My first flight in 7 weeks.

[grahamw48]

ohh thats mean looks like a big case dragged to the loo

Any advise Graham much appreciated from you as I know you have been philli a lot. Take care John

I only ever take one carry-on sized bag with me John, as I'm a bit of a 'minimalist' nowadays.

Extra T-shirts etc can be bought there as needed, as they're dirt cheap.

I forgot to take my electric shaver last time, but other than that, all I can say is travel light, keep passport and airticket easy to hand, but secure.

Have a ballpoint-pen on you to use for filling out your little immigration form they give you before landing in the Phils.

Not sure about what phone you have, but I took my one from home (for use on outward and inward journey to talk to my son), plus bought one of Tescos 'emergency phones' for 10 quid...which is already unlocked but no sim, then just bought a local Smart simcard when I got there (p40) and it had 40 free texts pre-loaded, which lasted me the entire holiday.

Oh, I also take a large lunchbox for my sandwiches and other snacks so I don't need to pay rip-off railway and airport prices for grub.
Also filled it for the homeward trip.

Have a big drink from your pop bottle before entering departure lounge because they'll take it off you....for security reasons.

[Terpe]

Obviously demand to be moved if there are Pikeys seated nearby

When I'm dressed for travel I might look like that

[grahamw48]

The positive is that people never fall asleep on your shoulder if you smell like a pig's backside.

[andy222]

Just relax John. Enjoy the flight. The phils is like no place I have ever been to and I have travelled a bit. You will love it. Coming back is the hard part.

[zaxy]

damn steve lol u just reminded me when i first arrived in manila airport sure not a nice airport to go to kinda want meet my gf in thailand again haha but her visa only be 5 days there sigh.

[London_Manila]

I am trying to book a flight to Manila this June for around 3 weeks with a decent airline Cathay Pacific or KLM. I last went to Manila in March and paid £540 with Cathay prices now in June are £960 even the middle eastern airlines (which i avoid) want around £760

[Steve.r]

I am trying to book a flight to Manila this June for around 3 weeks with a decent airline Cathay Pacific or KLM. I last went to Manila in March and paid £540 with Cathay prices now in June are £960 even the middle eastern airlines (which i avoid) want around £760

You can afford it right

[Dedworth]

I am trying to book a flight to Manila this June for around 3 weeks with a decent airline Cathay Pacific or KLM. I last went to Manila in March and paid £540 with Cathay prices now in June are £960 even the middle eastern airlines (which i avoid) want around £760

Cathay £603 to Clark in June http://www.pic-uk.com/en/component/o...,93/Itemid,37/

[London_Manila]

You can afford it right

Sure i can

[London_Manila]

Cathay £603 to Clark in June http://www.pic-uk.com/en/component/o...,93/Itemid,37/

Nothing on the cathay pacific website about them starting a service to pampanga in june ?

[Ako Si Jamie]

I've just booked time off work from 8th-24th June and I'm off to the Phils hopefully on the 8th or 9th from Heathrow depending on prices. Had a quick earlier today and Saudi Airlines who I've been with before were quoting prices of over £800, nearly twice the amount I've paid previously

[Ako Si Jamie]

Cathay £603 to Clark in June http://www.pic-uk.com/en/component/o...,93/Itemid,37/

That's useful to know Ded. Clark is just round the corner from my Mahal's.

[Dedworth]

That's useful to know Ded. Clark is just round the corner from my Mahal's.

Jamie - the last bit of the trip (Honkers - Clark ) is on Cathays little brother Dragonair http://www.dragonair.com/da/en_HK/of...-KWL-16APR2012

[Steve.r]

That's useful to know Ded. Clark is just round the corner from my Mahal's.

Where is that Jamie? Clark isn't too far from our place.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Jamie - the last bit of the trip (Honkers - Clark ) is on Cathays little brother Dragonair http://www.dragonair.com/da/en_HK/of...-KWL-16APR2012

I'll phone them up tomorrow. Is Pic-UK a good firm?

[Ako Si Jamie]

Where is that Jamie? Clark isn't too far from our place.

Maria lives in San Fernando

[grahamw48]

You must have been shopping here then:

.

.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Not so much shopping Graham, just looked around and had a meal. Spotless mall too.

[grahamw48]

I sometimes used to take my kids there to keep them amused for an afternoon.

Took those pics when on my way to Subic in Feb'.

[Ako Si Jamie]

I sometimes used to take my kids there to keep them amused for an afternoon.

Took those pics when on my way to Subic in Feb'.

Went through Subic on our way to Iba

[grahamw48]

Ah yes, you would go that way.

I've often fancied a trip up to Iba myself, but heard mixed reports.

What's the place like ?

[Ako Si Jamie]

It's OK, kind of a bustling market town. Stayed in a resort about 3 miles from the actual town. Very quiet resort with a deserted beach but that was in January.

What reports did you hear?

[junior02]

I am trying to book a flight to Manila this June for around 3 weeks with a decent airline Cathay Pacific or KLM. I last went to Manila in March and paid £540 with Cathay prices now in June are £960 even the middle eastern airlines (which i avoid) want around £760

have a good shop around. royal brunei have seats £566, singapore £641 both for june asiana have some good deals also, ive been on all 3 and all ok, but brunei is a dry airline so take your own booze if you like a drink to get your head down..

[chino]

its dragon air from hkg to crk (no IFE)...

[grahamw48]

It's OK, kind of a bustling market town. Stayed in a resort about 3 miles from the actual town. Very quiet resort with a deserted beach but that was in January.

What reports did you hear?

Mainly that it was very quiet there, but of course some (like me) prefer it quiet, so not necessarily a negative.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Mainly that it was very quiet there, but of course some (like me) prefer it quiet, so not necessarily a negative.

Like I said the beach & resort were very quiet, almost ghost-townish. For the first few days we were the only people at the resort. It was just toooo quiet for my liking although a quiet beach is nice.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Cathay £603 to Clark in June http://www.pic-uk.com/en/component/o...,93/Itemid,37/

All booked up at that price. I phoned them today amongst others. Eventually booked a flight for £639 from Heathrow to Clark going with Cathay, but not with them. Only an hour stopover too, going and returning.

Cheapest flights were around £500 going with Kuwait but they had that ludicrous 18 hour stopover.

[Dedworth]

All booked up at that price. I phoned them today amongst others. Eventually booked a flight for £639 from Heathrow to Clark going with Cathay, but not with them. Only an hour stopover too, going and returning.

Cheapest flights were around £500 going with Kuwait but they had that ludicrous 18 hour stopover.

That's not too bad - these headline offers are eyecatching but they never seem to have many seats, good that new route is handy for you

[grahamw48]

Average flight prices from UK to the Phils haven't actually increased over the past 20 years ...to put things into perspective.

Phils domestic flights have though.

[London_Manila]

All booked up at that price. I phoned them today amongst others. Eventually booked a flight for £639 from Heathrow to Clark going with Cathay, but not with them. Only an hour stopover too, going and returning.

Cheapest flights were around £500 going with Kuwait but they had that ludicrous 18 hour stopover.

That price is very good, the cheapest i can find for cathay is £959 for june and returning in early july

who did you book it with in the end?