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blakely
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
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 Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:58 pm Post subject: Traveling to Boracay next week...any advice? :o) |
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I'm just wondering for people who have been before, any advice when staying in Boracay? Anything really expensive that would be worthwhile to bring before I go? Sun screen, etc.?
cheers! |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Try to get bills in small denominations before you go, it can be hell breaking a bill there. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| If you can, take an atm card with visa / mastercard, AND a cirrus / Maestro atm card (which is what many Korean banks issue). Some atms only accept mastercard & visa. I went to Boracay last year & the atms (either in D Mall or near it) were sketchy at best. Even if they accepted cirrus atm cards, they were often empty over the long Xmas New Year break. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Traveling to Boracay next week...any advice? :o) |
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| blakely wrote: |
I'm just wondering for people who have been before, any advice when staying in Boracay? Anything really expensive that would be worthwhile to bring before I go? Sun screen, etc.?
cheers! |
Wouldn't hurt to take sunscreen and some insect repellent with you.
Other than that - pack light.
If you are flying into Caticlan you will be limited to 7-10kg total luggage weight (checked and carry).
Very casual is the dress of the day (and night).
Take cash (US$100 notes get the best exchange rates at the money changers). If you are going for a short time then get yourself about p10k at the money changer in ICN before you go. Get the smallest denominations you can or a decent mix (5xp1000 and 9xp500 and 10xp100). That should cover you for a few days (or even a week if your accommodation is prepaid).
Do NOT depend on the ATM machines - They will probably be empty for the whole week - banks through most of the Phils are closing Thursday and will be closed till the following Wednesday. They MAY be open for the 29-30 and will close again till the 4th or 5th.
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:30 pm Post subject: Boracay |
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| Quote: |
| Wouldn't hurt to take sunscreen and some insect repellent with you. |
The 100 ml rule will see these confiscated at Incheon Airport, so buy them in Manila. There are atm machines in Manila airport arrivals I was able to use them with a cirrus card & draw out several thousand pesos. Note that they are just BEFORE the xray machines at the exit to the taxis & busses. I stupidly went through the xray scanning machines thinking the atms were outside in the street, & had to go back inside & go through the whole xray process 3 times. (out, in, out) |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:47 pm Post subject: Re: Boracay |
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| chris_J2 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Wouldn't hurt to take sunscreen and some insect repellent with you. |
The 100 ml rule will see these confiscated at Incheon Airport, so buy them in Manila. There are atm machines in Manila airport arrivals I was able to use them with a cirrus card & draw out several thousand pesos. Note that they are just BEFORE the xray machines at the exit to the taxis & busses. I stupidly went through the xray scanning machines thinking the atms were outside in the street, & had to go back inside & go through the whole xray process 3 times. (out, in, out) |
100mll rule is ONLY for hand carry. If he has it checked to MNL/CEB (whatever his gateway is) he will be fine.
ATM access in MNL will depend on which terminal he is flying into - NAIA 1, 2 or 3 and again, do not depend on them to have any cash in them over the holidays.
Naia 3 for Cebu Pacific or Zest,
Naia2 for PAL and
Naia 1 for most others.
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| Be prepared for crowds and higher prices for accommodation, you are definitely going at peak season. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:12 am Post subject: |
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| If you do have sunscreen, toothpaste & insect repellent etc in checked luggage, make sure they are double or triple wrapped in plastic bags. There is no equivalent cabin air pressure in cargo hold. Occasionally I've found the tubes have burst, & my clothes smelling of repellent etc when I opened my suitcase. Although a little crowded, I found Boracay manageable. It's not Haeundae Beach & has nowhere near the summer crowds of that locale. |
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blakely
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| hey thanks for the responses guys....can i not just buy sunscreen and insect repellent over there? It's like 15,000 won for fairly small bottles of it over at homeplus right now...and what's the deal with insects in december over there? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| blakely wrote: |
| hey thanks for the responses guys....can i not just buy sunscreen and insect repellent over there? It's like 15,000 won for fairly small bottles of it over at homeplus right now...and what's the deal with insects in december over there? |
Too expensive in Korea, then get it on Boracay.
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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I will also be there next week. I did extensive research.
I have US dollars and pesos. I prepaid as much as I could. We have maps and guides.
I bought 2 cans of spray sunscreen for 15,000 total. I guess that's decent for Korea.
If you have a day of shopping time in Manila, it might be good to get many things there.
| ttompatz wrote: |
| blakely wrote: |
| hey thanks for the responses guys....can i not just buy sunscreen and insect repellent over there? It's like 15,000 won for fairly small bottles of it over at homeplus right now...and what's the deal with insects in december over there? |
Too expensive in Korea, then get it on Boracay.
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alwaysbeclosing100
Joined: 07 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 7:44 am Post subject: re |
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| ati atihan is on the 16th if you are still there. huge festival....great opportunity to photograph.... |
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southernman
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Location: On the mainland again
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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I spent about 6-7 weeks there last year and am going back in the end of January.
I agree with what others have said, buy what you need regarding tioletries/skin care etc in Manila or elsewhere in the Philippines.
The ATM's worked fine for me for the most part, they're everywhere. But the ones at D Mall were the best. They accepted my Korean card as well
Avoid the tourist centre on the beach for exhanging money, they have the worst exchange rates and charge the highest fees on the Island.
I actually carry buggar all cash with me these days, just split my money up between 3-4 cards
watch out for the shemales after dark, they hunt in packs 
Ah Boracay......... I can't wait |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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I tend to exchange my dough toward the far end of Boat Station 3; it seems the best rates are there, though just slightly better.
As for the lady boys, don't worry about them but what I hear is that they are also pickpockets so be careful of your wallet when around them. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:23 pm Post subject: Philippines |
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I'm off to Manila tomorrow morning then to El Nido. ttompatz consistently gives good advice on these forums, so I may exchange some won for pesos at Incheon, as a backup precaution if atm's at NAIA 1 are empty over Xmas Day. I arrived about the 22nd last year.
One final piece of advice, if you need to recharge your camera battery, buy an adapter for the Philippines. The South Korean plug won't fit. Probably ditto if purchased in North America or Australia. I already have a selection of power plugs for all the different countries that I'm taking with me. |
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