Let us know what you want to see in Negros Oriental or Philippines. Please check out some of our long videos. click here ua-cam.com/play/PLeG3ZTV1b_0kBw_24nn2qzmba9T63WQyy.html
I stayed at SoGo Pasay in Manila.. my Three Day/ nite stay was only 2700 Peso. I was able to take busses and Grab Taxis all around. I finally took the YBL. to Angeles City that was only 160 peso
Hi Peter Pierce @peterpierce9233 that is a great price. When I lived I used to take the bus, train, Grab - just have to be adventurous exploring. That is a great price to Angeles City - I only went there once, we stopped for ONE night on the way to Subic Bay for a golf weekend. BUT the guy I was with got hammered and we extended our stay and never made it to the golf course - 3 nights in Angeles City was too much for me - but glad I experienced it. It reminded me of Thailand. Amping take care, Greg
You are welcome and so nice of you to let me know amie bantuas @amiebantuas8439 Not sure you saw my reply to someone earlier in the last 5 days I have received a message and was also told by someone in person, so two new examples of people not using Grab and being scammed at NAIA. One had a ride that should have been 200P to 300P to BGC and he paid 1,500P, the other landed last Friday and had a short trip which should have been around 150P and he paid 3,000!!! Too bad they didn't take Grab. Amping Ma'am, Greg
Great comment Landmantx @Landmantx - yes I agree and should have noted that - GRAB are always clean and most smell good as the car and driver can be rated on the App after the ride so the driver's take pride in their ride. I agree cheaper and because the Price and Route are given on the app in advance there customer is assured the driver won't be taking a longer route to increase the price which happens in regular cabs (happens all over the world). Amping Greg
Hope it worked well for you mx @SuperPromethee. We used it in Manila Oct 25 when we returned from our North American tour and my wife used in Cebu on Monday when she came back from a holiday in Singapore. Unfortunately the app didn't recognize the funds she had loaded here in the Philippines when she was in Singapore - even though Grab is from Singapore. My Uber app works across borders where Uber is found. Amping Greg
wow! same period! i was there from oct 23-27! using grab taxi there was very convenient with reasonable price...however choosing what time when you have to get around is crucial....@@CanadianInPhilippines
Excellent point mx @SuperPromethee - for those who have never been to Manila it has bad traffic at all times and even worse at rush hours. The ever expanding various toll roads are making travel much easier - for example a 1 hour+ trip to South Metro Manila (Muntinlupa, Ayala Alabang) can be done in 20-30 mins using the toll roads. The toll roads are very cheap and I always tell Grab Drivers to take the fastest route - paying the tolls is worth it.
Hi Francisco Kit Flores @lucban2008 Yes they have a Grab Kiosk at each of the 4 NAIA terminals and they are open 24x7 so always there to help if you don't have the App. For T1 exit and cross to the middle and you will see the Green Booth on the right (just ask a Guard if you don't see it). Have you done the T1 pickup yet - the pickup area for T1 is a bit different for any pickup, even if family picking you up - you have to cross all the way over and go down the ramp and then they have posts A to Z - so they use your name, for example Greg is Post G - I can't remember the range maybe F to L - and they will pick you up there. Don''t worry your first time it is a bit of a mad house crazy crowded system - but it works. Just confirm with the Grab Booth worker. That is the only terminal like that - the other 3 Terminals are much better and you get picked up directly at the Grab Booth. Amping Greg
just subscribed . how much was the fare on grab to sheradon hotel? i stayed in the hotel just next to the sheradon named rothman hotel. but i arrive in terminal 1. taxi or grab always used roxas bld. didnt know could go with skyway. looks faster less traffic
Hi thanks for the sub Alvin Fujioka @user-lg8oe5mf9h I put the trip summary at the end of the video - you can see the route taken on Google maps as well as the GRAB Receipt price break down, the total cost was 508p and that was at noon on a Wednesday. Price will vary depending on the time you take it. I always ask the GRAB driver to take the Skyway if it is the fastest route - most of the time it will save time even if it is a bit further - but the nice thing about the GRAB app you know the price so you won't get hit with a big bill like some companies running the meter then sitting in traffic. Amping Greg
Sorry for the late reply Glen Spearman @glenspearman9138 Depends where you are coming from. UK - no difference US/Canada - any modern place uses a mixture and no problem to use just the regular 2 prong style used in North America I have power bars around the house that accept different size plugs and has 4 or 5 and some have a few USB ports - just makes it easier and safer - and I always take one when travelling in Asia, just makes life easier. If you need an adapter they are readily available here. For example I just checked 6 appliances in our kitchen, 3 are two prong, 2 are 3 prong and 1 is for 220V but goes into the power bar. I took the same power bar to Canada, Thailand and Hong Kong last year and no issues at all. Sorry I am not much help - just do a Google asking if your country needs an adaptor for Philippines. The only time I ever had a problem was in a really old house here in modern Alabang that had old electric outlets. Our house here in Negros is 5 years old and has all modern electrical in and out. Wherever you go just ask.
Hi Padthai Peter @user-yw4bs4lk9k I always give a Tip but I pay cash for the Tip - maybe a few times I used the App for the tip if I didn't have cash on hand - even Grab food delivery I give a cash tip as the drivers can get the cash right away rather than waiting for Grab to send it to them at a later date. My other trips to the Sheraton Malate Bay were around P400. The ride in the video included P35 toll for the Skyway (only a short distance on the Skyway) and there was P144.65 Surge charge - so that will vary on the time of day and how busy Grab is. But no matter what the cost P400 or P500 Grab is so cheap compared to other major cities - we used Uber in Vancouver and Las Vegas and a taxi in Oregon from the train station to our hotel - all were very expensive. Every trip in Las Vegas, for a shorter trip than this Manila trip was US$50 or P2,776 THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY - for example we took Uber 3 nights in a row in Las Vegas, as parking and driving was crazy because of FI preparations (we were there mid-October) - so even at the high end P500 is nothing compared to P2,776 + TIP each way in Las Vegas. The cost of Uber in Vancouver Canada was equally expensive - we only took it once when we dropped off our rental car and took an Uber to the Train Station in downtown Vancouver - I just checked my Uber app activity and that trip was CDN $38.62 or P1,584. Another example we had a 13 minute Uber in New York City which was US$24.92 or P1,383. So compared to those prices I never complain about the prices in Manila. Amping Greg
NICE Timmy Travels @timmytravels23 have a great/safe holiday and not sure if you saw the new government slogan, it used to be IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES - now it is LOVE THE PHILIPPINES - so do your part to meet that slogan!!! Amping take care, Greg
Hi Denns @drekson23 I think you have a point - people don't complain here like in other countries - however when I arrived in France to live for a year I was scammed by a taxi on my first day there - unfortunately I just think some take advantage where they think they can cheat and make some extra money - so it is not unique to the Philippines and is part of the reason why Ride Apps are so popular all over the world and are strongly fought by traditional taxis who feel threatened by the competition. Amping Greg
Grab a beer or coffee for this one ... HERE WE GO .... Hi @SirMountainpass I will do my best to answer your question as to whether I favour BGC over Makati for a stay of several weeks of leisure time in Manila. I am not not sure of your level of knowledge of Philippines or Metro Manila is or whether it is your first visit. Assuming it is your first visit and you are staying for 2 weeks I would say do one week in whatever you decide BGC/Makati then 3 or 4 nights on an island. If you want close to Manila try Puerto Galera can fly (30 min flight) or get there by bus then ferry from Batangas (the South end of Luzon Island - the Island Manila is on). If you want to venture a bit further fly to Coron (1 hr 10 min flight) or El Nido (1 hr 30 min flight), both in Palawan, or the popular tourist spot Boracay (1 hr 10 min flight) all 3 locations small tourist areas with a few day excursions while there. When you come back for your last 3 nights instead of going back to Makati/BGC try Muntinlupa for a few nights. Within a few blocks of SM Festival Mall you will find a few nice hotels I would recommend Vivere Hotel (great rooftop buffet breakfast and dinner spot), or the Acacia Hotel. Make sure to use the Grab App and tell them to use the Skyway - some will add the toll charges to your bill and sometimes I pay cash at the toll if they don’t have the transponder for autopay at the toll) - the toll road allows for easy access to Muntinlupa and Alabang next door in 20 minutes instead of 1hour+ if you don’t take the Skyway. Back to your original question if you want to spend both weeks in Makati/BGC. I have stayed in Makati at hotels (The Peninsula Manila and New World Makati) but not lived there. There are many AirBnB rentals in Makati and BGC - when you do your search make sure you use the Map because even though you search for Makati condo or BGC Condo you will get many search results outside these areas and not where you want to be so be careful. I would suggest any condo near the Greenbelt Ayala Malls shopping/restaurant area would be best - but don’t go to far away from there as there are some rough areas of Makati. This area also has the Philippine Retirement Authority HQ nearby in a tower - there are many towers in Makati so it is like any North American downtown area. Another popular area is Rockwell, Rockwell Power Plant Mall area - like Greenbelt there are a number of condos in this area but it is very small and highly concentrated and I wouldn’t stay here - you can visit the mall one afternoon if you like - also the traffic getting in and out of here is terrible if you want to explore other areas of Manila. The famous Burgos area is nearby but can be visited from anywhere you choose to stay if that is something that interests you. So I would say take a pass on Makati for staying but worth visiting and is very close to BGC. I lived in BGC from September 2020 to October 2021 and know it better. For me I would prefer to stay in BGC and visit Makati - for example a well known landmark in BGC is St Luke’s Medical Center the world class health center it is 12 mins from the Ayala Mall Greenbelt 3 or 13 mins to Power Plant Mall Rockwell. As far as where I would recommend you stay in BGC I would suggest 3 areas for you to consider 1. Anywhere near the Shangri-La The Fort Manila, this includes all the condos surrounding that hotel for blocks as well as Burgos Circle Park area (NOT the famous Burgos in Makati) and any condo near Forbes Town Center. This is the area I lived - I lived in the Luxe Residences (the name is fancier than the place UNLESS you get a renovated unit - I had a year’s lease and they stuck me in an old unrenovated unit that had a mold smell - after removing two drawers under the corner where the AC was the inside cabinet was filled with bleach - should have moved but after a deep clean I stayed in the unit. The front counter staff and security were fantastic to deal with. If you have a big budget ONE Bonafacio Tower is across the street - very high end. Across the other corner is the Ascott Bonifacio - but there are many nice places a few with golf course views like The Icon Residences. If you look on Google Maps (use satellite view) running from behind the Shangri-La all the way to across from Market Market Mall is Bonifacio High Street - no cars are allowed very nice walking for blocks of shops, coffee places, bars, restaurants, patios. On Google maps this is the area from St Lukes (32nd Street) across 5th Ave to McKinley Parkway and BELOW (to the left) of 5th Ave, to the golf course - a beautiful walkway jogging path runs along the outside of the golf course. 2. Also close by but further up from the Shangri-La on the way to SM Aura Mall and Market Market Mall - there are many condos around this area - the only problem with this area is the traffic is horrendous and I preferred to walk from my condo or stop on my way home when out with my car. On Google maps this is the area from St Lukes (32nd Street) across 5th Ave to McKinley Parkway and ABOVE (to the right) of 5th Ave. So basically drawing a circle around 5th Ave, 32nd Street and McKinley Parkway (SM Aura Mall and Market Market Mall will be outside this boundary on the right) 3. The newest condo/restaurant/shopping area is all the condos around the Uptown Mall. On Google maps this is the area from 7th Ave, 34th St, 11th Ave and over to 36 or 38th St. A few blocks away over Kalayaan Ave is a rough area - don’t go there even though there is a cheap condo project near the river. BGC is great area for restaurants, bars, parks, very clean modern city and is very walkable. There are pockets of Makati that are similar but the 3 BGC areas I described are all walkable - in fact I walked the perimeter and further out to Venice Mall on my regular walks - do not stay in the Venice Mall area - just like Power Plant Mall nice place to visit no need to stay there. Now living in the Province thinking about my time in BGC I do miss the nice NORMAL sidewalks and lighted streets that were safe to walk on 24x7. I hope this was helpful and hopefully others can elaborate on the benefits of Makati more than I have. For me they are apples and oranges and I prefer BGC. One final note - some places you can book directly. Some are on AirBnB - we stayed 3 nights in BGC after I moved to the Province and picked a place advertised as a 5* Hotel Experience across from the Uptown Mall at Avida Towers 34th St and Ave T (in area 3 above) - it was at most a 2* disgusting place - we specifically searched for places with kitchen and laundry and both were unusable. The owner was American and paying a local to maintain their unit - the washer/dryer was moldy and smelly and the kitchen was disgusting - not an uncommon thing where absent landlords are relying on others to keep up their place so try to rent from a local who is there taking care of their place. Even the house we bought the owner moved to another island during the Covid lockdown and said they paid for upkeep - not sure how possible given Facetime is free an inspection should be easy - the place was disgusting which turned off many buyers but I saw past all the overgrowth and dirt and we got a good deal. Amping take care, Greg
@@CanadianInPhilippines Wow!! Many thanks for this very valuable insight from your private experience in the Philippines - amazing ☺🎯 In the near future, I would like to get a first "beachhead" in Manila and from what I read, BGC is likely to be a smart and upmarket choice to spend the first couple of weeks - need to find out if it "feels right" to retire in the country and all key admin / govt offices etc. are in Manila.
My first 9 months in 2019 was in Ayala Alabang another high end area but BGC is much nicer. I went from Ayala Alabang to Dumaguete in May 2019 and rented a cottage right on the beach for P13,000 per month. Huge savings over Manila and was great for the time but after a few months it was too tiny and too rustic I didn't need to go that low. The property was great but the German landlord was very cheap and refused any upgrades including fixing a roof that was damaged in an August storm - he wanted me to pay for the repair - NOT A CHANCE so I just moved out and he was shocked I was giving up his beachfront property. Sept 2019 went to Carmona Cavite, just south of Metro Manila. Rented a brand new modern 3 bedroom 2.5 bath, 4 ACs, 3 car carport, gated, house for P35,000 but after 6 months there was the Covid lockdown and was not a good place to be. It was great place to live with Ayala Alabang very close - but once the lockdown came into effect there were military roadblocks and I couldn't get into Metro Manila even for medical appointments. Once my year lease was up I made the move to BGC in Sept 2020 but it was still under semi-strict Covid rules and most foreigners couldn't get into the country so BGC was very quiet - even domestic flights were blocked until March 2021. The building where I rented in BGC was probably 25% occupied, if that. It is similar to living in any high end North American city - without the homeless or drug addicts occupying the sidewalks and no businesses having smash and grabs (there was one at a jewelry story near our hotel when we were there in October) - people who have no clue worry about safety in the Philippines. My USA friends here and I feel the same we feel safer here than when in the USA - had zero safety concerns on our month tour of Canada before our two weeks in the USA. On my BGC walks I would pass by the Ferrari dealer - across the street from St Luke's Hospital, and many more high end dealers - Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes, Land Rover, BMW - out of my budget but just to give you an idea of the money there. The security and cleanliness are second to none in the Philippines. BUT if you stay there for your two weeks make sure on your next visit you also take the time to visit at least one of the smaller islands I mentioned. I had really hoped to use BGC as my base and travel throughout the Philippines - an ideal situation to have all the modern comforts and still explore. BUT then a woman got in the way and I moved to Negros Oriental and got married and we bought a house here - not my original plan but life is good in the Provinces (outside of Metro Manila) and my bank account appreciates my monthly expenses here. If you have the opportunity it would also be great to explore Thailand - I have friends that toured Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam and they picked Thailand to retire in. As a comparison Thailand gets 40 million visitors per year and Philippines gets 10 million and Vietnam about 18 million - note all Asian countries took a massive hit from 2020 to 2022 because of Covid restrictions. For me I prefer the Philippines for cost of living, ease of getting around and use of English. As well it is very cheap to travel in Asia so you can get to Thailand for $200. We spent a week in Koh Samui Nov/Dec 2022 was absolutely beautiful. I have also been to Pattaya which was nice as well. All the best to you and your plans. Let me know how you make out and your experience. Amping (Bisayan) or Ingat (Tagalog used in Manila) take care, Greg
Hi Sid Borromeo @sidborromeo8409 That one was leaving the airport and then taking the Skyway to the exit for Malate. All vehicles using Skway pay a P35 toll for arriving and departing, if you take the surface roads you avoid this toll - but I never worry about the cost of tolls in Manila they are so cheap and save time. This trip we took the Skyway from the NAIA exit to the Buendia exit (time stamp 7:51) , then a left onto Osmena Highway for Malate At 24:57 in the video it shows the route and Grab price breakdown The total price was P508 and the toll was only P35 because we exited the South Luzon Expressway (SLELX) to get on to the Osmena Highway - so only a short distance on the Skyway. As shown in the video the P508 is made up of P45 Base Fare, P193.35 Cost for Distance, P90 Time of travel, 144.65 Surge Charges We took Grab to the same destination in Malate in late Oct 2023 and it was only P300 - same distance but lower surcharges because wasn't busy - in fact it was so quiet the recommended route was the surface streets not the Skyway. The Toll system is based on distance travelled in Metro Manila - for example when I lived in Carmona Cavite it would cost about P200 to go home BUT it was a huge timesaver cutting the travel time in half, so for me it was an easy decision to take the Skyway (or other toll roads) whenever I could. I hope that answers your question. Amping take care, Greg
You know you've been away from the motherland for too long if you still take Roxas Boulevard to reach Malate from the NAIA. Thanks for showing the trip.
Sorry Padthai Peter @user-yw4bs4lk9 I thought the same but I don't agree anymore. No need to rely on old traffic patterns - YES in the past one would never take Roxas Boulevard (except the white taxis always took as they would ring up the meter) - but today the technology tells you the best route in real time. I have done that route 3 times in the last year and surprisingly only once did we take the Skyway. I always tell the Grab Driver to take the fastest route and I don't mind paying the tolls then I compare routes. Pre-Covid Roxas was a nightmare - during the latter part of Covid in late 2021 it was very quiet - now it has been nothing like Pre-Covid years - maybe there is a business slowdown or they have done something with the traffic by the Port that would back traffic up all the way down Roxas. But again I don't rely on my guess I use Google Maps to compare what the Grab App is suggesting (some use Waze but I have only tried it a few times and stick with Google). When I lived in Ayala Alabang I always took the Skyway to the airport - but I remember one morning the driver said the non-skyway route was just as fast - so we took that. It was an experience seeing those streets of Manila - the Skyway definitely the smoother way to go. As they expanded the Skyway South it was great when I lived in Carmona Cavite - but was very painful during construction getting through the choke points at Muntinlupa - but once completed it made the drive so easy. But even the Skyway can get busy depending on the time of day - can't control the traffic, especially with the weather, so Grab always gives the fixed rate price so you know even if stuck in traffic you won't have a high fare. Amping and I hope your routes are smooth. Greg
Let us know what you want to see in Negros Oriental or Philippines. Please check out some of our long videos. click here ua-cam.com/play/PLeG3ZTV1b_0kBw_24nn2qzmba9T63WQyy.html
Thank you for this important information!
You are so welcome Georg Meyer @georgmeyer9104!
I stayed at SoGo Pasay in Manila.. my Three Day/ nite stay was only 2700 Peso. I was able to take busses and Grab Taxis all around. I finally took the YBL. to Angeles City that was only 160 peso
Hi Peter Pierce @peterpierce9233 that is a great price. When I lived I used to take the bus, train, Grab - just have to be adventurous exploring. That is a great price to Angeles City - I only went there once, we stopped for ONE night on the way to Subic Bay for a golf weekend. BUT the guy I was with got hammered and we extended our stay and never made it to the golf course - 3 nights in Angeles City was too much for me - but glad I experienced it. It reminded me of Thailand.
Amping take care, Greg
🙏🙏🙏🙏. Thanks for sha6 this vdio sir
You are welcome and so nice of you to let me know amie bantuas @amiebantuas8439
Not sure you saw my reply to someone earlier in the last 5 days I have received a message and was also told by someone in person, so two new examples of people not using Grab and being scammed at NAIA.
One had a ride that should have been 200P to 300P to BGC and he paid 1,500P, the other landed last Friday and had a short trip which should have been around 150P and he paid 3,000!!! Too bad they didn't take Grab.
Amping Ma'am, Greg
I took the grab and it is cheaper and cleaner than a taxi or private van.
Great comment Landmantx @Landmantx - yes I agree and should have noted that - GRAB are always clean and most smell good as the car and driver can be rated on the App after the ride so the driver's take pride in their ride. I agree cheaper and because the Price and Route are given on the app in advance there customer is assured the driver won't be taking a longer route to increase the price which happens in regular cabs (happens all over the world). Amping Greg
fortunately i have grab app...i'll be there next week...🙂
Hope it worked well for you mx @SuperPromethee. We used it in Manila Oct 25 when we returned from our North American tour and my wife used in Cebu on Monday when she came back from a holiday in Singapore. Unfortunately the app didn't recognize the funds she had loaded here in the Philippines when she was in Singapore - even though Grab is from Singapore. My Uber app works across borders where Uber is found.
Amping Greg
wow! same period! i was there from oct 23-27! using grab taxi there was very convenient with reasonable price...however choosing what time when you have to get around is crucial....@@CanadianInPhilippines
Excellent point mx @SuperPromethee - for those who have never been to Manila it has bad traffic at all times and even worse at rush hours. The ever expanding various toll roads are making travel much easier - for example a 1 hour+ trip to South Metro Manila (Muntinlupa, Ayala Alabang) can be done in 20-30 mins using the toll roads. The toll roads are very cheap and I always tell Grab Drivers to take the fastest route - paying the tolls is worth it.
Is there Grab kiosk in Terminal 1 NAIA, thanks
Hi Francisco Kit Flores @lucban2008 Yes they have a Grab Kiosk at each of the 4 NAIA terminals and they are open 24x7 so always there to help if you don't have the App.
For T1 exit and cross to the middle and you will see the Green Booth on the right (just ask a Guard if you don't see it).
Have you done the T1 pickup yet - the pickup area for T1 is a bit different for any pickup, even if family picking you up - you have to cross all the way over and go down the ramp and then they have posts A to Z - so they use your name, for example Greg is Post G - I can't remember the range maybe F to L - and they will pick you up there. Don''t worry your first time it is a bit of a mad house crazy crowded system - but it works. Just confirm with the Grab Booth worker. That is the only terminal like that - the other 3 Terminals are much better and you get picked up directly at the Grab Booth. Amping Greg
just subscribed . how much was the fare on grab to sheradon hotel? i stayed in the hotel just next to the sheradon named rothman hotel. but i arrive in terminal 1. taxi or grab always used roxas bld. didnt know could go with skyway. looks faster less traffic
Hi thanks for the sub Alvin Fujioka @user-lg8oe5mf9h
I put the trip summary at the end of the video - you can see the route taken on Google maps as well as the GRAB Receipt price break down, the total cost was 508p and that was at noon on a Wednesday. Price will vary depending on the time you take it. I always ask the GRAB driver to take the Skyway if it is the fastest route - most of the time it will save time even if it is a bit further - but the nice thing about the GRAB app you know the price so you won't get hit with a big bill like some companies running the meter then sitting in traffic. Amping Greg
What type of travel adapter is used there ?
Sorry for the late reply Glen Spearman @glenspearman9138
Depends where you are coming from.
UK - no difference
US/Canada - any modern place uses a mixture and no problem to use just the regular 2 prong style used in North America
I have power bars around the house that accept different size plugs and has 4 or 5 and some have a few USB ports - just makes it easier and safer - and I always take one when travelling in Asia, just makes life easier. If you need an adapter they are readily available here. For example I just checked 6 appliances in our kitchen, 3 are two prong, 2 are 3 prong and 1 is for 220V but goes into the power bar. I took the same power bar to Canada, Thailand and Hong Kong last year and no issues at all.
Sorry I am not much help - just do a Google asking if your country needs an adaptor for Philippines.
The only time I ever had a problem was in a really old house here in modern Alabang that had old electric outlets. Our house here in Negros is 5 years old and has all modern electrical in and out. Wherever you go just ask.
Wait. No tip right? P508 it is.
Hi Padthai Peter @user-yw4bs4lk9k I always give a Tip but I pay cash for the Tip - maybe a few times I used the App for the tip if I didn't have cash on hand - even Grab food delivery I give a cash tip as the drivers can get the cash right away rather than waiting for Grab to send it to them at a later date. My other trips to the Sheraton Malate Bay were around P400. The ride in the video included P35 toll for the Skyway (only a short distance on the Skyway) and there was P144.65 Surge charge - so that will vary on the time of day and how busy Grab is. But no matter what the cost P400 or P500 Grab is so cheap compared to other major cities - we used Uber in Vancouver and Las Vegas and a taxi in Oregon from the train station to our hotel - all were very expensive.
Every trip in Las Vegas, for a shorter trip than this Manila trip was US$50 or P2,776 THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY - for example we took Uber 3 nights in a row in Las Vegas, as parking and driving was crazy because of FI preparations (we were there mid-October) - so even at the high end P500 is nothing compared to P2,776 + TIP each way in Las Vegas.
The cost of Uber in Vancouver Canada was equally expensive - we only took it once when we dropped off our rental car and took an Uber to the Train Station in downtown Vancouver - I just checked my Uber app activity and that trip was CDN $38.62 or P1,584. Another example we had a 13 minute Uber in New York City which was US$24.92 or P1,383. So compared to those prices I never complain about the prices in Manila. Amping Greg
I’ll be doing this in a week. Haha.
NICE Timmy Travels @timmytravels23 have a great/safe holiday and not sure if you saw the new government slogan, it used to be IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES - now it is LOVE THE PHILIPPINES - so do your part to meet that slogan!!! Amping take care, Greg
so many scam taxis at the airport. get a grab! cheaper and safer
I agree 100% John Sarosos @johnsarosos4776 Amping take care, Greg
Im a local and taxi are the worst. I wonder why their modus kept going. Os it because people dont made an actual complain?
Hi Denns @drekson23 I think you have a point - people don't complain here like in other countries - however when I arrived in France to live for a year I was scammed by a taxi on my first day there - unfortunately I just think some take advantage where they think they can cheat and make some extra money - so it is not unique to the Philippines and is part of the reason why Ride Apps are so popular all over the world and are strongly fought by traditional taxis who feel threatened by the competition. Amping Greg
Do you favour BGC over Makati for a stay of several weeks (of leisure time in Manila)? If yes, why?
Grab a beer or coffee for this one ... HERE WE GO ....
Hi @SirMountainpass
I will do my best to answer your question as to whether I favour BGC over Makati for a stay of several weeks of leisure time in Manila.
I am not not sure of your level of knowledge of Philippines or Metro Manila is or whether it is your first visit.
Assuming it is your first visit and you are staying for 2 weeks I would say do one week in whatever you decide BGC/Makati then 3 or 4 nights on an island. If you want close to Manila try Puerto Galera can fly (30 min flight) or get there by bus then ferry from Batangas (the South end of Luzon Island - the Island Manila is on). If you want to venture a bit further fly to Coron (1 hr 10 min flight) or El Nido (1 hr 30 min flight), both in Palawan, or the popular tourist spot Boracay (1 hr 10 min flight) all 3 locations small tourist areas with a few day excursions while there. When you come back for your last 3 nights instead of going back to Makati/BGC try Muntinlupa for a few nights. Within a few blocks of SM Festival Mall you will find a few nice hotels I would recommend Vivere Hotel (great rooftop buffet breakfast and dinner spot), or the Acacia Hotel. Make sure to use the Grab App and tell them to use the Skyway - some will add the toll charges to your bill and sometimes I pay cash at the toll if they don’t have the transponder for autopay at the toll) - the toll road allows for easy access to Muntinlupa and Alabang next door in 20 minutes instead of 1hour+ if you don’t take the Skyway.
Back to your original question if you want to spend both weeks in Makati/BGC.
I have stayed in Makati at hotels (The Peninsula Manila and New World Makati) but not lived there. There are many AirBnB rentals in Makati and BGC - when you do your search make sure you use the Map because even though you search for Makati condo or BGC Condo you will get many search results outside these areas and not where you want to be so be careful. I would suggest any condo near the Greenbelt Ayala Malls shopping/restaurant area would be best - but don’t go to far away from there as there are some rough areas of Makati. This area also has the Philippine Retirement Authority HQ nearby in a tower - there are many towers in Makati so it is like any North American downtown area. Another popular area is Rockwell, Rockwell Power Plant Mall area - like Greenbelt there are a number of condos in this area but it is very small and highly concentrated and I wouldn’t stay here - you can visit the mall one afternoon if you like - also the traffic getting in and out of here is terrible if you want to explore other areas of Manila. The famous Burgos area is nearby but can be visited from anywhere you choose to stay if that is something that interests you. So I would say take a pass on Makati for staying but worth visiting and is very close to BGC.
I lived in BGC from September 2020 to October 2021 and know it better. For me I would prefer to stay in BGC and visit Makati - for example a well known landmark in BGC is St Luke’s Medical Center the world class health center it is 12 mins from the Ayala Mall Greenbelt 3 or 13 mins to Power Plant Mall Rockwell. As far as where I would recommend you stay in BGC I would suggest 3 areas for you to consider
1. Anywhere near the Shangri-La The Fort Manila, this includes all the condos surrounding that hotel for blocks as well as Burgos Circle Park area (NOT the famous Burgos in Makati) and any condo near Forbes Town Center. This is the area I lived - I lived in the Luxe Residences (the name is fancier than the place UNLESS you get a renovated unit - I had a year’s lease and they stuck me in an old unrenovated unit that had a mold smell - after removing two drawers under the corner where the AC was the inside cabinet was filled with bleach - should have moved but after a deep clean I stayed in the unit. The front counter staff and security were fantastic to deal with. If you have a big budget ONE Bonafacio Tower is across the street - very high end. Across the other corner is the Ascott Bonifacio - but there are many nice places a few with golf course views like The Icon Residences. If you look on Google Maps (use satellite view) running from behind the Shangri-La all the way to across from Market Market Mall is Bonifacio High Street - no cars are allowed very nice walking for blocks of shops, coffee places, bars, restaurants, patios.
On Google maps this is the area from St Lukes (32nd Street) across 5th Ave to McKinley Parkway and BELOW (to the left) of 5th Ave, to the golf course - a beautiful walkway jogging path runs along the outside of the golf course.
2. Also close by but further up from the Shangri-La on the way to SM Aura Mall and Market Market Mall - there are many condos around this area - the only problem with this area is the traffic is horrendous and I preferred to walk from my condo or stop on my way home when out with my car.
On Google maps this is the area from St Lukes (32nd Street) across 5th Ave to McKinley Parkway and ABOVE (to the right) of 5th Ave. So basically drawing a circle around 5th Ave, 32nd Street and McKinley Parkway (SM Aura Mall and Market Market Mall will be outside this boundary on the right)
3. The newest condo/restaurant/shopping area is all the condos around the Uptown Mall.
On Google maps this is the area from 7th Ave, 34th St, 11th Ave and over to 36 or 38th St. A few blocks away over Kalayaan Ave is a rough area - don’t go there even though there is a cheap condo project near the river.
BGC is great area for restaurants, bars, parks, very clean modern city and is very walkable.
There are pockets of Makati that are similar but the 3 BGC areas I described are all walkable - in fact I walked the perimeter and further out to Venice Mall on my regular walks - do not stay in the Venice Mall area - just like Power Plant Mall nice place to visit no need to stay there. Now living in the Province thinking about my time in BGC I do miss the nice NORMAL sidewalks and lighted streets that were safe to walk on 24x7.
I hope this was helpful and hopefully others can elaborate on the benefits of Makati more than I have. For me they are apples and oranges and I prefer BGC.
One final note - some places you can book directly. Some are on AirBnB - we stayed 3 nights in BGC after I moved to the Province and picked a place advertised as a 5* Hotel Experience across from the Uptown Mall at Avida Towers 34th St and Ave T (in area 3 above) - it was at most a 2* disgusting place - we specifically searched for places with kitchen and laundry and both were unusable. The owner was American and paying a local to maintain their unit - the washer/dryer was moldy and smelly and the kitchen was disgusting - not an uncommon thing where absent landlords are relying on others to keep up their place so try to rent from a local who is there taking care of their place. Even the house we bought the owner moved to another island during the Covid lockdown and said they paid for upkeep - not sure how possible given Facetime is free an inspection should be easy - the place was disgusting which turned off many buyers but I saw past all the overgrowth and dirt and we got a good deal.
Amping take care, Greg
@@CanadianInPhilippines
Wow!! Many thanks for this very valuable insight from your private experience in the Philippines - amazing ☺🎯
In the near future, I would like to get a first "beachhead" in Manila and from what I read, BGC is likely to be a smart and upmarket choice to spend the first couple of weeks - need to find out if it "feels right" to retire in the country and all key admin / govt offices etc. are in Manila.
My first 9 months in 2019 was in Ayala Alabang another high end area but BGC is much nicer.
I went from Ayala Alabang to Dumaguete in May 2019 and rented a cottage right on the beach for P13,000 per month. Huge savings over Manila and was great for the time but after a few months it was too tiny and too rustic I didn't need to go that low. The property was great but the German landlord was very cheap and refused any upgrades including fixing a roof that was damaged in an August storm - he wanted me to pay for the repair - NOT A CHANCE so I just moved out and he was shocked I was giving up his beachfront property. Sept 2019 went to Carmona Cavite, just south of Metro Manila. Rented a brand new modern 3 bedroom 2.5 bath, 4 ACs, 3 car carport, gated, house for P35,000 but after 6 months there was the Covid lockdown and was not a good place to be. It was great place to live with Ayala Alabang very close - but once the lockdown came into effect there were military roadblocks and I couldn't get into Metro Manila even for medical appointments. Once my year lease was up I made the move to BGC in Sept 2020 but it was still under semi-strict Covid rules and most foreigners couldn't get into the country so BGC was very quiet - even domestic flights were blocked until March 2021. The building where I rented in BGC was probably 25% occupied, if that.
It is similar to living in any high end North American city - without the homeless or drug addicts occupying the sidewalks and no businesses having smash and grabs (there was one at a jewelry story near our hotel when we were there in October) - people who have no clue worry about safety in the Philippines. My USA friends here and I feel the same we feel safer here than when in the USA - had zero safety concerns on our month tour of Canada before our two weeks in the USA.
On my BGC walks I would pass by the Ferrari dealer - across the street from St Luke's Hospital, and many more high end dealers - Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes, Land Rover, BMW - out of my budget but just to give you an idea of the money there. The security and cleanliness are second to none in the Philippines.
BUT if you stay there for your two weeks make sure on your next visit you also take the time to visit at least one of the smaller islands I mentioned.
I had really hoped to use BGC as my base and travel throughout the Philippines - an ideal situation to have all the modern comforts and still explore.
BUT then a woman got in the way and I moved to Negros Oriental and got married and we bought a house here - not my original plan but life is good in the Provinces (outside of Metro Manila) and my bank account appreciates my monthly expenses here.
If you have the opportunity it would also be great to explore Thailand - I have friends that toured Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam and they picked Thailand to retire in. As a comparison Thailand gets 40 million visitors per year and Philippines gets 10 million and Vietnam about 18 million - note all Asian countries took a massive hit from 2020 to 2022 because of Covid restrictions.
For me I prefer the Philippines for cost of living, ease of getting around and use of English. As well it is very cheap to travel in Asia so you can get to Thailand for $200. We spent a week in Koh Samui Nov/Dec 2022 was absolutely beautiful. I have also been to Pattaya which was nice as well.
All the best to you and your plans. Let me know how you make out and your experience.
Amping (Bisayan) or Ingat (Tagalog used in Manila) take care, Greg
How much was the toll from the airport?
Hi Sid Borromeo @sidborromeo8409 That one was leaving the airport and then taking the Skyway to the exit for Malate.
All vehicles using Skway pay a P35 toll for arriving and departing, if you take the surface roads you avoid this toll - but I never worry about the cost of tolls in Manila they are so cheap and save time.
This trip we took the Skyway from the NAIA exit to the Buendia exit (time stamp 7:51) , then a left onto Osmena Highway for Malate
At 24:57 in the video it shows the route and Grab price breakdown
The total price was P508 and the toll was only P35 because we exited the South Luzon Expressway (SLELX) to get on to the Osmena Highway - so only a short distance on the Skyway.
As shown in the video the P508 is made up of P45 Base Fare, P193.35 Cost for Distance, P90 Time of travel, 144.65 Surge Charges
We took Grab to the same destination in Malate in late Oct 2023 and it was only P300 - same distance but lower surcharges because wasn't busy - in fact it was so quiet the recommended route was the surface streets not the Skyway.
The Toll system is based on distance travelled in Metro Manila - for example when I lived in Carmona Cavite it would cost about P200 to go home BUT it was a huge timesaver cutting the travel time in half, so for me it was an easy decision to take the Skyway (or other toll roads) whenever I could. I hope that answers your question. Amping take care, Greg
You know you've been away from the motherland for too long if you still take Roxas Boulevard to reach Malate from the NAIA.
Thanks for showing the trip.
Sorry Padthai Peter @user-yw4bs4lk9 I thought the same but I don't agree anymore. No need to rely on old traffic patterns - YES in the past one would never take Roxas Boulevard (except the white taxis always took as they would ring up the meter) - but today the technology tells you the best route in real time. I have done that route 3 times in the last year and surprisingly only once did we take the Skyway. I always tell the Grab Driver to take the fastest route and I don't mind paying the tolls then I compare routes.
Pre-Covid Roxas was a nightmare - during the latter part of Covid in late 2021 it was very quiet - now it has been nothing like Pre-Covid years - maybe there is a business slowdown or they have done something with the traffic by the Port that would back traffic up all the way down Roxas. But again I don't rely on my guess I use Google Maps to compare what the Grab App is suggesting (some use Waze but I have only tried it a few times and stick with Google). When I lived in Ayala Alabang I always took the Skyway to the airport - but I remember one morning the driver said the non-skyway route was just as fast - so we took that. It was an experience seeing those streets of Manila - the Skyway definitely the smoother way to go. As they expanded the Skyway South it was great when I lived in Carmona Cavite - but was very painful during construction getting through the choke points at Muntinlupa - but once completed it made the drive so easy. But even the Skyway can get busy depending on the time of day - can't control the traffic, especially with the weather, so Grab always gives the fixed rate price so you know even if stuck in traffic you won't have a high fare. Amping and I hope your routes are smooth. Greg