General Info

[Dg8787]

The other week coming in to terminal 3 the money exchanger's rate was USD1. 00 - 57.90 pesos. The official prime rate was 58.11.

Which no one gets the prime exchange rate. I have found the Terminal 3 rates to be very good. At times better than street money exchangers. The only downside side is having to show your passport, if that is a concern.

[PhilJoy]

Back in the 2000's when I first came here, hotels routinely took my PP at check-in, giving it back when I paid up and checked out.

I can imagine that was the case Westie.

Back around the same time, I was checking into Russian hotels and it was like checking yourself into prison.

(You had to take multiple photocopies of your PP for when the dodgy police stopped on the street you asking for your PP / ID).

That said, the blonde 'room service' in Moscow was amazing.

Never had an issue in The Phils and most hotels accept my local driver's license as ID.

Always good to keep an eye on the local laws though.

_ Phil.

[Transporter]

I guess maybe it depends on country origin?

As far as I know, the blue passport I carry does not belong to me, so it is not something I can lend out.

I understand it can be taken from me, but don't think I am free to lend it out.

[WestCoast1]

PSA. Vid from Filipina Pea, regarding various laws in Phils. She interviews a pinoy lawyer who debunks the concept that vendors and hospitals can take and withhold your passport. Back in the 2000's when I first came here, hotels routinely took my PP at check-in, giving it back when I paid up and checked out. Around 2012-14-ish, that stopped. According to the lawyer, your PP can only be confiscated from you only by LE or Immigration for investigative purposes (3:40 in the vid).

And other odd legal Phils info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T51ivyjS6U

[Old And Ugly]

If you book domestic airfare via airasia, is cheaper, not by much, but it is, than the respective airline's price. So I book CP on airasia's app.

[Jarango]

Do you have fixed dates or are you flexible? I'm not European but here there are major savings by getting a general idea of the cheapest airlines and travel periods through Scanner, Google Flights etc then sign up with notifications to those airlines' websites. They often have alerts for discount fares between your nominated airports. However, you need to be able to act quickly. Heavily discounted flights can be only a few seats and sell out very quickly, often a day or two.

I only ever deal direct with the airlines. Never travel agents, consolidators etc. they reserve the cheapest deals for direct sale and should any problems arise, then there aren't 27 middlemen

Good luck. G.

PS. It's often cheaper to book between the capitals and domestic connections separately ie to MNL plus MNL DVO is cheaper than one ticket to DVO

I am totally flexible. I know most of what you say but am leaving it there for others. I always book through airlines.

Scoot to Singapore form either Vienna or Athens seems a good deal, and then a cheap onward Asian fare from Singapore. KL seems another hub worth travelling through. Last time. I "saved" maybe $400 or more for slumming it for a day or so in airports but it does take it out of you. There is also the principle of paying over the odds, something the cheap Charlies here should know well.

[Goferring]

As the price of air travel is not getting any cheaper, I have been busy on skyscanner, kayak etc looking for bargains flying from Europe to Luzon. Although the Chinese airlines seem to be much cheaper than the Gulf States ones (Saudi seems to be an avoid at all costs airline), I have been looking for cheaper alternatives, like going through KL or Singapore with maybe a stop over for old times sake.

Any idea what is the cheapest way to do it from a small European airport via a European hub and then onwards? Last time, I stayed overnight in Heathrow airport and it near killed me. I marvel at Americans who can flit across the States and then the Pacific like it is nothing. To me, it is a lot in time, in money and in wear and tear.

I can't say I like the Philippines but compared to the Stalingrad that is Western Europe, it has its attractions, not the least of whom are the 1 k-2 k panties droppers.

Do you have fixed dates or are you flexible? I'm not European but here there are major savings by getting a general idea of the cheapest airlines and travel periods through Scanner, Google Flights etc then sign up with notifications to those airlines' websites. They often have alerts for discount fares between your nominated airports. However, you need to be able to act quickly. Heavily discounted flights can be only a few seats and sell out very quickly, often a day or two.

I only ever deal direct with the airlines. Never travel agents, consolidators etc. they reserve the cheapest deals for direct sale and should any problems arise, then there aren't 27 middlemen

Good luck. G.

PS. It's often cheaper to book between the capitals and domestic connections separately ie to MNL plus MNL DVO is cheaper than one ticket to DVO

[Jarango]

As the price of air travel is not getting any cheaper, I have been busy on skyscanner, kayak etc looking for bargains flying from Europe to Luzon. Although the Chinese airlines seem to be much cheaper than the Gulf States ones (Saudi seems to be an avoid at all costs airline), I have been looking for cheaper alternatives, like going through KL or Singapore with maybe a stop over for old times sake.

Any idea what is the cheapest way to do it from a small European airport via a European hub and then onwards? Last time, I stayed overnight in Heathrow airport and it near killed me. I marvel at Americans who can flit across the States and then the Pacific like it is nothing. To me, it is a lot in time, in money and in wear and tear.

I can't say I like the Philippines but compared to the Stalingrad that is Western Europe, it has its attractions, not the least of whom are the 1 k-2 k panties droppers.

[Trevor2522]

Guys phils is one of the easiest countries in SEA to get into. Just fill in a simple online form, no visa (for me), tick a couple of boxes, get a qr code and waltz through immigration. You can download the app or just do it online which I do.

Egov. Ph is the portal app but it is easier to go to https://etravel.gov.ph/ on a laptop or smartphone.
Save your reference number (+date of birth), take a QR-screenshot, save the QR-code in Safari, or even print it on paper for immigration.
Be aware that the eTravel system sometimes crashes and has to be handled manually, causing delays at immigration counters.

[Jingo10]

Guys phils is one of the easiest countries in SEA to get into. Just fill in a simple online form, no visa (for me), tick a couple of boxes, get a qr code and waltz through immigration.

You can download the app or just do it online which I do.

[Dg8787]

Well there is this sign when leaving out.

That is for all Filipinos leaving the Philippines for international travel.

Foreigners don't need to file.

[ElSexoChino7]

https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

My experience is I needed an evisa. For Covid etc requirements, check he above authoritative site, amongst others.

They do not ask vaccination status on eTravel, and that is the only entry paperwork to enter the country. For entry, I think you are fine if you are unvaccinated. Now, most places do not ask for a vaccination card anymore, but it's the Philippines, and places can do almost whatever they want. I haven't been asked for my card in over a year. Some places, such as hospitals and doctors offices, do still as you to wear a mask, however.

No need for any test and vaccine.

Just go online and get a eVisa for 30 days and you can extend this for another 29 days.

But if you stay longer than 30 days you will need a throw away ticket as airline will want to see this.

Appreciate for all the feedback, I forgot to mention I am a US citizen and will be visiting my family for a few days and won't have time to monger in Manila but, I'll be flying from there to Bangkok to do all my mongering LOL.

[WestCoast1]

Well there is this sign when leaving out.

Its for outbound pinoy (possibly especially for OFW going to work).

[Mr Enternational]

Come to think of it, I don't think I've eTravel-ed or eGov'd on the outbound since 2022. Anyone else?

Well there is this sign when leaving out.

[Jarango]

You don't beat around the Bush. LOL!

If I were to live in Metro Manila, your recommendation is Rent the Condo.
Never purchase. Correct?

It comes down to personal preferences but, to me, the Philippines is an inherently economically unstable country. The SE Asian expat market is a bubble and, unless one stays in one's lane, it is hard to blend in; one is a target or oddity of one sort or another.

In my recent visit, I noticed rents go up 10% or so a year, irrespective of how the overall market is doing. That, to me, is a bubble, as it makes no economic sense.

When one buys a place, one rents it or lives in it (rents to oneself). I don't like to be a landlord in the Philippines and I don't like to be like one of those Japanese soldiers stuck there after the War.

That said, there are plenty of Europeans claiming they are doing well in Angeles. But sitting around a bad or cafe all day every day with nothing but my jocks on doesn't really hit the sweet spot for me.

The three rules of property are location, location, location, with a bad location in a good location being better than a good location in a bad location. I guess if I had to go for anywhere in the Philippines, it would be a surf type place (Bali is better). Though some like university towns, I would not like to be renting bedspaces to impoverished students.

I have a lady friend there who would like to have a sari sari store in the Visayas. A nice lady but, with hold ups, assholes and 10% rent increases, I don't want to make it my Vietnam.

I get it that the Philippines is cheap. But you can buy houses in Detroit for a $1, which is a good deal if you are ex Korean Special Forces.

As regards buying a Condo in Manila, I would opt for settled, upper class (over priced) areas and be prepared to take a major hit on it.

These are just my ideas, as I freeze here and the lure of Pinay muff whispers sell up and move to Borocay in my ear.

EDIT: You can check out relevant indices here but, as all property is local (Chicago ain't Detroit or LA) I am unsure how helpful they are in an odd ball market like SEAsia https://www.google.com/search?q=philippines+proiperty+index&rlz=1C1GCEA_enIE1106IE1106&oq=philippines+proiperty+index&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCggCEAAYCBgNGB4yCggDEAAYCBgNGB4yDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgFEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgGEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggHEAAYgAQYogQyCggIEAAYgAQYogQyCggJEAAYgAQYogTSAQg1Mjc5ajBqNKgCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8