My boyfriend is coming to Manila

[DARUMA07 25]

Congrats. to you both. I remember my first trip there. It was really exciting for Ruchie and I! Have your BF bring a good magazine or book to read on his long flight. It can get quite boring on those long flights. Have a great time together and remember to take photos and to save receipts and boarding passes for your evidences later in the process.

[16freekisses 0]

I would also recomend using atm debit card for cash, just be sure to have him call his bank before he leaves to let them know he will be using his card in the philippines next week. I have done this on my last 4 trips to Manila and never have had a problem. ingat ka. Jim

Thank you. I will make sure to tell him that.

If you don't find him though, he'll NEVER find you! I stood there looking across the street at a SEA of 5' something Filipinos and thought "omg I'll never find her!!" There will be what seems to be hundreds of people there for him to try to look through. Security let my wife cross the street once she spotted me so she came and got me

I'll make sure to wear something real flashy then. I told him about it and he suggested I wear a schoolgirl outfit, hahaha! But seriously, we agreed on wearing matching red caps so we could spot each other easily.

The transfer rate at the airport luggage area is not too bad for exchanging dollars to pesos. I used a CIRRUS atm card and was only charged $3 per transaction. One atm at SM Mall, PBI, and SHBC had a higher limit of 10,000 PHP withdrawals. Many atms only allowed a maximum withdrawal of 5,000 PHP.

P.S. I notified my bank that I would be making withdrawals in the Philippines.

Have a great time.

Thank you for the advice. I'm sure we won't spend a lot of money (I hope). I can just feed him Jollibee fried chicken all day. I told him this and he called me a racist. LOL.

Congrats. to you both. I remember my first trip there. It was really exciting for Ruchie and I! Have your BF bring a good magazine or book to read on his long flight. It can get quite boring on those long flights. Have a great time together and remember to take photos and to save receipts and boarding passes for your evidences later in the process.

Okay. I've been reading up on fiancee visas and those make good documentation.

Any more tips would be welcome. Please keep them coming. :star:

[May2 3]

Hi there, I've browsed around this forum for a while before taking a deep breath and finally deciding to register. I think you guys are really friendly and helpful, so I've come for some help.

I met my boyfriend online and he is coming here to Manila next week. He is flying Continental all the way. Are there any special instructions or tips we should know? For example, I know for domestic flights, PAL charges a terminal fee of 200 PHP. Will NAIA charge my boyfriend for something similar? Would it be a good idea for me to send him local currency through Western Union?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance! :star:

Hope this thing help you meeting your boyfriend...

1. Make sure what terminal his plane is landing... Most international flights use Terminal 1 ( NAIA ) you can ride jeep going there it's easy and cheap.

2. Be early ( I was late so my husband don't know if he will kiss me or beat me when I got there, scared the hell out of him ) There is a waiting area for relatives in front of the arrival area... you better go on the second floor so you can see clearly who comes out the arrival area. and there are TV monitors showing the flights that just arrived. Expect a lot of people at the waiting area( it was a two story building ), there is no way he can see you. It's only you who can recognize him.

3. No fees as long he's clear to Phil. Immigration and got his bags ask him to go to arrival area. There are letters on the arrival area, he doesn't have to go to the letter that starts his name just talk and make arrangements what letter he should stand.

4. If your boyfriend is confuse tell him to ask to security guards or people who have name tags or ID's showing they do work at airport. And ask your boyfriend to remember name tags if he did need to ask around.

5. You are not allowed to go to the arrival area not unless you already saw your boyfriend... if you already saw your boyfriend...ask the security guard to let you pass to pick your boyfriend.

6. There are authorized money changer at the airport, but I suggest you should bring your own money, I mean peso, we have to consider the exchange rate and sometimes at airports the exchange rate are low.

7. There are authorized Taxi service at the arrival area,Ask around where is the booth for authorized taxi airport. You just have to pay at the counter, prize depends on where are you going ( be clear on the address ex. your going at quezon city make sure they are not charging you for the prize of quezon province ). Just wait and the taxi will come to you and just present the receipt to the driver.

8. If your going to pick him up with your own transportation, Your jeep, car or van stays at the parking lot, it won't be allowed to go or park at the arrival area. If your Bf is with you already, you can text or call someone to pick you up.

9. If you can call him up while waiting for him to come out in arrival area, please do so, it will make him feel so much safer and it takes all the worries away.

Sorry if this is too long, I wish someone told me this things before...but don't be afraid to commit small mistakes, in time it will serves as MEMORIES. And don't forget to pee before meeting him... when My husband ask me " How are you?"... I said I need to pee. hahahaha Enjoy each other company and good luck.

[DainandVicky 4]

Thank you, that's very helpful!

He has a lot of stopovers on his way here: Newark, Houston, Guam... They have free wi-fi on those airports right? He'll be able to chat or e-mail me during his stops, right? I ask because wi-fi in NAIA is down 90% of the time and I myself have never flown out of the country so I don't know. I worry about him so much and I just want to make sure he's okay, if his plane landed safely, stuff like that. He always tells me I worry too much but I can't help it. It's his first time getting on a plane and I'm scared he'll get lost or miss his flight and a thousand other things!

http://www.manila-airport.net/Map.cfm - Is this map up-to-date? Is there a designated waiting place in NAIA Terminal 1 for non-passengers? Where should I stay so we see each other right after he disembarks from the plane? Or do I have to wait outside?

Sorry if I have too many questions, I'm just so excited and nervous at the same time...

It's pretty clear when you're at the airport where you will wait for departing passengers, and it is outside. In the waiting areas it's seperated into a few areas by first letter of last or surname. He's going to see it easily when he leaves the plane. It was pretty simple, and when I got off, there was Vicky waiting for me with her sister and cousin to ride with us to the hotel.

[DainandVicky 4]

I didn't need a money changer until the next day, and we went to one of the greenbelt malls for a good rate. The hotel was pre-paid through Agoda.com and only needed a copy of my credit card. Vicky cooked some Adobo and brought it and some Coke to the hotel for us, we arranged for her to be able to enter the room before I got there.

I didn't rely on ATMs or want to necessarily pay a lot of ATM fees (or the terrible exchange rates from the ATMs), so I bought a money belt before I left the states and brought several hundred in cash in the money belt. Every hotel we stayed in had a room safe, so I just left it in the room safe and took a little money with me when we went out. Most everything else (plane tickets, hotel rooms) were pre-payed.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

6. There are authorized money changer at the airport, but I suggest you should bring your own money, I mean peso, we have to consider the exchange rate and sometimes at airports the exchange rate are low.

I have found that for the past 2 times I was in the Philippines, the exchange rate right at the Manila airport was better than anything I found here in the states...

Make sure he has your cell number so he can call you from the pay phones inside customs.

Also, if I recall correctly, you do not NEED to wait across the street... When I walked out the exit doors after clearing customs, on MY right hand side, there was a waiting area just outside the fence, where my beautiful lady was bouncing up and down waiting for me.

Have a great time and remember, while I don't want to be a party pooper, these things sometimes don't work out. Enjoy your time together and let the future sort itself out.

-Phil

[frostysoftyeaton 6]

i also just brought cash and when i got there i gave it to my fiance and she put it in her account also if you run short it is easy to have some sent by western union it happens the big thing to remember is to make good memories they will help you through the waiting times ahead i do not say this to dampen your spirit but to remind you you time together is precious so enjoy yourselfs and best of luck....... and my wife was late too very late her and her cousin were eating breakfast when a very nice security guard called her and reminded her i was at the airport waiting for her and then he hung around till she showed up calling her one more time to give her directions when she took to long because she got lost.... and yes even then they are memories trust me i do not let her forget

[May2 3]

I have found that for the past 2 times I was in the Philippines, the exchange rate right at the Manila airport was better than anything I found here in the states...

Make sure he has your cell number so he can call you from the pay phones inside customs.

Also, if I recall correctly, you do not NEED to wait across the street... When I walked out the exit doors after clearing customs, on MY right hand side, there was a waiting area just outside the fence, where my beautiful lady was bouncing up and down waiting for me.

Have a great time and remember, while I don't want to be a party pooper, these things sometimes don't work out. Enjoy your time together and let the future sort itself out.

-Phil

That is so true, but on my experience the night I pick up my husband the dollar is around 48.20,the next day we checked it was 48.80, I know it's just a small difference but I'm glad we waited, That's why my husband call me KURIPOT.

[Jared and May 16]

I'll never forget my first time to Phil.. I was in Shanghai on business and flew to Manila, then connected to Davao via PAL. When I landed in Davao (only kano onboard) I was overwhelmed with people trying to help me. They wanted to carry bags, take their jeeps/taxi's to places, etc..

I cross the street in Davao airport and there's just so many Filipinos waiting around for their loved ones. I look all around and can't find her.. She sends me an SMS that she's got a cab and is waiting.. Finally as I keep walking a little Pinay calls my name and throws her arms around me..

To this day, I'm still not 100% sure she is my Milagros.. but she is the one who found me that first day in Davao..

(just kidding)

[16freekisses 0]

2. Be early ( I was late so my husband don't know if he will kiss me or beat me when I got there, scared the hell out of him ) There is a waiting area for relatives in front of the arrival area... you better go on the second floor so you can see clearly who comes out the arrival area. and there are TV monitors showing the flights that just arrived.

Okay, I plan on being an hour early and I'm sure I'll check the TV monitors every second.

3. No fees as long he's clear to Phil. Immigration

Oh no. I hope there are no issues with that. I'll tell him to bring about 300 USD in cash just in case. I hope that's enough.

9. If you can call him up while waiting for him to come out in arrival area, please do so, it will make him feel so much safer and it takes all the worries away.

I can try to call him up because I have his cellphone number, but I'm not sure his phone will work once he lands in Manila. His provider is Verizon. If anybody happens to know how this works, kindly share and post.

Sorry if this is too long, I wish someone told me this things before...but don't be afraid to commit small mistakes, in time it will serves as MEMORIES. And don't forget to pee before meeting him... when My husband ask me " How are you?"... I said I need to pee. hahahaha Enjoy each other company and good luck.

Hahaha, I will definitely remember to pee! Thank you so much, your post wasn't too long, I found it extremely helpful.

I didn't need a money changer until the next day, and we went to one of the greenbelt malls for a good rate. The hotel was pre-paid through Agoda.com and only needed a copy of my credit card. Vicky cooked some Adobo and brought it and some Coke to the hotel for us, we arranged for her to be able to enter the room before I got there.

That's a good idea, me checking in the room early to ensure everything's ready when he arrives.

Edited March 21, 2010 by 16freekisses

[16freekisses 0]

Make sure he has your cell number so he can call you from the pay phones inside customs.

He does. He can buy some local currency at the airport and just call me if he needs to, right?

Have a great time and remember, while I don't want to be a party pooper, these things sometimes don't work out. Enjoy your time together and let the future sort itself out.

-Phil

Okay, that's reasonable advice. Thank you.

i also just brought cash and when i got there i gave it to my fiance and she put it in her account also if you run short it is easy to have some sent by western union it happens the big thing to remember is to make good memories they will help you through the waiting times ahead i do not say this to dampen your spirit but to remind you you time together is precious so enjoy yourselfs and best of luck....... and my wife was late too very late her and her cousin were eating breakfast when a very nice security guard called her and reminded her i was at the airport waiting for her and then he hung around till she showed up calling her one more time to give her directions when she took to long because she got lost.... and yes even then they are memories trust me i do not let her forget

This post had me giggling.

I'll never forget my first time to Phil.. I was in Shanghai on business and flew to Manila, then connected to Davao via PAL. When I landed in Davao (only kano onboard) I was overwhelmed with people trying to help me. They wanted to carry bags, take their jeeps/taxi's to places, etc..

I cross the street in Davao airport and there's just so many Filipinos waiting around for their loved ones. I look all around and can't find her.. She sends me an SMS that she's got a cab and is waiting.. Finally as I keep walking a little Pinay calls my name and throws her arms around me..

To this day, I'm still not 100% sure she is my Milagros.. but she is the one who found me that first day in Davao..

(just kidding)

This one too! Hahaha

Thank you everyone who helped so far. Good karma to you and your loved ones...

If there are any more tips, please just share them! :star: :star:

[john & jean 37]

do not plan on his cell working!! the pay phones at the airport are famous for not working!!!

tell him what the sign will look like. put it on a stick, and hold it high!

take lots of pics....

[16freekisses 0]

Okay. His first flight is due to leave in an hour and a half. Please pray for him...

[DARUMA07 25]

Okay. His first flight is due to leave in an hour and a half. Please pray for him...

Have a great time together. He will be okay!!!

[jim 66 6]

sweeeeet... have a great time together and keep us posted