General Information

It's been a long time since anyone reported about ferry service. I hope you can elaborate with details and photographs.

Back in January I posted about a lass I met on the 2hr Leyte - Cebu run. I didn't speak a word to her until we were in the taxi stand in Cebu, and somehow managed to get a good shag about an hour later.

X

[QUOTE=Dogs Body]If you like to experience travel outside an aluminum tube and meet people, you may have wondered about the Superferry from Manila to Cebu. If you are on this site, you also wonder, can I get laid on this boat?
I can't answer this question with any certainty but the physical arrangements on the ferry permit it. I know I could have gotten laid if I was less pure about my marital status. I could have had success on the high seas in exchange for a little white lie.
Once on board, the first class stateroom for 2 may be reached and entered from other parts of the ship without passing any controls. There is a steward but I did not see him until Cebu when he came for the key. This stateroom has a large bed, A/C and a toilet shower combo. No hot water though it has standard hot and cold fixtures. Maybe I did not know the trick involved in getting it run.
Now the question remains, is there a lady in any random selection of 300 or so Philippine people and do you have some very basic social skills in talking to people? My random group had about three prospects. One of them, a chinese looking 23 yo form Cebu was very close to closing the deal when some other random guy interrupted the deal. YMMV.
Stateroom and 2 or 3 meals less than 90 USD one way and you get to Cebu at the end. A nice intro to the friendly people here.[/QUOTE]

X Man,
I will try to put together a long report with photos when I return to the states, Cebu or have an unlimited power supply. Rushing now on battery power & free wifi.

To other readers, obviously, the ferry is not a monger site like a bar but neither is it w/o targets of opportunity. You might say it's like trawling a mall but it's 3 or 4 hundred people max, mostly families. You have to dig a bit for the call center girl or student. Anyone you meet will likely be a normal upstanding citizen. Someone acting like a drunken fool might end up swiming to Cebu.

I've never experienced it personally (I haven't ridden ferries that often.), but a couple of my mentors met and bedded women on the long-distance ferries.

You have a bunk, privacy, an air conditioned cabin, and it's a long miserable ride for a girl on the deck, so a ferry ride is a pickup opportunity.

With the new bar code system in place at Cebu immigration i can state that it cuts wait times from average of 2 hours down to 30 minutes. I renewed three times last trip first time no barcode system was almost 3 hours when it was very busy. I had completed in the past under the old system from a low of one hour with no one around. On my last renewal i completed in under 25 minutes with no one around. So this is progress.

Word to wise: show up first thing or around 3pm and you have better chance of getting out faster as line seem to diminish by then. Don't wear shorts if you have been here several times in your current passport. If they see its your first time in the Phil they might let you sneak through in Cebu.

On the first and second trip the express lane fee which people can't circumvent now was 1000p and when i renewed just for a month on my third renewal it was only 500p but it was only for one month extension. The costs of staying in the Phil long time and paper work is not worth it.

If one plans to stay a long time in Phil; $20,000 in a time deposit after the age of 50 in the Retirement Program there has some cost benefits. The requirement drops to $10,000 if you have a pension of @ $800 per month back home. I will be making sure my company starts paying me a pension at 50 for a couple months prior. The one time fee of $1400 and almost zero financial and personal requirements once in the program giving you legal status in the Phil makes the program worth it at that age if you plan to die with your mongering boots off or on.

The office that can hook you up is at Cebu Waterfront Hotel just ask the bellhop.

I was not able to get two extensions on the same day like last year for some strange reason. I was denied twice trying to pull that stunt.

[QUOTE=Robbaf]Is there any update on the raid at Egypt & Bounty.[/QUOTE]
IBC reopened on May 20 despite one of the owners still in jail. They closed again on May 28, quite possibly for good.

[url]http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/mandaue-orders-bars-closed[/url]


[QUOTE=Blade1]What will happen to the 2 customers will they face charges or will they be able to get ouf of jail quickly, does anyone know ?[/QUOTE]
If they would have stayed put and shut up, nothing would have happened to them as the authorities are not looking to arrest customers. But since they felt the need to run, I would think they spent the night in jail and were fined!

What is the best procedure if you have DIA contacts you are planning to meet. Should you wait until you are there and possibly meet some of them if they show up and then book a double room somewhere for example? Or can you book a single room on the Internet in advance and then see what happens if you bring a girl there with you? Maybe you pay some extra and it is ok then. What is common policy in phils and cebu? In thailand on the islands it is very easy, some hotels don't care and don't even charge you anything extra for night guests. Can someone recommend a good hotel in cebu if you plan to meet local girls? I see that marco polo plaza is number 1 and most populat at tripadvisor's site, is that good?

[QUOTE=Pekkakoo]What is the best procedure if you have DIA contacts you are planning to meet. Should you wait until you are there and possibly meet some of them if they show up and then book a double room somewhere for example? Or can you book a single room on the Internet in advance and then see what happens if you bring a girl there with you? Maybe you pay some extra and it is ok then. What is common policy in phils and cebu? In thailand on the islands it is very easy, some hotels don't care and don't even charge you anything extra for night guests. Can someone recommend a good hotel in cebu if you plan to meet local girls? I see that marco polo plaza is number 1 and most populat at tripadvisor's site, is that good?[/QUOTE]




I've never heard of hotels opposing a visitor or one's guest, some might charge extra if you want a king sized bed vs a single. The higher priced the hotel the fussier they can be.

But I would however suggest a change in strategy.

First, I wouldn't stay at Marco polo, too overpriced, too difficult to get to and from. I would pick a place closer to town, if you have to have a top of the line hotel then look into the Marriot which is right next door to Ayala. But there are many cheaper hotels that will serve just as well and you can book ont he internet.

I would arrange to meet my "dates" at Ayala mall, not the hotel lobby. The reason is simple, if you are meeting several girls, one after the other, you never know when one of them will show up while you are engaged with another, then the fun can start, Happened to me many times. Also, maybe you don't like her for some reason, if in the Mall you can shine her on, if you both click then it is a short distance to walk to the Marriot.


Spamhog

I stayed 2 nights at the Parklane Hotel. Price at asia travel was about 73usd per night for a Parklane room. This is implied to be a upgrade but I did not see the superior room that is standard. The upgrade may be better but I can't confirm it. I liked the room very much.

Girl friendly, of course.

The location of this hotel will appeal to those who plan to use the malling technique. It is a short but dangerous 3 minute walk to the Ayala mall. All the danger comes from traffic running you down like a dog. Sometimes the hotel will dispatch a doorman with you to fend off the jeeps, perhaps out of pity or perhaps from experience with losing paying customers. Don't get drunk at the mall and walk back, take a taxi for gods sake!

Bo's Coffee is the epicenter of the old guy scene. I made an effort not to use that place as it seemed wall to wall with sliver haired gents and sweet young things. This is not a criticism because I am rather old myself and most of those guys were better looking than me. It looked to me like a place to bring the target, not find her there. I did run across a working lady in another area of the mall, but she was not my type. I am sure I could have found several more.

As it happened, I ran into a aged (47) WL at Bo's. You can't avoid your fate. She showed me a wonderful time at a Blues and Jazz club that made my trip. The service was good but the guide services were even better. I paid her a serous sum because of this.

[QUOTE=Spam Hog]I've never heard of hotels opposing a visitor or one's guest, some might charge extra if you want a king sized bed vs a single. The higher priced the hotel the fussier they can be.

But I would however suggest a change in strategy.

First, I wouldn't stay at Marco polo, too overpriced, too difficult to get to and from. I would pick a place closer to town, if you have to have a top of the line hotel then look into the Marriot which is right next door to Ayala. But there are many cheaper hotels that will serve just as well and you can book ont he internet.

I would arrange to meet my "dates" at Ayala mall, not the hotel lobby. The reason is simple, if you are meeting several girls, one after the other, you never know when one of them will show up while you are engaged with another, then the fun can start, Happened to me many times. Also, maybe you don't like her for some reason, if in the Mall you can shine her on, if you both click then it is a short distance to walk to the Marriot.

Spamhog[/QUOTE]Your note stirred a big memory chord in me. Havent been in Cebu for more than 8 years but have done the walk from the mall to the hotel many many many times. Used to be a nice quiet walk thru a parek but Im sure its heavily built up now.

Thanks guys for your help, I really appreciate it, I try to pay back and share my experiences when I have come back. I think Marriott is my choice then, about $100 a night probably expensive considering the local price level but I want to ensure a problem free relaxing for a few nights. So it should also be girl friendly, anyone know if a girl needs to be checked in at the desk?

I try to make it to cebu for the first time in late June or possibly early July, not sure about the exact dates yet. Maybe I should try to gather a few more DIA contacts first because I read on this forum that they might not show up anyway for a meeting at the mall. Are there prepaid sim cards for sale at the mall for contacting?

[QUOTE=Pekkakoo]Thanks guys for your help, I really appreciate it, I try to pay back and share my experiences when I have come back. I think Marriott is my choice then, about $100 a night probably expensive considering the local price level but I want to ensure a problem free relaxing for a few nights. So it should also be girl friendly, anyone know if a girl needs to be checked in at the desk?

I try to make it to cebu for the first time in late June or possibly early July, not sure about the exact dates yet. Maybe I should try to gather a few more DIA contacts first because I read on this forum that they might not show up anyway for a meeting at the mall. Are there prepaid sim cards for sale at the mall for contacting?[/QUOTE]




I stayed at the marriot a few times, Me and Mrs Spamhog spent out honeymoon there more than four years ago, we saw plenty of mongering activity, no hassles, as usual be descreet, tip door men and security guards, be nice to them etc.

You can buy a SIM card for globe or talk and text, they are all over the Mall, comes with something like a free 100 text messages.

The Alayla Mall has been improved, all the resturaunts and eateries are in the area between the Marriot where the old walkway used to be, makes dining, meeting and mating much easier IMHO.

Spamhog

Never once had problems taking a female friend into the Marriott,and the close proximity to Ayala is a bonus.

hey guys,

arriving in cebu june 27th. can anyone recommend an apartment in cebu city that i can rent by the month with broadband high-speed internet.

thanks.

[quote=el jugador]hey guys,

arriving in cebu june 27th. can anyone recommend an apartment in cebu city that i can rent by the month with broadband high-speed internet.

thanks.[/quote]




there are several apartelles in cebu, i would recommend you first establish yourself in a hotel and then go apartment or rental house hunting, avoid the lahug area, too many water shortages. rents can run you p7,000 a month for a typical place to p20,000 or more for a house, depending.


spamhog

[quote=el jugador]hey guys,

arriving in cebu june 27th. can anyone recommend an apartment in cebu city that i can rent by the month with broadband high-speed internet.

thanks.[/quote]

most of the taxi drivers act as part time rental agents and also they will know someone who are agents. besides usually look for newspaper when you arrive.

for now go to adpost.com/ph/cebu and you can get some numbers to call when you arrive in cebu.

no worries, you will easily find what you looking for in a day. water is a problem in cebu so enquire that.

mostly, get around a place where you wont be disturbed while bringing in your catch back home hehehe