In fact on the way in and out make sure you have a pen. on my way out of phill i didn't have a pen and had to borrow one from this guy who had to stand an wait for me to complete.Originally Posted by gary2jessica
In fact on the way in and out make sure you have a pen. on my way out of phill i didn't have a pen and had to borrow one from this guy who had to stand an wait for me to complete.
Oh lord why did you make so many clothes and shoe shops
I always thought this was a pointless piece of paper but then I discovered that we have landing cards for foreigners too
There are actually two pieces of paper the landing card and the customs declaration, customs declaration is the last thing that gets handed over as you exit the airport.
They are both almost exactly the same, Name Address in UK, Address in Phils occupation, birth country passport number, airport of origin and so on.
Jim
me too!
on my first trip i never had one and didnt keep the address of where i was staying
i have learnt to do what my wife says!
You also have to be able to write in 5pt text as the boxes are so smallme too!
on my first trip i never had one and didnt keep the address of where i was staying
I am convinced that no one ever reads these cards, the guys that take the customs cards from you look so bored it's unreal
Jim
After about 5 times of comparing rates to Robinsons and the money changer across the road, I never went to Robinsons...Too obvious there, IMO.Best rate in Cebu I always find is in the money-changing booth downstairs in the foodhall in Robinsons fuente,just look for the queue of people clutching dollars or euros
Yep, if they won't start the meter get out and get another taxi there will always be another along sooni have exchanged that much before,just count it at the counter and you can count what they give you,they dont mindi never got sort changed
always let your gf to pay for the taxi and let her get in first...and always get the meter to start.
Jim
Oh they get read. Searching for a picture of one of these things. I found a 23 page document looking at immigration/migration in the United States. Wonder why they want to know what the Phils are up to?
It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of gum.
all on the same short trip.Yep, if they won't start the meter get out and get another taxi there will always be another along soon
taxi 1.meter got started and cost 120 peso.
taxi 2.driver didnt start meter and said trip will cost 250,my wife cursed him and he got 100 peso.
taxi 3.driver didnt start meter but said give him what you think and said hes only been doing the job for 7 days and the taxi was falling to bits
he got 150 peso.
i have learnt to do what my wife says!
This is a good point the SM malls have their own SM money changing desks and these offer poor rates compared to the family businesses, I guess if these are Robinsons brand shops they might not be so good either
The banks offer poor rates as well but the small family shops are usually good just check the rate and check the money you are given.
They will always give you a little chit with the conversion details on it, I've gotten good at doing the conversion in my head and counting as they count so I don't spend much time before the cash is in my pocket and I'm well away from there.
Always try to check the internet for the days rate, I use this one just now http://www.forexcult.com/charts.php?q=GBPPHP
Jim
Whats strange that if you fly in/out of Terminal 1 from international you have a loooong form to fill in for immigration, but if you go into Terminal 3 from international its the new small form. If you try to use the T3 form in T1 they get confused!
And for putting where you stay, doesn't matter what country I goto I usually just write the Hilton whether i'm going there or not as i'm too lazy to fill in details.
I guess no matter where you go these days you need to fill out those entry cards. So long as I get them on the flight it will save me a lot of bother!
As for the cash question... Well, now I think I might just exchange about £200 over here (or rather in the airport in Manila), then do the rest in the smaller places mentioned.
Taxi story.all on the same short trip.
taxi 1.meter got started and cost 120 peso.
taxi 2.driver didnt start meter and said trip will cost 250,my wife cursed him and he got 100 peso.
taxi 3.driver didnt start meter but said give him what you think and said hes only been doing the job for 7 days and the taxi was falling to bits
he got 150 peso.
When I first went there I was rather overweight I got better for a couple of years but am going the other way again just now.
Ana has a terrible memory and was trying to get us to Intramuros but she gave the Taxi driver the wrong location and we ended up heading off in a really run down cab.
Anyway after a few minutes we started up a concrete ramp that had a bit of an incline, taxi gets slower and slower and finally stops right in the middle of a three lane highway on the wrong road as Ana has now remembered where we should be goingthe lad tries to get it in gear it stalls he tries again the clutch is burning I can smell it engine revving going nowhere. I realise that his clutch is stuffed and that nothing on earth is going to shift that taxi with my weight and Ana in it.
Another taxi pulls up behind us and stops on this three lane highway and beckons us over
Jumped into the next cab and were rescued
I always tip well if I am treated well and I tend to have sympathy for the nice guys driving the wrecks especially if they strike up a good conversation
Jim
Why would you want to walk around carrying that sort of wad ?. I know they are now starting to charge but I've always found it best to get £30 or £40 out of atm's as and when required with Nationwide FlexAccount cardCool idea... I will
I keep a tab on the moneysupermarket website to see who is offering the best deal, and yep.. Right now it is not looking too good.
But what if I turned up in Cebu with £1000 in sterling? Going into a local exchange place with that?From what I have read I might go away with a few light notes...
At first I thought 200 quid in the airport was maybe a bit much, the rate in NAIA is not much better than you will get in the UK but again it's your first trip and you need to get your feet under the rug so I think that's about right you can last a few days on that before you need to check out the other money changers.I guess no matter where you go these days you need to fill out those entry cards. So long as I get them on the flight it will save me a lot of bother!
As for the cash question... Well, now I think I might just exchange about £200 over here (or rather in the airport in Manila), then do the rest in the smaller places mentioned.
Jim
Across the road?At Fuente?Thats some size road
Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again. But life goes on.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the passion that she shows to the outside world.
Was going to put it all in Rizza's account. Then it costs just the ATM fees to get it out... Trust me, I would be crazy to just walk about with that on me..
You could transfer it before you go, withdrawal fees are only about 10 peso a transaction in the Phils. It will still cost you a good bit more than it will changing it on the ground but you would at least feel a bit more relaxed.
Jim
Have a great time there, Northerner.
Enjoy your new love and the warmth of her affections will wash over you every minute.
A Filipina's warmth is something to behold and I was not prepared for that "Power Of Love".
Yes, take pics and start your Pic album off.
I never even had a kiss until I visited my wife's parents.
She was so shy and still is to a great extent.
I have chatted with other men who also have Filipina wives.....you really do have to be careful not standing on her toes or bumping hard into her as she is always next to you when you turn around.
I wish you lots of magical hours there, but don't think you know about it yet. It takes many visits to really start to understand there, but hopefully your guide will smooth your way with tender affection
Ummm.. So would I get a better deal transfering it to Rizza from over here?
Ok fine. If you've got a Nationwide card it looks like they are charging 1% which probably stacks up well compared with others
I've lost count of the number of times my UK Visa Debit card has set off a fraud alert in the UK even though I have told them in advance where I am and what I am doing, I am sick to death of the cost of the phone calls to get it all unblocked.
Some cards are better than others but none of them are great anymore :(
Jim
Yes Tawi.Across the road?At Fuente?Thats some size road
Over the bridge where the puppies are usually being sold and past the chemist on the corner. Past the hotel facing the circle and there is one not far.
Always a better rate IMO.
No that's what I was saying depends on what transfer methods you have available most are expensive.Ummm.. So would I get a better deal transfering it to Rizza from over here?
I use Xoom but it's not cheap by the time you pay the conversion fee the charges and then the paypal fee :(
If you have access to remittance services of some banks it can be a lot cheaper something I really need to get set up given the way the currency is going :(
Jim
My mistake,I thought you mean DIRECTLY over the road facing robinsons,as in on the other side of the circle,your on about off to the right over the footbridge where the kids sleep at night,now I know the changers you mean.
Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again. But life goes on.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the passion that she shows to the outside world.
DONT remitt via FarochilenYour trip might be finished by the time your spends arrive there(if they ever do)
Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again. But life goes on.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the passion that she shows to the outside world.
IMO I would change £200 in the airport in Manila as that seemed a good rate when I was there some months ago.Ummm.. So would I get a better deal transfering it to Rizza from over here?
In fact, the money changers in Manila city were worse than the airport.
Keep the rest on you and change when you want in the towns near to where your girlfriend will be.
Best of luck.
Don't think I will risk transfering it all over... Just in case
Best to keep some cold, hard cash on me
Airport rates at NAIA are about 5 peso off the quoted rate for the day just now i.e. 70 peso to the pound will get you 65 peso to the pound. Most good family run money changers would give you 68 peso on the same day.
Money changers in Makati or in any entertainment district will be more likely to give you a tourist rate, anywhere off the beaten track will be pretty fair.
Northerner was I think asking if he should transfer all his cash direct from the UK which is better than the rate you will get changing cash in the UK but is not as good as changing cash in the Phils, obviously safer though.
Jim
Yep good idea mateDon't think I will risk transfering it all over... Just in case
Best to keep some cold, hard cash on me
Jim
If iwas you make sure on your first journy you have some cash in your pocket I think technical you can bring 10 thousand in pesos in to the country. Ideal to have. You never know how you will feel after the journy seen some total wrecks on the plane with nerves about meeting up ,other people calm as a cucumber yet its there first journey over (learned from a quick convo)
The first time i went i was so glad i had some local currency in my pocket.
Also is it wise putting all your cash in one account? with one card?
Oh lord why did you make so many clothes and shoe shops
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