and it seems that Angeles may be a similar paradise. However, I have been reading through previous postings going back pretty far, and I am starting to get a little spooked about the prevalence of STD's and barebacking. The PI is the only country with its own section called 'Safe sex in the Phillipines, ' and its pretty active.

So how bad is it? Is it two condoms, scrubbing with peroxide and bleach bad? Although I love to travel for fun, I am into safety too, and will divert to a better destination if necessary.

[QUOTE=Sean EZ;1368322]I came across this post as I was browsing this thread for a future visit. I use First Republic Bank (branches in NYC, SF, etc) it's a small boutique bank with no tellers, you have a personal banker. Their polity is to refund all ATM fees worldwide charged by other banks. I've been using them for years and can't recommend it enough.[/QUOTE]Same bank I use.

Also use Chase.

Talked to account managers at both and got them to agree to refund all charges and raise my ATM withdraw limits to 1000. Some machines have their own limits too though.

[QUOTE=Manny51; 1368386]Ok, I have some vacation time coming up, and have long been curious about visiting the Phillipines. I have been to the spectacle that is Pattaya, and it seems that Angeles may be a similar paradise. However, I have been reading through previous postings going back pretty far, and I am starting to get a little spooked about the prevalence of STD's and barebacking. The PI is the only country with its own section called 'Safe sex in the Phillipines, ' and its pretty active.

So how bad is it? Is it two condoms, scrubbing with peroxide and bleach bad? Although I love to travel for fun, I am into safety too, and will divert to a better destination if necessary.[/QUOTE]Angeles has a very bad reputation for some nasty STD's, no reports on HIV outbreaks YET, but lots of reports of drug resistant gonorrhea cases popping up. My opinion is that the cases of HIV are being under reported.

[QUOTE=RoadGlide;1368430]Angeles has a very bad reputation for some nasty STD's, no reports on HIV outbreaks YET, but lots of reports of drug resistant gonorrhea cases popping up. My opinion is that the cases of HIV are being under reported.[/QUOTE]Hmmm. Ok. How about other places in the PI, like Manila and Cebu, or even other places in Luzon?

[QUOTE=RoadGlide;1368430]Angeles has a very bad reputation for some nasty STD's, no reports on HIV outbreaks YET, but lots of reports of drug resistant gonorrhea cases popping up. My opinion is that the cases of HIV are being under reported.[/QUOTE]Yes, at the more established bars that are weekly health checks and thus a degree of control, but one really does not know how reliable they are.

Absent any reliable information, one needs to be careful and discipline, and not give to temptation with that GF experience that one gets in the Philippines more often than in Thailand. Many are surprised as to how many uneducated / inexperienced girls in the Philippines who really like you do not insist on a condom, and encourage you not to do it. The more educated / experienced / mature ones insist on a condom. STAY discipline, use your OWN condoms, and stay safe.

Ace,

This is my problem. I cannot find an HSBC ATM in AC! I have an HSBC Premier ATM card and Credit card.

Funman.

[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88;1367079]The only bank in the Philippines that does not charge a 200php foreign card ATM transaction fee is HSBC. You will be charged a 200php fee at Citibank (unless you use a Citibank ATM card) and all the other local ATM's; BDO, BPI ect. Always maximize your ATM withdrawl to minimize the fees charged.[/QUOTE]

TIA,

That's a good idea if you go regularly. However, bear in mind one thing. The Peso fluctuates pretty much against the Dollar (or Euro). So, say if you open an account this month with UD$10, 000, in 6 months it may be worth only $9, 000. I have a small business interest in Bali, Indonesia, and have the same problem.

I will be in AC from Feb 1 to 5. If you are in town, I'll hold you to that beer!

Funman.

[QUOTE=Concarne; 1367359]As my work may take me there semi regularly: is it easy enough to just bring some $$, open a bank account there and then use a local ATM without getting hit with international fees and / or crappy exchange rates?

Surely many here, expats or otherwise, have done this.

TIA[/QUOTE]

In USA we say "photo I'd".

Great idea about opening two accounts: foreign and local currencies. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1367518]Yes, it's easy to open an account. I did so with my passport and another picture IDENTIFICATION (gads, that word can't be abbreviated? Something has run amok.) plus the address of my condo. I recall minimum dollar deposit is $200 for most banks, but you can check online. BPI, BDO, and MetroBank are three of the larger ones. You can then wire transfer a sizable dollar sum to the dollar account. BTW, minimum peso deposit for a peso account is p500. You might want to open one of those too, and if the exchange rate works in your favour withdraw dollars, exchange, and deposit for use later.[/QUOTE]