Manila

[QUOTE=Econo Tech; 1167414]Technically, no. She will be issued a visa-upon-arrival and the immigration in Thailand can still choose to A to A and they do it, though to a lesser degree compared to Singapore.

Within ASEAN, they are not VISA. FREE. If so, all the filipinas and thai will be sitting in Singapore. [/QUOTE]Visas are not needed but, upon arrival, immigration usually want to see a return ticket, and see proof of money being carried is enough to pay for accommodation until departure. Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong for instance all do this check.

[QUOTE=Fastpiston;1167769]Visas are not needed but, upon arrival, immigration usually want to see a return ticket, and see proof of money being carried is enough to pay for accommodation until departure. Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong for instance all do this check.[/QUOTE]You missed the point. They are 'issued visa on arrival' with x number of days to stay.

They are not 'visa free'. And with everything you mentioned, the immigration at the arriving country may still refuse the visa, and does happen, in Singapore and KL specially for filipinas

And las I checked, HK is not Asean.

[QUOTE=Snow Koala; 1167398]If she is travelling alone and when it comes to buying the tickets there are 2 options:

1. Send her money and she buys the tickets herself with obvious risks depending on how well you know her.

2. Buy the tickets online with your credit card.

The difficulty with 2. Is she may be asked by the airline to show the credit card used to book the ticket. In fact Singapore Airline at Manila airport ask me for the credit card when I book online for myself. For the girl, I have written a letter with a scan of the front of my credit card on the letter stating that I booked the flight for her and to call me on my international mobile number if there are any concerns. I print, sign, scan and e-mail the scanned letter to her. She colour prints one of these for each check-in, I. E. One for the flight from the province and for the Manila airport because sometimes the airline keeps the letter. I have never been called but she is regularly asked for the credit card. [/QUOTE]SK,

Twice I have bought tickets online for my GF and both times she has been charged large tax at the airport. I don't quite understand it but one was a ticket to BKK and the other was here to SYD in Australia. So in future I will simply send her the money. PAL ask for a copy of the credit card if the the purchase of the ticket is recent but if you have been through a monthly cycle of payments and the payment cleared they do not ask for a copy.

P

[QUOTE=Pompolino; 1167902]SK,

Twice I have bought tickets online for my GF and both times she has been charged large tax at the airport. I don't quite understand it but one was a ticket to BKK and the other was here to SYD in Australia. So in future I will simply send her the money. PAL ask for a copy of the credit card if the the purchase of the ticket is recent but if you have been through a monthly cycle of payments and the payment cleared they do not ask for a copy.

P[/QUOTE]There is a philipine travel tax that only philipinos pay, I think it is 1620 pesos. Once upon a time you could not send tickets to the phils for use out of there as some were not collecting the tax, so all tickets had to be actually issued in the PI. Now with elctronic tickets I think they just hold their hand out at the airport when the filis check in, no way round it, is designed to be a tax on the filis working overseas.

[QUOTE=Pompolino; 1167902]SK,

Twice I have bought tickets online for my GF and both times she has been charged large tax at the airport. I don't quite understand it but one was a ticket to BKK and the other was here to SYD in Australia. So in future I will simply send her the money. PAL ask for a copy of the credit card if the the purchase of the ticket is recent but if you have been through a monthly cycle of payments and the payment cleared they do not ask for a copy.

P[/QUOTE]I often buy my ticket with PAL (BKK-MNL-BKK) online 2 months in advance. My own experience, on check-in at BKK, they ALWAYS ask to see the credit card I purchased the ticket with. They have never asked to see it on the return sector, but by then I guess they are happy the transaction was genuine! The same holds true for internal sectors, often, but not always the check-in agent has asked to see the card on the first sector only. Never on the return sector! I would think after two months PAL would already have had their money from the card company.

[QUOTE=Pompolino; 1167902]SK,

Twice I have bought tickets online for my GF and both times she has been charged large tax at the airport. I don't quite understand it but one was a ticket to BKK and the other was here to SYD in Australia. So in future I will simply send her the money. PAL ask for a copy of the credit card if the the purchase of the ticket is recent but if you have been through a monthly cycle of payments and the payment cleared they do not ask for a copy.

P[/QUOTE]It is made very clear in the instructions accompanying the ticket that if you booked online then you must produce the credit card that was used to make the booking or a certified facsimile of it.
It is very clear so you cannot feign ignorance. You need to do whatever it takes to assure the ticket-holders smooth passage.

The advice given earlier by other posters is fairly clear too.

[QUOTE=Bonker04;1167913]I often buy my ticket with PAL (BKK-MNL-BKK) online 2 months in advance. My own experience, on check-in at BKK, they ALWAYS ask to see the credit card I purchased the ticket with. They have never asked to see it on the return sector, but by then I guess they are happy the transaction was genuine! The same holds true for internal sectors, often, but not always the check-in agent has asked to see the card on the first sector only. Never on the return sector! I would think after two months PAL would already have had their money from the card company.[/QUOTE]They need to make sure you are the guy owning the credit card. And you just didn't use someone's else.

[QUOTE=Bionicman;1167970]They need to make sure you are the guy owning the credit card. And you just didn't use someone's else.[/QUOTE]I have bought tickets for my GFs, using my card, and never had any issue.

I trusted them enough to let them have a copy of my CC. And considering LCCs are focussed on online sales and that majority of the people lack CC, they do compromise, to a great extent. Atleast in Manila and Singapore.

Aussiedog: the tax for PTA only applies if you are buying mainline carriers, like PR or SQ or CX. And the LCC fares include all taxes. If you buy PTA, then it is a cluster fXXk. It is better for you to, even on SQ / PR / CX, get the full fare ticket.

The only tax they need to pay, as everybody, is the airport / terminal tax.

Anyone try the Thai restaurant, People's Palace? I like the authentic (Thai people cooking Thai food is authentic right?) Thai stuff here. The reviews seem very favorable and the prices, although I'm sure it is really expensive over there, is ok.

Do you need to "dress nice" when going to more upscale places? I only plan on bringing t-shirts and khaki type shorts because the weather is around 30C.

[QUOTE=Dex Xie; 1168143]Anyone try the Thai restaurant, People's Palace? I like the authentic (Thai people cooking Thai food is authentic right?) Thai stuff here. The reviews seem very favorable and the prices, although I'm sure it is really expensive over there, is ok.

Do you need to "dress nice" when going to more upscale places? I only plan on bringing t-shirts and khaki type shorts because the weather is around 30C. [/QUOTE]I had lunch there a couple of weeks ago and it was excellent. I think the meal cost me about Php600 and it was worth every centavo. People's palace is in Greenbelt 3 adjacent to an entire row of reasonably high end places, or at least higher end places. It is not however,"really" expensive even by local standards. Some of the better French restaurants for example will cost up to $50-$60 a person.

Dressing nicely is not strictly required, though I think if you go to the high end places-Je Suis Gourmand, l'Auberge, le Soufflé for example-you're likely to feel distinctly out of place. You might want to consider brining along some khaki slacks and a decent sports short. I'm probably in a minority, but I would never wear a tee shirt except to sleep in, and I don't own any shorts. Sandals I wear only when I go diving, but then I like dressing well and it's important to me. If you're going to hang around Makati, particularly the Greenbelt area, then you might want to up your game. As to the rest of Manila, it doesn't matter much and you will see guys in shorts and tees all over the place.

GE

[QUOTE=Dex Xie; 1168143]Anyone try the Thai restaurant, People's Palace? I like the authentic (Thai people cooking Thai food is authentic right?) Thai stuff here. The reviews seem very favorable and the prices, although I'm sure it is really expensive over there, is ok.

Do you need to "dress nice" when going to more upscale places? I only plan on bringing t-shirts and khaki type shorts because the weather is around 30C. [/QUOTE]It is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Manila because it is consistently good.

Consistency is a key criterion for me. If you like it genuine Thai spicy you will need to ask the attendant to make it spicy. They tend to tone it down a bit for the local clientele who comprise 90% of their business.

You should bring a pair of slacks, a decent shirt (with a collar) , and a pair of shoes if you wish to eat inside a place like this. You can choose to eat in the outside area opposite the front door where shorts and Tee shirts will be fine.

The temperature at this time of year is not hot at all. The 4th typhoon of the year is passing through now (it has rained for 2 days) and a few more are set to follow over the next 3 or 4 weeks so it will not be hot here. In fact, you will freeze your ass off in most of the malls, and especially if you take in a movie while you are visiting.

Heritage Hotel

Roxas Boulevard corner EDSA, Pasay City, Airport / Pasay,

Hi could you please tell some thing about the above hotel is it gf, and is it near action

[QUOTE=Topmanten; 1168836]Heritage Hotel

Roxas Boulevard corner EDSA, Pasay City, Airport / Pasay,

Hi could you please tell some thing about the above hotel is it gf, and is it near action[/QUOTE]It is definitely gf. I brought 2 girls back from MBC without any problems.

It is literally right across the street from the EDSA complex. Although a little expensive to get a girl from there though.

MBC is about 100 peso cab ride away, so not bad.

Mr. O has already answered the main part of your inquiry. I would add that it is also close to the airport, Mall of Asia, and the Baclaran Market (if you want some local culture). It has a casino and is popular with flight crews. The lobby is wide and spacious and some might not like the so-called "walk of shame". I've never stayed there, but have stayed next door. Other than what Mr. O and I have mentioned, there isn't much appealing about the neighborhood. Be very careful crossing EDSA Blvd if you decide to pop into EDSA entertainment. BTW, EDSA is an acronym. Say it as a word.

[QUOTE=Topmanten; 1168836]Heritage Hotel

Roxas Boulevard corner EDSA, Pasay City, Airport / Pasay,

Hi could you please tell some thing about the above hotel is it gf, and is it near action[/QUOTE]

Anyone here run their company or business over in Phillipines? Looking for an american who has moved there and can help me with some realistic info on cost of living and places where I would feel comfortable living. PM me I would appreciate it.