Popular Post Dave Hounddriver Posted November 1, 2015 Popular Post Posted November 1, 2015 I have just arrived in Manila for the first time ever. Cebu is very familiar to me so I immediately noticed some differences. When I walked out of Terminal 3, from a domestic flight, I found everything to be spacious and new. Its All Saints Day but its also a Sunday morning and its very slow paced here today. The first person to approach me had me pegged for a 'new to Manila' traveler. I don't know how they know, but they do. He tried to get me to take his taxi to the Fairmont Makati. How much, I asked? He said 1,400 pesos but when I politely told him that was too high, he dropped the price to 1,200 pesos. I told him I would look around a bit first. I ended up taking one of the metered, yellow, airport taxis and it only cost me 142 pesos plus tip. HUGE difference, but is it a scam or is it buyer beware? Staying at the Fairmont was a gift. Not my choice. I'm not paying. But the rooms start at 10K pesos a night and they are only slightly better than the Quest Hotel in Cebu. Definitely not 4 times the price nicer. And for that price you get to pay extra for Internet in your room. No free Wifi. But they do have a special on for a massage. A 10% discount so you pay ONLY 5,995 pesos (not a misprint) Again, these are not really scams but the prices are definitely aimed at fools with too much money so once again, buyer beware. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crocodile Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 How much, I asked? He said 1,400 pesos but when I politely told him that was too high, he dropped the price to 1,200 pesos. I told him I would look around a bit first. I ended up taking one of the metered, yellow, airport taxis and it only cost me 142 pesos plus tip. HUGE difference, but is it a scam or is it buyer beware? It is common sense that when you visit a new city/country, you try to find out a little about how you will get from the airport to your hotel. Also, never ever let the taxi choose you. Always choose your taxi. If you are walking along a street and a taxi slows down and the driver waves at you, it should faise red flags! The NAIA taxi problem is well know. As someone who has been in the Philippines long enough to know how things work, it seems like you did the right thing. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewool Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 I get of the plane , out of the terminal, into the taxi and into the hotel, and yes i am the one behind my wife and my mouth is shut tight, while hers has never stopped demanding this and that from who ever offers or listens to her , it works for me :thumbsup: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthdome Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 One trick I pull when arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 from an overseas flight is staying at the Remington Hotel which is across the street from Terminal 3. They have a free shuttle which runs every hour avoiding the whole get a taxi problem. Then you can get a taxi at normal negotiated or meter rates when you check out of the hotel. FYI you can't walk from Terminal 3 to the Remington Hotel. You can book the hotel using the handy affiliate link on this website JGF has for Agoda. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intrepid Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 One trick I pull when arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 from an overseas flight is staying at the Remington Hotel which is across the street from Terminal 3. They have a free shuttle which runs every hour avoiding the whole get a taxi problem. Then you can get a taxi at normal negotiated or meter rates when you check out of the hotel. FYI you can't walk from Terminal 3 to the Remington Hotel. You can book the hotel using the handy affiliate link on this website JGF has for Agoda. Maybe you have had good luck at the Remington. Not Us. When we arrived to check-in there was only one person working the counter and we were behind four other couples checking in. After about 30 min. there were more about 20 guests waiting to check in. We noticed it took five or six employees to check someone in. There were many more check in stations but only one opened. Someone after us asked for the manager and requested them to open another station which they did after a while. It took more than two hours to get checked in :th_unfair: . Finally got to the room and the free wi-fi was so poor I just decided to take a nap. An hour later we went down to get a bite to eat and some of the same people were still waiting to check in ! It will be many years and a managment change before I will try the Remington again. Sorry, but that's the way it was two years ago. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthdome Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 One trick I pull when arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 from an overseas flight is staying at the Remington Hotel which is across the street from Terminal 3. They have a free shuttle which runs every hour avoiding the whole get a taxi problem. Then you can get a taxi at normal negotiated or meter rates when you check out of the hotel. FYI you can't walk from Terminal 3 to the Remington Hotel. You can book the hotel using the handy affiliate link on this website JGF has for Agoda. Maybe you have had good luck at the Remington. Not Us. When we arrived to check-in there was only one person working the counter and we were behind four other couples checking in. After about 30 min. there were more about 20 guests waiting to check in. We noticed it took five or six employees to check someone in. There were many more check in stations but only one opened. Someone after us asked for the manager and requested them to open another station which they did after a while. It took more than two hours to get checked in :th_unfair: . Finally got to the room and the free wi-fi was so poor I just decided to take a nap. An hour later we went down to get a bite to eat and some of the same people were still waiting to check in ! It will be many years and a managment change before I will try the Remington again. Sorry, but that's the way it was two years ago. Wow. That is a very bad experience. I have used the Remington 4-5 times in the last 3 years. Never had any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewool Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 One trick I pull when arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 from an overseas flight is staying at the Remington Hotel which is across the street from Terminal 3. They have a free shuttle which runs every hour avoiding the whole get a taxi problem. Then you can get a taxi at normal negotiated or meter rates when you check out of the hotel. FYI you can't walk from Terminal 3 to the Remington Hotel. You can book the hotel using the handy affiliate link on this website JGF has for Agoda. In my rich days we use to stay at the Marriott across the road too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 In my rich days we use to stay at the Marriott across the road too Off topic.In my rich days I stayed in lower cost - but clean - places anyway :mocking: (Except once many years ago when my employer decided where we stayed and his company paid.) The most rich man I know any closer, use the even lower cost hotels and spend very litle at food. Perhaps that's why he is rich :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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