Discussion
I'm off at the end of next week for a week in the Philippines, flying into Manila.
The search didn't give any results so any recommendations and advice, bearing in mind we're students so we'll be going for the lower end of the market (hostels, cheap hotels, cheap bars, or maybe the nice stuff is comparatively cheap?).
cheers
The search didn't give any results so any recommendations and advice, bearing in mind we're students so we'll be going for the lower end of the market (hostels, cheap hotels, cheap bars, or maybe the nice stuff is comparatively cheap?).
cheers
One of my closest friends if philipino, he spends alot of time out there in Manila and all over the country.
I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Groober said:
One of my closest friends if philipino, he spends alot of time out there in Manila and all over the country.
I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Your friend is actually Filipino. Love to know why people from the Philippines are Filipino!I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Edited by cjs on Wednesday 3rd February 13:45
cjs said:
Groober said:
One of my closest friends if philipino, he spends alot of time out there in Manila and all over the country.
I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Your friend is actually Filipino. Love to know why people from the Philippines are Filipino!I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Edited by cjs on Wednesday 3rd February 13:45
Groober said:
cjs said:
Groober said:
One of my closest friends if philipino, he spends alot of time out there in Manila and all over the country.
I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Your friend is actually Filipino. Love to know why people from the Philippines are Filipino!I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Edited by cjs on Wednesday 3rd February 13:45
ndtman said:
Groober said:
cjs said:
Groober said:
One of my closest friends if philipino, he spends alot of time out there in Manila and all over the country.
I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Your friend is actually Filipino. Love to know why people from the Philippines are Filipino!I've heard it's great, but if your white and don't blend in don't let your guard down to much and don't wear expensive jewllery out.
Apart from that you can stay in a top notch hotel relitavly cheap.
Have fun bud.
Ps. Hookers are dirt cheap aswell.
Edited by cjs on Wednesday 3rd February 13:45
Edited by cjs on Wednesday 3rd February 16:36
The Philippines are named after King Phillip of Spain, the original Spanish spelling of this was Feilipe and the different spellings are used interchangaebly freely.
OP, I always stay at one of the Sogo hotels they are cheap - last time over December it cost me 1250 php a night B+B, around £16 for 2 of us in a double room with aircon + bathroom, cable tv, wifi). These hotels are very clean and safe ( http://www.hotelsogo.com/ ) they have a reputation from the Japanese who use them for whoring but in the Philippines they are used more by long term couples looking for a bit of err, 'bonding' time away from the rest of the family, as most Fillipino families share the same bed. That said they do also rent the rooms by the hour! As for the prostitution it is there I suppose if you look for it but in my experience it is not 'in your face' but then I suppose I was not really looking!
Makati is a relatively Ok area to stay in maybe someone will be along and suggest better, I aways stay in Cainta but this is more 'getting back to nature' and not to most western peoples taste.
When you arrive at Manila airport you WILL get ripped off but it will only be by a few hundred pesos so do not worry. You go through and look for the taxis, unless you have one ordered you will be 'chaperoned' by one of the security guards. These guys carry guns but they are NOT the police, they will try to direct you to one of their accredited taxis and expect a tip. Up to you if you want to do things this way, if you have some small currency it is useful 25/30 pesos is ok they will give you dirty looks but dont worry! The taxi should not cost you more than a few hundred pesos to most areas in Metro Manila so make sure the taxi driver agrees a price first. Warning, this is not easy in the heat and bustle when you are tired after a long flight! Alternatively, over the road from the terminal there are 2 exits, left is A-M right is N-Z doesnt really matter which you choose they join at the other end anyway. Be prepared to be hassled by more security guards trying for their tips and taxi drivers. This is a better place to pick a taxi from, or if you go through the crowd and head off to the left there is a big car park where there are more taxis.
When you get the taxi make sure he takes you to the place you want to go, most of them have some other local hotel they know which is better, DO NOT fall for this, they will be getting a kickback from the hotel in question and generally these places are awful.
Get used to being called 'Joe' and 'sir' the Philippinos dont mean any harm 'Joe' is GI from the Yanks and sir is just being polite. You WILL stand out from the crowd and get lots of attention, there are not many tourists in the country. The Philippino people are generally the most friendly and generous you are ever likely to meet despite the appearance of the poverty, although like anywhere in the world there are some bad ones, just keep your wits about you as you would in any rough area in the UK and you will be ok. Travel light, you can buy clothes and anything else you need, cheaply from the malls which are surprisingly civillised, though to be honest you only need t-shirts and shorts, shaver and toothbrush.
Prepare to be amazed I think people either love or hate the place, it is so diverse. I LOVE the place it is fantastic and I hope you do, the more tourists the better, it will bring the cost of flights down and do the country so much good. - Enjoy
Most UK SIM cards do not work in the Philippines. I suggest you get a Lebara or Globe pay as you go from the UK and put some load on it for emergencies or when you are there you can get a Smart Buddy SIM card from lots of places and you can buy load for these all over the place.
OP, I always stay at one of the Sogo hotels they are cheap - last time over December it cost me 1250 php a night B+B, around £16 for 2 of us in a double room with aircon + bathroom, cable tv, wifi). These hotels are very clean and safe ( http://www.hotelsogo.com/ ) they have a reputation from the Japanese who use them for whoring but in the Philippines they are used more by long term couples looking for a bit of err, 'bonding' time away from the rest of the family, as most Fillipino families share the same bed. That said they do also rent the rooms by the hour! As for the prostitution it is there I suppose if you look for it but in my experience it is not 'in your face' but then I suppose I was not really looking!
Makati is a relatively Ok area to stay in maybe someone will be along and suggest better, I aways stay in Cainta but this is more 'getting back to nature' and not to most western peoples taste.
When you arrive at Manila airport you WILL get ripped off but it will only be by a few hundred pesos so do not worry. You go through and look for the taxis, unless you have one ordered you will be 'chaperoned' by one of the security guards. These guys carry guns but they are NOT the police, they will try to direct you to one of their accredited taxis and expect a tip. Up to you if you want to do things this way, if you have some small currency it is useful 25/30 pesos is ok they will give you dirty looks but dont worry! The taxi should not cost you more than a few hundred pesos to most areas in Metro Manila so make sure the taxi driver agrees a price first. Warning, this is not easy in the heat and bustle when you are tired after a long flight! Alternatively, over the road from the terminal there are 2 exits, left is A-M right is N-Z doesnt really matter which you choose they join at the other end anyway. Be prepared to be hassled by more security guards trying for their tips and taxi drivers. This is a better place to pick a taxi from, or if you go through the crowd and head off to the left there is a big car park where there are more taxis.
When you get the taxi make sure he takes you to the place you want to go, most of them have some other local hotel they know which is better, DO NOT fall for this, they will be getting a kickback from the hotel in question and generally these places are awful.
Get used to being called 'Joe' and 'sir' the Philippinos dont mean any harm 'Joe' is GI from the Yanks and sir is just being polite. You WILL stand out from the crowd and get lots of attention, there are not many tourists in the country. The Philippino people are generally the most friendly and generous you are ever likely to meet despite the appearance of the poverty, although like anywhere in the world there are some bad ones, just keep your wits about you as you would in any rough area in the UK and you will be ok. Travel light, you can buy clothes and anything else you need, cheaply from the malls which are surprisingly civillised, though to be honest you only need t-shirts and shorts, shaver and toothbrush.
Prepare to be amazed I think people either love or hate the place, it is so diverse. I LOVE the place it is fantastic and I hope you do, the more tourists the better, it will bring the cost of flights down and do the country so much good. - Enjoy
Most UK SIM cards do not work in the Philippines. I suggest you get a Lebara or Globe pay as you go from the UK and put some load on it for emergencies or when you are there you can get a Smart Buddy SIM card from lots of places and you can buy load for these all over the place.
Edited by floydbax on Wednesday 3rd February 21:41
I went to Puerto Galera I'm guessing it's about 75 miles south of Manila. It's quiet a popular dive resort really nice place. Another great place for a lazy beach holiday is Boracay island. If it's a lads trip you want to be heading to Angeles City very much what goes on tour stays on tour if you do visit Angeles.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff