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perkxplosion
Joined: 18 Jan 2010
Location: gogo's. you know know.
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 Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:47 am Post subject: Philippines vacation question... |
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| Hi. Well at the end of the month I'll be making a trip to the Philippines with my friends. We have been looking at a lot of beachside huts and most of them are asking for a wire transfer deposit. Is this legitimate? Have you done this? Thanks. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:53 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, it's legit. A lot of the hut/resorts aren't equipped to handle credit cards (the PI is a very prepay-heavy culture, check out all the "LOAD" stations for prepaid phones while you're there) and require this.
I've done it a few times.
If you're looking to use a credit card, check out www.agoda.com and see if there are places you can book through there. It might be a bit more expensive, but with wire transfer costs and peace of mind it might be a better option.
Also, this should probably be in the travel forum. |
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Ajax
Joined: 13 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:56 am Post subject: |
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It might not be a scam but I just got back from the Philippines in June and we weren't asked to wire any money.. in fact, we didn't even pay until the last day of our trip.
Depending on what you're wanting to spend there are tons of guesthouses for cheap that are actually really nice, just make sure that you do your research! We got a great place 10 steps off the beach for really cheap. It's low season now so there is a lot of availability.. you don't even need to prebook before going. |
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perkxplosion
Joined: 18 Jan 2010
Location: gogo's. you know know.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:59 am Post subject: |
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| Ajax wrote: |
| We got a great place 10 steps off the beach for really cheap. It's low season now so there is a lot of availability.. you don't even need to prebook before going. |
Curious... About what did you pay per night? The place we are looking at is going to be about $35 per person, but the online photos look amazing so they have sold me. However, I've obviously never been to the Philippines so I don't know if maybe there are better bargains... |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:11 am Post subject: |
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| perkxplosion wrote: |
| Ajax wrote: |
| We got a great place 10 steps off the beach for really cheap. It's low season now so there is a lot of availability.. you don't even need to prebook before going. |
Curious... About what did you pay per night? The place we are looking at is going to be about $35 per person, but the online photos look amazing so they have sold me. However, I've obviously never been to the Philippines so I don't know if maybe there are better bargains... |
US$35 is about average for a beach side hut with aircon and not in a major destination like Boracay.
If it doesn't have aircon then it is a bit expensive (by about double).
If it is out-of-the-way and out in the province then it is expensive as well.
Deposits are NOT usual for places in the Phils when you make a booking - ESPECIALLY in the off-season (which is what this is).
Might have to make a deposit on a beach front on Boracay between Xmas and New year's eve but not common otherwise.
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perkxplosion
Joined: 18 Jan 2010
Location: gogo's. you know know.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:37 am Post subject: |
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| Well this booking is going to be at an island called Panglao island just off Cebu, alona beach. It's called Pyramid Resort and they offer free breakfast for two in the morning, air conditioned, wifi, and cable. One of the reviews said the wifi was fairly low signal but I could care less about that. Also I just talked to my friend and found out they are offering us a 20% discount since we are booking for 6 nights. So that brings the price down to about $30 USD per person. |
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bianca_dee
Joined: 14 Jun 2010
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| Do they have a website? You could see the authenticity of the resort with its website I guess. I've been to Cebu before although I never made any prepayments. It was on a hotel though. Waterfront was the name. I paid them then and there. |
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Ajax
Joined: 13 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| perkxplosion wrote: |
| Ajax wrote: |
| We got a great place 10 steps off the beach for really cheap. It's low season now so there is a lot of availability.. you don't even need to prebook before going. |
Curious... About what did you pay per night? The place we are looking at is going to be about $35 per person, but the online photos look amazing so they have sold me. However, I've obviously never been to the Philippines so I don't know if maybe there are better bargains... |
we were in Boracay, two beds,great air conditioning, fridge, shower with hot water.. cost was about $20/night so between 2 of us it was $10 each. Hope all works out on your trip, we loved the Philippines... ENJOY! |
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DeMayonnaise
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| perkxplosion wrote: |
| Well this booking is going to be at an island called Panglao island just off Cebu, alona beach. It's called Pyramid Resort and they offer free breakfast for two in the morning, air conditioned, wifi, and cable. One of the reviews said the wifi was fairly low signal but I could care less about that. Also I just talked to my friend and found out they are offering us a 20% discount since we are booking for 6 nights. So that brings the price down to about $30 USD per person. |
I went to panglao island a few years ago, and I think we paid about that. Plenty of places available there and it's low season, so if you don't feel comfortable sending em money, you should be OK showing up without a reservation. Nice place, but more of a diving spot than just a beach spot, so give it a try if you've never done it before. The guys there were pretty cool about it, and let us take a few "discovery" dives where we didn't go very deep without taking a class or anything. I pushed the limits and went to 11 meters...what a rebel! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| perkxplosion wrote: |
| Well this booking is going to be at an island called Panglao island just off Cebu, alona beach. It's called Pyramid Resort and they offer free breakfast for two in the morning, air conditioned, wifi, and cable. One of the reviews said the wifi was fairly low signal but I could care less about that. Also I just talked to my friend and found out they are offering us a 20% discount since we are booking for 6 nights. So that brings the price down to about $30 USD per person. |
Alona tropical has (nice) huts right on the sand for p1400 (us$30) per night (including breakfast for 2) and aircon rooms 1 row (15 meters) back for p2000.
There are lots of places on the beach and it is not peak season. The price you are being quoted is NOT anything special nor is the resort.
http://www.bohol.ph/article75.html#panglao (Panglao island is where Alona beach actually is).
(ps - my house/farm/beach is on Bohol so the information is pretty up-to-date).
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Just a heads up, though. Alona Beach is BOOOOOOOOOOOOORING. There isn't jack squat to do after sunset, with the exception of a one or two quiet bars. Perfect for couples, but if you're looking for any nightlife action you'll be SOL. |
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perkxplosion
Joined: 18 Jan 2010
Location: gogo's. you know know.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the replies. Yeah they do have a web site. It's...
www.alona-pyramid.com
Another couple questions...
Were the drink prices about the same as anywhere else or cheaper?
I've heard rum is cheap... Can I buy it on the island?
What was the diving cost and are there reefs to snorkel?
Too bad to hear the night life isn't so hot. Hope we don't get bored. My friend who had been there made it sound like there is a strip with a reasonable amount of bars? Either way I'm looking forward to a relaxing vacation! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:08 am Post subject: |
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| perkxplosion wrote: |
Thanks for all the replies. Yeah they do have a web site. It's...
www.alona-pyramid.com
Another couple questions...
Were the drink prices about the same as anywhere else or cheaper?
I've heard rum is cheap... Can I buy it on the island?
What was the diving cost and are there reefs to snorkel?
Too bad to hear the night life isn't so hot. Hope we don't get bored. My friend who had been there made it sound like there is a strip with a reasonable amount of bars? Either way I'm looking forward to a relaxing vacation! |
Tanduay rum is expensive in the bars (p100 /drink) and cheap in the store (p35 for 375ml. the coke for mix will cost you as much). You can buy bottles at just about every sari-sari store on the island.
The nightlife is not super in the off-season but there is usually some activity or you can spend p300 for a taxi and take the 30 minute drive into the city and head for the disco at Metro-center.
There are lots of vidoke bars just up the hill too that you can partake of if you don't mind sharing with the local population.
There is a reef about 100 meters off the beach if you are inclined for snorkeling close to home. The other alternative is to join a dive trip for the boat ride and snorkel or dive at any of the 30-40 other dive spots around the south end of Bohol.
You can also charter your own boat for about p3000 /day (fuel and crew included) and go where you want, when you want.
Diving runs from $20-$50 depending on the dive location (distance for the boat to travel), number of divers on the trip, equipment needed and whether or not you are open water certified.
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