Angeles City

[QUOTE=CaptMunch;1571653]I can only remember that the one bar recently where there was a story of the customers were "arrested". This is NOT the normal mode of operation here unless the customers are possibly disrespectful of the authorities conducting the raid.

Munch.[/QUOTE]No customers were arrested. They were [B]detained[/B] because none had valid I'd on them. A passport or photo copy of it, is the only valid ID (if they want to press the issue). They were all taken away and once their Identities were verified. Released. End of story.

All were back and out and about later that night. No one spent the night in Jail. Many false rumors have been started.

[QUOTE=XMan;1572828]I think everyone should take note. (I paraphrase with my usual sarcasm) Arrests of non Filipino customers might actually hurt business in Angeles city. (Holy cow, who would have thought?).

I'm not sure what AV is referring to when he says "sex tourist", but I'm pretty sure I'd book a flight to Thailand now with the potential cheaper prices. Holy cow. X.[/QUOTE]G'day X. Correction, 'Reports' of customers arrested. I'll be there Tuesday morning. Give you a sit rep the. I wouldn't get too excited. With Thailand under martial law ill skip it. Too each his own.

Cheers.

AV.

[QUOTE=ChrisLong;1572987]Thanks E can you suggest a hotel around MBC I will arrive in Manila this Saturday at 12:30 am and want to spend the first night near MBC and then leave for AC in the morning will be in AC for the month of June. Thinking of spending the month of July in Pattaya what is the current situation there with the marshal law being declared. I hear everything is shut down at 10: pm.[/QUOTE]My first trip to Manila whoever I asked in the hotel thread told me to stay at [URL]http://citystatetowerhotel.com.ph/accommodations.html[/URL] and I have been staying there ever since. $40/ night free breakfast. Walk out the door and turn right, then make a right at the next street then a left and the next street and you will see MBC on the right. It's like a 3 minute walk.

In Pattaya they just changed the curfew to midnight - 4 am. I think by July everything will be back to normal.

[QUOTE=Muenchen;1572942]If you want to have a safe trip from Manila to Angeles City, go to swagman hotel in Manila (Ermita) opposite of the US Embassy and take the Swagman Bus to Angeles City. The Swagmann Bus drop you off at any Hotel in Angeles City.

Regards,

Muenchen[/QUOTE]Bus from Pasay long slow scary & uncomfortable: 200? PHP.

Fly the Bus from Swagman Ermta: Long slow comfortable: 600 PHP.

TAXI: Varies wildly. I don't recommend.

Action Transport (car) : Hard to get them to answer phones or make booking: 2500 PHP.

Hotel car: Very comfortable & fast: 3000 - 4000 PHP.

I have a private driver takes me direct from the Airport for 3000 PHP. YMMV.

AV.

[QUOTE=ThatGuy865;1573031]No customers were arrested. They were [B]detained[/B] because none had valid I'd on them. A passport or photo copy of it, is the only valid ID (if they want to press the issue). They were all taken away and once their Identities were verified. Released. End of story.

All were back and out and about later that night. No one spent the night in Jail. Many false rumors have been started.[/QUOTE]Not sure where you get your info from Thatguy865,but its misleading to fellow would be visitors.

If as you claim customers were only detained and not arrested for the simple reason of no ID why would the police take the arrested tourist all the way from ac to camp crame in manila, surely a quick trip or phone call by the police to the foreigners hotel for ID checks would have been easier.

What really happened from sources close to the raided bar was that the foreigners were arrested and taken to Manila for the sole purpose of bribe money being obtained from the arrested foreigners, yes sure soon as the foreigners paid up the required sums they were released (dumped) to make their own way back to ac some two hours away by road.

Unfortunately PI police are in the business or robbing as much money as possible from arrested foreigners not checking ID's which produces zero peso.

[QUOTE=ThatGuy865;1573031]No customers were arrested. They were [B]detained[/B] because none had valid I'd on them. A passport or photo copy of it, is the only valid ID (if they want to press the issue). They were all taken away and once their Identities were verified. Released. End of story.

All were back and out and about later that night. No one spent the night in Jail. Many false rumors have been started.[/QUOTE]True. Plenty of rumors get started that way.

I do like your clarification. These customers were "Detained" as you indicated because they did NOT have identification.

VISITORS!

1. For those still coming to AC, it is wise to keep a COPY of your passport on you for just that reason. Keep your passport safe in the hotel.

2. I have heard quite a few reports in the last few months of the gangs (3 or 4) street boys circling tourists, one or two to distract the tourist and one of the other boys will start to fish through the pocket.

Just beware that these boys are there and tell them to stay away.

There is a stronger police presence on Walking Street after approximately 6 PM and these boys are chased off the street after that time. They usually operate during the daytime hours in and around Walking Street.

Munch.

Cheap clean small and GF.

About a 10 min walk to LA cafe.

[QUOTE=ChrisLong;1572726]Taking the bus from Manila to AC (Dao) can any one give me information on how to take the bus. I will be arriving late 12:30 am this Saturday night, will probably find a hotel near Bay Caf and pick up a girl from there my first night. How do I take the bus from there to AC. Can I bring my luggage on the bus I am not comfortable with leaving my luggage in the storage on the bus.

Thanks,

Chris[/QUOTE]If you take a yellow cab outside arrivals you get hustled to death and then over charged. Most guys go upstairs to departures and find a white cab dropping off passengers (easy). The white cab will use the meter and get you to where you're going w / out hassle. In the morning take a cab to Victory Liner Bus Depot in Pasay, buy your ticket to Dua, and a trike to hotel in AC, less than 500 p for this trip.

The new AC disappointed me w/ the current bar talent but there are a few nice babes hiding in plain sight. You might have to go thru several bars to find one of them. I thought Atlantis was as close to the old AC as there is, I miss the old AC but still a fun down and dirty town.

Good Luck

[QUOTE=Muenchen;1572942]If you want to have a safe trip from Manila to Angeles City, go to swagman hotel in Manila (Ermita) opposite of the US Embassy and take the Swagman Bus to Angeles City. The Swagmann Bus drop you off at any Hotel in Angeles City.

Regards,

Muenchen[/QUOTE]Swagman is not opposite the USA Embassy. Please don't misdirect people. Swagman is north of the embassy on Flores, one block off of the Roxas Service Road. I get off across the park from Swagman and walk over. Its only 100 yards or so with plenty if cops sleeping or playing with their phones in the park. If you're coming from the south on the service road, some drivers will continue on a block north of Flores and then double back aroud so you can be dropped off directly in front of Swagman. If indeed you're contemplating taking the Swaggy bus, their schedule to AC is on their website or google Fly the Bus. If you have any questions about any of this Chris, feel free to PM me directly. Fare is 650 from Swaggy's and the bus will drop you off at or very close to whatever hotel you're staying at in AC.

[QUOTE=JpSlicky;1573205]Cheap clean small and GF.

About a 10 min walk to LA cafe.[/QUOTE]Not recommended to or from MBC from Tune after 9:00 pm On a good night the area around LAC can be called seedy at best. Taxi from Tune should be around 55 pesos.

I skipped AC on my last visit and will probably do so again in August. I like the place but work no longer allows me the three week holidays I used to take. I'll spend my time in Visayans. I might just get an underwater camera and do the Oslob buntanding swim again. X.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1573048]G'day X. Correction, 'Reports' of customers arrested. I'll be there Tuesday morning. Give you a sit rep the. I wouldn't get too excited. With Thailand under martial law ill skip it. Too each his own.

Cheers.

AV.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=NapaSlapper;1573165]Not sure where you get your info from Thatguy865,but its misleading to fellow would be visitors.

If as you claim customers were only detained and not arrested for the simple reason of no ID why would the police take the arrested tourist all the way from ac to camp crame in manila, surely a quick trip or phone call by the police to the foreigners hotel for ID checks would have been easier.

What really happened from sources close to the raided bar was that the foreigners were arrested and taken to Manila for the sole purpose of bribe money being obtained from the arrested foreigners, yes sure soon as the foreigners paid up the required sums they were released (dumped) to make their own way back to ac some two hours away by road.

Unfortunately PI police are in the business or robbing as much money as possible from arrested foreigners not checking ID's which produces zero peso.[/QUOTE]Sorry Napa. But you are absolutely wrong. They do not call your hotel. They are not in the business of trying to figure out your identity. Are you serious. PNP making phone calls on your behave.

Besides calling a hotel would NOT prove anything. 1st do you think they would take the word of a hotel desk clerk and how would the hotel clerk know anyway... 2nd you don't need to show a passport to get a hotel room. Some not even a credit card. You can pay cash.

I have been in raids. And it is at their discretion as to whether or not they let you go with a warning or take you away for you to prove your identity. I keep a photo copy of my passport for this very reason.

I am not saying they didn't extort monies from the customers. No one knows. As none said they did or didn't. That is pure speculation.. But. The reason they were detained. Was due to no ID.

If they had ID. None would have been taken. That is why it was a rare thing. An over zealous raid commander who exerted his full authority that one particular raid.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1573048]G'day X. Correction, 'Reports' of customers arrested. I'll be there Tuesday morning. Give you a sit rep the. I wouldn't get too excited. With Thailand under martial law ill skip it. Too each his own.

Cheers.

AV.[/QUOTE]To Amavida.

I am on a business trip next month to China and Asia and China is cracking down, Thailand is having a curfew, AC and Manila is on a crack down and Jarkata is going to be in Ramadan soon so it will be a tough monger trip.

Fast eddie 48.

Sure seems like a lot of info here from 3 party sources but no facts or first hand knowledge. No knowledge of who the detainees were or if there was any. Yes, it is best to have some form of I'd on you like anywhere else in the world. From my limited experience the real poliza don't like to mess with any foreigners unless they have broken some serious law. There has not been enough info back by facts to change my next visit in June.

[QUOTE=ThatGuy865;1573403]Sorry Napa. But you are absolutely wrong. They do not call your hotel. They are not in the business of trying to figure out your identity. Are you serious. PNP making phone calls on your behave.

Besides calling a hotel would NOT prove anything. 1st do you think they would take the word of a hotel desk clerk and how would the hotel clerk know anyway... 2nd you don't need to show a passport to get a hotel room. Some not even a credit card. You can pay cash.

I have been in raids. And it is at their discretion as to whether or not they let you go with a warning or take you away for you to prove your identity. I keep a photo copy of my passport for this very reason.

I am not saying they didn't extort monies from the customers. No one knows. As none said they did or didn't. That is pure speculation.. But. The reason they were detained. Was due to no ID.

If they had ID. None would have been taken. That is why it was a rare thing. An over zealous raid commander who exerted his full authority that one particular raid.[/QUOTE]Go to a photoshop, have them make a laminated card, the size of your credit card, with your passport details page and keep it in your wallet...it will save you a world of trouble, in this situation, in Thailand and anywhere, where a passport view / I'd check is required / requested by some authority figure.