General Information

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1486084]This is not an urban myth nor is it a rumor spread by competitors.

I arrived in the Philippines for a work assignment in 1997 and I have been here ever since. I visited Cebu 8 times each year between 1997 and 2001 for work. [SNIP]

Then it was announced that Sheraton had sold out of it, and not long later it suddenly opened as a Radisson Blu and a few eyebrows were raised as it was believed that patch-up work could NOT possibly pass proper inspection.

There is NO WAY that I, personally, would ever set foot in that hotel regardless of rates or special offers.[/QUOTE]I find your statement rather interesting. You have been around the Philippines for awhile and I'm sure you are aware of the anti-slander laws that exist. They cover all kinds of public statements including online content. You must not have any fear that the richest of them all could make your NGO / PI Government job disappear.

There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant.

[QUOTE=Stroker Ace88;1487137]You must not have any fear that the richest of them all could make your NGO / PI Government job disappear.[/QUOTE]I would bet that all those who have any financial interest in the Radisson have much more important concerns at this moment than a recounting of historical facts and a personal opinion posted on this site.

They can come after me if they want for mentioning that workers at the hotel where I am staying have friends who work at the Radisson. They say that rumors there have the hotel closing and the workers are very nervous about being left without a job.

[QUOTE=David_33; 1487143]I would bet that all those who have any financial interest in the Radisson have much more important concerns at this moment than a recounting of historical facts and a personal opinion posted on this site.

They can come after me if they want for mentioning that workers at the hotel where I am staying have friends who work at the Radisson. They say that rumors there have the hotel closing and the workers are very nervous about being left without a job.[/QUOTE]I would agree with David on this, far more important things to worry about especially f does need major surgery after this bold statement by the GM.

[url]http://www.inewmedia.org/radisson-blu-hotel-building-unstable-rumors-true/2137/[/url]

Just so the newbies can get a fix on this.

There are 3 ways to get a taxi from Mactan airport to the city or anywhere else for that matter.

1. Go up the ramp into departures, come out the other side and grab a white cab (metered). OK if you don't have huge luggage (the up ramp can be a struggle if tired). Price is around PHP 150-175 on a normal day.

2. Take a yellow cab from outside arrivals. The flag fall is PHP 78 and it is metered. Cost to city is aorund PHP 250 on a normal day.

3. Take the rip off merchant cabs (basically private vehicles) for PHP 475 fixed fare to the city. Never quite sure what car you get but it gets you there and is OK (for comparison, it is PHO 440 to Burgos fixed fare, whte cab, from NAIA and that is a longer drive)

Now, a normal day is not rush hour when the city is slow and the bridges are full of traffic jams nor a weekend early evening (which would add up on a metered cab). But there are choices although #3 is a rip off IMHO especially as the yellow cabs can be scarce (mostly when I arrive LOL). Have arrived at midnght and been at the hotel in 20 minutes and the meter was less

There maybe other ways to the cty etc but these are the 3 ways I woud recommend to a newbie at least.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1486084]. I visited Cebu 8 times each year between 1997 and 2001 for work. I watched the shell of that hotel (planned as a Sheraton but now Radisson) , being completed by 2000 but then watched it stand unoccupied and untouched for the next 8 years because of structural irregularities and defects in the foundations. There were regular updates about it in the press at the time and there were also engineering views that it was much too tall for the reclaimed land upon which it was built. There was no attempt to hide the problem in the press.

The general view was that it should be demolished and rebuilt but nothing happened.

Then it was announced that Sheraton had sold out of it, and not long later it suddenly opened as a Radisson Blu and a few eyebrows were raised as it was believed that patch-up work could NOT possibly pass proper inspection.

There is NO WAY that I, personally, would ever set foot in that hotel regardless of rates or special offers.[/QUOTE]Just a small correct RK, as I know something about this. Sheraton signed a management contract with the owners to manage it, based on the building being deemed to be safe, proper foundations etc. This is standard practice for all management contracts, particularly for US based companies, based on potential future litigation. (Sheraton being part of Starwood, a NYSE traded company ). Sheraton and Starwood had no financial stake in it.

Owners were unable to provide the relevant building safety reports that were required, and so the management contract lapsed, as the hotel wasnt opened as a Sheraton, and thereafter the contract was deemed null and void. Everything you say is correct apart from Sheraton being "sold out of it." They had no financial stake whatsoever. Now I also know something about Radisson contracts, but thats another story.

[QUOTE=FreebieFan; 1495645]Just a small correct RK, as I know something about this. Sheraton signed a management contract with the owners to manage it, based on the building being deemed to be safe, proper foundations etc. This is standard practice for all management contracts, particularly for US based companies, based on potential future litigation. (Sheraton being part of Starwood, a NYSE traded company ). Sheraton and Starwood had no financial stake in it.

Owners were unable to provide the relevant building safety reports that were required, and so the management contract lapsed, as the hotel wasnt opened as a Sheraton, and thereafter the contract was deemed null and void. Everything you say is correct apart from Sheraton being "sold out of it." They had no financial stake whatsoever. Now I also know something about Radisson contracts, but thats another story.[/QUOTE]That's cool FF. You know more of the "fine print" than me and it's good to have the "big picture" stuff corroborated.

Just some basic information about Cebu's airport since the typhoon.

The airport is much busier with loads of cargo planes using Mactan as a staging post so exepct some delays to your flights. Even the BBC are here on the roof interviewing each other.

However, the main cause of delay as always is the limited capacity at Manila airport with the ATC and airport unable to cope with the huge volume of traffic so flights are being stalled in Mactan with some an hour or more wiating on the tarmac. And of course flights are late arriving due to the heavy traffic at the airport (am sure they have never seen as planes before)

As usual taxi times to the airport are variable depending when you go. Roughly around 45 mins if gong in the early afternon from Ayala to the airport and cost is around 200-250pesos. Can be faster and cheaper at other times especially very early morning or late evening (naturally!)

But expect a few more delays for a while would be the message . The PAL 0450 flight was delayed as was the 11am flight delayed and the passengers from both arrived in Manila after 2pm (though I suspect PAL did some consolidation of flights as well but blamed it on a number of factors) Cebu Pacific at the time of writing had 3 delayed planes from the 8 scheduled but it was getting worse (ie more delays) as you get into the 'rush hour' for flights arriving at Manila.

Am about to book a trip, would be in Cebu in 10 days. I can't figure out how badly it was affected by the Typhoon, and there are no new reports on the board that discuss the ladies.

Anyone there that can comment on what its like in the bars right now?

Thanks

Pip Jaeger told me all was as usual.

I am staying by Ayala Mall and things seem normal to me at the hotel and at the mall. On a side note I had a filling come out and needed it to be cemented back in. Went to Green Apple Dental Group in Ayala Mall a couple days later without an appointment and was seen within 30 minutes by Dr. Sandie. Turns out the filling had to be sanded down to fit and took 30 minutes overall. The charge was 900 pesos for quality dental care! Last time in the states it costed me $150 for the same. Nice clean office.

[QUOTE=Shoebridge; 1496671]Am about to book a trip, would be in Cebu in 10 days. I can't figure out how badly it was affected by the Typhoon, and there are no new reports on the board that discuss the ladies.

Anyone there that can comment on what its like in the bars right now?

Thanks[/QUOTE]Cebu is fine, read the news and you will know which parts of Cebu (island) are truly messed up. Ladies? What ladies? None in Cebu all ran away when the earthquake and typhoon came. Those pictures from WR and PJ were old one pre tyhoon.

[QUOTE=Shoebridge; 1496671]Am about to book a trip, would be in Cebu in 10 days. I can't figure out how badly it was affected by the Typhoon, and there are no new reports on the board that discuss the ladies.

Anyone there that can comment on what its like in the bars right now?

Thanks[/QUOTE]I just left Cebu the other day and Cebu City was hardly affected at all (see the General Info thread in main PI Forum as I posted some info there too) , only the northern part of the island was affected. Ayala, Mango Square and the bars are all as usual. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of girls in the bars.

As I just posted in the AC thread, you'll soon see an increase increase in the number of girls (both at the bars and FL's) as many from Leyte and Samar will be arriving soon as a result of the typhoon. I know it sounds cold, but that's life.

My flight to Clark was delayed around 30 minutes due to the increased activity at the Cebu airport. I did notice only one Phil C-130 up and flying (was about to take off as I left) and the other two were just sitting there. Pity they can't at least shuttle them over to Leyte and use them for storage, command posts, barracks or even latrines (seems that would be most appropriate) , LOL.

[QUOTE=Pip Jaeger;1497138]I just left Cebu the other day and Cebu City was hardly affected at all ( Ayala, Mango Square and the bars are all as usual. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of girls in the bars.[/QUOTE]PJ,

How would you what was happening in Cebu gven that most of your time was spent inside 'protecting' the pinay population. And I have the photos to prove it LOL.

[QUOTE=Wicked Roger;1496523]The PAL 0450 flight was delayed as was the 11am flight delayed and the passengers from both arrived in Manila after 2pm (though I suspect PAL did some consolidation of flights as well but blamed it on a number of factors)[/quote]PAL PR850 is the 11am Cebu-Manila flight and is often delayed by late PR849 aircraft arrival from Manila. It was always late before the typhoon so not much has changed.

BTW, PAL stands for Plane Always Late.

[QUOTE=Wicked Roger;1495607]1. Go up the ramp into departures, come out the other side and grab a white cab (metered). OK if you don't have huge luggage (the up ramp can be a struggle if tired). Price is around PHP 150-175 on a normal day.[/quote]I also do this, I think I learned it from this forum. Last time I did it in May, the driver wanted to argue and said fixed fee PHP250. I argued for a while, but in the end just let him have the fare for PHP250. I recall they have rearranged the fencing around the ramps to make it less convenient. I htink I just jumped the fence after crossing the road from the international exit.

[QUOTE=Wicked Roger;1495607]3. Take the rip off merchant cabs (basically private vehicles) for PHP 475 fixed fare to the city.[/QUOTE]I took this on my first couple of trips to Cebu. It's directly outside the door of arrivals, fixed fee and the cars were all very clean and aircon.

When I first arrive back in country, it take time to readjust to pricing. An Aussie fare to my airport is AUD60, P2400 so I always have to be conscious to recalibrate.