Advise On Traveling To Philippines

[smore 19]

On 8/22/2022 at 10:25 AM, B_J said:

Assuming you're flying to LA and then taking the nonstop Philippine Airlines flight to Manila, you don't want to focus too much on avoiding a long layover.  You fly to LA, then you have to get your bags and walk down to the international terminal.  You have to go through the check in process at the Philippine Airlines counter and go through all the security checks.  This process can take a few hours.  You'll probably want to get something to eat and at least relax a little bit.  Then you wander down to your gate and wait for your flight.  Don't try to cut it too close on time.  It's better to wait than to hurry.

I have not done extensive research, but the research I have done is no direct flights for me to Manila where I am from. I do still see the LAX direct flight but I have not had any searches help me get to LAX, than to Manila in a decent amount of time, I would be better picking 2 layovers it seems and going through Seoul Korea I think, about 24-26 hour flights is what it seems with layovers of only 1-3 hours. I will have to research more and hope these sites you search are smart enough to figure it all out. It would be great to fly to LAX from where I am from and than non stop to Manila but I am not sure it will be possible.

 

You said the process at LAX at the Philippine Airlines counter and security checks can take a few hours. That will make it even harder to try to get to LAX and than be able to have enough time but yet not tons of time, somewhere in the middle of having enough time without being rushed would be nice. I just have to search more on flights to see if LAX is possible.

[RO_AH 1,659]

7 minutes ago, smore said:

I will have to figure out the cell phone, I want to be able to use my phone on the plane to communicate and when I arrive to let her know I am there, so that is why I am hesitant about this sim card switch thing as arriving late at night and also on the way there my phone would be useless. Even if I have to get a temporary plan with T Mobile or something where I can use another phone just for the trip or something, at least I have coverage and can use my phone all the way thru. I am not sure if that is possible? Is WiFi pretty good in Philippines? I was suggest a pocket wifi? by my phone company they said that I do not have to connect to any local wifi? I do like the idea of being able to keep using my phone on the way there and through the trip.

Manila Airport has free wifi. You should be fine with any phone. It would be nice if you could get to LAX then direct. Since I fly direct I text from the plane before we take off so that she knows what time I will arrive. I personally never worry about calling or messaging from the plane.

 

 

Is she meeting you at the airport? Where is your final destination? Manila or somewhere else?

[smore 19]

2 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Manila Airport has free wifi. You should be fine with any phone. It would be nice if you could get to LAX then direct. Since I fly direct I text from the plane before we take off so that she knows what time I will arrive. I personally never worry about calling or messaging from the plane.

 

 

Is she meeting you at the airport? Where is your final destination? Manila or somewhere else?

So Manila has free wifi so I should be able to at least use my phone app like whatsapp to communicate with her? I know according to my phone service Straight Talk my phone will not work to make calls or text. But it sounds like if I can find wifi that apps like whatsapp will work, that is according to them, I sure hope it works. I have to check out this pocket wifi thing? My phone company made it sound like it would work really well.

 

Yes I agree it would be nice to get to LAX and fly direct. I am going to have to take time to look more into that and see if its possible.

 

The plan has been she will meet me at the airport, the plan is she will arrive a day early in Manila and I believe if I arrive late like 10pm which many flights have shown that yes she will still be meeting me at the airport.

 

I really do not know the final destination, first of course is Manila but she wants me to visit her family which we would have to travel, take another flight to another airport and than get a ride to where she is from Libagon.

[RO_AH 1,659]

7 minutes ago, smore said:

So Manila has free wifi so I should be able to at least use my phone app like whatsapp to communicate with her? I know according to my phone service Straight Talk my phone will not work to make calls or text. But it sounds like if I can find wifi that apps like whatsapp will work, that is according to them, I sure hope it works. I have to check out this pocket wifi thing? My phone company made it sound like it would work really well.

 

Yes I agree it would be nice to get to LAX and fly direct. I am going to have to take time to look more into that and see if its possible.

 

The plan has been she will meet me at the airport, the plan is she will arrive a day early in Manila and I believe if I arrive late like 10pm which many flights have shown that yes she will still be meeting me at the airport.

 

I really do not know the final destination, first of course is Manila but she wants me to visit her family which we would have to travel, take another flight to another airport and than get a ride to where she is from Libagon.

Since you are coming in late just grab a hotel next to the airport. You can take a free shuttle and pay for it in advance. Then peso's aren't even an issue. You can worry about that the next day. I would also highly recommend that you install whatsapp and have her do the same if she doesn't have it already. I would not trust bringing a pocket wifi.

[MarJhi 963]

1 hour ago, smore said:

I really do not know the final destination, first of course is Manila but she wants me to visit her family which we would have to travel, take another flight to another airport and than get a ride to where she is from Libagon.

Why not bypass the stay in Manila and go straight to Cebu? It's closer to Libagon I think.

[Palawan 131]

7 hours ago, smore said:

I certainly plan on bringing N95 masks. I will also bring a copy of my vaccine card and carry it with just in case when out and about.

Only places I found requiring vaccine cards to enter malls, were smaller province cities

 

This Philippines is so backward it's sad.

[top_secret 2,421]

On the phone,,,,, both the major cellular companies here have kiosks that hand out free sim cards in the arrivals areas of Manila airport.  Ask your girl if she uses Smart or Globe and get whatever sim she is using.  The girls on the kiosk will help you get the sim set up.  The sims are "free" but you generally must purchase 500 Pesos "load", prepaid airtime/data.  About $8.90.  Definitely make it big priority to pick up a sim and get data working at the airport.

Edited August 27, 2022 by top_secret

[top_secret 2,421]

Back here now for the first time in like 2 1/2 years.  Flying PAL from LAX the only difference I detected at all from how it ever was, is they checked the OneHealthPass and vax plus booster at check-in plus checked the OHP again on arrival.   PAL halfheartedly enforced the mask mandate in flight.  Masks required in the airport on arrival.  Being here, occasionally a security guard will ask you to use a mask so carry one with you.  Everything else seems remarkably normal.

[RO_AH 1,659]

19 hours ago, top_secret said:

On the phone,,,,, both the major cellular companies here have kiosks that hand out free sim cards in the arrivals areas of Manila airport.  Ask your girl if she uses Smart or Globe and get whatever sim she is using.  The girls on the kiosk will help you get the sim set up.  The sims are "free" but you generally must purchase 500 Pesos "load", prepaid airtime/data.  About $8.90.  Definitely make it big priority to pick up a sim and get data working at the airport.

I don't know about that. Me personally I want to get out of the airport as quick as possible. With Messenger or Whatsapp and free wifi, anyone can communicate.

[Palawan 131]

On 8/24/2022 at 9:48 PM, RO_AH said:

Since you are coming in late just grab a hotel next to the airport. You can take a free shuttle and pay for it in advance. Then peso's aren't even an issue. You can worry about that the next day. I would also highly recommend that you install whatsapp and have her do the same if she doesn't have it already. I would not trust bringing a pocket wifi.

I stayed at Hilton across from NAIA, for some odd reason they wanted 20,000 peso either cash or credit card to hold for damages, I thought that was a little high.

 

Hilton and Sheraton share a pool, and the pool was huge and played rock and roll from the 80's and 90's, the pool was a highlight of the hotel for me.

[Palawan 131]

On 8/27/2022 at 4:45 AM, top_secret said:

Back here now for the first time in like 2 1/2 years.  Flying PAL from LAX the only difference I detected at all from how it ever was, is they checked the OneHealthPass and vax plus booster at check-in plus checked the OHP again on arrival.   PAL halfheartedly enforced the mask mandate in flight.  Masks required in the airport on arrival.  Being here, occasionally a security guard will ask you to use a mask so carry one with you.  Everything else seems remarkably normal.

I noticed Manila area was pretty laid back with the masks.

 

I flew CebuPac a few times and they were very strict on mask this was recenlty.  Have you went to any province cities yet?  Davao City was very strict on mask still, we got asked for vaccines cards going into malls in Digos City which is 45 minutes south of Davao City.  

 

Looking back now I wish I would of never went to Davao and Digos, they were set back about 10 year with all the hotels, businesses, clubs that were forced to go out of business, they are now very boring places to visit.

[smore 19]

On 8/24/2022 at 9:48 PM, RO_AH said:

Since you are coming in late just grab a hotel next to the airport. You can take a free shuttle and pay for it in advance. Then peso's aren't even an issue. You can worry about that the next day. I would also highly recommend that you install whatsapp and have her do the same if she doesn't have it already. I would not trust bringing a pocket wifi.

Thanks for more tips, yes a hotel near the airport and the free shuttle would work out best esp since arriving so late. We both do have whatsapp and use it to communicate now. I am hoping my current phone will still be able to use the app with wifi perhaps at the airport, once we are together than I am not so worried about the phone and communication as we can use her phone, its mainly when leaving the USA to go there, updates on my flight and than of course when I arrive at the airport. I am not sure what the pocket wifi thing is? have not been able to take the time to research it, but my cell provider suggest it, but am curious if it works.

[smore 19]

On 8/24/2022 at 10:55 PM, MarJhi said:

Why not bypass the stay in Manila and go straight to Cebu? It's closer to Libagon I think.

I believe you have to fly into Manila? Even when she has been overseas working she had to fly back into Manila first.

[smore 19]

On 8/27/2022 at 4:33 AM, top_secret said:

On the phone,,,,, both the major cellular companies here have kiosks that hand out free sim cards in the arrivals areas of Manila airport.  Ask your girl if she uses Smart or Globe and get whatever sim she is using.  The girls on the kiosk will help you get the sim set up.  The sims are "free" but you generally must purchase 500 Pesos "load", prepaid airtime/data.  About $8.90.  Definitely make it big priority to pick up a sim and get data working at the airport.

Thanks for more info on the sim. I think I have heard her mention smart, but I know she keeps having issues with sim cards as I guess the towers in her area have not all converted or something, some sim cards work better than others I guess. Even here in the USA I have horrible cell service no matter which carrier I pick, so I can only imagine other countries and how things can be.

[RO_AH 1,659]

8 hours ago, smore said:

Thanks for more info on the sim. I think I have heard her mention smart, but I know she keeps having issues with sim cards as I guess the towers in her area have not all converted or something, some sim cards work better than others I guess. Even here in the USA I have horrible cell service no matter which carrier I pick, so I can only imagine other countries and how things can be.

A girl changing SIMs a lot could mean other things