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I read somewhere and was also told that immigration wants to see your return ticket.
My travel agent does not ever give me a real ticket anymore and most north amercian airlines do not,
All I get now is a typed, print out, electronic ticket with number and intienarary, it that sufficient?
[QUOTE=Vandaddio; 1142692]I read somewhere and was also told that immigration wants to see your return ticket.
My travel agent does not ever give me a real ticket anymore and most north amercian airlines do not,
All I get now is a typed, print out, electronic ticket with number and intienarary, it that sufficient? [/QUOTE]The E ticket is fine and it's not necessarily immigration that will ask but the airline if you don't have a ticket with them leaving there. If you don't have proof of a ticket or don't buy one out of there, they won't let you board most likely.
[QUOTE=Hank Moody; 1141963]I am just reconciling some of my accounts and adding up all the ATM charges.
Every time I withdraw 10, 000 (max allowable) pesos, it ended up costing: 200 pesos at ATM, $5 out of bank network fee and 1% foreign transaction fee. This adds up to over 500 pesos for each transaction!
No wonder the ATM limits the withdraw to 10, 000 pesos per transaction. Those fees really add up.
Any advice for getting money for a lower transaction fee? [/QUOTE]Been to PI over 30 times and I found the best way for me was this: about $200 USD cash per day. I would change at local Manila money changer near Robinson's Ermita. That was all spending money. My hotel bill went on my credit card. I think the most cash I ever took was $2000 USD. Never had problems. Usually did 5 days Manila. 5 days Cebu city. PAL plane ticket bought in PI with credit card, no problem. Use your credit card as backup if you lose your cash.
[QUOTE=Vandaddio; 1142692]I read somewhere and was also told that immigration wants to see your return ticket.
My travel agent does not ever give me a real ticket anymore and most north amercian airlines do not,
All I get now is a typed, print out, electronic ticket with number and intienarary, it that sufficient? [/QUOTE]Immigration never asks. The airline always ask and will not let you board without proof. Once I flew cebu pacific round trip from manila to Hong kong because I had flown in by korean airlines round trip to manila.
I did not have copy of the ticket leaving from Manila. I had to go all the way to Korean airlines desk and ask the manager there for a printed copy.
Just make sure you have a copy of printed e ticket out of Phi.
I hope someone out there can advise. I have a week in PI in May and want to dive. I'm not that bothered about the nightlife just so long as there is at least a minimum action so I don't sleep alone.
I went to Sabang / Puerto Galera in December, diving was good and nice little compact nightlife scene which was perfect. I would like to venbture some place else next time however. Lots of great dive possibilities (Coron in Palawan for example) but worried no action.
Thanks in advance.
Bloke
[QUOTE=Bloke; 1143617]I hope someone out there can advise. I have a week in PI in May and want to dive. I'm not that bothered about the nightlife just so long as there is at least a minimum action so I don't sleep alone.
I went to Sabang / Puerto Galera in December, diving was good and nice little compact nightlife scene which was perfect. I would like to venbture some place else next time however. Lots of great dive possibilities (Coron in Palawan for example) but worried no action.
Thanks in advance.
Bloke[/QUOTE]The other place to try for the combination of scuba and girls is subic. The diving there is all wreck diving, with some excellent, accessible wreck dives for recreational (non-tech) divers using air or nitrox. However, the visibility is not great (though certianly adequate) as it is a semi-enclosed bay, and there is not much other mariine life to see other than the wrecks.
As for the girls, Barrio Barretto (BB) is a bit like Angeles (except with the sea nearby). Lots of affordable bars with available gals in BB and very nearby Baloy Beach. Also ample choice of comfortable, affordable accommodation (eg, Blue Rock, Arizona, etc.).
Cebu also offers some good diving / gal combos, particularly if you stay on Mactan and the first night go into the city to find a gal to stay with you for a few days.
Another possibility is Davao (from what I have read and heard-not been there yet). Whichever place you end up trying, give us a report!
Happy diving (sea and muff!)
Manta Ray
[QUOTE=Sammon;1142912]Immigration never asks.[/QUOTE]Ah come on. Just because you were not asked doesn't mean Immigration will not ask. If you arrive in any country and expect a on-arrival-visa, you are expected and required to show proof of departure, either by sea or air, and if there is an option of departing via land, like in Singapore / Malaysia, then you may be exempted.
And even you enter a country, with visa issued in advance, Immigration has the right to ask for a return ticket.
Just because you were not asked, doesn't mean immigration will not ask.
(PS, this gets hacked repeatedly. But the airlines as for the return ticket, because, if the immigration decided to refuse entry to the pax, for various reasons, and one of them being not having a valid return ticket, the carrier that flew him / her into the country has to fly him / her out of the country- hence the airline insisitng on seeing the return ticket.. If you don't' believe it, ask any asian who goes to US / Europe, whether they can get in without a return ticket.)
Manta Ray is giving you solid advice, Bloke. In fact, I'm doing a little diving in Subic right now.
PS: Just for reference? For daytime action, Bluerock's floating bar in Baloy treats me very well, and the cuties at Wet Spot bar over in Barrio Barretto give me all I can handle during the evenings.
[QUOTE=Bloke; 1143617]I hope someone out there can advise. I have a week in PI in May and want to dive. I'm not that bothered about the nightlife just so long as there is at least a minimum action so I don't sleep alone.
I went to Sabang / Puerto Galera in December, diving was good and nice little compact nightlife scene which was perfect. I would like to venbture some place else next time however. Lots of great dive possibilities (Coron in Palawan for example) but worried no action.
Thanks in advance.
Bloke[/QUOTE]
When I fly Cebu Airlines I book online so it's an eticket.
The only time they will check is when you check in at the airport to PI. They have to make sure you have a return ticket within 21 days or a visa.
I usually grab my mobile pull up the email which shows my eticket and show them that. Never any problem.
Porter.
[QUOTE=Vandaddio; 1142692]I read somewhere and was also told that immigration wants to see your return ticket.
My travel agent does not ever give me a real ticket anymore and most north amercian airlines do not,
All I get now is a typed, print out, electronic ticket with number and intienarary, it that sufficient? [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Bloke;1143617]I hope someone out there can advise. I have a week in PI in May and want to dive. I'm not that bothered about the nightlife just so long as there is at least a minimum action so I don't sleep alone.[/QUOTE]Would suggest that you stop off to either AC, Manila or Cebu and find yourself a suitable companion to accompany you to your dive sight. Especially if you are inclined to dive in a remote area, your fellow divers will drool over your babe and wish they had "brought their own babe'!
[QUOTE=Econo Tech; 1143754]Ah come on. Just because you were not asked doesn't mean Immigration will not ask. If you arrive in any country and expect a on-arrival-visa, you are expected and required to show proof of departure, either by sea or air, and if there is an option of departing via land, like in Singapore / Malaysia, then you may be exempted.
And even you enter a country, with visa issued in advance, Immigration has the right to ask for a return ticket.
Just because you were not asked, doesn't mean immigration will not ask.
(PS, this gets hacked repeatedly. But the airlines as for the return ticket, because, if the immigration decided to refuse entry to the pax, for various reasons, and one of them being not having a valid return ticket, the carrier that flew him / her into the country has to fly him / her out of the country- hence the airline insisitng on seeing the return ticket. If you don't' believe it, ask any asian who goes to US / Europe, whether they can get in without a return ticket.) [/QUOTE]Immigration in Philippines do ask for return or onward ticket, in 20 visists to Phils over 12 years I was asked once for
Return ticket, its not worth the risk, as you may be refused entry, or have to pay big bribe.
Just wondering if anybody knows where I can get short term furnished house / apartment rentals near to fields. I am getting a little sick of camping I'and hotels and want somewhere I can relax and cook etc.
[QUOTE=Wild Rover; 1144279]Immigration in Philippines do ask for return or onward ticket, in 20 visists to Phils over 12 years I was asked once for
Return ticket, its not worth the risk, as you may be refused entry, or have to pay big bribe.[/QUOTE]Yes, and worse is having a stamp on your passport and trying to explain at every other country what it means, and filling in YES for 'have you been refused entry in any country'
But some people like to live in the fast lane. Not me.
Good luck. .
there was an interesting on-line article today about how the philippines department of tourism (dot) plans to double tourism in the coming year.
[url]http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-aims-double-tourist-arrivals-081529122.html[/url]
what was more interesting were the comments that poured in about what needs to be done to improve the country if the target is to be achieved and if tourists will want to come.
the usual suspects were trotted out like "naia terminal 1 is a shit-hole as a gateway to the country"; pick-pockets; trash, corrupt policemen, scammer taxi drivers; everyone wanting tips etc. but the interesting one was the number of respondents who mentioned sex-crazed filipinas who chase after foreigners and try to scam them and lure them into immoral acts etc.
check it out, although if your tagalog is not up to speed then you may struggle with some of the commentary.
The objective of increasing tourism is not new; it's been an objective of the government at least since I've been here and probably longer. The major challenge as I see it is that there's so little here-other than decent beaches which are hardly unique to the Philippines-to attract tourists. The lack of anything particularly interesting in the culture, coupled with some of the worst physical infrastructure in Asia and the embassy advisories about instability in the country don't bode well for meeting this objective any time in the near future in my opinion.