General Information

I certainly respect Sxxx's caution. Nevertheless, I've had the same experiences as Furry. Other than a few persistant ladyboys, and one rather clever, but failed pickpocket, I've walked those roads many times without incident. The walk from Mango to the Lone Star is probably the one that makes me hesitate the most. There are a lot of homeless camped out on the road leading to the church / Kentucky FC. And it's dark.

Hope Sx can elaborate. I don't doubt that this strip of Mango, especially the darker spots approaching from either side, would be a good place for someone to set up a robbery. As for me, I walk fast, never get too drunk, and carry myself like someone who would love to kill you if given the opportunity. If you can't do the same, don't walk the walk after 1am. I'm sorry if that sounds like puffery.

As for the clever pickpocket, I was directly in front of Juliana's, stepping into a taxi, and some teen was down under the open door for a quick grab. Cargo shorts, and relative sobriety, made his job more difficult. It was only after I shouted and tried to grab the kid, did other people in the area shout. This lends credence to the friend of Sx who suggests that no one will help you. I find it hard to believe no one saw this kid pull his trick. They were enjoying the show. X.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx; 1209373]Too much traffic at 1am. 2am? At Fuente Osmena itself there is traffic and people, not so, between Mango Square and Fuente Osmena though, especially people on the footpath, pedestrian traffic almost non existent, and for a good reason. A passing car will not stop and give you assistance? It will not happen. My information is coming from a very long term resident of Cebu City, in that very area, who has proved reliable with info in the past. I queried other long term Cebu friends and they confirmed walking to and from Mango Square, early hours of the morning has become a problem. How many times have you done that walk? Personally I think you are stretching your luck, but thats your prerogative. Day time, no problem, early evening no problem. Early hours of the morning a risk, I will no longer take.

Yes Cebu City is very safe, normally, but there are pockets of the city folks should not tempt fate, late at night or early mornings. I have walked from Fuente Osmena to the GoGo bars, even Spotlight Restaurant in the evenings, say before 9pm, without anyone approaching me many times, many. But with time, things change and I believe the normally serene walk to and from the Square has changed. Doubters are free to doubt. I have no problem with that.

Anyway, I have said my bit, you and others theirs, its up to folks to decide whether they carry on as before. I doubt if we will hear from anyone, who runs into trouble, after reading mine and others warnings LOL. End of the subject for me.[/QUOTE]

What about Sinulog time? Any particular precautions to be taken?

I have walked around downtown and mango quite a bit at night. I might walk down to lonestar at 10 pm, But I would not walk back to mango at 2 30, I would take a cab. It just seems like there is a little more desperate feeling at 2 or 3 am from the locals and ladyboys. Those ladyboys are the worst they follow you after you say No No No. I loved the guys story of how he was being stocked by a group of ladyboys and had to hangout next to the security guard until they went away.

I carry a 2oz can of mace and a folding batan in my pocket and I am sure I can take out a few strong arm people or LBs but a guy with a gun, I am fucked. He gets my wallet.

Downtown. I feel safe until about 1am walking around by myself. Around the gv tower anytime. I can see my hotel security guards I kind of feel safe. Mostly have to be carefull of kid gangs and wallet snatchers or purse. Usually quick 12 yr old kids snag and run.

I am pretty big guy and as my australian friend says."They are not going to have a go with you" but I don't want to find out they get the mace and batan first.

It was an excellent lunch with some guys from the forum. There were eight of us, exactly the number I was hoping for. Good conversation and good food. One of the members has a company which provides the cheapest DNA testing with the fastest results in Cebu. PM me if you need this service and I'll send you on to him. I plan to repeat the free lunch on my next trip and hope to meet more forum members in person.

[QUOTE=Frenzy3; 1209809]As a guy who has lived her 5 years I have not heard there is a problem and when I visited there walked arround it was safe.

Guys can you only post real experiance and not hearsay.[/QUOTE]I have also been here over 5 years and I have never had any problems. I agree Frenzy3 I wish people would report factual information and not just post for reading purposes only.

i just thought i would add my two pennies worth to the interesting and controversial ongoing debate regarding personal safety in cebu. this topic has a habit of resurrecting itself every so often with pretty much the same arguments being used from both sides of the fence.

i can add to the debate using my own personal experiences, i have been a fequent visitor to cebu and in particular cebu city for quite a few years now and i have never once had a situation where i thought i was in mortal danger. i tend to stay in fairly upmarket hotels, and because of that one misguided member once commented that i would not understand what the real underbelly of cebu is like.

i tend to walk most places even at night unless it is raining, i feel tired or i have had a few drinks. i think nothing of walking from sm to ayalla or colon street to the waterfront even at 2am in the morning. i have personally had more hassle walking during the day time from beggars, persistent pimps, street vendors and potential pickpockets than i have ever had walking in the early hours of the morning. i am not a big guy nor am i a repressed steven seagal / bruce lee wanabee, i just try to remain vigilant and cautious at all times.

i would be very interested to see real evidence of robberies around mango square at night, i have been there many times at various times of the night and i would think nothing of walking from mango to vikings, or even further afield to the monteobello hotel in banilad.

it is nothing to do with saving money on taxi fares, i just enjoy walking, experiencing life as it really is and meeting people. i accept it is not to everyones taste and i also accept that you may increase your risk of being attacked when out at night, depending on what threat exists there in the first place.

i often think that the stories about koreans being robbed almost in a systematic fashion is one of those urban myths that has nourished and grown through gossip and rumour, but probably (like most rumours) has its roots based on some factual event that happened some time ago. but rather than the one or two isolated incidents where koreans may have been robbed, we now have widescale robberies against koreans that has kept them all indoors. it kind of reminds me of the reaction i get when i tell cebuanas that i am going to mindanao. for the vast majority that have never been to mindanao they will try and convince you how dangerous the whole island is, when the reality as we all know is quite different.

i was once accosted by ladyboys near to robinsons and following an altercation with them i sought refuge with a security guard, maybe this is what a recent poster was referring to as i posted about this adventure some time back. i did not want to get into a fist fight with a bunch of ladyboys and i took what i thought was the common sense approach at that time. i could have stood my ground, i could have been more polite when they would not take no for an answer or i could have walked off at speed or jumped in a taxi. there are usually a number of options available to mitigate risks and i took mine.

it is a shame that some members here seem to perpetuate the myth that cebu city is very dangerous at certain hours, almost to the point where one's life is in danger. there are several uk and european cities that i would not feel comfortable walking around at night and i remember many years ago driving in downtown la, taking a wrong turn and ending up in a neighbourhood where i really did feel like i was going to be murdered. i once posted about an incident i was involved in on a visit to a border town in the czech republic a few years ago where a gang attempted to rob me and it was only some quick thinking evasive action that prevented me from becoming another statistic.

we should always be alert and cautious but this should not prevent us from having fun and if you are constantly worried about personal safety it detracts from the overall enjoyment of visiting places. by all means use cabs from place to place if you prefer, but do it because you want the convenience and not because you think you will be robbed the moment you have stepped out of the mango square perimeter.

Mortman, thank you for that report.

I am also a walker and apart from frequent annoyances I was not bothered walking around Beverly Business Hotel and the bars in the area. Ladyboys followed me several times like drugged out zombies but they just walked there behind me, like a shadow mumbling the same questions over and over again. Annoying but I did not feel at risk in any direct way.

Barba

I was thinking about going to Cebu in early Jan but looks like activities for Sinulog starts around Jan 5 with Grand Parade on Jan 15. I would prefer to avoid the crowds and jacked up hotel prices. Does anyone know if most of the crowds will be in town for the full 10 days or mostly for the last few days? Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=Toronto;1210446]I was thinking about going to Cebu in early Jan but looks like activities for Sinulog starts around Jan 5 with Grand Parade on Jan 15. I would prefer to avoid the crowds and jacked up hotel prices. Does anyone know if most of the crowds will be in town for the full 10 days or mostly for the last few days? Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]Don't go to Cebu anytime around Sinulog.

I have been twice (10 years apart) and the second time was worse than the first.

Everybody from Visayas crowds into Cebu including all the women married to expats who bring their honeys home for a few weeks to show them off.

All the lawless elements are also in town too so the incidence of pickpocketing and phone snatching spikes. It is impossible to get a taxi and if you can find one it doesn't move very far or fast because the streets are gridlocked. The numbers of visitors also means lots of customers in the bars so lots more competition.

Having said all that, the Grand Parade on the final Sunday is an experience worth seeing (once!) so if you get accommodation close to Mango Ave and don't mind walking around to the malls then by all means check Sinulog out.

I love Cebu but only for the period February to December.

[QUOTE=Toronto;1210446]I was thinking about going to Cebu in early Jan but looks like activities for Sinulog starts around Jan 5 with Grand Parade on Jan 15. I would prefer to avoid the crowds and jacked up hotel prices. Does anyone know if most of the crowds will be in town for the full 10 days or mostly for the last few days? Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]I agree with RK wholeheartedly. was in Cebu City this year for the latter end of Sinulog and it was very congested everywhere. The traffic jams extended way outside the centre and I was staying in Banilad where traffic was just as heavy. A 10 minute taxi ride from the Monteobello Hotel in Banilad to Ayalla took 40 minutes instead of the normal ten minutes, but walking is just as problematic due to the increased numbers of people on the streets. Crowds seemed to be everywhere and places that are normally quite busy (SM and Ayalla Malls, Colon Street etc) seemed to be literally teeming. Personally I would avoid this time of year if your schedule allows, sadly mine didn't.

[QUOTE=Frenzy3; 1208397]The pina / chicas are a shy bunch. Even today I met another guy from this forum with 2 of my gf one girl had to sit next to him and she was shy to even sit there, I had to get up and sit next to him and they sat on the other side of the table.

I am back in cebu the 26th, I am off to Butuan to find some girls, no dia just turn up and catch them with my charm LOL. So we should meet up when I get back. I rather you come and see my native hut and have a drink with my girls I guarantee you never experience what I have a home in any other home. Tonight we are drinking as a send of for my trip. I am only taking 2 gf, the photo are the girls in my house there are 5 more out side drinking at the table out side.[/QUOTE]Are you going to be around on November 10. 15? Like to have a drink.

[QUOTE=Cuchulain; 1209991]I carry a 2oz can of mace and a folding batan in my pocket and I am sure I can take out a few strong arm people or LBs but a guy with a gun, I am fucked. He gets my wallet.

I am pretty big guy and as my australian friend says."They are not going to have a go with you" but I don't want to find out they get the mace and batan first.[/QUOTE]Have you ever used them in Cebu? Just wondering.

[QUOTE=Mortman;1210462]A 10 minute taxi ride from the Monteobello Hotel in Banilad to Ayalla took 40 minutes instead of the normal ten minutes,.[/QUOTE]Hello, Mortman, have you stayed at the Montebello?

I loved their swimming pool but the hotel seem to be in bad shape, can you report on the quality of the hotel please.

[QUOTE=Mortman; 1210327]It is a shame that some members here seem to perpetuate the myth that Cebu City is very dangerous at certain hours, almost to the point where one's life is in danger. There are several UK and European cities that I would not feel comfortable walking around at night and I remember many years ago driving in downtown LA, taking a wrong turn and ending up in a neighbourhood where I really did feel like I was going to be murdered. I once posted about an incident I was involved in on a visit to a border town in the Czech Republic a few years ago where a gang attempted to rob me and it was only some quick thinking evasive action that prevented me from becoming another statistic.

We should always be alert and cautious but this should not prevent us from having fun and if you are constantly worried about personal safety it detracts from the overall enjoyment of visiting places. By all means use cabs from place to place if you prefer, but do it because you want the convenience and not because you think you will be robbed the moment you have stepped out of the Mango Square perimeter.[/QUOTE]I second Mortman's opinion, I have traveled extensively around the world and have been in many so called scary places but the only place where someone tried to mug me was in London UK, near Picadilly Circus in early evening (10pm).

[QUOTE=Frenchmen; 1210582]Hello, Mortman, have you stayed at the Montebello?

I loved their swimming pool but the hotel seem to be in bad shape, can you report on the quality of the hotel please.[/QUOTE]I hope I don't get scolded for using the wrong thread, but since I am replying to your specific question I will post it here rather than the Cebu Hotels thread.

I have used the Monteobello many times, the last time being January this year. You are right the rooms are tired and dated, there is no free wi fi, it is 100 pesos per hour and I can easily spend 300 per day just on the internet. The food is nothing spectacular although the free breakfast is reasonable. For me the qualities that stand out and make it a frequent stop for me is the massive swimming pool where you can actually exercise instead of splasing around. I love the large sprawling gardens, the peace and quiet, it often feels like you are miles away from the city instead of a ten minute taxi ride. My regular gf has two kids and they love playing in the gardens, they enjoy the free fishing in the well stocked lake and the kids pool means you don't have to watch them every two minutes.

It is very girl friendly and I have never had any problem there bringing girls back at all hours of the day and night and for 2500 per night I think it represents decent value. Its sister hotel is the Cebu Grande on Escario Street, again it has seen better days but I like the place which is slightly better located than the Monteobello.