Arrived in Manila at 0400 3 August 2020

[Yeochief]

19 hours ago, KC813 said:

Did you get to chose from a list and get a good price?

I got the room we wanted.  We booked online prior to the start of our trip, had to have that on most of the forms we filled out.  We made it to our rental in Marilao Bulacan.  Sister in law and husband with a driver came and got us.  Now we have to do a 14 day self quarantine, just in case we might have gotten COVID-19 on the flight or airport.

[Balisidar]

On 8/2/2020 at 5:27 PM, Yeochief said:

Arrived in Manila at 0400 3 August 2020.  Started out in Meridian, Mississippi and drove to Jackson, Mississippi and flew to San Francisco on American Airlines.  Stayed in a room in San Fran for a few days to get rested up for a 14 hour flight from San Fran to Manila.  Took less than 1 and a half at Manila airport with the processing of paper work and the COVID-19 test ($188.00 US).  Cashed in some money for Pesos at the airport, 48.40.  Now wait 48 to 96 hours for the results.  As of right now we have a driver picking us up and taking us to Bulacan.  No cancelations on the flights, I think the reason is we took a direct flight from the US (LAX/San Fran and maybe Seattle) to the Philippines.  If you fly through Japan or South Korea or any other place, you might have flights cancelled.

 

Hi Yeochief,

Had you already made arrangements to stay at an approved hotel in Manila and also prearranged for a covid-19 test?  If so which hotel did you stay at?

 

[Yeochief]

Yes on the hotel, Belmont (they still owe me a refund), it is like number 81 on the approved hotel list.  COVID-19 test is mandatory (no prearrangement required) you have to get tested and pay ($188 for two) we paid in US dollar, had no pesos yet.  Once test is done, medical at the airport will put a red (might be blue) piece of tape on your passport, it will be checked several times before you are allowed to leave the airport. 

[Yeochief]

The red (pinkish) tape is for Philippines Airlines when you get your mandatory temperature done at your departing airport, my temp was 95 degrees.   The next one is actually white, DeToxicare Laboratory, which charged us $94.00 a test ($188), not sure of the exchange rate they used, had to pay it.  The Coast Guard is at the airport checking to make sure you follow everything step by step.  When we get done and ready to pick up luggage, it was all together, the guy in charge of that area told us where it was, of course with a last name like mine it is not hard to forget.  We were one of the first ones done, advantage of flying business, so we were not in any lines for more than 3 to 5 minutes.  1.  Pay for the test.  2.  Get test.  3.  Go to customs.  4.  Get your bar code scanned (prior to flight information you fill out) and show which hotel your staying at.  5.  Get a taxi, guy setting at a table with forms that he filled out for, just showing where your headed, but you have to have it to leave the airport, Coast Guard ask for it.  6.  Pick up luggage.  7.  Show Coast Guard you have everything completed.  8.  Exchange money.  9.  Go to section 12 (I think that is right) outside the airport.  10.  Booth at section 12 looks at your taxi request and signs off on it.  11. Show taxi driver the paper approving us to travel to hotel.  Showed up at Belmont hotel, the young lady said our reservation was for 3 August (this was at like 5:30 AM) and we could not check in until like 3 PM.  She said if we checked in at 5:30 in the morning that I would get charge for 2 August (I explained all this when I booked the room), so of course I paid for 2 August.  Was not expecting to get results back in 18 hours.  Hearing that travel might be a pain, as soon as we got results, Olivia got her sister to get us a driver and we could get out of Manila.  Our reservations were out to 10 August, Olivia is call daily checking on our refund.  Recommend keeping your ear to the ground when traveling and listing to all on changes that are occurring daily and hourly.  Good luck and be safe.

[Gator]

14 hours ago, Yeochief said:

Yes on the hotel, Belmont (they still owe me a refund)  

Hope you get your refund. Did you use an online service like Expedia or direct booking with the hotel?

While at the hotel, were you “confined to quarters”? Or were you allowed out to get food, drinks, etc? Or room service only? 
 

Thanks in advance for your reply and for your detailed explanations of your journey thru the Corona Rama circus, lol. 

[Yeochief]

Confined to quarters.  Room service only, they do have a restaurant, not all items were offered on the menu that was in the room.  I booked directly with Belmont.  

[Yeochief]

On 8/13/2020 at 12:32 AM, Yeochief said:

Belmont (they still owe me a refund)

Got refund from Belmont, took right at two weeks.