Manila

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1641731]Any comments on if I should stay at this place? I'm getting a great rate of $30 day and thought about Makati area too but need to make a decision soon LOL.

SM Light Residences, Madison, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. [/QUOTE]Have you checked the size of the bed? I had to stay in Manila for a night on my outbound trip and I booked at one of these cheaper budget places. Pictures looked good and the room was big. When I got there, The room was still big but had the smallest bed I have seen. It was what little kids sleep on. I was too tired to argue and spent the night falling off the bed and getting back on, repeated through out the night. It just not ruined my night but also the day as I was tired and had to forget about any day time action plans.

[QUOTE=LifeIsABeach;1641871]Have you checked the size of the bed? I had to stay in Manila for a night on my outbound trip and I booked at one of these cheaper budget places. Pictures looked good and the room was big. When I got there, The room was still big but had the smallest bed I have seen. It was what little kids sleep on. I was too tired to argue and spent the night falling off the bed and getting back on, repeated through out the night. It just not ruined my night but also the day as I was tired and had to forget about any day time action plans.[/QUOTE]Concur. I make a habit of confirming, via email, my room appointment requirements (regardless of what the website says). The bed size you speak of is 'twin', or 'single', and its a no-no on my list. Many pilipine hotels offer a 'full', 'double' or even what they call a 'queen' bed, which is not such at all: its two twin beds pushed together, with a queen bedsheet pulled over top (or worse, sometimes the twin bedsheets are on top of the mattress, and the beds are simply pushed together). Those beds often push apart in the night, and myself or my tart start to fall to the floor. Talk about culture clash and vocabulary confusion: explaining the next day to the front desk will simply draw the vacant stare from hotel personnel; as they will not understand that your two twin beds are not a 'queen' bed. "Very big that bed sir". Please move me to a room that does not have small beds pushed together. "We don't have that sir. Queen or twin. You choose".

Contact the hotel before you book. Especially if it is a 5 star. I have never had anyone say NO to me.

[QUOTE=Amanut;1640827]Flights from Canada on PAL arrive at about 05:00. On my first trip to Manila my travel agent in Canada contacted the Dusit and arranged an early check in for me at no extra charge. When I arrived at the hotel the staff were perfect and welcoming saying "we have been expecting you Mr. Nut" and up to the room I went. My suggestion is if you are using a travel agent it may be worth having your travel agent send an e-mail requesting an early check in on your behalf.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1641965]Concur. I make a habit of confirming, via email, my room appointment requirements (regardless of what the website says). The bed size you speak of is 'twin', or 'single', and its a no-no on my list.

Hopefully bed big enough for 2 Pinays and me lol

Many pilipine hotels offer a 'full', 'double' or even what they call a 'queen' bed, which is not such at all: its two twin beds pushed together, with a queen bedsheet pulled over top (or worse, sometimes the twin bedsheets are on top of the mattress, and the beds are simply pushed together). Those beds often push apart in the night, and myself or my tart start to fall to the floor. Talk about culture clash and vocabulary confusion: explaining the next day to the front desk will simply draw the vacant stare from hotel personnel; as they will not understand that your two twin beds are not a 'queen' bed. "Very big that bed sir". Please move me to a room that does not have small beds pushed together. "We don't have that sir. Queen or twin. You choose".[/QUOTE]Its looks like one bed for 2. Might have to go to the floor if not.

PC out.

[QUOTE=Pantot;1641809]PCP if this is your maiden trip so want simplification and ease of use. Forget about Jeeps, the MRT and shuttles. Hutsori obviously lives there, how he travels efficiently as a resident and you will travel as a first time stranger in a strange land short term tourist is night and day. Unfortunately you are at the mercy of the legendarily corrupt Manila taxi corps.

1) First make sure you exchange at least $20 usd / Euro at the airport ask for all in 100,50 and 20 peso notes.

2) Take the metered yellow taxis at the airport and insist they turn on the meter before you tell them your destination.

3) Before getting into any manila taxi tell him your destination and ask him if he knows where is if he hesitates slam the door and try the next one. They are notorious for driving in circles and asking for directions.

4) Once you determine he knows where the hell you are going ask- Do you have a meter? Make sure he turns it on before you get ten meters otherwise demand he stop and get out.

5) You will need those small bills because none of these guys, after even a 10 hour shift ever has change, supposedly.

6) Hopefully you will encounter the 15 -20% of Manila cabbies who just take you where you want to go without all the games.

If the fellow is amongst the aforementioned simple honest taxi drivers who follow rules please tip him modestly and he will appreciate it greatly. If he pulls any of the crap in 1-5 just get your gear and move on. Never encourage that behavior.

Once you get a girl let her be in charge of all transportation communications while observing rules 1 - 5 are being followed quietly.

Forget the public transportation it can be quick for a savvy local but an impenetrable cluster fuck for an unguided first timer. If the girl says take the jeep etc. With her hell yes follow her. The girls are used to traveling like Hutsori does their whole lives.[/QUOTE]Good info sir.

I am trying to get a DIA gal to meet me at the airport and pick me up. We can go to Condo from there and maybe no issues with cab etc. I will actually be changing some pesos here in Hong Kong for the trip. Seems like good rates here.

PC out.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1641826]For your $1000 I reckon you can be +/- p500 to p1500 depending on where and when you change money.

If you stay at that condo you won't be using the Skyway to go to Solaire. For nearby sightseeing you have Tagaytay and for beaches it's Subic, Zambales or Batangas.[/QUOTE]Someone said they had a private driver for about 400 p a day and he could go anywhere etc. Anyone know this guy?

PC out.

Though I've been an avid user of mass transit in other countries in which I've lived, I never use it (aside from taxis) here. The jeeps are uncomfortable, hot, slow and, in my view not all that safe. The MRT is too crowded, inefficient and unreliable, and it often goes nowhere near where I want to be. As I've written before, I've become an increasingly frequent customer of Uber, as it's the safest, most comfortable and reliable transport option I've found here. The Uber X cars are no more expensive than taxis and never try to rip you off.

GE.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1642724]Though I've been an avid user of mass transit in other countries in which I've lived, I never use it (aside from taxis) here. The jeeps are uncomfortable, hot, slow and, in my view not all that safe. The MRT is too crowded, inefficient and unreliable, and it often goes nowhere near where I want to be. As I've written before, I've become an increasingly frequent customer of Uber, as it's the safest, most comfortable and reliable transport option I've found here. The Uber X cars are no more expensive than taxis and never try to rip you off.

GE.[/QUOTE]I saw this and is it a rental car per say or a chauffeured car?

PC out.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1642759]I saw this and is it a rental car per say or a chauffeured car?

PC out.[/QUOTE]Private taxi, i.e. one that is not licenced by the gov't. Google it. It's a big deal in many cities around the world. You can download the app to your mobile.

In my experience, private taxis are the best way to get into a trouble especially in Italy, Eastern European countries. Just simply stay clear out of it.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1642765]Private taxi, i.e. one that is not licenced by the gov't. Google it. It's a big deal in many cities around the world. You can download the app to your mobile.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1642767]In my experience, private taxis are the best way to get into a trouble especially in Italy, Eastern European countries. Just simply stay clear out of it.[/QUOTE]You'll certainly want to avoid uber then. To avoid the trouble. Believing is seeing.

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1642767]In my experience, private taxis are the best way to get into a trouble especially in Italy, Eastern European countries. Just simply stay clear out of it.[/QUOTE]If GE says its ok I would think its ok. Plus its a fairly large company with Intl exposure so I'm kinda thinking its all good. I'm going to try it from airport to condo.

Pc out.

What should I be paying them or should these be freebies? In the 20 yrs of mongering, we all know that there is no free lunch or pussy in the whole world.

Some I try for LT, some I will just pull a Skogis. LOL.

PC out.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1642776]If GE says its ok I would think its ok. Plus its a fairly large company with Intl exposure so I'm kinda thinking its all good. I'm going to try it from airport to condo.

Pc out.[/QUOTE]Just a word of caution PC, I've not had much luck with Uber from the airport, as the cars seem to congregate more in the business districts such as Makati and Ortigas, where I never have problems getting one. My standard transport mode from the airport is one of the white coupon taxis, which operate on a fixed rate, non-metered system. The amount depends on the distance traveled by zone. I travel from the airport to the Fairmont which, according to the taxi service is Makati 1. The fare is Php330, which is about 100 pesos more than a yellow metered taxi would be. The difference is that I don't have to wait for a taxi, don't have to worry about a driver giving me a story about his meter, or deciding to take a creative route. I always have the drivers take the skyway, which adds another Php20 to the cost.

GE.

[QUOTE=Pcpc1688;1642833]What should I be paying them or should these be freebies? In the 20 yrs of mongering, we all know that there is no free lunch or pussy in the whole world.

Some I try for LT, some I will just pull a Skogis. LOL.

PC out.[/QUOTE]Boy,

Have you just reopened Pandora's Box! This is a major bone of contention between those who champion importing their own cultural and economic values and those who believe we should accept the realities of this specific environment. The former drive up prices and raise expectations. The latter attempt to keep things reasonable.