Advise On Traveling To Philippines

[smore 19]

3 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

Glancing over the thread, it looks like this will be your first time going to the Philippines and maybe first time flying international.  Obviously this is OK as all of us had to begin our international adventures at some point.  My only advice once you get to the Philippines is to proceed with caution on everything.  I used to move Expats into the country and I can tell you, all of them were very naive on how the country operated, which is to be expected since they had never been there before.  Dont be afraid to ask questions and if something doesnt feel right, look right, etc etc, use your gut instinct.  Perception isnt always reality.  Dont be too trusting of anyone.  There are alot of steps upon your arrival that opens oneself to being taken advantage off.

 

Also, Ive never commented on anyones relationship on here, but once you meet your SO, take things slow.  As I mentioned, perception isnt always reality.  Protect yourself and protect your money.  There are alot of decent people in the Philippines but there are also alot who will take advantage of any situation.  Sometimes I dont blame them due to the abject poverty and many of them just trying to survive.  I might even do the same thing if I was in that situation.  It doesnt matter if your SO is the daughter of a scrap metal collector or the daughter of Marcos.  Proceed cautiously.  This also applies to other foreigners you meet in the country.  There are ALOT of really bad ones.  I started living in SE Asia around 1996 and left in 2020 for the time being.  SE Asia is a haven for foreign criminals on the run.  That doesnt mean you will meet all bad foreigners, there are some good ones, but proceed cautiously again.  Again, perception is not always reality.  

 

I dont want to come across as rude to your individual situation, but be careful.  Ive seen so many foreigners taken advantage of and many left bankrupt.  Set a budget and under all circumstance, stick to that budget.  Protect yourself.  I would say it took me about 3 years or so, to really get an understanding how everything worked, until I truly understood what was reality.  The others on here who have spent a long time in the country know what Im talking about.  Besides that, enjoy your trip.

Yes first time flying international. Just not the traveling all over the world type I guess.  Thanks for your advise on being really careful, cautious, aware and not trusting, I am usually the type that is more careful and questioning but still I am sure its easy to let ones guard down in an entirely new place. I am also being very careful and cautious with her, and certainly with my money and all, I am hoping all goes well, but also will not know until we meet in person and go from there. The main goal is to meet in person and hopefully progress from there, but one will not know until than, I am a very cautious person financially even in my past dating in USA, even know I ended up with some horrible relationships attitude, issue, problem wise, I was not stupid financially luckily. Just hoping for someone genuine with values and moral and beliefs, which does not seem to occur in the USA anymore.

 

 

[top_secret 2,421]

18 minutes ago, smore said:

It looks like Cebu is on a completely different island than Libagon. I believe what she says is you fly to Manila and than fly to Tacloban and than get a ride to where she is from. I believe the first plan was for her to meet me in Tacloban, but I asked if she could get to Manila to meet me being that I have never been to the country and it would help out alot her meeting me when I arrive.

Libagon Leyte is likely to involve some kind of rustic transportation.  It may be ALLOT to take in on a first international trip.  Make sure you have very reliable plans for direct local guidance if you are going to do that.  Tacloban connecting from Manila is likely the most logical air route.  Getting from Tacloban to Libagon for your girl probably involves a cramped seat in a minivan (or worse) for hours.  I'm sure you can hire a car and driver but that is not likely her default plan for that segment so if you want a car or a comfortable seat, discuss that up front.  It's beautiful country and a great place to visit but one is likely to encounter very significant deviations from US and even international norms.

 

  (ask her if there are any "habal habals" on the trip 😉😅 she may live up in the hills you know). 

[MarJhi 963]

2 hours ago, smore said:

It looks like Cebu is on a completely different island than Libagon. I believe what she says is you fly to Manila and than fly to Tacloban and than get a ride to where she is from. I believe the first plan was for her to meet me in Tacloban, but I asked if she could get to Manila to meet me being that I have never been to the country and it would help out alot her meeting me when I arrive. She said she could get there, never asked me to pay for the flight to get there. I do know she has family also in Manila as well. She has worked overseas several times so she knows how she has to get back to Libagon, so its basically the same for me flying in, sounds like fly into Manila, fly to Tacolban the next morning, and than drive to where she is from maybe 4 hour drive. Not sure if we are staying in Manila a day or so or what. At least from Manila forward we will be together to spend time together, whether its on a flight or on a long car ride.

Just out of curiosity, and to better understand your situation, can I ask to what level your relationship with this woman is? Are you in the beginning stages? On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being just getting to know her and 10 being ready to propose, where would you say you are? 

[MarJhi 963]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Libagon Leyte is likely to involve some kind of rustic transportation.  It may be ALLOT to take in on a first international trip.  Make sure you have very reliable plans for direct local guidance if you are going to do that.  Tacloban connecting from Manila is likely the most logical air route.  Getting from Tacloban to Libagon for your girl probably involves a cramped seat in a minivan (or worse) for hours.  I'm sure you can hire a car and driver but that is not likely her default plan for that segment so if you want a car or a comfortable seat, discuss that up front.  It's beautiful country and a great place to visit but one is likely to encounter very significant deviations from US and even international norms.

 

  (ask her if there are any "habal habals" on the trip 😉😅 she may live up in the hills you know). 

My first lesson on getting around in the Philippines is that distance is not measured in kilometers or miles, it's measured in time. If you ask someone how far something is they will never say 50km, they will say about 2 hours. Also, what would take you an hour to drive to in the US will likely take 4 or 5 times that in the Philippines. It's definitely an adventure.

[B_J 2,752]

10 hours ago, smore said:

I will have to research this more. When I did a few searches to get to LA I could not really find a good arrival time to than catch the flight to Manila without some long layover in LA. I will have to research more and go to the airlines sites directly. Expedia and some of these other sites seem to have issues finding all available flights I have noticed and each site varies on what they find. I would like a direct flight as your right I would not feel to comfortable in international airports. I have been finding flights that go thru Seoul Korea for about 1500.00 (even a few at 1200.00) and about 24-26 hour time frames.

How short of a layover are you wanting in LA? In my opinion, you are putting too much importance on avoiding a long layover in LA.  You need time to move from one terminal to the other.  You need to land in LA and get your luggage.  You need to go to the international terminal,  check in, go through all the security process and then make your way to the correct gate.  Do not try to book your flights too close together.  You'd rather spend time waiting for your flight than miss your flight because you didn't give yourself enough time between flights. 

 

Also remember that Southwest doesn't show up on the travel sites.  You have to go to their site.  

 

 

[Talako 785]

General info.  Not sure this important to anyone, remember that when you have your whole trip on one itinerary, and you change airlines on that trip, baggage rules are based on the first carrier.

 

From Consumer Reports, but I saw this also when I read the rules on why I was getting screwed out of a baggage allowance.

 

Quote

If your journey begins or ends in the United States (including U.S. territories), the carrier on the first segment of the itinerary has the right to set the baggage allowances and fees for the entire itinerary.

 

I got hosed on this.  Most international flights have a two baggage allowance.  US domestic does not.  I flew AA from San Antonio to LA, and then changed to PAL from LA to Manila.  I had to pay for extra bags because the flight to LA only allowed 1 bag, so PAL only allowed one bag instead of the normal 2 as well.

 

Might not be on all itineraries and airline pairings.  Just beware of this hidden gotcha.

 

 

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

On 8/31/2022 at 8:45 AM, smore said:

Where are you searching, which sites because I have not found prices like that. I am mainly searching expedia just for quick searches but have searched a variety of sites as well and have not found lower prices like the ones you found, I am finding 1500-2000, maybe a 1200 showed up once with about 24-26 hour travel times. I am looking at beginning of Nov for 2 weeks. Seems these sites are all over the place when you search them and I have no idea how far in advance I have to book everything, better to book now for price or if I have to wait a bit more will it effect price either price going up or price going down. Seems I have heard it can be effected either way.

I primarily use Expedia as well for most flights. I just check again with the dates from Nov 2 to the 17, and the prices are $1007 for MNL an $1219 to Cebu from MSP. 

 

Edited September 1, 2022 by Cyberfx1024

[smore 19]

22 hours ago, top_secret said:

Libagon Leyte is likely to involve some kind of rustic transportation.  It may be ALLOT to take in on a first international trip.  Make sure you have very reliable plans for direct local guidance if you are going to do that.  Tacloban connecting from Manila is likely the most logical air route.  Getting from Tacloban to Libagon for your girl probably involves a cramped seat in a minivan (or worse) for hours.  I'm sure you can hire a car and driver but that is not likely her default plan for that segment so if you want a car or a comfortable seat, discuss that up front.  It's beautiful country and a great place to visit but one is likely to encounter very significant deviations from US and even international norms.

 

  (ask her if there are any "habal habals" on the trip 😉😅 she may live up in the hills you know). 

I have no idea what Libagon is like, but it does sound a bit more rustic which is fine by me, however its also nice to be prepared for where you are going, what its like, what amenities and such. The plan is she meets me in Manila than I guess we fly to Tacolban, than drive to where her family lives, not sure what transportation we will be using but she sounds familiar with getting to Tacloban so hopefully there will be no worries. I am hoping we have time for all this as well, the plan is 10 full days staying, sounds like from Tacolban to Libagon is about 4 hours.

 

Had to look up the Habal, no motorcycle taxi for me, but seen some funny pics when I looked it up, 6 people on a motorcycle taxi, really looks safe to me.

[smore 19]

20 hours ago, MarJhi said:

Just out of curiosity, and to better understand your situation, can I ask to what level your relationship with this woman is? Are you in the beginning stages? On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being just getting to know her and 10 being ready to propose, where would you say you are? 

Good question. But also difficult to answer. Have known here for 2 1/2 years now, the pandemic obviously halted any plans to meet sooner, plus she was working overseas. However I say difficult because I just do not know. Our communication has I guess not been consistent and often, she was an OFW up until Nov of last year so I guess communication was difficult according to her due to working long hours for a hong kong family and rules and such about phones while working and even in the house. I have no idea if that is the truth or not as difficult cultures are different than here in the USA where our phones are attached to our ears, hips, pockets and we could care less if we are at work or where we are, we are on our phones all the time and have them near by ready to communicate, even in front of the boss, we just seem entitled to be connected to our phones.

 

We have talked via the phone, not alot, but some and when we do its for 4-5 hours, but mainly seems to be via whatapp with messages, often times just quick messages, there obliviously is a time difference my morning is her night. But the communication is no to consistent, days, maybe week, maybe even 2 had gone by without response. Not the greatest way to form and keep a connection with one another going, hence why I say difficult to answer your question. I see and hear about other overseas relationships and they are talking all the time, guess I want that also, want someone to be in my life even know for now its at a distance. Now that she is back in the philippines she had said we would be talking more but its just not happened, maybe a little bit more consistent, but still not a ton. She mentions electricity out, not a good connection, had to help family. I am just not sure if there are excuses or what? I am searching for someone, and we only grow older, no one grows younger so I do want to enjoy life with someone.

 

I do need more talk via the phone,  more communication just like with any relationship to be able to really form that bond, that connection, and even more so with communication with someone overseas as you cannot go out on dates. So again difficult to answer your question, yes I do like her, yes I could see myself proposing to her, but at the same time I need that connection to be built with more consistent communication, and of course meeting one another and seeing how each other is in person to be able to decide.

[smore 19]

12 hours ago, B_J said:

How short of a layover are you wanting in LA? In my opinion, you are putting too much importance on avoiding a long layover in LA.  You need time to move from one terminal to the other.  You need to land in LA and get your luggage.  You need to go to the international terminal,  check in, go through all the security process and then make your way to the correct gate.  Do not try to book your flights too close together.  You'd rather spend time waiting for your flight than miss your flight because you didn't give yourself enough time between flights. 

 

Also remember that Southwest doesn't show up on the travel sites.  You have to go to their site.  

 

 

I am not sure how much time is needed to get to the next flight. I see some layovers that are 4-14 hours, I think 2 hours or less would be good, but not being a traveler not sure if that is to little time. I get what you are saying you do not want to book flights to close and miss a flight, but also I don't want to much of a layover that most of my trip is not with her and sitting in airports. I guess that is my fear about trying to make the LAX thing happen is trying to find flights and flights that work with the flight to Manila.

 

Thanks for the advise on southwest and that they do not show up on searches, I will go to there site and do some searches.

[smore 19]

2 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

I primarily use Expedia as well for most flights. I just check again with the dates from Nov 2 to the 17, and the prices are $1007 for MNL an $1219 to Cebu from MSP. 

 

I am seeing roughly about the same price, 1150. 25 hr flight, but looks like goes thru Taipei? almost 3 hour layover at LAX and 2 hour in Taipei. But if going to LAX wondering why its now showing the direct flight as option to Manila? Than I filtered the results and the prices go up to 1800-2000 for 1 stop MPLS to LAX to Manila and about 22 hours.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

9 minutes ago, smore said:

I am seeing roughly about the same price, 1150. 25 hr flight, but looks like goes thru Taipei? almost 3 hour layover at LAX and 2 hour in Taipei. But if going to LAX wondering why its now showing the direct flight as option to Manila? Than I filtered the results and the prices go up to 1800-2000 for 1 stop MPLS to LAX to Manila and about 22 hours.

Yep the nonstop flights to Manila cost more. Try to check out just Nonstop from LAX to MNL to see that price. Also tbh with you about LAX you will NEED that layover time in LAX. The place is YUGE and there is no easy way to go from Terminal to Terminal without leaving the airport. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

25 minutes ago, smore said:

so I guess communication was difficult according to her due to working long hours for a hong kong family and rules and such about phones while working and even in the house. I have no idea if that is the truth or not as difficult cultures are different than here in the USA where our phones are attached to our ears, hips, pockets and we could care less if we are at work or where we are, we are on our phones all the time and have them near by ready to communicate, even in front of the boss, we just seem entitled to be connected to our phones.

If she was a domestic helper then yes that is true. If you are a domestic helper either in HK or the MENA region then you know that the family controls EVERYTHING from how long you work, when to use your phone, when to eat and sleep. I have heard of some horror stories from people I know and some of my asawa's family. 

[Talako 785]

I have flown out of LAX a lot, and you really want way more than 2 hours in LAX.  If you're arriving on SW, that is Terminal 1.  It is on the far end of one of the U-shaped airport complex.  You are going to have get your bags from the baggage claim, drag your bags, your carryon, and yourself to Terminal B. which is on the bottom of the U.  Walking sucks, and the terminal transfer busses, are, well, terminal busses.  Waiting for them, and stops between chews up time.  Then you have check-in, TSA, and then to the gate.  If you're like me, it always seems to on the far end of the terminal.  (I found that it is a very long ways when you are dragging a 4'11" Filipina with short legs and the wrong shoes.)

 

If you have one itinerary and you don't have to fool with bags at LAX or the terminal busses, I would still allow a lot of time.  You have to walk a long damn ways in the interior of LAX using the transfer hallways.

 

To summarize:

 

2 hours - Hurry up, run, stress, and pray to your deity of choice

4 hours - You got this, a little extra time for problems 

 

 

[MarJhi 963]

1 hour ago, Talako said:

2 hours - Hurry up, run, stress, and pray to your deity of choice

And this doesn't take into account the flight of origin arriving late to LAX.

 

Also, I have had a few layovers in LAX and EVERY TIME they moved my departing gate in the last hour before takeoff.