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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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West Coast Tatterdemalion
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:21 am Post subject: Clark/Angeles City, Phillipines |
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Hello,
I'm sure that there are a lot of people that have been there. I'm just looking at getting some information about the place. I'm looking at heading there at the end of the summer.
Decent hotels? I'm not looking to spend a bunch. I'd just like something fairly small with air conditioning and close to the nightlife.
Decent dive shops? I've contacted several dive shops there, but would be more interested to hear from divers which place(s) they liked while there. I'm planning on doing some wreck diving.
Also, I've heard that it is damn near impossible to cash AMEX or VISA traveller's cheques there. Is this true? I don't have a credit card and I certainly don't trust my Korean bank card, so my options would be cash or traveller's cheques. For my last vacation in Indonesia, I used a combination of cash/trav. cheques and it worked out perfectly. I had no problems cashing them there. I obviously would take large denomiations in cash($100's), but it sure would be nice to supplement it with some traveller's cheques in case I needed some additional money for things. Any tips? Again, not interesteed in getting a credit card and don't trust the Korean bank cards working properly.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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1) Budget hotels: Up Perimeter road behind the Petron Station. Hana Hotel, Sunset Garden, The Marquis, The Premier, Bluefields, are among many ~ 1000p a night. Easy to take a jeepney or trike, and about a 20 minute walk to the center of Field avenue. But I don't advise walking back at night especially if you are drunk.
2) No diving in Angeles. If you go to Subic Bay about 1 1/2 hrs away you can go wreck diving. Fly-the-Bus and Southern Cross Shuttle go there daily from Angeles.
3) Only take crisp clean U.S. $100 bills. International debit cards and credit cards have never been a problem. Travelers checks can be cashed at a few of the banks like BDO in SM mall. Outside of Angeles, Manila, or Cebu forget cashing travelers checks. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:18 am Post subject: |
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Angeles is most famous for hookers. Is that what you want? Seriously, I won't look down on you for it.
If not, I suggest going elsewhere. Diving you say? Subic is the closest. Puerto Galera is 6-8 hours away. |
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West Coast Tatterdemalion
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:25 am Post subject: |
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Okay guys, sorry I guess I didn't clarify. I am planning to stay in the Angeles city area(nightlife) and will do my diving at Subic. Yeah, I kinda know that it would be tough to dive in Angeles...LOL. I will be doing a diving and debauchery type of vacation down there, so I'm looking for some information from people who have been. Thanks. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:37 am Post subject: |
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West Coast Tatterdemalion wrote: |
Okay guys, sorry I guess I didn't clarify. I am planning to stay in the Angeles city area(nightlife) and will do my diving at Subic. Yeah, I kinda know that it would be tough to dive in Angeles...LOL. I will be doing a diving and debauchery type of vacation down there, so I'm looking for some information from people who have been. Thanks. |
Actually Subic Bay has quite a decent nightlife these days, but be warned hotels and sin in Barrio Barretto are double the price of Angeles. Many things to do in Subic too (e.g. Zoobic, SBMA - especially Pier 1 at night, Ocean Adventure, Tree Top Adventure, etc.).
Unfortunately most posters here only know one side of Angeles - Balibago. Its a big city and aside from nightlife there are many things to do in and around Angeles (e.g. Mt Pinatubo trek, ultralight flying, golf, excellent shopping, etc.). Not to mention the best food in the country including Filipino dishes. Don't miss out on "Napo market - Fridays only" in Angeles proper for some excellent deals on clothes. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed with Ttompatz.
Also, I have heard Subic has at least 6 go-go clubs where girls dance on poles. I only saw 2-3 in Sabang (PUerto Galera) but a lot of girls hanging on an old guy's arm. |
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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BoholDiver wrote: |
Agreed with Ttompatz.
Also, I have heard Subic has at least 6 go-go clubs where girls dance on poles. I only saw 2-3 in Sabang (PUerto Galera) but a lot of girls hanging on an old guy's arm. |
Six go-go bars? So you've never actually been to Barrio Barretto, Olongapo, or Subic city? How about Angeles?
You recommend Sabang beach over both these places...based on what criteria ...if you don't mind sharing? |
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Yaya

Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Wad wrote: |
West Coast Tatterdemalion wrote: |
Okay guys, sorry I guess I didn't clarify. I am planning to stay in the Angeles city area(nightlife) and will do my diving at Subic. Yeah, I kinda know that it would be tough to dive in Angeles...LOL. I will be doing a diving and debauchery type of vacation down there, so I'm looking for some information from people who have been. Thanks. |
Actually Subic Bay has quite a decent nightlife these days, but be warned hotels and sin in Barrio Barretto are double the price of Angeles. Many things to do in Subic too (e.g. Zoobic, SBMA - especially Pier 1 at night, Ocean Adventure, Tree Top Adventure, etc.).
Unfortunately most posters here only know one side of Angeles - Balibago. Its a big city and aside from nightlife there are many things to do in and around Angeles (e.g. Mt Pinatubo trek, ultralight flying, golf, excellent shopping, etc.). Not to mention the best food in the country including Filipino dishes. Don't miss out on "Napo market - Fridays only" in Angeles proper for some excellent deals on clothes. |
Shopping in Angeles leaves a lot to be desired. I hit SM Mall Clark and it sucked, really sucked. I don't think I'll ever go there again. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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Wad wrote: |
BoholDiver wrote: |
Agreed with Ttompatz.
Also, I have heard Subic has at least 6 go-go clubs where girls dance on poles. I only saw 2-3 in Sabang (PUerto Galera) but a lot of girls hanging on an old guy's arm. |
Six go-go bars? So you've never actually been to Barrio Barretto, Olongapo, or Subic city? How about Angeles?
You recommend Sabang beach over both these places...based on what criteria ...if you don't mind sharing? |
Diving, beach, accommodation and just about as many ladies for your evenings of debauchery. You get it all in one place rather than Angles for your play and a 2 hour commute to Subic for the beach and your diving.
Dive, party, play, sleep, repeat.
The only nice thing about Angeles is the proximity to Pinatubo for your volcano hiking adventure (unless you are an old US airman returning to his old haunts after retirement).
But hey, what do I know?
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Yaya

Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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I ran out of things to do by the second day in Angeles. If you know someone there, fine but if you don't, the bad malls, dirty surroundings and other negative factors could get to you. |
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Wad
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:22 am Post subject: |
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ttompatz wrote: |
Diving, beach, accommodation and just about as many ladies for your evenings of debauchery. You get it all in one place rather than Angles for your play and a 2 hour commute to Subic for the beach and your diving.
Dive, party, play, sleep, repeat.
The only nice thing about Angeles is the proximity to Pinatubo for your volcano hiking adventure (unless you are an old US airman returning to his old haunts after retirement).
But hey, what do I know?
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Sabang has no beach to speak of...only rocks no sand. Lousy for swimming. Three maybe four go-go bars. White beach is now known as the gay beach. And the beach is certainly no screaming hell. Guess if your gay no problem or don't mind being constantly harassed by transvestites. Dont think I've ever seen as many pedophiles anywhere in the whole of the Philippines as I've seen there. Few activities outside of diving in Puerto Galera compared to Subic. And good wreck diving in Subic.
Obviously you haven't been to Subic in a long while. I would guess there are probably about 20-25 girlie bars in Barrio Barretto alone, not to mention probably another 20 girlie bars in Calapandyan. Less than an hour bus ride north of Barretto there is Crystal Beach in San Narcisso. Turquoise water, white sand, excellent surf, and nobody during the week days. So dive one day and surf the next...conditions permitting of course. Resorts like Blue Rock or the Arizona Hotel are first rate hotels at decent prices...with sand beaches included (Long Beach Baloy and Driftwood Beach). Food at the Blue Rock and Johann's resort outstanding. Never saw anything that compared bang for your buck in Sabang. The floating bars are always a good day out too.
Of course Angeles has no diving, but you can't beat it for sin anywhere in the Philippines. Without a doubt the most beautiful women in the Philippines work in Angeles for the simple reason its where the punters and pera are! Pull a good looking girl from Angeles and take her to Subic for a few days. The girls are always looking for a bit of a holiday, so you can probably get a sneak out and save yourself some money on bar fines and ladies' drinks.
Okay, I'll bite. What do you know?
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West Coast Tatterdemalion
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 6:33 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the responses, guys. Puerto Galera looks good and I would definitely think about it. Still think Subic is the place for me because they have a decent amount of shipwrecks and that is the diving that I am focused on. Debauchery is fine and all, but diving is my number one priority. Oh, and I don't care too much about shopping, so that isn't a priority.
Wad, what kind of prices can I expect to pay for places like the Blue Rock or Arizona hotel?
I might just spend one week in Subic and one week in Puerto Galera. I always believe in balance, so this might be the best option.
Again, thanks to all. |
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Yaya

Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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West Coast Tatterdemalion wrote: |
Thanks for the responses, guys. Puerto Galera looks good and I would definitely think about it. Still think Subic is the place for me because they have a decent amount of shipwrecks and that is the diving that I am focused on. Debauchery is fine and all, but diving is my number one priority. Oh, and I don't care too much about shopping, so that isn't a priority.
Wad, what kind of prices can I expect to pay for places like the Blue Rock or Arizona hotel?
I might just spend one week in Subic and one week in Puerto Galera. I always believe in balance, so this might be the best option.
Again, thanks to all. |
You might also want to read more about "Sh*t River," which is a landmark of Sewer-bic Bay. |
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West Coast Tatterdemalion
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:29 am Post subject: |
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Wow, that was interesting reading. Never heard of the place until you told me. Yikes, hope none of that comes my way when I'm doing the wreck diving  |
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