I have travelled extensively in the Philippines from Davao in Mindanao by road to Angeles in Luzon,caught buses, vans , caught the Superferry from Manila to Davao twice, and flown around the country alot.
Some basic facts
The Philippines is a Christian country , and English is widely spoken except in the provinces.
The Population is at last estimate 80 million.
The Philippines comprises of approx 7000 islands.
The main tourist destinations are Boracay, Puerto Gallera , Bohol, Angeles city, Bagiuo.
Main cities are Manila, Cebu, Davao,
Some other cities are Angeles city, Tacloban, Dumagete, Cagende oro, General Santos, Butuan,Batangas
My experiences by Region city.
Luzon
Manila,
Manila a lot of hotel prices seem to be around 1600pesos. This is the main city and has a population of around 10 million . Very crowded, main are for foreigners is Makati.
My first experiece, I stayed at a hotel cost Pesos500 per night no window, single bed and basic shower. I didn't have much money so I looked at price only. Learnt a valuable lesson don't believe what is on the Internet about bookings.
City Garden Hotel
Great hotel good service rooms are good beds comfortable, good roof top pool and food prices reasonable, Internet available in foyer and they spoke English, food was good and catered for westerners. Close to bars and nightclubs. Price I think was about $1800pesos per nite.
St Moritz
Good Clean beds comfortable small hotel, catered for westerners food good and price okay, Internet access at foyer, friendly and service orientated. Very hard to get a room as nearly always full.
.
Townhouse Hotel
Stayed 1 nite cost 800pesos didn't like very much the rooms didn't have aircon, no windows, had to pay a deposit for the towels, kitchen was slow, and took awhile to find. A lot of foreigners stay there must be the price and friendly owners that people come there.
Angeles City Pampanga (85kms north of Manila big tourist destination for a lot of foreigner a lot of girlie bars)
Clarkton Hotel
Good service they had a hotel person at airport and got a free ride to hotel and booked there first time I have been back there a few times.
They are service focused have good restaurant, good service, pool , Internet, barber shop, nite club, karoake bar.
The rooms are good with refrigerator and beds comfortable they have a range of rooms available, have a free pickup and drop off service at nite to town and back..
I don't stay there anymore and the reason for this is that the hotel does accept credit cards but will want a 8% margin and the price quoted for the room was $1600 which didn't include vat this annoyed me and I sought out my friend who came here twice a year where they stayed.
America Hotel
Stayed there a couple of times the rooms are good beds big and comfortable,had Internet access at foyer the service at breakfast very slow which annoyed me so didn't stay there any more.
Marquis Hotel
Good price rooms okay have various price and quality rooms, food okay. Have pool and free Internet access. Accept credit card with no extra charge and charge only the rate per room. Price for rooms ranged from 900-1500pesos per nite.
Narra apartments
English owned. Advertises his apartments in the Blue Book a local paper here.
Geared for long term residents you pay monthly our apartment costs $15,000 pesos per month plus cable TV and electricity free wifi, good secure location with friendly owner who fixes or changes things when you ask. Close to town and SM Mall. Has kitchen, hot showers and double bed.
Subic Bay (50kms north of Angeles on the coast)
Blue Rock Hotel
Good hotel stayed about 6 days there a bit expensive have wifi Internet, good bar and restaurant we only ate at the hotel, floating barge for drinks and relaxing, scuba diving, on the beach. Won't go back there when I go as have heard about another hotel which caters for families called Johanns. Which is cheaper.
They also wanted to charge a percentage for credit card so had to go to town and find an ATM.
Leyte
Tacloban
We went to Tacloban a lot as this is the main town in the Visayas for Immigration, foreign affairs,and BIR(bureau of Revenue tax dept) etc
Budget room hotel
Rooms good price good $850 pesos per nite, food not very good, service not very good we always had to go and get toilet paper and a towel when we first arrived, and 2 singles beds we always had to push together.
Rosevelt pension
Various quality rooms from basic to good, no Internet,Restaurant good. Always full with locals only stayed there twice. Quiet rooms.
Manhatten Inn
Didn't like rooms close to streets noisy couldn't sleep and had two single beds not double bed.and no reataurant.
I stayed at two other hotels which were good but can't remember there names we always just free lanced when we were there.
Mindanao
Davao
WhiteMansion Hotel
Well what can I say about this place it was great it is an apartment style hotel with kitchen, has pool free Internet access in room, good security and service orientated. It accepts everyone but likes long term tenants.
A little expensive it cost $10,000 pesos per week. We became very good friends with Bert and his family the owner and went out a few times to parties , went cycling with him, and sat drinking a lot into the nite , he helped when I bought a house in Davao it cost but that was okay. Not far out of town you can get a trike to main shopping centre in about 20 minutes.
Cebu
St Moritz
Good Hotel German managed good large rooms, beds comfortable, cable TV, limited Internet access , food is western and good and are service orientated. Won't stay there again they charge 12% vat on top of price quoted and charge 8% service charge on food and drinks.
Moalboal Cebu (about 2 hours by car bus down the coast a divers area)
We stayed for a few days here at an apartment style hotel it was okay it had kitchen cable TV, and the nite life and restaurants were good.
Problem with MoalBoal no ATM's I didn't do my home work enough and had to get the bus back to Cebu city to get money a 2 hour journey each way by myself I was very nervous the bus's are not like Australia, full seats small,and the drivers drive fast.
Samar
Catbalogan
I stayed at 2 hotels here one was good the other very funny the shower was in the same area as the bedroom and they didn't give us a sheet or towels. No restaurant. The other one was okay and provided good service and food. The only problem with Samar is the road from Allen to Tacloban it is an absolute disgrace and a normal drive of 100kms in Australia takes 1.2hrs this road takes 4 hrs. The only thing I think every time I go there is I can't wait to get of this god forsaken Island, because I am tired and exhausted.
During my driving from Angeles to Biliran I stayed at 2 hotels along the way which were good but I can't remember there name.
Mindoro
Puerto Galera
Sabang
This is a divers destination it is 5 hours by van from Manila, then you get a boat from Batangas to Sabang takes about an hour and half. Sabang is not a very big place. A lot of foreigners here.Take enough money limited ATM access here. Lots of things to do.
A lot of hotels here and competition is quite fierce and prices are good. The biggest hotel is one owned by a Korean group and brings Koreans to come diving here.
Tina's
This was an apartment which had kitchen the service was good and the restaurant food excellent.
It cost us 9000 pesos for the week. Only problem lack of security I had my wallet and pocket knife stolen from the room while we were asleep and our friend also had stuff stolen as well this has never happened to me before in the Philippines
Well that's about it for now hope you find this of some interest
Showing posts with label davao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label davao. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Travel in the Philippines and Thailand, Terrorism, and warnings by smart traveller and iAustralian Embassy Philippines
How are you today my name is John and am a New Zealand citizen and have been a resident in Australia for 45 years over the last few years I have been residing in the Philippines.
I would like to say a few words about the Philippines. and Thailand
These involve the website smarttraveller,Australian Embassy in Manila Philippines and about terrorism and safety in the Philippines, and a warning and advise on travel to Pattaya Thailand.
Smarttraveller information .
I have read this for Thailand and and Philippines and have noticed a few things I would like to point out.
Philippines
I have been living and travelled around the Philippines by myself and with Philippino's extensively.
I have travelled by road own car,van , bus, air, ferry, trike, jeepney ,tricylce, motorbike and bicycle.
I have been in the regions of Mindinao, Leyte, Biliran,Samar, Luzon and the following cities and towns Manila,Cebu,Davao,Batangas,Angeles City,Puerto Galera,Moaboal,Ormoc,Butuan Cagendero,Suragia, Catbalogan,Tacloban, Naval,Biliran. I have driven by myself from Davao in Mindanao to Angeles in Luzon.a feat in any ones estimation. I have travelled on the Superferry from Mnaila to Davao twice. Travelled extensively by air around the country.
Terrorism
The high level of terrorism alert for Philippines is not correct and should be downgraded to a ciivil war that has been going that is of Muslim origins and primarily based in the Southern part of Mindano namely Zamboanga province. I can't talk about General Santos as I haven't been there but my friend Clem has family and a house there he can tell you what goes on there.
The only problems I have had in the Philippines are having my wallet stolen from my apartment in Puerto Galera,being tricked by a con man in Angeles city in a card game.
Some of your reports and warnings are not accurate and the incidence of them is not that many. Do you but a warning to travellers going to Australia about road safety with the high level of deaths on the road. No.
Davao Mindanao, there is a low level of terrorism, crime and drugs because they have a huge police presence and is very safe. There is a swat/response unit that is like the secret police consisting of all the different members of the various ethnic groups and know everything. I know because I have meet them and drank with them and been out on the town and become quite friendly with them. The Mayor of Davao has a hit squad that eliminates drug traffickers and people doing the wrong thing.
The rest of the towns I visited the Police and Army presence was low except for check points which they never stopped you. There is a problem with Police in Manila they are called Crocodiles they pull you over for commiting a driving error and extort money from you. I was in a taxi twice in Mnaila on differnet occassions where we were pulled over and fined the driver for going through a red arrow light, the evidence they said was that the crossing sign was blinking red and I argued with them about this they were incorrect to use this as the basis for fining the driver, they still issued the fine and took my name down.
The Jeepney,,Bus, trikes,vans, ferry air,and driving around by yourself is safe generally.
Travel by sea is generally safe and Superferry is the safest and best provider.(check out there website)
Travel by air is safe and the best is Cebu Pacific and have a website for bookings and issuing tickets and have brand new aircraft.
Travel by road is safe but need to be careful because the Philippino bus's and vans drive very fast and are erratic and you drive on the other side of the road. On the island of Samar the road is very dangerous from Allen to Tacloban is a national disgrace and a normal 100ks trip can take 4 hrs with not many service stations. Driving in Manila is very difficult and it is easy to get lost you need a driver.
Sex industry in the Philippines
Is primarily based in Angeles city exists in other places but not as big and is safe well controlled and has a low level of disease as the girls in the bars get checked once a week, it is primarily heterosexual based with hardly any homosexual acitvity. There is no soliciting on the streets only in clubs where you meet the girls. They are registered and go to a health clinic once a week and the mama San controls and looks after them. There is a low Police Presence here only the tourist police. There is some minor crimes here such as con men and some shootings but these seem to be caused by ruthless bad mannered foreigners who own business's and foreigners who do stupid things and upset the locals.
Australian Embassy Philippines
I have the miss fortune of having to deal with this office over 3 situations. Twice for a tourist visas and an ongoing one for a permanent spouse visa.which has been going on now for 9 months.
The embassy is unfriendly, hard to contact, uses the internet for everything, poor customer service, difficult to get to see face to face unless you scream and shout,not full declaration of what is required when you apply for a visa, and lack of trust of the Philippinos in general.
Other than the slow apathetic service and huge amount of different forms, paperwork and lack of trust there are 2 things I can't understand the need for a criminal check in New Zealand and a medical examination for me.
I am a New Zealand citizen and left NZ when I was 7 years old and have been working and residing and have been of good character for 45 years and served on sporting boards voluntarilly for a period of 5 years in one case.,
The other one is why do I a New Zealand citizen have to get a medical examination when I can come and go as I wish and am treated the same as an Australian citizen.
I am beyond caring about whether my wife and I go to Australia and know this is not the type of service and help that Australian Government employees should be giving. I have spoken to the embassy in Hong Kong and they were easy to contact and provided good guidance.
On a another note I can't understand why you are giving aid to the Muslims in Zamboanga, when this is putting your staff in a terrorist zone, and without using some of the money for the other needy people Catholics in the Philppines, and not using it for leverage for peace.
Why do you support terrorists(Muslims extremists) and there families. When you and your government are supposed to be fighting the war on terrorism. The government or previous government is a total contradiction on what you say.
Pattaya Thailand(85kms south of Bangkok)
A friend of mine who was Australian citizen committed suicide in Pattaya.
This is a pretty graphic website be warned.
http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asia-news/13577-pattaya-australian-man-dead-after-falling.html#post732543
I have done a lot of research on the net on this place, been there and researched suicides,aids in Thailand and researched your website smartraveller.
This place is the sex, crime and suicide capital of Asia.
There are some very serious problems there. Sex is uncontrolled you get solicited on the street, when riding a motorbike and in bars and while going for a walk. Most of them are unlicenced workers and the licensed ones only go for a checkup once every 3 months. There is high level of suicide by long term foreigners, one a week,52 a year. There is also a lot of paedophila going on there my friend told me he slept with 500 boys over a 5 year period I can only assume they were over 16. Your chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease is high and foreigners should take precautions. Aids is a problem and there are conflicting reports on this matter but the testing in Thailand by international standards is inferior and you can get a wrong reading.
Your warnings on smartraveller regarding Pattaya is nil, your mention of sex industry is nil, your mention of sexually transmitted diseases is limited to be aware of HIV/ Aids
There are 6 million people travelling to Thailand and high percentage are males from all over the world.
I don't know how many Australian's go there. Every male not married is going for sex whether male or female and they need to warned wear protection, only sleep with girls from licensed bars and the Thai govt should be pressured to get the girls,male workers to get weekly medical check for girlsboys ,men in bars that are registered, the police should be vigilant against solicitation on the street by prostitutes do reduce sexually transmitted diseases,.and paedophila should be looked at in Pattaya. Etc
There is a high rate of suicide in Pattaya amongst the long time foriegner.
One suicide a week this equals 52 a year not as bad as the road toll in Australia but it, needs to be looked at they mainly are jumpers the preferred method in Pattaya very strange. There needs to be a warning as a start on smart traveller on suicide and depression for long term residents in Pattaya and where to seek help, and try and find what is causing the high level of suicides in Pattaya and get some form of prevention.
That is a few of the problems in Pattaya and I haven't even looked at the crime issues there.
I would like to say a few words about the Philippines. and Thailand
These involve the website smarttraveller,Australian Embassy in Manila Philippines and about terrorism and safety in the Philippines, and a warning and advise on travel to Pattaya Thailand.
Smarttraveller information .
I have read this for Thailand and and Philippines and have noticed a few things I would like to point out.
Philippines
I have been living and travelled around the Philippines by myself and with Philippino's extensively.
I have travelled by road own car,van , bus, air, ferry, trike, jeepney ,tricylce, motorbike and bicycle.
I have been in the regions of Mindinao, Leyte, Biliran,Samar, Luzon and the following cities and towns Manila,Cebu,Davao,Batangas,Angeles City,Puerto Galera,Moaboal,Ormoc,Butuan Cagendero,Suragia, Catbalogan,Tacloban, Naval,Biliran. I have driven by myself from Davao in Mindanao to Angeles in Luzon.a feat in any ones estimation. I have travelled on the Superferry from Mnaila to Davao twice. Travelled extensively by air around the country.
Terrorism
The high level of terrorism alert for Philippines is not correct and should be downgraded to a ciivil war that has been going that is of Muslim origins and primarily based in the Southern part of Mindano namely Zamboanga province. I can't talk about General Santos as I haven't been there but my friend Clem has family and a house there he can tell you what goes on there.
The only problems I have had in the Philippines are having my wallet stolen from my apartment in Puerto Galera,being tricked by a con man in Angeles city in a card game.
Some of your reports and warnings are not accurate and the incidence of them is not that many. Do you but a warning to travellers going to Australia about road safety with the high level of deaths on the road. No.
Davao Mindanao, there is a low level of terrorism, crime and drugs because they have a huge police presence and is very safe. There is a swat/response unit that is like the secret police consisting of all the different members of the various ethnic groups and know everything. I know because I have meet them and drank with them and been out on the town and become quite friendly with them. The Mayor of Davao has a hit squad that eliminates drug traffickers and people doing the wrong thing.
The rest of the towns I visited the Police and Army presence was low except for check points which they never stopped you. There is a problem with Police in Manila they are called Crocodiles they pull you over for commiting a driving error and extort money from you. I was in a taxi twice in Mnaila on differnet occassions where we were pulled over and fined the driver for going through a red arrow light, the evidence they said was that the crossing sign was blinking red and I argued with them about this they were incorrect to use this as the basis for fining the driver, they still issued the fine and took my name down.
The Jeepney,,Bus, trikes,vans, ferry air,and driving around by yourself is safe generally.
Travel by sea is generally safe and Superferry is the safest and best provider.(check out there website)
Travel by air is safe and the best is Cebu Pacific and have a website for bookings and issuing tickets and have brand new aircraft.
Travel by road is safe but need to be careful because the Philippino bus's and vans drive very fast and are erratic and you drive on the other side of the road. On the island of Samar the road is very dangerous from Allen to Tacloban is a national disgrace and a normal 100ks trip can take 4 hrs with not many service stations. Driving in Manila is very difficult and it is easy to get lost you need a driver.
Sex industry in the Philippines
Is primarily based in Angeles city exists in other places but not as big and is safe well controlled and has a low level of disease as the girls in the bars get checked once a week, it is primarily heterosexual based with hardly any homosexual acitvity. There is no soliciting on the streets only in clubs where you meet the girls. They are registered and go to a health clinic once a week and the mama San controls and looks after them. There is a low Police Presence here only the tourist police. There is some minor crimes here such as con men and some shootings but these seem to be caused by ruthless bad mannered foreigners who own business's and foreigners who do stupid things and upset the locals.
Australian Embassy Philippines
I have the miss fortune of having to deal with this office over 3 situations. Twice for a tourist visas and an ongoing one for a permanent spouse visa.which has been going on now for 9 months.
The embassy is unfriendly, hard to contact, uses the internet for everything, poor customer service, difficult to get to see face to face unless you scream and shout,not full declaration of what is required when you apply for a visa, and lack of trust of the Philippinos in general.
Other than the slow apathetic service and huge amount of different forms, paperwork and lack of trust there are 2 things I can't understand the need for a criminal check in New Zealand and a medical examination for me.
I am a New Zealand citizen and left NZ when I was 7 years old and have been working and residing and have been of good character for 45 years and served on sporting boards voluntarilly for a period of 5 years in one case.,
The other one is why do I a New Zealand citizen have to get a medical examination when I can come and go as I wish and am treated the same as an Australian citizen.
I am beyond caring about whether my wife and I go to Australia and know this is not the type of service and help that Australian Government employees should be giving. I have spoken to the embassy in Hong Kong and they were easy to contact and provided good guidance.
On a another note I can't understand why you are giving aid to the Muslims in Zamboanga, when this is putting your staff in a terrorist zone, and without using some of the money for the other needy people Catholics in the Philppines, and not using it for leverage for peace.
Why do you support terrorists(Muslims extremists) and there families. When you and your government are supposed to be fighting the war on terrorism. The government or previous government is a total contradiction on what you say.
Pattaya Thailand(85kms south of Bangkok)
A friend of mine who was Australian citizen committed suicide in Pattaya.
This is a pretty graphic website be warned.
http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asia-news/13577-pattaya-australian-man-dead-after-falling.html#post732543
I have done a lot of research on the net on this place, been there and researched suicides,aids in Thailand and researched your website smartraveller.
This place is the sex, crime and suicide capital of Asia.
There are some very serious problems there. Sex is uncontrolled you get solicited on the street, when riding a motorbike and in bars and while going for a walk. Most of them are unlicenced workers and the licensed ones only go for a checkup once every 3 months. There is high level of suicide by long term foreigners, one a week,52 a year. There is also a lot of paedophila going on there my friend told me he slept with 500 boys over a 5 year period I can only assume they were over 16. Your chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease is high and foreigners should take precautions. Aids is a problem and there are conflicting reports on this matter but the testing in Thailand by international standards is inferior and you can get a wrong reading.
Your warnings on smartraveller regarding Pattaya is nil, your mention of sex industry is nil, your mention of sexually transmitted diseases is limited to be aware of HIV/ Aids
There are 6 million people travelling to Thailand and high percentage are males from all over the world.
I don't know how many Australian's go there. Every male not married is going for sex whether male or female and they need to warned wear protection, only sleep with girls from licensed bars and the Thai govt should be pressured to get the girls,male workers to get weekly medical check for girlsboys ,men in bars that are registered, the police should be vigilant against solicitation on the street by prostitutes do reduce sexually transmitted diseases,.and paedophila should be looked at in Pattaya. Etc
There is a high rate of suicide in Pattaya amongst the long time foriegner.
One suicide a week this equals 52 a year not as bad as the road toll in Australia but it, needs to be looked at they mainly are jumpers the preferred method in Pattaya very strange. There needs to be a warning as a start on smart traveller on suicide and depression for long term residents in Pattaya and where to seek help, and try and find what is causing the high level of suicides in Pattaya and get some form of prevention.
That is a few of the problems in Pattaya and I haven't even looked at the crime issues there.
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