[elcidcampeador]

I'm deciding on staying at Gramercy or at a place near Burgos Circle. Any recommendations as to which one is less boring? Or is there another place that I'm overlooking? I've only stayed in Manila once before, and that was at the Intercontinental for 3 days.

Impressing chicks isn't necessary at all, I just want to be able to something other than have sex while I'm there.

Also, is that golf course in the Fort open to the public?

[YardDog]

(03-02-2015 03:38 AM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  

I'm deciding on staying at Gramercy or at a place near Burgos Circle. Any recommendations as to which one is less boring? Or is there another place that I'm overlooking? I've only stayed in Manila once before, and that was at the Intercontinental for 3 days.

Impressing chicks isn't necessary at all, I just want to be able to something other than have sex while I'm there.

Also, is that golf course in the Fort open to the public?

No, Manila Country Club is private.

It depends on what you want to do. What do you mean 'less boring'?

What do you want to do besides bang girls?

[Chaos]

^^ One RVF member told me that bringing chicks back to Gramercy can be a hassle sometimes since the security is pretty strict.

Anyone who can confirm that?

[El Chinito loco]

(03-02-2015 07:44 AM)Chaos Wrote:  

^^ One RVF member told me that bringing chicks back to Gramercy can be a hassle sometimes since the security is pretty strict.

Anyone who can confirm that?

It's simple. Go through the century mall and swipe the door on the second floor and noone will ever look twice.

The taxi drop security guards are more stringent to keep up appearances anyhow.

After hours, just tell them you got back from watching a movie nearby and you just passed through earlier.

[mttt]

Interesting point with gramercy being difficult letting people in.
I wanted to book a condo there for 18 nights tonight.
Do I have to reevaluate? I have options at Knightsbridge tower and around green belt.

Would suck booking that place and being denied all the stuff you actually came for .

Hoping for a quick answer from you guys if possible

Thanks
m

[Malo]

While attempting to book at Gramercy myself, the host on AirBnB insisted fanatically that I register my theoretical 2nd guest and warned me that 'the house' (management) keeps issuing memos about unregistered guests since 'people bring drunk girls at night'.

Gramercy has thin walls and if you're too loud, your neighbor hears you and may go complaining.

I didn't book there eventually since I found something cheaper and a higher standard room. But realistically I doubt your guests will be 'denied'. Sounds apocalyptic to me that the security will tell you "no, your lady friend cannot go upstairs with you to watch tv".

However it's highly likely that you'll have to escort them into the building and they'll have to register at reception. Yet, this happens in a lot (many even most) of condo buildings so it's nothing unique to the Gramercy.

Bottom line just make sure you're not loud so residents won't complain you're making noise (girls related or not). That's as far as I would worry, and, once again, this applies to other condo buildings anyway.

If there's boots on the ground at the Gramercy right now I'd be happy to hear their actual experience

[mttt]

Of course they are going to be drunk when I bring them back at night. Maybe not plastered but somewhere around tipsy. Perhap I need to tell them to behave for a minute until we reach the lift .

I am cool to register them at the front desk but if I bring a different one every night surely their response will change. Now I know I shouldnt care but when the look of disapproval gets more apparent I am not super cool with that. What do you guys think?

I am thinking to change condos halfway , even split on 9 days each so it won't be too much in their face. Maybe even a 3 split but that looks like more hassle than anything .

Does Knightsbridge have a back entrance as well ? I got an option there, less posh and more on the comfy side, which might even be better.

Looking at the location Knightsbridge and Gramercy are on the same complex so surely same policy.

Thanks for your input Malo by the way. 30 minutes response time is awesome

[Ladoo]

The age old dilemma in Manila. You want to stay in a nice condo, but the nicer the place, the tighter the security and the more potential for cockblocking.

Unless, you have to live top-end, try a tier down, where security will be much less tight, and at best will involve one security guard who doesn't give a shit.

[Global Entry]

ElCid,
Ive stayed in both. Burgos Circle in Taguig is close to High St but probably still a taxi ride (not hard to get a taxi there). There are restaurats right downstairs from the building on the circle, but its not a high foot traffic area. If you want your excitement right outside your door, you might find something in Makati more to your liking (or something closer to High St like the apartments that overlook the market market complex.

Burgos circle (not to be confused with Burgos in Makati) is way cleaner, air and street. I liked it. It probably will take a bit more explaining for some girls to find it vis a vis a more popular destination, but you can always meet them at high st. or the nearby SM mall.

[elcidcampeador]

I'm going to start out at Gramercy and see how it goes. I'm actually going to try and go to the gym on this trip, so I do want a place with passable facilities. It seems like Gramercy isn't actually that nice, besides from the gym/pool/lobby/views. The actual rooms - at least the 1 bed/studios - are 3/4 star hotel quality at best.

Not really worried about any security guard not letting me bring someone into my apartment. Half of these Gramercy listings are from overseas owners and there shouldn't be a single issue. No guard will tell me that I can't bring someone into my own home (and in this case, it is essentially my own home - they don't know otherwise). It's nice to know there is a mall entrance, which makes things a bit easier.

Still not sure what there is to do in Manila besides having sex and clubbing. I was really considering just not showing up for my flight, but I figured that if I get bored in Manila I can just hop over to China and meet with a client in Tianjin. Or I could try out the Intercontinental in Phnom Penh which I have booked. My plane ticket cost me something like $275 during the Etihad mistake fare earlier this year (from JFK), so nothing to lose I guess by getting on the plane and trying to make something out of it.

[Dagnasty]

(03-03-2015 01:33 PM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  

Still not sure what there is to do in Manila besides having sex and clubbing.

As someone who has lived and worked here for a while - that's what it comes down to.

Not that it gets old or anything!

[PacFan]

71 Gram also on the slide now as is the norm for the high end clubs/bars that open here....

[YardDog]

(03-03-2015 01:33 PM)elcidcampeador Wrote:  

I'm going to start out at Gramercy and see how it goes. I'm actually going to try and go to the gym on this trip, so I do want a place with passable facilities. It seems like Gramercy isn't actually that nice, besides from the gym/pool/lobby/views. The actual rooms - at least the 1 bed/studios - are 3/4 star hotel quality at best.

Not really worried about any security guard not letting me bring someone into my apartment. Half of these Gramercy listings are from overseas owners and there shouldn't be a single issue. No guard will tell me that I can't bring someone into my own home (and in this case, it is essentially my own home - they don't know otherwise). It's nice to know there is a mall entrance, which makes things a bit easier.

Still not sure what there is to do in Manila besides having sex and clubbing. I was really considering just not showing up for my flight, but I figured that if I get bored in Manila I can just hop over to China and meet with a client in Tianjin. Or I could try out the Intercontinental in Phnom Penh which I have booked. My plane ticket cost me something like $275 during the Etihad mistake fare earlier this year (from JFK), so nothing to lose I guess by getting on the plane and trying to make something out of it.

Why not grab a girl and check something else out in the Phils besides Manila? Palawan, surfing, diving, trekking, coastal moto trips, Mindanao, sailing, private island hopping, island around Cebu, etc.

Why limit yourself to Manila?

[Malo]

Anybody has success with opening a bank account here in Manila? Major banks I tried require an ACR card. I also tried BPI online and it's the same story eventually. Sorry if this was discussed before but I couldn't find info about it here.

[YardDog]

(03-03-2015 11:24 PM)Malo Wrote:  

Anybody has success with opening a bank account here in Manila? Major banks I tried require an ACR card. I also tried BPI online and it's the same story eventually. Sorry if this was discussed before but I couldn't find info about it here.

Why not get an ACR card? If you've been in the country longer than 59 days you're supposed to get one:

Quote:

As of mid February 2010, the Bureau of Immigration has implemented a new schedule of charges, as they now require tourists who stay longer than 59 days to obtain an ACR card. This is a credit card sized, plastic card which contains all your passport/visa information. The cost is US$50 and is based on that day’s exchange rate which varies, but is currently around 2600 pesos: you will also pay an additional 500 peso Express Lane charge.

[bigbait]

(03-03-2015 11:24 PM)Malo Wrote:  

Anybody has success with opening a bank account here in Manila? Major banks I tried require an ACR card. I also tried BPI online and it's the same story eventually. Sorry if this was discussed before but I couldn't find info about it here.

What are the benefits of having a local bank account?

[elcidcampeador]

(03-03-2015 10:59 PM)YardDog Wrote:  

Why not grab a girl and check something else out in the Phils besides Manila? Palawan, surfing, diving, trekking, coastal moto trips, Mindanao, sailing, private island hopping, island around Cebu, etc.

Why limit yourself to Manila?

Wish I could, but it's just a week. I booked the ticket on Christmas Day at 1 A.M. because it was a mistake fare and if I waited and actually thought about the dates, it might have disappeared by then.

If I'm really having that bad of a time having sex and clubbing, I'll probably go to El Nido for a few days.

[Malo]

(03-03-2015 11:56 PM)YardDog Wrote:  

Why not get an ACR card? If you've been in the country longer than 59 days you're supposed to get one:

I haven't been more than 59 days though. And actually supposed to leave soon, but would like to come back again next season, for longer.

I would prefer to open a bank account now so I can put some pesos in if the currency keeps appreciating. Plus I already got some too many pesos I took out of the ATM and pointless to travel around with the cash..

[the-dream]

(03-04-2015 01:54 AM)Malo Wrote:  

(03-03-2015 11:56 PM)YardDog Wrote:  

Why not get an ACR card? If you've been in the country longer than 59 days you're supposed to get one:

I haven't been more than 59 days though. And actually supposed to leave soon, but would like to come back again next season, for longer.

I would prefer to open a bank account now so I can put some pesos in if the currency keeps appreciating. Plus I already got some too many pesos I took out of the ATM and pointless to travel around with the cash..

I've got a (tourist) ACR card and nowhere wants to let me open an account with that. Does anybody know any banks or branches that will?

[Malo]

^ If you mean visa it's not acr. anyway good question about which bank is lenient about it. I've searched other forums which mention BPI, but nope..

[the-dream]

(03-04-2015 02:06 AM)Malo Wrote:  

^ If you mean visa it's not acr. anyway good question about which bank is lenient about it. I've searched other forums which mention BPI, but nope..

I don't mean visa, I mean ACR. I got one the second time I renewed my visa.

I've tried Metrobank, BPI, BDO and Chinabank in Makati and BPI in Malate and they all turned me down, telling me I needed another document (which's name I can't remember) that supposedly you get after staying for one year.

From reading online the general consensus seems to be that you just need an ACR card though (and it's not a legal requirement to have even that). I'm just curious to find out where that is actually possible because right now, I'm paying 200 pesos each time I withdraw cash to the Philippine bank who's ATM I use, plus £1 to my British bank, plus whatever the profit made on the exchange rate is.

One tip I'd give to people using foreign cards is to withdraw from BPI ATMs. I've managed to get 20k pesos from them in a few different locations whereas all the other banks seem to have a 10k maximum withdrawal. This doesn't seem to apply to the standalone ATMs in malls (they have a 10k limit too), only the ones at the actual bank branches.

[Malo]

^ Then the situation sucks even further.

PS to avoid local ATM fees HSBC ATM's apparently don't charge fees and also allow larger withdraws. Doesn't solve the other issues though.

[the-dream]

(03-04-2015 02:28 AM)Malo Wrote:  

^ Then the situation sucks even further.

PS to avoid local ATM fees HSBC ATM's apparently don't charge fees and also allow larger withdraws. Doesn't solve the other issues though.

Interesting, I didn't realise they had HSBC here. Perhaps I should try and get somebody back in the UK to open me a HSBC UK account there then try and convert it to a HSBC Philippines account here. A long shot but maybe them seeing that I already have an HSBC account would make them more inclined to give me another one.

[Malo]

^ The fees would outweigh the rewards. These 'international' accounts cost dearly. If you want to save something you need to open a basic account at the local banks (e.g. bdo,bpi etc).

So far I also had no luck finding a bank which won't require some kind of proof of long term stay, hence my original question.

[calwinston]

I don't know if I posted it here before.

I have opened an account with BPI here in Panglao.

The benefits of having an account here is a back up if you cant access your account overseas for a variety of reasons, card stops working, etc.
If you are living here long term, then you can deposit money, withdraw money anytime you want instantly.
Deposit money into local accounts of other people same day.
Resolve issues with your account instantly by walking into a branch, instead of calling overseas to your home bank and hoping the problem gets resolved.
You have a local card to use. You don't have to pay conversion fees, ATM fees. international withdraw fees, etc..
Pay bills, etc

The documents that I needed to open an account.

Fill out the application.

Provide

Proof of address. Can be a lease document from my apartment complex proving that I lived here, or cellphone bill, or utility bill, etc.

Your current bank account bank statement with the date you opened it with sufficient funds. You can print this off from your online access to your account back home.

ACR-I card and current stamp in your passport from Immigration- This provides proof you are staying in the country legally. The ACR-I card, lets the bank know your identity. Its a second form of identification that is easily verifiable by the bank manager. If I remember correctly, banks in the United States ask for 2 forms of identification. Drivers license and SS Card for example.

Proof of Income: This can be settled by providing your bank statement.

Last but not least the initial deposit by transferring from your overseas account or having the money in hand. Amount varies depending on what type oaf account you are opening.

Dollar Savings
Euro Savings
Sterling Savings
Japanese Yen Savings
Peso Savings etc.

They will ask you a couple of questions

What are you using the account for?

How will you deposit money into the account?

Do you plan to deposit money from multiple sources?

The last part is for US citizens
You have to fill out extra forms so they can notify the IRS you have an account here. Good old FATCA

If you are not a US citizen the last requirement doesn't apply.

In all it took me 1 1/2 hour to open my account. I received my ATM card on the spot and they also set me up for my online access. They also have a feature where you can add international accounts so you can transfer easily instead of filling out the information every time to transfer money.

If you have a Wells Fargo account in the United States, they have a agreement with BPI here in the Philippines. You can transfer money between the accounts for minimal fees.