Korean Job Discussion Forums

[redhed]

Seems like a heap of folks took advantage of Cebu Pacific's promo flights and headed down to the Philippines on the cheap this summer break. My vacation is the end of August, but I know that a lot of you are there now, and next week so if when you return you could give me and up to date recommendations or warnings that would be sweet. I'm flying into cebu and planning on sticking around there. Bantanyan, moalboal, bohol, and in between......any good info appreciated!

[Ilsanman]

I got a round trip ticket there for Chusok. 320,000 including all extra charges.

[redhed]

Nice, you must get a nice break for Chusok. In April Cebu Pacific had some crazy promo fares. (I think they might have been celebrating a new Incheon/Cebu direct flight) Whatever it was, we bought our tickets for W 120,000 each round trip, total.

[itaewonguy]

[redhed]

bump.........

[Missihippi]

I just got back from Manila via Cebu Airlines. Paid about 310,000 Won round trip. The seats in the plane were crammed in and was mostly miserable on the plane (i'm 6'2"). Manila airport is somewhat small but clean. The city of manila is pretty dirty, and noisy. Transportation costs were similar to Koreas, as well as food. Hotels were extremely cheap. We took a bus/ferry to Puerto Galera (white sand beach) and got a hotel on the beach for around 20,000 Won per day. The room was clean, however the building was a bit tattered.

Now the bad part: Filipinos will hastle you constantly about buying something or selling a service. "Massage sir? long day i can tell.." "SIR, buy a pretty necklace for your lady" etc.. And they expect a tip for EVERY thing. It was tolerable at first, but it got annoying really quick. Even saying "no thank you" fell on deaf ears.. just on and on and on...

The scenery was beautiful, but being monsoon season, we didn't get to experience much good weather. All and all a good experience, but i probably wouldn't go back (during monsoon season especially).

Hope this helps

[xCustomx]

Here's a tip: ALWAYS ask the cab drivers to use their meter. A cab driver promised to use the meter and drive my family and I to our hotel. When we got in the cab, he offered to take us for 450php, and then 400 when we refused. Finally he turned the meter on, but it went from 30php to 47.50 in a matter of seconds. After we told him to fix the meter, he told us to get out of his cab and find another car.

The next guy wasn't much better. He didn't want to use the meter either, and he said we had to pay him 30 pesos extra because "it's too far." We heard the "it's too far" excuse a lot and got tired of the drivers asking for extra money.

[Ilsanman]

From what I have been reading on here and multiple other sites, Philippines seems to be a bit ModEdit for service. I have heard many complaints of scams, lazy and unhelpful people, etc.

I am hoping not, as that'd put a damper on our upcoming trip.

[Missihippi]

[asams]

re: taxis in Manila

make sure you take the yellow taxis from the Manila airport. There are other taxis but they will quote you 400-500 pesos. I paid the 500 the first time because I didn't know any better but when I went back to the airport the fare was only about 100 pesos.

Also, someone mentioned this on another thread but if you're around Ermita exchange your money at Edzen Money Changer. They do have the best rates anywhere in Manila from what I saw.

[hugekebab]

[AgentM]

[cck3000]

I think people need to get real when they criticize these people. Try and remember that what you probably spent on a plane ticket to get there is more than some of those people will earn in 3 months. People are STARVING, so to get upset because they are begging for money from someone who they know has more money than they may ever see in a lifetime is pretty silly. It's part of the game. Deal with it or stay home.

[Ilsanman]

I didn't read anywhere in this thread where anyone made fun of Filipinos for being poor.

[redhed]

So I'll answer it myself........

We just arrived back in Korea from the Philippines. We flew into Cebu directly at about 2 am. We bunked out in the airport (very nice and safe) unil about 6 am and then took a cab up to North Bus Terminal and took the bus to Hagnaya. This cost 100 pesos each, and was about three hours. In Hagnaya, we hopped on the ferry to Bantanyan island (about another 100 pesos) and an hour later we were on the dock in Santa Fe. We spent a few days in a beach hut, it was 500 pesos, it had its own bathroom, but was small and cramped. Beach was nice, but we found a much nicer one nearby. This place was called Beach Placid. We rented a motorbike and rode every rode on the island, it's cool, and the fish market in Bantanyan City is worth a look for sure. We then headed over to malapascua island, we could have taken a boat direct for 1700 pesos, but we're cheap fucks so we took the ferry back to Hagnaya, took a tricycle to Bogo (northernmost ATM) and then continued on Trike to Maya to catch the ferry to malapascua. Even with the trike instead of the bus we still saved about 15 bucks and it took about an hour extra. I would have probably taken the boat if I didn't want to hit the ATM. At the port of maya there are a heap o' boats. Everyone will try to sell you a "special trip boat' to malapascua for 1200 pesos....you can just wait for the regularly scheduled boat which costs 50 pesos each, but they only run when they have enough folks so the wait could be a bit. There is a big sign detailing this. Malapascua was cool, more touristy than bantanyan, but a very laid back. We stayed in a tiny one rental operation right next to the Sea Explorer Malapascua branch dive shop. It was 500 pesos and much bigger than our place on bantanyan, great porch. My girlfriend went diving and got massages every day and I got drunk and ate fresh fruit every day. It was nice....new moon and a million stars..........good times. We took the ferry back to Maya, and a bus from Maya to Cebu City terminal. Good trip. One last note, whenever we arrive anywhere we are surrounded by hustlers trying to sell us a ride, a room, a girl, an anything. The independent traveler in me screams to ignore them and figure it out, but experience has taught me that choosing one of them and telling them what you're looking for will cause the rest to scatter. They also know everything about their home and will help you for a small tip. Also, if you can let go of the idea that you're getting ripped off because a local person gets a better price than you, you'll be much happier. I never argue over .50 or $1.00 with folks just because I know that someone else got a better price. Nobody likes to get ripped off, but I hate seeing someone bargain the price down a inconsequential .50 cents and then see them later spending $50.00 to save an hour or two or ensure air conditioning, or for a meal. I am sure many will disagree, but that is just my feeling. Anyway, I know this is long, but it's kind of what I was looking for when I posted the topic.