Manila

[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo;1158520]Jools on Burgos takes cc. Air Force One ditto. I always use my personal credit cards for Macau saunas and high end BKK soapy massage parlors like La Belle. I don't trust most girly bars with cc numbers. The obvious exceptions would be the Shangri-La bar and the Icon bar. But be careful about the name that will appear on the charge invoice. For example: Rio Sauna is billed as HOU WAN LOI ENTER CO. LTD. MACAU. In general it is not a good career move to have your hoochie expense charges questioned by the accounting department.[/QUOTE]Just pay the fee personally the way most of us do. Then theres no question of fraud if the auditors get onto a case. Manila and BKK expenses are well known for audit trails simply because its hard work to spend US$100 in most places. An auditor whos worked in Manila would soon sniff something dirty. Whats the prob with paying personally and why rip the company off. If you are planning on staying with the company your potentially heading into unsafe territory.

Guys,

I can't find a are / t to Manila under $1, 500 from the East Coast. Cathay Pacific from JFK is the cheapest at $1, 600, followed by JAL ($2, 000) and Korean & Asian ($2, 000-$3, 000). Singapore Airlines flies out of EWR with 2 stops (Frankfurt, Singapore) and has no seats on coach. SQ flies out of JFK with a stop in Singapore and that costs $3, 500 or so.

From the West Coast again Cathay ($1, 600) beats Malaysian (retarded website) , China Airlines (Taiwan) , Air China (China) and Singapore Airlines. Only Philippines Airlines is cheaper at $1, 513. 10.

Please post any budget deals you maybe aware of.

Thanks

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1158854]Just pay the fee personally the way most of us do. Then theres no question of fraud if the auditors get onto a case. Manila and BKK expenses are well known for audit trails simply because its hard work to spend US$100 in most places. An auditor whos worked in Manila would soon sniff something dirty. Whats the prob with paying personally and why rip the company off. If you are planning on staying with the company your potentially heading into unsafe territory.[/QUOTE]I think you are reading too much into this, but I understand that what I wrote would lead you here. Although I was using the words expense and per diem, it's less complicated than that. I get an allotment of money each day (this is my incentive to travel for the company as they put it and it's a pretty decent amount) and I can use that allotment for meals, services, tips etc. I used to get the allotment in cash automatically in my bank account and didn't have to show proof that I spent it. Now I just have to show a receipt that said I spent it instead of pocketing it. Essentially, people were getting the money from the company and instead of using that during the trip, they would eat a free breakfast at the hotel, eat a $5 meal for dinner and then keep the rest of the money to take home and spend on luxury items. I knew the bars would take cards for drinks, but I was just curious if they'd throw the bar fine on the bill so I didn't have to fork over personal cash that I wouldn't need to spend if they did.

But to your point, if someone knew for sure what the money was being spent on (I. E. The yankee of my wankie) , they may lower the amount allotted for the trip or start requiring itemized bills. That's why I like the name of the charge to be vague. It would be a little obvious if the charge was for "Angel's Suck and Fuck Palace." LOL. Trust me when I say, I have no problem throwing my own money down for fun and I certainly will especially when I pick up a FL. So, to your last point, this is not about ripping off the company. On the contrary, it's a way for me to show them that I'm not ripping them off. C'mon, if I decide to use my money on a girl instead of a steak dinner, isn't that my choice? Hahaha. Hope this clears things up.

Could anyone please share your recent experience with Infiniti Club on Roxas Boulevard? I went to the KTV there in 2006 and plan to visit the place again.

Depends on when you are flying. If it is within a few months, that may be as cheap as they get.

I am flying out of Chicago for just a little more than 1200. Maybe you can get a cheap fllight to there? Otherwise, just keep searching using Kayak.

[QUOTE=Jet69; 1159187]Depends on when you are flying. If it is within a few months, that may be as cheap as they get.

I am flying out of Chicago for just a little more than 1200. Maybe you can get a cheap fllight to there? Otherwise, just keep searching using Kayak.[/QUOTE]Best rate I got was from a Filipino sales agent in your area. These agents usually have cheaper rates for as low as 300 dollars compared to online reservations.

[QUOTE=Nolz7;1159270]Best rate I got was from a Filipino sales agent in your area. These agents usually have cheaper rates for as low as 300 dollars compared to online reservations.[/QUOTE]Do you have a number of the agent, thanks.

[QUOTE=Slippery;1158294]An SML or two and a couple of bottled waters and my wits are always with me. Some common sense goes a long way. Even at my favorite bar in Manila when they have my favorite 2 for 1 drink, I have two and that's it. Got to keep the radar going all the time there. In AC the boozing just gets stupider and stupider. I lived and learned from that many many years ago in Central America and the DR. AC was like going back to high school. If I didn't know by that trip, then I would never learn .[/QUOTE]You're playing it pretty safe if you only consume a couple of SMLs. Other guys get buck wild on that Tanduay and Emperador. They couldn't tell you if an orangutan gave them a BBBJ when they sober up next morning to do it all over again.

[QUOTE=Petey Peso;1159007]I have no problem throwing my own money down for fun and I certainly will especially when I pick up a FL. So, to your last point, this is not about ripping off the company. On the contrary, it's a way for me to show them that I'm not ripping them off. C'mon, if I decide to use my money on a girl instead of a steak dinner, isn't that my choice? Hahaha. Hope this clears things up.[/QUOTE]Actually, it's less clear. If a public employee went to Manila on public business, he would probably be eligible for some skimpy per diem rate for meals and probably get reimbursed for his hotel based on the receipted amount that he paid. So let's say he gorges on free "all you can eat" hotel breakfast, skips lunch, and eats a cheap supper at Jollibee or McDos. So by skimping on actual meal costs he has enough left over to buy an MBC freelancer every other night. If the public learned about it, they'd scream bloody murder about how their tax money went to feed the guy's little "wankie," and you'd likely be among them. So how is your idea about spending travel allowance on a girl instead of steak, and having it concealed in a credit card receipt, any different? The public employee's allowance was a set amount he can count on, and so is your daily expense allowance. Your argument seems to be that you're going to get the flat amount anyway, so why not just conceal what you're spending it on. Is there a difference in the two situations?

[QUOTE=Nolz7;1159270]Best rate I got was from a Filipino sales agent in your area. These agents usually have cheaper rates for as low as 300 dollars compared to online reservations.[/QUOTE]I use a Filipino travel agent in the LA area. He has sometimes saved me several hundred dollars, but recently the savings have been only about $50 below the price I could have gotten by going directly to the airline's website. Another forum member recently told me about a great price he got by shopping carefully through Kayak.

[QUOTE=PigGagaFunf; 1158974]Guys,

I can't find a are / t to Manila under $1, 500 from the East Coast. Cathay Pacific from JFK is the cheapest at $1, 600, followed by JAL ($2, 000) and Korean & Asian ($2, 000-$3, 000). Singapore Airlines flies out of EWR with 2 stops (Frankfurt, Singapore) and has no seats on coach. SQ flies out of JFK with a stop in Singapore and that costs $3, 500 or so.

From the West Coast again Cathay ($1, 600) beats Malaysian (retarded website) , China Airlines (Taiwan) , Air China (China) and Singapore Airlines. Only Philippines Airlines is cheaper at $1, 513. 10.

Please post any budget deals you maybe aware of.

Thanks[/QUOTE]To Pig,

If you are traveling in June to Sep fare is very high this year with high fuel cost, the lowest I got on Cathay pacific for end of July are 1395 USD inc tax from Cathay direct from SFO to Manila, I use to get lower fare from Travel agent in San francisco not any more, do check airline web site for speical fare but they book fast only a few sit on each flight.

Fast Eddie 48

Gosh guys sharpen up! If someone were to "google" the name of the billed credit card info it points STRAIGHT to this site! DUH. Go ahead. Type in "HOU WAN LOI ENTER CO" into a google search and see what you come up with.

Please don't post cc info.

You guys kill me sometimes.

[QUOTE=Petey Peso; 1158491]I want to say thanks to everyone for the information shared here. I've been locked in the USA doing local travel for the last 4 years and I've finally got my tickets to Manila. The last offshore trip I took was in El Salvador and you can read some of my reports from that trip in that forum. The last time I was in Manila was in 2004 for two months. It was the first time I had traveled offshore for work and as a typical noob would do, I went nutz. I paid and tipped like I was in the states and it didn't take long to earn the nickname Petey Peso. To be frank, the company was giving a straight cash per diem and it all felt like monopoly money to me. This time, the per diem is based on actual receipts so I am going to be more frugal. Do any of you know if you can charge a bar fine in Burgos to a credit card? It would be hilarious if I could truly claim a DATY session as an actual work meal. LOL.

I'll be there for 2 weeks from June 14th to the 29th. The company is footing the bill so I'm staying at the Makati Shangri-La. The annoying this is that I work EST hours, so I'll be at work from 8pm till 5am. My thought is that I go out the first night I get there (I arrive at 11pm) , pick up someone at Havana or at Burgos, but get numbers from girls I meet that night to setup meetings during the daytime when I'm off work. I haven't read a lot of availability for good talent when going out in Makati during the day. If there is a good spot for this, by all means, let me know. Maybe I missed something in the reports.

Hopefully during my stay I'll get the chance to meet up with some of you while I'm there and thank you for your reports personally.[/QUOTE]Petey, my suggestion is this,

Go out and get some contacts for day time relaxation, but also go out before work for dinner at like 5-6pm take a girl home for all night. And while you are working on the computer, let her sleep or watch tv, and if you get annoyed with work, get a nice BBBJ while you are on a conference call or returning emails.

My favorite thing was working on the comp when getting BBBJ and no one know about it. Enjoy.

W

[QUOTE=Skip Kost; 1159350So how is your idea about spending travel allowance on a girl instead of steak, and having it concealed in a credit card receipt, any different? The public employee's allowance was a set amount he can count on, and so is your daily expense allowance. Your argument seems to be that you're going to get the flat amount anyway, so why not just conceal what you're spending it on. Is there a difference in the two situations? [/QUOTE]In the 7 plus years I've been on ISG I can't ever remember us ever touching on the subject of expense account claims. A totally new subject. Hurray! LOL

I am going to make this brief, but who knows, I can ramble on quite a bit if I am in the mood to do so. At least I posted my sucker story 1 hour after the fact, instead of wait 1. 5 years. But the story is pretty similar. One thing is, I didn't even get a BJ ffs!

Walked by Mabini street, got called my a lady, kind of sales person type. I was planning on checking the Gold Coast bar and Red Rooster anyway, but she kinda showed me around. Red Rooster, no one I liked. Then on to the Red Garter. Same quality. It is around 7pm by the way. Then we by passed the Gold Coast bar. I think they are more FLs there so she can't get any commission from them. I didn't like either bar so she took me to a back alley bar, must be one of the local spots. I was not optimistic, but lo and behold, a hottie was sitting there, reading a book.

I took her, was told she is 18, I think she is more like 20. Negotiated with the mamasan, she wanted 2k, I said 1500 for LT and she caved. Was told to pay her the mamasan on the spot. (sign #1) I didn't know the routine, maybe its a barfine, whatever. In hindsight, it was a bad sign. Had to pay my "guides" 100php each for showing me around. BS, but whatever.

Walked to my hotel. She didn't have an I'd (sign #2) but my hotel didn't seem to care. WTF. Got to my room. I thought she was going to stay until morning, and I had a thumping headache from the bar hopping, so I thought lets take it slow. She looks young, lets play nice and maybe she will open up.

First thing she did when we got into the room (well kinda the 3rd thing after walking in, taking off shoes) , she jumped onto the bed and grabbed the joystick. Nono, not my joystick, but the TV remote (sign #3). Said she wanted to watch the news. Her family are in the typhoon affected province. So I let her watch. We cuddled and I needed time for my headache to pass anyway.

After I asked, she said she didn't bring any change of clothes. Hmmm (sign #4?) After about 30 minutes of tv time and making conversation, I started off kissing her. Slowly taking her clothes off. She said she was shy and kept hiding under the sheets (sign #5). Anyway, roamed and kissed. Even gave her a decent DATY. She was clearly enjoying it but didn't want to show me that she did (sign #6). After what I think was her coming. I laid down, and said "my turn". She didn't budge.

Oh fook me. I told her to give me a BJ. She said NO. Hohoho. The mask is off. So she expected me to do it myself? By now I have lost interest and so have my little friend. After about 5 minutes of silence. I told her to leave. She was reluctant at first. Come on, nice hotel, tv, no need to sleep in the bar with mosquitos and other hookers. I said, if you're not going to do anything, just go.

Oh and that's not the end. She had the audacity to ask me for a tip, please. I said heck no. You want me to tip you for watching tv and getting licked? At least she didn't persist, but can't blame a working girl for trying. Gave me a peck on the cheek and left.

This is why I love the BnG's in Vietnam. You are assured of satisfaction for just USD 10. Oh well. 1500 down the drain. And I am venting on ISG. Don't make the same mistakes I did.