Manila

[QUOTE=RenaldoB;1904307]I was RTFF and was wondering if there are any current info on things, specifically the escort sites like [URL]manilacourtesans.com[/URL]. Anybody have experience using sites like those recently and any tips for successful mongering in all the other places.[/QUOTE]Be careful with the Escort Sites, most of these are scams bait & switch. Service is expensive and quality of service at the lower end of the scale. I tried against my better judgement. You can read about it in one of my earlier posts.

[QUOTE=Paulb;1906478]I hope you might know this club. I went to LA cafe last Saturday night left about 3 am got a taxi drove about 5 minutes to this club the music was load a big dance floor in the middle of the club the club was busy mixed crowd working girls having a drink after work any idea what the club called. I think the name started CH any ideas? I was pissed like to go back there.

Thank you.[/QUOTE]About 5 minutes from LA are the nightclubs Exclusiv and Zzyzx. There are two Cowboy Grills (Malate & Remedios) and one Padi's Point (Remedios). In the area of Maria Orosa and Nakpil streets there are several small and mid-sized KTV hostess-type places, but those usually close at 3 am. There are also a few gay dance clubs that can get a mixed crowd. Perhaps [B]Ch[/B]elu Bar? In the same area is Bocobo St; just before the street ends at Robinson's Mall there's a entertainment complex called Bellagio Square that has a few bars and a club, IIRC. You didn't mention being near Manila Bay (the water, not the club) but there's another entertainment complex called Harbor Square near the Cultural Complex of the Philippines (CCP). I don't recall seeing nightclubs there, but it's been a while. At the City of Dreams is the [B]Ch[/B]aos Nightclub, but that's a bit longer drive.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1906969]About 5 minutes from LA are the nightclubs Exclusiv and Zzyzx. There are two Cowboy Grills (Malate & Remedios) and one Padi's Point (Remedios). In the area of Maria Orosa and Nakpil streets there are several small and mid-sized KTV hostess-type places, but those usually close at 3 am. There are also a few gay dance clubs that can get a mixed crowd. Perhaps [B]Ch[/B]elu Bar? In the same area is Bocobo St; just before the street ends at Robinson's Mall there's a entertainment complex called Bellagio Square that has a few bars and a club, IIRC. You didn't mention being near Manila Bay (the water, not the club) but there's another entertainment complex called Harbor Square near the Cultural Complex of the Philippines (CCP). I don't recall seeing nightclubs there, but it's been a while. At the City of Dreams is the [B]Ch[/B]aos Nightclub, but that's a bit longer drive.[/QUOTE]Thank you for your help When. I Left the club it was day light and the club was still pumping. The sign on the club was in large cut out letters bolted on the wall its was about 6 meters long about 10 meter off the ground I had a good look at the sign I said to myself I need to remember this club but I had to many beers. Ha Ha I going and check out Exclusiv next week this could be the one. Thank you.

[QUOTE=Paulb;1907050]Thank you for your help When. I Left the club it was day light and the club was still pumping. The sign on the club was in large cut out letters bolted on the wall its was about 6 meters long about 10 meter off the ground I had a good look at the sign I said to myself I need to remember this club but I had to many beers. Ha Ha I going and check out Exclusiv next week this could be the one. Thank you.[/QUOTE]You're welcome. At daylight this is the sign; at night it's illuminated white. When you exited the club, on your left you would have seen Remedios Circle (a small green space) and Cafe Adriatico. A lot of Korean restaurants and KTV / hostess clubs in the area. There's also Zzzyx, Cowboy Grill for decent bands, and Bellagio Square is a short walk away. Across the street from Cowboy Grill a lot of restobars put plastic tables and chairs in the street at night; a good way to enjoy a few drinks and check out all the girls walking around. The Remedios Circle area is great place to spend a night.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1907445]You're welcome. At daylight this is the sign; at night it's illuminated white. When you exited the club, on your left you would have seen Remedios Circle (a small green space) and Cafe Adriatico. A lot of Korean restaurants and KTV / hostess clubs in the area. There's also Zzzyx, Cowboy Grill for decent bands, and Bellagio Square is a short walk away. Across the street from Cowboy Grill a lot of restobars put plastic tables and chairs in the street at night; a good way to enjoy a few drinks and check out all the girls walking around. The Remedios Circle area is great place to spend a night.[/QUOTE]Great information Huts.

I drove along Adriatico today and I noticed that on the Adriatico / Remedios corner the old Cafe Havana venue (the original) has opened as a reincarnation entitled "Ole".

I noticed it seemed very similar (from the outside anyway) to the original Havana and I wonder if it is styled in the same way. It is not yet listed on Google or Trip Advisor. I haven't checked further yet.

This area was my favorite hang-out between 1996 and 2001 when I first started living in Manila and I loved the old Cafe Havana before it closed and moved to Greenbelt.

Given the other spots you identified in your post Huts, perhaps this area is about to become (or has already become) a new night-life central?

Any intel on Ole please?

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1907512]
Given the other spots you identified in your post Huts, perhaps this area is about to become (or has already become) a new night-life central?

Any intel on Ole please?[/QUOTE]Thanks, Red. Can't tell you about Ole; I don't dine out too often (the traffic!), and when I do it's usually Korean, Thai, or Indian. I've dined at Adriatico twice, and all I remember of it is the Sans Rival cake, a fantastic Filipino dessert. The Remedios Circle area has been my main stomping ground for a few years now, and I don't hit ground until 11 pm or so and then party to 5-6 am. If I started early I'd be shattered. Once in while I visit LA Cafe, Burgos, etc. with out-of-town visitors, but I've found my hapenis with dating site girls and then hitting the clubs / live music venues with them. Some girls are wary of going to the area because of perceived danger or their own snobbery. Also in the area is the Library, the trans comedy club, which kind of fun if you have a high tolerance for being embarrassed. But when the comedians decide to do karaoke for a few hours it becomes oppressively boring.

Land NAIA late night but want to get bus to Batangas Pier next day.

Anyone know of decent hotel close to (walk distance) Jam Liner Buendia Terminal Pasay?

Or another option to fit criteria?

[QUOTE=NewImage;1909485]Land NAIA late night but want to get bus to Batangas Pier next day.

Anyone know of decent hotel close to (walk distance) Jam Liner Buendia Terminal Pasay?

Or another option to fit criteria?[/QUOTE]Alternative #1: Stay at City State Tower on Mabini Street in Ermita, and you can get a ticket to Batangas Pier in the lobby in the morning. Walk across the street, and bus leaves at 8:00 a.m. Room is about 2,500 php and round trip bus ticket is about 700.

Alternative #2: Stay at Grand Prix Hotel next door to City State at about 1,500 a night. Walk next door in the morning, grab bus ticket and walk across the street to the bus. Economy room is small, but it has air con, TV and large CR.

Both places have free breakfasts, but they're not so good. Both places are around the corner from G Point Bar and next door to Dakota Cabin for good eats.

Enjoy your trip.

Was travelling from Cebu to Manila today. 2 hours 45 minutes late including 1 HR+ circling manila so was the worst flight I have ever had. Exit Terminal 3 and lo and behold they have reintroduced white taxis!! Right opposite the yellow taxi line is a new white taxi line. Very poorly designed, you actually have to walk through the line of taxis to get to the queue. Western airports would not allow that for the risk of people getting run over. The people in the queue snaking out back into the line of taxis itself. There was still a yellow taxi queue of about 30 metres but it was fast because yellow taxis banked up waiting to pick up. Talking to the despondent yellow taxi driver. They have reintroduced white taxis to T3 and T4 today (Monday). Tomorrow is T1 and T2. Apparently it was announced on TV and radio last week. Appears Duterte demanded that the airport reintroduce white taxis. WOW! The yellow taxi driver was saying he needs 4000 pesos to break even per day (he pays 1650 per day for the car). As of 5 pm he had made 440 pesos. He said it would give it one more day and then he would stop because he was losing money. I gave him 500 for a 200 meter fare. The problem now is I don't think any of the terminals have enough space to manage three separate queues (fixed rate, yellow and white). The white queue is not viable. It is too small and dangerous.

But Wow!! No more 45 minutes wait for a yellow taxi. Duterte is in my good books.

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1910018]Was travelling from Cebu to Manila today. 2 hours 45 minutes late including 1 HR+ circling manila so was the worst flight I have ever had. Exit Terminal 3 and lo and behold they have reintroduced white taxis!! Right opposite the yellow taxi line is a new white taxi line. Very poorly designed, you actually have to walk through the line of taxis to get to the queue. Western airports would not allow that for the risk of people getting run over. The people in the queue snaking out back into the line of taxis itself. There was still a yellow taxi queue of about 30 metres but it was fast because yellow taxis banked up waiting to pick up. Talking to the despondent yellow taxi driver. They have reintroduced white taxis to T3 and T4 today (Monday). Tomorrow is T1 and T2. Apparently it was announced on TV and radio last week. Appears Duterte demanded that the airport reintroduce white taxis. WOW! The yellow taxi driver was saying he needs 4000 pesos to break even per day (he pays 1650 per day for the car). As of 5 pm he had made 440 pesos. He said it would give it one more day and then he would stop because he was losing money. I gave him 500 for a 200 meter fare. The problem now is I don't think any of the terminals have enough space to manage three separate queues (fixed rate, yellow and white). The white queue is not viable. It is too small and dangerous.

But Wow!! No more 45 minutes wait for a yellow taxi. Duterte is in my good books.[/QUOTE]So another cartel is broken. The poor guy was being rorted by the system. More competition, more cabs will come and the fixed price operators are the ones whom really need to go. They are the ones overcharging. No that we know it's not a two hour wait for a cab, hopefully the fixed price people will depart along with their clipboard of ridiculous prices. Meaning more business for the yellow drivers.

[QUOTE=BrainDrain;1910045]No that we know it's not a two hour wait for a cab, hopefully the fixed price people will depart along with their clipboard of ridiculous prices. Meaning more business for the yellow drivers.[/QUOTE]I think the fixed price can rely on preying on the newbies exiting the terminal who know no different. The yellow driver said he was talking to his boss who thought yellow could not survive. But in Cebu yellow seems to survive along side white.

[QUOTE=MsAccount;1910018]They have reintroduced white taxis to T3 and T4 today (Monday). Tomorrow is T1 and T2. Apparently it was announced on TV and radio last week. [/QUOTE]If you had read the General Info thread yesterday you would have seen my post 10200.

Both yellow and white metered cabs will easily co-exist, the same way that the white coupon taxis and yellow taxis have for the past 3 or 4 years.

I like to have the option of the 3 types. I have no problem paying 200-300 extra PHP if it means I get to avoid waiting in line for 15-30 mins or even more.

The yellow cabs were introduced to create an element of control because there was a rather sudden increase 5 or 6 years ago of crooked white metered taxis actually robbing returning OFWs and tourists of all of their baggage. The cab would pull off into a side road; a van with accomplices would pull alongside with guns etc; all the bags would be offloaded into the van, and away they would go with the loot.

I hope it doesn't start up again because it became almost a regular occurrence and it scared many OFWs into refusing to take taxis with all of their belongings.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1910089]
The yellow cabs were introduced to create an element of control because there was a rather sudden increase 5 or 6 years ago of crooked white metered taxis actually robbing returning OFWs and tourists of all of their baggage. The cab would pull off into a side road; a van with accomplices would pull alongside with guns etc; all the bags would be offloaded into the van, and away they would go with the loot.

I hope it doesn't start up again because it became almost a regular occurrence and it scared many OFWs into refusing to take taxis with all of their belongings.[/QUOTE]Great recall, Red. Fortunately I never experienced that, but I remember the news reports. Some victims were stripped of everything and left naked beside the road. What a way to start one's holiday after being separated from loved ones for a long time.

[QUOTE=Slippery;1909539]Alternative #1: Stay at City State Tower on Mabini Street in Ermita, and you can get a ticket to Batangas Pier in the lobby in the morning. Walk across the street, and bus leaves at 8:00 a.m. Room is about 2,500 php and round trip bus ticket is about 700.

Alternative #2: Stay at Grand Prix Hotel next door to City State at about 1,500 a night. Walk next door in the morning, grab bus ticket and walk across the street to the bus. Economy room is small, but it has air con, TV and large CR.

Both places have free breakfasts, but they're not so good. Both places are around the corner from G Point Bar and next door to Dakota Cabin for good eats.

Enjoy your trip.[/QUOTE]Hi thanks for your info.

When you say "walk across the street to the bus. " Do you mean it's just a bus stop or is there a terminal there.

Tried to look on google maps street view but couldn't work it out.

Prefer to know exactly where to go. Sorry to be pedantic.

[QUOTE=BrainDrain;1910045]So another cartel is broken. The poor guy was being rorted by the system. More competition, more cabs will come and the fixed price operators are the ones whom really need to go. They are the ones overcharging. No that we know it's not a two hour wait for a cab, hopefully the fixed price people will depart along with their clipboard of ridiculous prices. Meaning more business for the yellow drivers.[/QUOTE]About 3 months ago I landed in T3 and have just missed the shuttle to Resort World. It would be another 30 minutes. The touts were quoting 600-2000 for a private taxi ride to MOA area!

I thought I would go stray out to the parking area and see if I could get to the road to hail a taxi. As I got into the parking lot the drivers in the "private taxis" were dropping their prices. Finally one guy quoted 400. He had a nice car similar to a Lincoln Town Car. Driver spoke excellent English and I was giving him a bad time about the private taxis. He called themselves "shadow taxis" because they operate in the shadow. The shadow existed only because of the long lines for regular taxis. He acknowledged that shadow taxis would be history once more taxis were available.

The new President is solving the airport problems quickly. The bullet scam is finished. By Dutere's orders, the airport will just confiscate any amulet bullets and send the passenger on their way.

I am glad he is solving the taxi problems. It was a disgrace.