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Leaving Tomorrow

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eptowing
So I am leaving tomorrow night from San Francisco Ca to Manila then on to Cagayan de Oro. 20 plus hours. .  My first trip and staying 64 days. I will be going to 6 islands and staying at 12 different  hotels, condo's and resorts  Any last advice about anything
Tariq1983
Hey good luck on your trip. I’m heading out there to the Philippines in three weeks. Hope you have a great time out there and that you meet the love of your life
BondJamesBond
It sounds like you'll be experiencing a lot on the trip, so I'd love to hear what you learn from it.
Enzyte Bob
@eptowing   staying 64 days, 6 islands, 12 different  hotels, ect ect
**

Not quite related, before moving to Vegas, I had a trip with bookings with different Casino's. Never again, too much unpacking & packing. I enjoyed Caesars Palace so much, I cancelled the remaining Casino's.
Wellsfry
@eptowing  ... I am here in Bahol now... We took 3 ferries with our "baby Harley"(moped), from Dipolog, Mindanao to Dumaguete, to Liloan(cebu), then to Bahol... Dumaguete we loved...  not big, not small... seams to be better planned than most... Cebu city I found to be just like manilla... congested, dirty, old, big city... Bahol, Tagbalarin is nice... lots of beaches and other things to explore... Little scary a couple days ago with a bridge that failed and fell into the river after we crossed it literally 2 hours before!! ... anyways... prices a little higher(to be expected for a tourist area)... recommend taking a week and exploring here.  We are in Alona Beach area now at La. Sirenita Dive Resort(10k for 3 nights)... beach front room. We stayed part in Tagbalarin to explore Bahol more...

64 days?  If first time in Philippines you are only allowed 30 days, plus additional 29 days... I extended last week in Cebu at a mall (immigration office was inside).  Have fun!  We leave tomorrow from Tagbalarin to Cebu ferry, then drive down to Liloan, to Dumaguete, then back home to Dipolog... I suggest bring enough cash for whatever your budget is... not rely on debit or credit cards... you will get more for your cash Than using arms or whatever Zoom, remilty, or whatever...  Cheers Mate!  Enjoy!
pnwcyclist
Wellsfry, thanks for the info. Do you know if they are granting additional extensions beyond the 59 days for regular visitors (not first time)?
Lotus Eater
So I am leaving tomorrow night from San Francisco Ca to Manila then on to Cagayan de Oro. 20 plus hours. .  My first trip and staying 64 days. I will be going to 6 islands and staying at 12 different  hotels, condo's and resorts  Any last advice about anything
- @eptowing

Don't forget your toothbrush ;)
eptowing
@Wellsfry
Most of the places i  am staying at are already paid for. I am bouncing around to scuba dive. I am going to Cagayan  de Oro for the first two weeks to see one of my girls then I am off to Cebu  and straight up to Malapascua  Island then over to Bantayan Island, down to Moalboal Back to Cebu for a couple days. On to Bohol, Dumaguete then who knows where but I have to end up back in Cagayan de Oro for a week before I head home. Should be a good time. It was my understanding you can do 90 days. But if its only 59 then I will cut a week off
Wellsfry

@pnwcyclist If it is not your first time extending, then I believe it is 60 days extension... but if first time to extent, it is 29 days only. 

Wellsfry
@eptowing  Nice!  Sounds like a blast... yes, only 29 days extension for the first time... after I believe it is 60 days. 
We leave Bohol in the a.m. back to Cebu, then heading over to Dumaguete for a couple days, then back to Mindanao, Dipolog.  Cheers!
pnwcyclist

@pnwcyclist If it is not your first time extending, then I believe it is 60 days extension... but if first time to extent, it is 29 days only. 

- @Wellsfry
Right.. just like before. I misunderstood your post, thinking maybe they were not allowing subsequent extensions past the 59 days.

Thanks!
Moon Dog
I'm here on a balikbayan visa and will be applying for a 6 month extension in a couple months.
eptowing
@Wellsfry

Ya it will be my first time. Well been here 3 days now. Wow I’m in Cagayan de Oro for a couple weeks. This is a rat race. These people drive off the chain. It’s crazy but fun at the same time. I’ve already picked there habits up. It’s straight crazy. So I guess I better start working on my visa. I haven’t even looked in to it. Where do I start
coach53
I’ve already picked there habits up. It’s straight crazy.
- @eptowing

Have you started SHOUTING when "talking" too?  :) as common among (city) cebuanos.  (Athough there are exceptions.) I tried to have a conversation once with a woman from CDO living in a small house with many relatives. Different shouting NOT angry conversations ongoing at same time in same room, everyone shouting EXCEPT the toddlers, who seemed to have given up trying to get heared  1f923.svg
Moon Dog

@eptowing Go to the nearest Bureau of Immigration.

Harbred6051
So if my understanding is correct, for first time extensions one gets 30 days free, then can extend a maximum of 29 days? That would make sense, cuz that would add to a max of 59 days, then an ACR card is reqd for stays beyond 59?
pnwcyclist
That would make sense, cuz that would add to a max of 59 days, then an ACR card is reqd for stays beyond 59?
- @Harbred6051

It used to be one could continue extending a Tourist visa in 30 or 60 day increments.  That's how I did it, because I was never staying more than 4 - 6 months at a time, and often had a trip to another country mixed  in there, which reset it again.

But now,  since Covid re-opening, I'm not sure if that's still the case - have asked a few times but  no answers - obviously we haven't hit that point yet with the Tourist visas, since general re-opening was in April. Those that came in earlier are on Balikbayan or previous long-term visa.

I guess we will find out soon, but in the meantime I need to book my flights and will probably do a 59-day roundtrip and just extend it once I'm there.
Wellsfry
@eptowing you will need to go to Dumaguete, or cebu... go to immigration office in gmall... easy to extend.

Yes...lol... my first time was 2018... I remember the "shock" well... lol... straight crazy is right. . It is like semi organized chaos driving here... lol... cheers!
Wellsfry

@Harbred6051 exactly 💯

Wellsfry

@coach53  lol... YES!  just yesterday I had to remind my gal to lower her voice when we are in the car alone... lol... she was yelling, and had no idea... 😅  I guess that I don't notice it when we are riding baby harley(our moped)... but in the car... yeow!! 😳😅

Cherryann01
I am on my way to Cagayan De Oro today, arrive tomorrow at 18.45 at Manila, stay for one night at a nearby hotel in Pasay then on to Cagayan with Cebu Pacific on the next day to see my beautiful girlfriend and our lovely daughter, who I have never seen.

Staying at One Oasis Condo in Cagayan so if any of you good people are out there between 6 May and 23 May, would be great to meet up for a chat and a meal.

Hopefully I have all the correct paperwork in order.
Wellsfry

@Cherryann01 Safe travels my friend

pnwcyclist
So happy for you, Cherryann01.

Safe travels and may you have a happy reunion.
Cherryann01
Well just a quick update, on my first plane from Leeds/Bradford to Amsterdam face masks were not required but as soon as I got to the boarding gate for my flight to Bangkok and Manila things changed. There passengers were required to complete a form and have their temperature taken and face masks were mandatory. Turns out I did not have to change planes in Bangkok, just stay on while Bangkok passengers left and the aircraft was refuelled.

Stayed in Manila one night then back to the airport for my onward flight to Cagayan De Oro. Never asked for any of the stuff mentioned on this forum or on the Philippines Airline website so not asked for Higala or Opcoors registration. Needed the Philippines one health QR or bar code though at Manila, very strict about that. Never asked for covid travel insurance or onward flight ticket either, just the one health pass, covid test and proof of vaccination

Well here at the condo now, girlfriends sister picked me up at the airport and the only problem I really have now is trying to bond with my two year old daughter who understandably is rather shy and keeps me at distance for now although she will kiss me when her mum tells her to and I have had a case of the runs but apart from that everything is good.
FindlayMacD
@Cherryann01

KLM used to be my favourite airline for travelling to Philippines from UK. I would fly from Birmingham to Amsterdam and from there a 12 hour direct flight to Manila. But then the Philippines Government decided to impose a special tax on any airline from outside Asia landing in Philippines. As a result of this, many of the European and U.S, airlines decided to partner up with airlines from other Asian countries and split the journey. I believe they have now removed that tax but it seems that the damage has been done and most European and U.S. airlines have continued to partner with airlines from other Asian countries. As far as I know the only direct flight available from the UK is Philippines Airlines from London Heathrow Airport, because although they are flying from Europe they just happen to be the Philippines flagship airline.
emvaningen
KLM is the only European airline flying to MNL

Before covid via TPE, currently via BKK.
Lotus Eater
Thanks for the update CherryAnn. When you say 'case of the runs' was that when your GF's hubby showed up?
eptowing
@Wellsfry

So I went and got my visa on May 10th and they gave me until June 29. I’m in CDO. I was hopping for July 1st but a couple of days isn’t that much of a big deal. I’m headed to Cebu on the 16th. I need to go the beach and do some diving. I’m only here because my lady friend lives here. So I’m spending the first two weeks with her but she works so I’m like doing nothing all day but going around and checking things out. I did bring my chocolate lab with me and it’s fun the watch people when they see him. The bad part is they won’t let him in any of the stores like they do the states. I have him registered as a service dog but here that does not mean anything.
eptowing
@Moon Dog

Thank you took care of it a couple days ago. Really east cost 3000 pesos got 59 day took 15 mins.
Cherryann01

@Lotus Eater Very funny but I think it was more a case of when the food I had eaten in the previous three days decided it was time to come out. Three days with no no 2 then the runs

Cherryann01

@FindlayMacD Living in the north of England and only 6 miles or so from Leeds/Bradford Airport, KLM via Amsterdam seemed the easier option and probably the cheaper if you take into consideration travel costs to get to London and overnight accommodation.

eptowing
I sure do like how my post of leaving tomorrow got twisted to someone having the runs to her girlfriend hubby showing up. But it’s always good to get a laugh out of a post. Keep up the good work everyone.
eptowing
@Enzyte Bob

Bob I know what your saying about having to pack and unpack but I want to travel around and go scuba diving at a few different places and see different parts of the Philippines. It’s my first trip here. I have only been here since the first and have moved twice and I’m going to Cebu on the 16th and headed up to Malapascua  island for a week. Then to Bantayan island for a week and so on.  I’m traveling kind of light. My scuba gear is the heaviest part of my load.  But so far it’s been fun. I’m sure by the end of the trip I’ll be tired of moving. I’m also looking for a small hotel to passable buy. So moving around makes it easier.
coach53
@Enzyte Bob

Bob I know what your saying about having to pack and unpack but I want to travel around and go scuba diving at a few different places and see different parts of the Philippines. It’s my first trip here. I have only been here since the first and have moved twice and I’m going to Cebu on the 16th and headed up to Malapascua  island for a week. Then to Bantayan island for a week and so on.  I’m traveling kind of light. My scuba gear is the heaviest part of my load.  But so far it’s been fun. I’m sure by the end of the trip I’ll be tired of moving. I’m also looking for a small hotel to passable buy. So moving around makes it easier.
- @eptowing

Dont forget to check the best diving = Palawan   :)
(According to a man. who travel around the world making documentaries about such and some other spectacular nature.)  At Palawan there are e g diving with special turtles and he said the best ever diving he had seen is at a reef some east of Palawan main island.)
eptowing
@coach53

Palawan was on my list of places to go but I had to cut my trip back from 90 to 60 days. I will be back in a few month after going back to the US and I plan on going to Palawan to do some diving. But thanks for the heads up,
pnwcyclist
Palawan is stunning, especially up north around El Nido and Coron. But it can get crowded, at least it did before Covid hit.  I have heard the diving on Malapascua is good, and we always see boats at Moalboal. Enjoy your vacation.
gerard1960
Hello,

Visiting my wife’s home village in the month of August (2022) and wonder if there are any restrictions arriving in Manila?
I have heard contradicting reports from some but still wonder how and what is needed to enter trouble free.
Any advice from recent arrivals??  Thanks
Cherryann01
I arrived in Manila on 5 May and all I was asked to show was my proof of vaccination, PCR Test taken within 48 hours of departure and the barcode or QR code for the One Health Pass.

Nobody checked my onward tickets or my travel insurance although you should obviously have them also.

Come August you may not need anything. I am stopping off in Vietnam on my way back to England so went through the procedure of registering for a PCR Test at Cebu Mactan Airport only to find a few hours later that Vietnam has dropped all COVID restrictions. I expect other Asian countries will follow their lead.
coach53
Hello,

Visiting my wife’s home village in the month of August (2022) and wonder if there are any restrictions arriving in Manila?
I have heard contradicting reports from some but still wonder how and what is needed to enter trouble free.
Any advice from recent arrivals??  Thanks
- @gerard1960

Its long time to August, much can happen before that...  :)
Now its kind of open with some restrictions, but big local differences by local politicians have right to decide localy.
The Philipines made two part openings earlier, which got closed/skiped.   (One for business investors opened but got closed soon after when a new covid version came. The other was a tests for tourism at two islands, but I believe skiped because to few foreign tourists used that possibility.) 
But if I guess then I believe it will be open in August still by less get dangerous ill now.


gerard1960
Thanks for the replies! I suppose things could change either way; more restrictions or none whatsoever! Every bit of information is greatly appreciated!

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