Short term rental - Meycauayan, Bulacan

[ssbib]

Hello folks. I am planning on returning to the Philippines in February and I want to stay for about a month. It's unsure if my girlfriend is going to be able to get time of work so I want to be as close to her and her family as possible, which means staying in Meycauayan, Bulacan. I don't think there are many hotels there, if any, so I am thinking of renting a flat for a month or so. Has anyone got any experience in doing this and/or can recommend anywhere. Thanks.

[SimonH]

Try looking on Airbnb :smile:

[Steve.r]

There will be small hotels there for sure, so get your gf to look around and get prices. Make sure she does any booking and for her not to mention it is for a foreigner as the price will be more.

Alternatively, why not stay with her family?

[ssbib]

I have heard of airbnb but I'm not sure exactly what it is.

I'm sure that her family would let me stay with them but its already full to the brim with their family. There is 9 of them in a 2 bedroom house and my girlfriend has to sleep on the couch in the living room. I would prefer to spend a bit of cash and then she can come and stay with me where we can have some privacy. I always wondered if pri9ces would increase if they knew it was for a foreigner...I'll get her to have a look around and hopefully find somewhere affordable where I can stay for a month or so.

[SimonH]

Here you go:-

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/Meycauayan--Bulacan--Central-Luzon--Philippines?room_types%5B%5D=Entire+home%2Fapt&ss_id=jkgibpk9&page=1&source=header&airbnb_plus_only=false&s_tag=6_OuI2Zn

[ssbib]

Here you go:-

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/Meycauayan--Bulacan--Central-Luzon--Philippines?room_types%5B%5D=Entire+home%2Fapt&ss_id=jkgibpk9&page=1&source=header&airbnb_plus_only=false&s_tag=6_OuI2Zn
What an absolute legend!!! Some of those look really good and affordable. I can't book anything now...have to pay off my credit card first but I know where to look closer to the time. Thank you!!

[fred]

What an absolute legend!!! Some of those look really good and affordable. I can't book anything now...have to pay off my credit card first but I know where to look closer to the time. Thank you!!

About the cheapest on there is 14 Quid a night so thats just over 25K per month..
If you ask them to do a whole month stay for 15K for a furnished unit, I`d be a bit surprised if they turned it down to be honest..
Thing is though you will need to find the owners email address or phone and deal with them directly and not through airbnb to get a deal like that.

[grahamw48]

Spot on Fred.

To put things into perspective, me and the better half rented a brand new 1 bed apartment (with balcony !) in her town for p3000 a month.

Ok... had to buy a bed and a couple of chairs for about 40 quid. :biggrin:

[ssbib]

It seems like the best way to go when I return - rent for a month I mean. When I last went I stayed in Hotel H2) in Manila. It was really good and a great place to stay for my first visit but it would be too expensive for me to stay there for any length of time.

Speaking of expenses - what is the best and cheapest route to travel to the Philippines? So far I have been using Etihad Airways with a stop over in Abu Dhabi but the prices of the flights are getting more and more expensive.

[Steve.r]

I use Southall Travel as they always seem to come up with good low cost flights. Others here will post their preferred agents. But I am not too fussy with which airline as they are all of a muchness, but flight times (total route time) is a factor for me.

http://www.southalltravel.co.uk/

[ssbib]

Can I ask what you pay on average each time you fly? What routes do you prefer?

[Michael Parnham]

Can I ask what you pay on average each time you fly? What routes do you prefer?

We use Philippine Island Connections 02074048877, Crystal Travel 02076120500 or STA travel Manchester 8007814040 (Freephone) prices change all the time but you will often get flights average £500 or thereabout, good luck:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[grahamw48]

Ask your partner to find the accommodation... local knowledge ! :xxgrinning--00xx3:

It's also possible a relative may be prepared to rent to you their house... or a room in it. Ask. :smile:

[grahamw48]

I like Etihad... and Emirates. Both fly from Manchester too, of course, and usually good prices. Check the journey times, as they vary, though price usually the same. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[ssbib]

Thanks for the information guys. Flights is something I need to do more research on I think as this latest flight for her to come back next month has creased me financially. I'm still saving for the wedding etc. but has left me little for social activities and so on. Worth it when she is here though.

Also, I will ask to see if someone wants to rent me a room. Thats not a bad idea, thanks again.

[SimonH]

Try searching on skyscanner or kayak for flights. When putting in a date, search for the whole month rather than a specific date as it can make a big difference. Also check the flight times, what could look like a £30 saving could also be a 12 hour stop over on both legs.

[ssbib]

Try searching on skyscanner or kayak for flights. When putting in a date, search for the whole month rather than a specific date as it can make a big difference. Also check the flight times, what could look like a £30 saving could also be a 12 hour stop over on both legs.
Yeah I've spied some of ridiculous stop over times. Thats one reason I like the Abu Dhabi route - it gives a 4 hour stop over which for me is just enough time to stretch your legs and have a breather and then get back to it (plus allows a generous amount for flight delays etc.)

[grahamw48]

Yeah I've spied some of ridiculous stop over times. Thats one reason I like the Abu Dhabi route - it gives a 4 hour stop over which for me is just enough time to stretch your legs and have a breather and then get back to it (plus allows a generous amount for flight delays etc.)


Agree.

Good airline, good routing, and usually one of the cheapest.

Also, you can choose your seats for all segments in advance, online, plus check in online both outward and return flights... which saves a lot of waiting around at NAIA.

They've just sent me one of their silver loyalty cards the other day... so slightly above peasant class now. :biggrin:

[ssbib]

Agree.

Good airline, good routing, and usually one of the cheapest.

Also, you can choose your seats for all segments in advance, online, plus check in online both outward and return flights... which saves a lot of waiting around at NAIA.

They've just sent me one of their silver loyalty cards the other day... so slightly above peasant class now. :biggrin:

What bonuses do you get with that card? When I called to book for my fiance's return trip the other week they said that I should create a new account for myrself and claim air miles from February and then i can combine them with hers and get her an upgrade to business class. I did that and then they denied my claim for the old miles, saying they were too old. It was their idea!! grrr. They are fairly decent though, the meals are ok too. When my fiance first came over I ordered her an asian vegetarian meal by mistake when I booked. She wasn't best impressed and so couldn't eat on the plane. Luckily she had money to buy something at NAIA beforehand.

[Trefor]

Oman Air has the best stopovers I've seen in a long time. Comparable service to Emirates/Qatar etc. Another plug for them from me.

[ssbib]

Oman Air has the best stopovers I've seen in a long time. Comparable service to Emirates/Qatar etc. Another plug for them from me.

I've never heard of them. What route do they fly?

[Michael Parnham]

Oman Air, prices from £428 to £503 at the moment ex Manchester to Manila for next February, they subcontract to Etihad and China Air:wink:

[ssbib]

Oman Air, prices from £428 to £503 at the moment ex Manchester to Manila for next February, they subcontract to Etihad and China Air:wink:
I'll definitely check those out when I am booking my return flight. Thanks a lot.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Air China are the cheapest at the moment. Approx £350 return, although I did see flights pre Xmas going for £320. Next cheapest is probably China Southern.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Oman Air, prices from £428 to £503 at the moment ex Manchester to Manila for next February, they subcontract to Etihad and China Air:wink:

Was considering flying with them last time out for £405. The arrival time in Manila of late evening put me off because it meant 12 hrs less in the Phils. :wink:

[ssbib]

Was considering flying with them last time out for £405. The arrival time in Manila of late evening put me off because it meant 12 hrs less in the Phils. :wink:
That would do me perfectly. After the flight all I want to do is sleep. I usually arrive at around midnight when flying with Etihad. Plus I think arriving late and sleeping allows me to adjust to the time zone quicker.

Can anyone confirm that the seats with Oman air are generous? I'm a husky gent, heheheh.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Yeah I've spied some of ridiculous stop over times. Thats one reason I like the Abu Dhabi route - it gives a 4 hour stop over which for me is just enough time to stretch your legs and have a breather and then get back to it (plus allows a generous amount for flight delays etc.)

Look out for cheap deals with Cathay Pacific because stopovers at Hong Kong are usually around two hours or less plus the airport there is one of the best in the world.

I've managed to get a flight for just over £450 before, but it is quite rare to get one that low.

[Ako Si Jamie]

That would do me perfectly. After the flight all I want to do is sleep. I usually arrive at around midnight when flying with Etihad. Plus I think arriving late and sleeping allows me to adjust to the time zone quicker.

Can anyone confirm that the seats with Oman air are generous? I'm a husky gent, heheheh. I'm different. Can't sleep for toffee after a flight. I've never suffered jet lag so all I want is a dip in the hotel pool and a few cold ones afterwards preferably out in the sunshine. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Trefor]

Oman Air, prices from £428 to £503 at the moment ex Manchester to Manila for next February, they subcontract to Etihad and China Air:wink:

I am not sure what you mean by subcontract Michael? Do you mean connecting flights? Oman Air from twice daily from LHR to Muscat then a second flight Muscat to Manila. They are a very good airline and nothing to do with Ethiad or China Air. The LHR/MCT/MNL service has very good connections - less than 2 hours each way (which is a good amount of time to stretch your legs and get a snack). I used to live part time in Muscat Oman. Top airline.

[ssbib]

Look out for cheap deals with Cathay Pacific because stopovers at Hong Kong are usually around two hours or less plus the airport there is one of the best in the world.

I've managed to get a flight for just over £450 before, but it is quite rare to get one that low.

That would be the perfect price. The flights back and forth and the expense is what creases me with this long distance thing. Well, that and being away from the one I love the most in this world.


I'm different. Can't sleep for toffee after a flight. I've never suffered jet lag so all I want is a dip in the hotel pool and a few cold ones afterwards preferably out in the sunshine. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

To each his own. I couldn't be mothers with either of those things, not straight away.

[Trefor]

That would do me perfectly. After the flight all I want to do is sleep. I usually arrive at around midnight when flying with Etihad. Plus I think arriving late and sleeping allows me to adjust to the time zone quicker.

Can anyone confirm that the seats with Oman air are generous? I'm a husky gent, heheheh.

Yes, their seats are quite good. Bigger than most (esp. Virgn/BA/old Emirates 777s) and as much space as the new A380s from Emirates (but Oman Air fly A330s).

[Ako Si Jamie]

Can I ask what you pay on average each time you fly? What routes do you prefer?

Flights are cheaper now than say five years ago. In the current climate I'd be looking to pay no more than £500 and I'm quite confident I could get a fare with one of the better airlines for that price. That's Heathrow to Manila by the way which usually is the cheapest route.

The most I've paid is £630 (June 2012) but I left the booking too late. Cheapest was £375 last November.

[Ako Si Jamie]

That would be the perfect price. The flights back and forth and the expense is what creases me with this long distance thing. Well, that and being away from the one I love the most in this world.



To each his own. I couldn't be mothers with either of those things, not straight away.

Wait till the heat hits you. You may think differently! :wink:

[ssbib]

Yes, their seats are quite good. Bigger than most (esp. Virgn/BA/old Emirates 777s) and as much space as the new A380s from Emirates (but Oman Air fly A330s).

That sounds ideal. I'll definitely be able to relax a bit on those. I'm never comfortable on flights but if I can reduce the uncomfortability a bit then that's a bonus.


Flights are cheaper now than say five years ago. In the current climate I'd be looking to pay no more than £500 and I'm quite confident I could get a fare with one of the better airlines for that price. That's Heathrow to Manila by the way which usually is the cheapest route.

The most I've paid is £630 (June 2012) but I left the booking too late. Cheapest was £375 last November.

Wow, wish I could find them that cheap. How far in advance are you booking? I git one for £500 when booking in November for Feb travel but since then I've been paying £1000 with 2 months to the flight. I asked to use my air miles for a discount and so they knocked off £12. Pfft!!!


Wait till the heat hits you. You may think differently! :wink:

Haha, I don't do well in the heat when I'm there but I'm not as bad as I thought I would be. It was funny watching my fiancé here in July. It was a good, hot day in London, 25 degrees and she's saying she's too cold, haha. It was her first time away from the Philippines though. Next month I'm taking her to Scotland...she won't know what hit her.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Hello folks. I am planning on returning to the Philippines in February and I want to stay for about a month. It's unsure if my girlfriend is going to be able to get time of work so I want to be as close to her and her family as possible, which means staying in Meycauayan, Bulacan. I don't think there are many hotels there, if any, so I am thinking of renting a flat for a month or so. Has anyone got any experience in doing this and/or can recommend anywhere. Thanks.

Another option would be to compensate her, if she can take time off work. By that I mean, pay her for what she loses from not working for a week or so. This means you can explore more of the Philippines together instead of staying in some industrialized city for the entirety. I think the average wage is only about £35 per week.

I've done this myself with my ex who lived in the next province north of Bulacan in a similar kind of city.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Wow, wish I could find them that cheap. How far in advance are you booking? I git one for £500 when booking in November for Feb travel but since then I've been paying £1000 with 2 months to the flight. I asked to use my air miles for a discount and so they knocked off £12. Pfft!!!



Between two to four months in advance. That price of £1000 is common only around Xmas & New Year. You shouldn't be paying anywhere near that if you're travelling at any other time although Easter is usually more expensive.

[ssbib]

Another option would be to compensate her, if she can take time off work. By that I mean, pay her for what she loses from not working for a week or so. This means you can explore more of the Philippines together instead of staying in some industrialized city for the entirety. I think the average wage is only about £35 per week.

I've done this myself with my ex who lived in the next province north of Bulacan in a similar kind of city.

I do that every time she takes time off work to be with me, I don't want her to be without as she is the main provide for her household. However I just don't think her management will let her take anymore leave. She had a week off to see me in February and 2 weeks in July. She has just managed to get another 2 weeks off for another trip here in September but that was really hard to get management to approve it. They were all snooty when she asked and said she should probably just quit her job. We are hoping that if she works really hard over Christmas and has good sales they won't mind her taking time off, but even then it's only 2 weeks when I want to be there for 4 so she'll have to be close to work then. Even I couldn't get time off work for her second trip here. Well I could but had to take unpaid and can only afford to do that for 1 week. Grrr!!

[ssbib]

Between two to four months in advance. That price of £1000 is common only around Xmas & New Year. You shouldn't be paying anywhere near that if you're travelling at any other time although Easter is usually more expensive.

I wonder why I got shafted then? Is there any Muslim holidays around September which would account for the high prices? Although now I think about it all the cheap seats had been taken and I had to get a flexi option, which made it more expensive. I could find cheaper flights but it meant her arriving a day later and having a longer flight. I'd rather lay the extra £100 and have an extra night together.

[Ako Si Jamie]

I wonder why I got shafted then? Is there any Muslim holidays around September which would account for the high prices? Although now I think about it all the cheap seats had been taken and I had to get a flexi option, which made it more expensive. I could find cheaper flights but it meant her arriving a day later and having a longer flight. I'd rather lay the extra £100 and have an extra night together.

Nothing to do with Muslim holidays. Who did you book with?

[ssbib]

Nothing to do with Muslim holidays. Who did you book with?
Direct with Etihad both times. Search through places like Expedia and both were the same price.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Direct with Etihad both times. Search through places like Expedia and both were the same price.
If you did book with Etihad I suppose it could be to do with Muslim holidays. Not too hot on this topic. Sorry I didn't realise who you booked with.

I've never seen good prices with Expedia and rarely when booking direct with an airline. Best to check Skyscanner and PIC first, as in my experience, they are the cheapest.

[Michael Parnham]

By subcontract means that such as Etihad or any other airline sell a number of seats to Oman at an arranged price in order help fill the aircraft, for instance when I've flown with Qatar I've sat next to someone who's booked with British Airways or Qantas:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[SimonH]

By subcontract means that such as Etihad or any other airline sell a number of seats to Oman at an arranged price in order help fill the aircraft, for instance when I've flown with Qatar I've sat next to someone who's booked with British Airways or Qantas:xxgrinning--00xx3:

That's called code share Michael, and it must have been a long time ago as Qantas now Code Share with Emirates. When booking your flight have a look at the flight number and that will tell you which airline you're flying with.
Also, if you can pre book your seats, put your flight details into seatguru.com and that will give you the seat configuration and the best seat choice :smile:

[Michael Parnham]

That's called code share Michael, and it must have been a long time ago as Qantas now Code Share with Emirates. When booking your flight have a look at the flight number and that will tell you which airline you're flying with.
Also, if you can pre book your seats, put your flight details into seatguru.com and that will give you the seat configuration and the best seat choice :smile:

Thank you for the correct title, sub contract is a transport industry term, but has just the same meaning:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[ssbib]

I've never heard of this codesharing business. Seems dodgy to me (I'm sure its legal, just annoying). I hate it when they deliberately overbook flights.