Looking for advice for not getting ripped off after arriving in Manila

[Chris and Tin 135]

It's best to use Grab or Uber.  Download the APP in your phone and make sure you have internet access.  To do so, either use your GF's phone (make sure she has a data plan) or get a PH Sim card. It's available inside the airport, after to grabbed your bags.  The lady in the SIM kiosk can help you how to connect to the net.  Or find the nearest Grab station when you go out of the airport.  They can request a car for you and they'll show you the price.   You can get a metered taxi, but it's 2-3 times more expensive than an Uber or a Grab ride.  

[Hank_ 9,174]

SMART seems to have the better data plans.   I use SMART for my data and then I have GLOBE in the 2nd SIM slot for text/talk

[John & Rose 7,241]

On 6/24/2017 at 0:48 PM, JimRaynor said:

I'm from the US. I'm going to the Philippines at the end of July and I wanted to take a cab from the airport in Manila to my girlfriend's place. Anyone have any advice so I don't get ripped off or put in danger? I'll be arriving at the airport at 4 AM.

Use Grab.  Avoid cabs at all costs.  I've been there 3 times and have only met 1 honest cabbie.  DO NOT get help from a porter.  If you do all of his buddies will come over and ask for money.

[John & Rose 7,241]

10 hours ago, Hank_ said:

SMART seems to have the better data plans.   I use SMART for my data and then I have GLOBE in the 2nd SIM slot for text/talk

On my last trip I purchased a SkyRoam.  It was awesome.  It connects to either network and there are no roaming or fees other than the $8.00 per day.  

[John & Rose 7,241]

On 6/24/2017 at 0:48 PM, JimRaynor said:

I'm from the US. I'm going to the Philippines at the end of July and I wanted to take a cab from the airport in Manila to my girlfriend's place. Anyone have any advice so I don't get ripped off or put in danger? I'll be arriving at the airport at 4 AM.

Don't think of 4AM in the Philippines like you think of it at home.  There will be a lot of people around and Manila literally never sleeps.  You will be stuck in traffic.

 

On my last trip I purchased a SkyRoam for internet access.  It was awesome.  It connects to either network (Globe or Smart) and there are no roaming or fees other than the $8.00 per day fee for the usage.

 

I'm from outside of Chicago and have been there 3 times.  It is an amazing place but there are people looking for your money.  I still say to download the Grab app (your fiancé will know about Grab) and enjoy the trip.  Don't forget to try a balut!

[RO_AH 1,693]

7 hours ago, jwlussow said:

On my last trip I purchased a SkyRoam.  It was awesome.  It connects to either network and there are no roaming or fees other than the $8.00 per day.  

Yikes!! I am so happy I have T-Mobile which has free data roaming in most countries (works well in Philippines) along with free international texting. It also roams to Smart and Globe. Not sure about Sun though.

[Hank_ 9,174]

7 hours ago, jwlussow said:

On my last trip I purchased a SkyRoam.  It was awesome.  It connects to either network and there are no roaming or fees other than the $8.00 per day.  

$8 a day!!  Yikes, that is $240/mo !!!!!   For $20 you can get a month of data with SMART and I am never without a good signal around Manila.  With Globe I find it doesn't have very good monthly rates for data.

[John & Rose 7,241]

2 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

$8 a day!!  Yikes, that is $240/mo !!!!!   For $20 you can get a month of data with SMART and I am never without a good signal around Manila.  With Globe I find it doesn't have very good monthly rates for data.

My luck wasn't so good with Smart. I was all over on the first visit. I went from Manila to Davao to Subic. I rarely had a connection. With so many potential customers, why is the service so poor in the Philippines???

 

I bought the Skyroam for the second trip to Manila and  Subic. They people I went with actually used my Skyroam for the trip to Subic and our stay there. We never lost a connection. They rarely had one.  It came with 5 days included and it was great at the airport in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. I see your point though. It isn't a good option for longer trips. I think AT&T (my provider) wanted $250 for 800 MBs. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 minute ago, jwlussow said:

My luck wasn't so good with Smart. I was all over on the first visit. I went from Manila to Davao to Subic. I rarely had a connection. With so many potential customers, why is the service so poor in the Philippines???

 

I bought the Skyroam for the second trip to Manila and  Subic. They people I went with actually used my Skyroam for the trip to Subic and our stay there. We never lost a connection. They rarely had one.  It came with 5 days included and it was great at the airport in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. I see your point though. It isn't a good option for longer trips. I think AT&T (my provider) wanted $250 for 800 MBs. 

You will have issues with any of them when you get away from the "big city".  LTE is very spotty north of Manila, most times I can only get G2 up there with SMART... talk about slow.     And with GLOBE if you venture too far off the expressway it disappears also.   I get better signal going south towards Batangas.

 

 

[RO_AH 1,693]

15 hours ago, jwlussow said:

My luck wasn't so good with Smart. I was all over on the first visit. I went from Manila to Davao to Subic. I rarely had a connection. With so many potential customers, why is the service so poor in the Philippines???

 

I bought the Skyroam for the second trip to Manila and  Subic. They people I went with actually used my Skyroam for the trip to Subic and our stay there. We never lost a connection. They rarely had one.  It came with 5 days included and it was great at the airport in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. I see your point though. It isn't a good option for longer trips. I think AT&T (my provider) wanted $250 for 800 MBs. 

I guess if you are traveling a lot, doing business and need to have reliable connection that may be a good choice, especially if you are not staying very long. ATT is crazy on those prices though. My plan is unlimited data and no extra charge roaming.