Hello, I am flying out next week or two to see friends in PI, will be flying from Texas to Cebu. I a, looking to get not only a cheap flight advice but also advice on what to do while in country.

My travel dates are super flexible and I dont mind to long of a trip (over 24 hours total is kind of my limit.)

I am curious as to how many hotels/restaurants will take my Visa/amex? I plan to get some cash when I land but I am nervous about walking around with a lot of money on me.

I will NOT need to make phone calls but will need to use my Iphone on WIFI for whatsapp, do I need a new sim or just only work off of wifi and be ok?? maybe spring for the INTL calling option with my carrier ? (Straight talk BTW)

I have about 2 different meds that I need to take, do they HAVE to be in the correct containers?? (all of these are non narcotic, non controlled stuff, mostly BP meds and OTC vitamins) or will they have a problem at PI customs with them just all being in one big baggy/container?

I know cigars are frowned upon over there but can I bring one with me ??


I know this sounds crazy but I have met 2 different women and gotten to know them well enough to go see them in person. Needless to say they live on separate ends of the island chain and this trip will help me decide which one to move forward with , but definitely not both.

thanks guys for the info and advice , ANY help is appreciated !!!

I’ve been there 3 times, similar reasons. I didn’t go right to Cebu, South of Cebu and the Manila area.

There can be a lot of good over there, good people too, just keep your wits about you. I got by with texting and WiFi, talking on a cell phone can add up. In any settled areas, credit cards are fine, maybe most anywhere. I used Cebu Pacific airlines to island hop. It’s usually cheaper to buy a few days or more in advance.

I was never in questionable areas, then mostly with a group. There are some where things work wonderfully, others swear to never go back, as usual, it depends.

If you haven’t yet, check out a few pertinent Utube videos from the ‘Philipina Pea’. She has a lot of videos, covers some of the pitfalls that can trip a guy up.

Just approach with the eyes open, don’t let any bad apples spoil your search.

I defer to other Sigforum members who served in the military to comment, but I remember the formal and informal advisories about getting involved with Filipino women. A question of being situationally aware before you go. Safe travels and enjoy your visit.

Leave your pecker at home.

LOL, i have been in the military and know the proper protocols ,
really just looking for travel hacks and tips I guess

Yes keep the pills in original containers. Those guys are not pharmacists. Good advice for US travel as well.

Get yourself an eSIM plan. Find out from your friends who is the most common carrier there or, what does everyone else use. You're already familiar with WhatsApp as that's universally popular messaging app.

Enjoy the lechon while there. Enjoy the ladies but...I wouldn't tie myself down. You may be feeling generous and affectionate but, make sure the cultural points-of-friction are round and not sharp, I've seen plenty of times where things don't go as planned or, even well after the big plunge.

quote:

Originally posted by golddot:
I will NOT need to make phone calls but will need to use my Iphone on WIFI for whatsapp, do I need a new sim or just only work off of wifi and be ok?? maybe spring for the INTL calling option with my carrier ? (Straight talk BTW)

Whats App on wifi works fine no new SIM needed. That's what I use when I go to Belize or Costa Rica. Hotel wifi & Whats app.

you're looking to fly, next week, internationally, for cheap?

This will get you pricing

https://www.google.com/travel/flights

Terrorism and kidnappings are still a thing there. And have been since the 90s.

I spent 3.5 years there.

Globe and Smart are two of the better Esims.
You get them right at Cebu airport.
One of the cheapest here is PAL airlines.
Don't know if available at your location.

I'm vacationing in Australia and the Philippines for over a month later this year so I've been boning up on what I need to know.

I have no advice on how to get cheap flights; that's confusing to me and I know the complexities of Medicare for comparison. Maybe I just don't fly enough to want to learn.

Many will take Visa and Mastercard. Fewer will take AmEx. Be sure you give notice to your CC company that you'll be traveling or they'll lock your account if they see a foreign land charge and they don't know you left the U.S. Sign the back of the card with your signature. (I don't bother in the U.S. but they're a stickler there.) Record the International toll-free numbers on your card (might as well get the U.S. number while you're at it) just in case you need to contact them. If given the choice of being charged local pesos or US dollars, go with the local currency. Confirm with your CC that there's no foreign transaction fees before you go and use it there. It would be better if you have your girl friend with you when you exchange money but they don't have to be at the counter with you; just have them hang back so they can watch your back.

Bring some cash with you. Whole $100 bills get a better exchange rate. There's a balance between getting the highest exchange rate (from black marketers) and getting ripped off legally. Just go to any big mall, look for the SM store, usually the whole building is SM owned, but SM is like the equivalent of Macy's. Inside, they have a money exchange counter. I felt safe doing that. Count your money at the counter facing the teller then put your money away before you turn around and walk away.

Pick pockets and snatches are a thing. Don't wear any jewelry. Don't use your phone while out in a crowd. For how I keep my valuables on me, I use products from PacSafe. They're slash proof and lockable. Pascsafe Products Don't put your stuff in different pockets. I plan to travel with a sling bag across my chest and a light polo shirt over it.

Wifi speeds are super slow in the Philippines and not many free wifi spots. The malls limit you to an hour. I plan to buy a travel eSIM service that provides only data but it's unlimited so you can use WhatsApp. Holafly eSIM . It's on a per day basis.

Before you fly, be sure to turn off roaming on your cell phone. Oh, and do NOT turn on your phone while you're not actively using it. You know why? Those F-ing cell towers constantly ping your phone causing it to use bandwidth and drain your data plan. Ask me how I know (well you can figure out how I learned.) Also, figure out how to turn off your data service on your main SIM while allowing your Holafly eSim to work. Pro Tip: Get yourself a Google voice number, then before you leave, forward all calls from your main number to your Google voice number. This is the cheaper route than going with an international plan with your provider.

Cigars aren't frowned upon. I'm sure there's a limit so that you're not considered "smuggling." You can bring a couple of packs of American menthol cigarettes and pass individual (not packs) to friends there unless it's an important relative then a pack will do.

Medications should be in their original containers with your name on them or you have to carry documentation from your doctor. Put your medications in a separate ziploc bag and mark it medicines. Keep those in your personal bag or carry on. Still go by the 3-1-1 rule for non-prescription liquids.

Now, if you're going there for some loving, be prepared to pay for it and I don't mean like paying for prostitutes. That would be much cheaper. I don't know the personal details of your relationships and I don't want to know. I'm just in several Expat groups and I read a lot of stories which I know to be true. Things like: you take her out for a nice dinner and you're taking out the whole family. You're on the hook for everything every time you go. Somebody's sick or need a computer and all eyes are on you as the rich American who'll cough up the money like an ATM. You're there visiting at their house and some relative from far away drops in and expects you to pay for their return trip. She turns out to still have a husband and children. Those are horror stories that have panned out to be true. I'm not trying to scare you, and I'm sure you have your eyes open. I'm just giving you what information I have.

If you are considering marrying and moving there, I would suggest just try living there for at least 6 months temporarily. Yes, that's going to cost but not as much as you deciding to live there then find out you don't like the hell hole that it might become for you. Better to measure twice and cut once instead of cutting twice and wondering why it's still short.

I forgot to add: You know when you cross a country's border, their customs agent has the right to demand access to your phone? That goes for entering the US also. It's not a foolproof plan but I plan on taking inventory of my sensitive apps (Finance, Social Media, etc.) and deleting them before I go on the international flight. After I land, past customs, and in country, I can download those apps again. Before I take the next border flight, I'll delete those apps again.

what a great post fellas, thank you , esp above poster.

I am going to see 2 different women I have been talking to for 9 months. I do not (and have told them WILL not) be paying for anyone's medicals/er visit/emergency stuff, don't ask me for money or I will walk away asap) they have been good about not asking for any money from me for the last nine months, I went through a dozen women before I whittled it down to these two.

I got snipped years ago, so no worries and I will always use protection, but frankly sex is not high on the list at all, I want to see these ladies in person, and see this country firsthand. I am blessed that I won my won home and assets here in the states and plan to POSSIBLY live part time in PI during the Texas summers. I am really using this trip as more of an advance party recon with the added bonus of meeting two great ladies in person. No expectations on either side ( as I have made clear to both of them I am not/will not be a source of cash for them).

I am as American as you can get , a Reagan Republican and a 3rd generation US Marine. BUT...
I am getting a little disappointed with my country and some of the A-Holes in it and I am looking to move to a cheaper and kinder place.
My whole career has been about service to this country and I am just tired of mean and violent people and me being on my toes 24/7..time for me to relax. I am the last one left alive in my family and I plan to finally travel some.

I will probably just get a burner phone, FWD it to my burner using google and only use whats app on wifi over there. I will only be talking to those two ladies, just not at the same time LOL

From everyone I know Thailand is much cheaper and in total safer than the Philippines...

quote:

Originally posted by JonDaddy82:
From everyone I know Thailand is much cheaper and in total safer than the Philippines...

Thank you JD, I am pretty good about spotting problems and avoiding them, just been decades since I have been overseas in any capacity for a long period