leaving for pagadian

[matteo]

hello everyone.  i am leaving for my trip on wednesday.  im traveling boston, new york, tokyo manilla pagadian.  i am arriving in manilla at 10:30 pm and the only flights i can find to ozamiz (then car to pagadian) are daily at 930 am.  if i choose to just stay one night in manilla do you have any hotel recommendations?  (safe, convenient because of the quick turnaround)

i am not against staying a full day in manilla (two nights) and get acclimated as long as i feel i will get something else out of it (get my sim card, see some sights, see some nightlife).......this would also allow me to stay at a hotel further from the airport and closer to some attractions.

also, any precautions on taxi services (ive been to 20 countries or so and am familiar with some taxis "colors" to avoid, as well as making sure they use meters of course. 

any suggestions would be appreciated greatly

thanks again

[Raquelfebtember]

Bayview Hotel across the U.S embassy in Roxas Blvd. Manila.Yellow taxi cab they all line up inside the airport.Don't worry the security guard on the airport will put the cab number and cab driver name before you live.Sometimes the hotel have shuttle too to pick you up.Cost about 500 pesos from airport to the hotel.

[Bear]

I took some melatonin on the flight to help me sleep and adjust to the 12-13 hour time change. 

Cab drivers will always say "pay what you want" cause they know its more than they normally get - I get out and get another cab if they refuse to start the meter.  The 500 pisos charge from the airport is fixed and can't be changed but after than expect cab fares to be a lot lower.  The drive from the airport to the embassy area is a bit long (45 minutes or more) but mostly because of traffic; if possible try to get a hotel with a pickup service.

Lots of malls, restruants and night life within a few blocks of the embassy but be careful.  Don't take a chance on the horse carriage rides near the old fort but the area is a great place to visit.  The best reason to stay near the embassy is if you have any paperwork to be done first other than that Honey and I stayed across the street from 3 malls and Shoemart in the Makata district.  Haven't been there is 9 years so its hard to recommend a hotel now.

Don't forget the chocolates!!

The Bear Family

P.S. DON"T FORGET THE CHOCLATES!!!

[Cbear]

I am leaving Friday and arriving in Manila about midnight. I am lucky though, my girl live in Manila and found me a nice hotel for cheap. I can't remember the name but it is an apartment complex that also has hotel rooms.

I also am lucky in that her designated chaperon has a car to pick me up. Her and her mother and chaperon are picking me up at the airport. We have 2 rooms reserved.

[Ray]

Raquel,

Is the Bayview Hotel still standing? Wow!

I remember thinking it was old when I first stayed there in 1969. The cockroaches must be as big as water buffaloes by now… 

Ray

[Swisskid]

I stayed at the Bayview Park Hotel for 5 nights a few weeks ago.  I was on the 5th floor and for an old hotel my stay was surprisingly nice. Great service.  I did not see one roach in the hotel.  I did see lots of big roaches and huge rats in the rocks along the bay walk farther up Roxas.  The rats were the size of large cats... 

I ate around the corner at the Swagman Hotel quite a bit (imported Australian beef)and would use the free wireless internet in the bar while nursing a San Miguel.  Bayview Park Hotel has crappy internet and they charge 100 pesos for an hour.  They have a decent breakfast buffet included in the room charge.  There are several nice restaurants within a few blocks walk and Robinsons Mall is only a few blocks away too.  Great food court at the mall.  Teriyaki Boy is my favorite restaurant in the Philippines - Japanese fast food....yummy...

[stevjulietb]

Austrailian Beef,,,lol is that tagalog for rat?

Steveb

[Swisskid]

Thought at first it might be kangaroo meat but it was very decent steaks served at Swagman's and I was raised on Nebraska beef so I am picky.  Nice T-bones and NY strips served inexpensive compared to US prices at a steakhouse.  Add some fresh local seafood and you've got it going on....

[stevjulietb]

We stayed at the Kabayan Hotel, last xmas 2007, they picked us up and took us to airport, phone number is  011-63-02-835-5589, this is the number from US.

Steveb

[Dave H]

Hey matteo and Cbear,

I hope you have great trips!

The rats were the size of large cats... 

Those huge Philippine rats scare me more than manananggal! Those rats aren't affraid of anything. I had one jump out and w...a...l...k  past me one day. I was screaming like a little girl! One went into our house the other day when they were having a birthday paty. The door was open and he walked inside, gave my bother-in-law the middle finger and walked upstairs for a nap.   Fortunately, when he was through napping he grabbed some food and left.

Dave

[piglett]

man those rats sound serious
how does the PI police feel about a kano keeping a 12 gauge pump around ?
i think that kind of shooting iron mite be able to sort out any rat problems you are having quickly.
Can your wife purchase firearms in the PI?
you could let her have a "talk" with the rats 

piglett

[Dave H]

man those rats sound serious
how does the PI police feel about a kano keeping a 12 gauge pump around ?
i think that kind of shooting iron mite be able to sort out any rat problems you are having quickly.
Can your wife purchase firearms in the PI?
you could let her have a "talk" with the rats 

piglett

Hey piglett,

I wanted my wife to get a permit, so she looked into it. Only if she becomes a politician. They are cracking down more on gun ownership in the Philippines. Naturally, politicians and their goons are allowed to have them. Security guards usually have to turn them in at the end of their shift. A person has to show that they have good cause  (their life is being threatened by a non-politician)  to own one. Unfortunately all my guns in the US had to go with my gunsafe to my nephew's house for safe keeping. Hmmm...maybe I can make some PVC potato guns. 

Dave

[piglett]

maybe you could build a pumkin cannon
& if that didn't work you could just run after them wearing your big pumpkin suit
could be worth a try

piglett

[Swisskid]

They sell cool handmade blowguns with darts on the beach at Subic.  All you need is a little poison frog juice and the possibilities are endless.... 

[Dave H]

Hey piglett,

I am pretty well prepared, but I don't have a pumpkin suit...yet!  But I have a purple G-string...that might work. I have plenty of Coumadin (my medicine = rat poison), blood thinner that I could give them.  I was thinking about building a small cannon. I packed my blow gun. I have the sticky paper. Others biggest fear (my joy) is that they will crawl behind the wall and die...rotting away for a few weeks. So I decided to not bring a BB gun. The dart from the blowgun might help to block their escape.  I have a large vermin trap and also an electrocution device. I am going to have a great time!

Fester Jr.   "Fester means to rot"

[piglett]

I don't have a pumpkin suit...yet!  But I have a purple G-string...that might work.


i bet when they see you in the purple G-string they run for the hills    HE HE HE