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[QUOTE=GuyReynolds;2662379]Gentlemen, was wondering when the best time to monger in the Philippines pre-Covid was? Did each city and areas have its separate timeframes or around the same time for all of them? I know things may change now due to COVID, but was just wondering. Looked several pages back and couldn't find anything. Many thanks![/QUOTE]From 00:01 to 23:59 everyday.
All cities on the same time frame.
Should be the same now.
[QUOTE=Cool;2662943]Most mongering places were better 10 to 20 years ago. More older, fatter, and avg looking talent in the game now.[/QUOTE]I'd agree. Of course it's a total coincidence that I was younger, slimmer and better looking 20 years ago too. 😁.
[QUOTE=Dg8787;2663222]From 00:01 to 23:59 everyday.
All cities on the same time frame.
Should be the same now.[/QUOTE]Damn! That's why I never had any luck at midnight. I should have stuck it out another minute.
- SbySW.
[QUOTE=SouthBySw3;2663289]Damn! That's why I never had any luck at midnight. I should have stuck it out another minute.
- SbySW.[/QUOTE]You have to be a Prince to pull pussy at midnight!
Its 1:45 am EST Tuesday morning and I'm at the gate at JFK for the 3:30 am PAL flight to Manila.
I was one of only two people at the check in counter and was asked in a business-like fashion for my passport, Covid test, proof of insurance and One Pass. The girl at the counter was thorough but I was on my way in under two minutes. She didn't ask for the vaxx card. I asked her about the Traze app which I was unable to register despite multiple tries but she told me it was no longer necessary.
I had read online about people being not allowed to board due to problems with insurance coverage so I was a little concerned about that. There were also mutterings about 'recognized insurance companies'. Turned out ok. For the record I used Seven Corners. Cost: $33.
The biggest pain was the Rt pcr test. To avoid getting the results mere hours before the flight I paid for it to be expedited expedited. Cost: $389.
There has been a lot of uncertainty about this trip but so far so good.
Only one other Caucasian here with his Filipina wife and kid. Me. And hundreds of Filipinos. Looks like a full flight.
I'll post my experience at Naia later.
So I asked a visa agency in the Philippines what the new rules would be for tourists and they replied by sending me these links below. I was specifically asking about extending the 30 day visa into the 59 day visa with further extensions after that. Now they didn't really answer my questions but they were kind enough to send me these pdf's below, the last one which states: b. A a citizen / national of the following countries entitled to a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days (Executive Order 408, S. 1960, as amended). So its nice to know they didn't lower it to 21 days.
[URL]https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/IATFResolution160.pdf[/URL]
[URL]https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/IATFResolution160-A.pdf[/URL]
[URL]https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/IATFResolution160-B.pdf[/URL]
[QUOTE=DashingDon;2663378]
The biggest pain was the Rt pcr test. To avoid getting the results mere hours before the flight I paid for it to be expedited expedited. Cost: $389.[/QUOTE]That faster RT-PCR test has an asterisk by it and it says check with airline to see if it is accepted. I have also booked that, I hope everything goes well for you. Thanks for the report, very helpful.
[QUOTE=DashingDon;2663378]Its 1:45 am EST Tuesday morning and I'm at the gate at JFK for the 3:30 am PAL flight to Manila.
I was one of only two people at the check in counter and was asked in a business-like fashion for my passport, Covid test, proof of insurance and One Pass. The girl at the counter was thorough but I was on my way in under two minutes. She didn't ask for the vaxx card. I asked her about the Traze app which I was unable to register despite multiple tries but she told me it was no longer necessary.
I had read online about people being not allowed to board due to problems with insurance coverage so I was a little concerned about that. There were also mutterings about 'recognized insurance companies'. Turned out ok. For the record I used Seven Corners. Cost: $33.
The biggest pain was the Rt pcr test. To avoid getting the results mere hours before the flight I paid for it to be expedited expedited. Cost: $389.
There has been a lot of uncertainty about this trip but so far so good.
Only one other Caucasian here with his Filipina wife and kid. Me. And hundreds of Filipinos. Looks like a full flight.
I'll post my experience at Naia later.[/QUOTE]This pic in honor of DD's good Boots-So-Close-To-The-Ground reporting. Looking forward to your final arrival requirements and hotel guest headaches, if any.
[QUOTE=DashingDon;2663378]Its 1:45 am EST Tuesday morning and I'm at the gate at JFK for the 3:30 am PAL flight to Manila.[/QUOTE]Happy hunting DD! That puts me in the second wave.
SbySW.
[QUOTE=DashingDon;2663378]Its 1:45 am EST Tuesday morning and I'm at the gate at JFK for the 3:30 am PAL flight to Manila.
I was one of only two people at the check in counter and was asked in a business-like fashion for my passport, Covid test, proof of insurance and One Pass. The girl at the counter was thorough but I was on my way in under two minutes. She didn't ask for the vaxx card. I asked her about the Traze app which I was unable to register despite multiple tries but she told me it was no longer necessary.
I had read online about people being not allowed to board due to problems with insurance coverage so I was a little concerned about that. There were also mutterings about 'recognized insurance companies'. Turned out ok. For the record I used Seven Corners. Cost: $33.
The biggest pain was the Rt pcr test. To avoid getting the results mere hours before the flight I paid for it to be expedited expedited. Cost: $389.
There has been a lot of uncertainty about this trip but so far so good.
Only one other Caucasian here with his Filipina wife and kid. Me. And hundreds of Filipinos. Looks like a full flight.
I'll post my experience at Naia later.[/QUOTE]The reason they didn't ask you for the vaxx card like you said is because you have your One Pass approved, which means you have to upload your COVID certificate when you fill up your One Pass, if you don't upload your COVID certificate they won't approve your One Pass.
Back on December I wasn't asked for the Traze app either (I had it on my phone just in case), BUT now you need to have it and show it in a Philippines airport, specially if you are planning to travel to another province they will ask you to show it before they let you in to the airport, I was asked in Manila airport.
[QUOTE=SteveNash;2663799]BUT now you need to have it and show it in a Philippines airport, specially if you are planning to travel to another province they will ask you to show it before they let you in to the airport, I was asked in Manila airport.[/QUOTE]When you say "now", when are you talking about? Are you talking AFTER FEB 10? Everything that happened prior to FEB 10 is subject to change imo due to tourists not being as compliant as residents.
EDIT: this looks like an airport requirement and not an entry requirement but I guess they could be construed as the same thing. With any luck they will get rid of this experiment by the time I arrive.
About the Traze app, I called the DOTr Public assistance line they have no idea if this is required. They gave me the number to the NAIA airport policy department and I spoke to a guy that says that its not totally required because some people can't install this app due to them not having a smart phone they would have to have someone assist them in this process however it doesn't have anything to do with the entry to the Philippines. The guy I spoke to said that they recently stopped asking for the traze app as he has been in an out daily with no request / mention of the app. They may require this at higher alert levels or have moved away from this hopefully. He also did say to install it "just in case".
[QUOTE=JJanni;2659494]I used insurance by Safety Wings to get into Phuket last year. 100 k coverage inc covid, for my age it was about 35 usd a month.[/QUOTE]After trying to get international coverage documentation that would get me through immigration, I decided it was easier to sign up for insurance. Went with Safety Wings Nomad. $250 k USD w / $250 deductible. Easy to sign up and they fixed things for me when I realized I got the end date wrong. Thanks Janni!
SbySW.
[URL]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.traze.contacttraze&hl=en_IE&gl=US&showAllReviews=true[/URL]
Seems it has its very many critics, some of whom are good looking.
[QUOTE=MontanaMonger;2663838]About the Traze app.[/QUOTE]
Its 8 pm Wednesday local time here in Manila. We landed about 1 pm today. Here's what it was like for the foreign visitor.
Upon debarkation we walked into the terminal but instead of going to immigration, we were asked to be seated and get out our vaxx card; One pass; proof of insurance; and boarding pass. There was about a 15 minute wait to get to a booth and present these to an officer. He entered the data in his cell phone. Painless.
Then to immigration. Short line. Having already presented most of the stuff, I was surprised when the immigration officer asked for all the paperwork again, plus proof of a negative test. A minute later I was through.
After picking up my suitcase there was another desk to go to where they wanted the One pass again. Less than a minute to clear that.
So the upshot is to keep all your paperwork in hand because you can be asked for any and all of it at any time.
I checked in to the Penn and was told that no visitors are allowed after 10 pm. Prior to that, its ok to bring any visitor as long as they have the vaxx card and ID.
That's all for now. I have several new friends coming tomorrow (Thursday) but I don't anticipate a problem.