DaveCubot
2/12/2017 14:14 EST
Hi folks,
I currently live in the UK and I'm in the early stages of planning my retirement.
I've visited Thailand multiple times and this was potentially my choice of location but the cost of living has increased too much so I intend to check out the Philippines by visiting for a few weeks and researching my options.
I have worked (in the UK) with Filipinos so I'm familiar to a limited degree with the culture and from my online research it's starting to really, really appeal to me as place to live.
Would any of the UK ex pats be kind enough to advise me the best flights to get from the UK to either Manila or Clark ?
There are minimal direct flights from the UK (or Europe) that I can see, I'm hoping that you guys will know from experience the best routes both in terms of cost, convenience and comfort!
Thank you in advance for any advice, I'm looking forward to coming out to the Philippines a lot!
Much appreciated
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trappedinhell
2/12/2017 23:01 EST
@DaveCubot I'm not a UK expat; but just to help a little: Don't forget about your "Return Ticket" or "Throw Away Ticket" if you're planning to stay in the Philippines for more than 30 days. Here's a good practical advice from an expat in Dumaguete about saving some money on those "Onward" or "Throw Away" Ticket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKSv5YF30zY
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draks
2/12/2017 23:13 EST
Just search online get the prices the worst airline I travelled with was Saudi Airlines, visiting here is a good idea, but it will just about scratch the surface of living here.
Some advice come here for at least a month. Be extremely careful here if your traveling alone, you will be a target. Stay out of Angeles at night good place to find trouble of all kinds. If and when you do live here do not be pushed into buying property, don't fall in love, be very very cautious and don't believe anything your told untill you see it with your own eyes. The girls in UK are just totally different to girls here. Anything else you want to know just ask on this forum there are some good knowledgeable guys here. Living here is not for the naive or feint hearted.
One thing if you own a house in UK DONT sell it rent it out fully serviced through a good agent. Always have an escape plan and money to pay for it. You can find nice houses and apartments to rent outside Manila at fair prices, the lowest I paid was £37 a month for a very small place the most expensive was £130 a month right now live in an island just outside a big town brand new 2 bed first floor apartment good size just £72 a month. RENT DONT BUY. At least for two years anyway.
You might love it here but equally you might hate it. Once you buy you are stuck with it property sells very slowly here. If you think a small condo is 2 million php plus, rent a place even at 20k a month takes a long time to get to the 2 or 3 million spent on a tiny condo.
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GaryD
2/13/2017 02:59 EST
There are loads of deals about at the moment. The only direct flight is with Philippine airline but they are expensive, Qatar and Emerates are both good and fly into Clark. If you don't need to go to Manila keep away.
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GaryD
2/13/2017 08:36 EST
They tend to have very long stop-overs in Bankok and Teipia. + was +2 days outbound from Heathrow.
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DaveCubot
2/13/2017 16:24 EST
Hi Draks
Thanks for taking the time for such a comprehensive reply, some very wise words indeed.
I've visited Thailand many times over the years so fortunately I'm very familiar with the perils of ladies, property, being scammed and generally realising that a farang is a big target.
Luckily not directly through personal experience though!
I was last in Bangkok in September and I seperately met two UK ex pats with horror stories, one was 62, new wife and 2 year old kid and had just been stiffed by his wife for the new house he'd just built and paid for with all his savings.
The other guy had been there 15 years but had lost his job and had no roots or property back in the UK and no money to fly home if he wanted to, he was literally crying in his beer.
I must confess I'm still in the learning stages which areas and islands I might like, from what I've read PI lacks the infrastructure of Thailand and can be more dangerous so sense and caution are needed.
A prerequisite for me before doing anything is to finish paying off the mortgage on my UK property, not only will it be a safety net for me to come home it will also be a key source of income via rent, I'm lucky enough (or unlucky depending on how you look at it!) to be a few years away from being able to claim my company or state pensions so I need the income from UK rent to supplement me.
Thanks again for the great advice, if you do happen to have a view on different areas and islands it would be very much appreciated.
I will be travelling on my own but I'm not looking for marriage for sure (I know, I know, famous last words, you'll need to trust me on that one!)
Thanks again and best regards.
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draks
2/13/2017 18:54 EST
Dave cubit
Seems your coming here with your eyes wide open, you know the score with the girls so that's one problem out of the way. The infrastructure here is nowhere near as good as Thailand, but not a disaster. Where to wow that's a big one, for me Manila or anything as big and crowded as Manila is a big no-no for me. I liked Subic, very clean seems to have a regular police presence at night, some lovely beaches, just outside the town there are some quite cheap resorts for swimming and picnics etc. In town it's clean the driving standards seem better. There is Clark nearby which is now very very nice with shopping malls etc. Ilongopo very near, but to be honest I didn't like it there especially at night. There are bars and girls there but there were a lot of young guys hanging around and stared at me a lot. Subic and clarck is nice. Mindoro island is nice some nice beaches Calapan quite big with plenty of shops, malls and cafes. Live just outside Calapan it's nice. 1 hours drive and you have Puerto Galera, Coco beach, white beach etc. You have to visit Boracay cos everyone does. Tagaytay is also very nice very cool very clean quite safe great veiws over the lake. Good restaurants and live music venues is a bit expensive in town but a few miles out is cheaper. Tagaytay does get very busy at weekends and holidays but during the week it great. Baguio is very nice very cool sits on top of a bloody mountain but very nice. Session street is great at night lots of restaurants and cafes and live music. La Union is ok as well. There are so many places here that guys on here will tell you is great, you have to do your research and make a decision. You will be ok here you know the Asian culture basically. You will either love it here or hate it. But it's ok good luck mate
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seernai
2/14/2017 06:00 EST
People can only say from their own experience of where they live in the Philippines that's not to say it's not true some people are lucky others are not
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seernai
2/14/2017 06:33 EST
Aside from flights something else you need to Consider is this the Philippines has a reciprocal agreement with The UK which means that every year you will get the pension raise every year, you will not get that in Thailand and over a period of time you will notice it as you will be stuck on the same state pension as when you first go into Thailand assuming you decide to go there to retire , as far as flights are considered check out Mabuhay travel in the uk also crystal Travel both excellent agents
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DaveCubot
2/14/2017 13:12 EST
Big thanks to everyone who has replied so far, I'm new to this forum and not only is it a nice welcome but you guys clearly know your stuff so I'm very keen to learn from your expertise and experience.
One thing that's been consistent with everything that I've read (and seen on YouTube) is that it's a near certainty that at night barking dogs and crowing roosters early morning seem to come as standard!
Reminds me of when I stayed in Palolem beach in Goa, my apartment was no frills to put it mildly and had open windows, there was backyard farmyard right outside with dogs and roosters very much taking the lead in keeping me awake permanently! Comes with the territory I guess.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions, unlike Thailand it's a bit harder to work out how to easily get from area to area in PI due to it being islands not mainland so I'll have to plan carefully how I'll get about to maximise my time looking. Subic Bay looks nice but there's clearly some hidden gems too waiting to be discovered!
Angeles sounds like a rougher Pattaya and Manila sounds like Bangkok with less infrastructure (traffic looks the same thing to the though!)
Still no direct flights from the UK unfortunately, current favourite option is Eva Air into Bangkok (recommend Eva, their Premium Economy is brilliant value) and then a low cost airline from there OK in into Manila or preferrabley Clark or Cebu.
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seernai
2/14/2017 21:28 EST
Philippine Airlines flys Direct to Manila O know this because I did it I. 2015 it was a 10 hr flight
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Traco
2/14/2017 22:20 EST
You can also fly via HK or Kl. The MAL flight arrives in Manila around 9 pm. You can get the new shuttle bus or a taxi/Grab to your hotel, though taxis will overcharge.Two good low cost clean cool hotels are Pearl Garden and Kimberly in Malate right next to the gigantic Robinsons Mall.
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jleo1
2/16/2017 20:12 EST
roosters crowing early morning seem to come as standard!....
YES, early morning!!!
Like 12:30 AM, and 1 AM and 2 AM and 3 AM and...
The roosters here don't know the difference between day and night here. HeHe!
I got used to it though and sleep right through nowadays as I used to sleep right beneath the flight deck of an aircraft carrier for months at a time with 40,000+ lb jets landing 24/7.
Cock-a-doodle-dooooo!
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draks
2/17/2017 00:24 EST
Well if anyone thinks they will come to Philippines for a quiet peaceful life, forget it filipino people are noisy, keep dogs for security that bark any way cockerels for the cock fights, if they play music or kareoke it's LOUD. I don't care I get invited to parties and I sing on the kareoke. I like to play my music loud haha, so I blend in well, but maybe you don't want to live next door to me.
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petew0807
2/26/2017 04:34 EST
Hi, This is our first msg on this forum but we have lots of time in Asia. Where are you flying from? We prefer Cathay Pacific from LHR or MAN direct to HKG on a night flight this way you (Try) to get a sleep, £550 for econ and ticket lasts a year and can you can upgrade your ticket so you can change your return flight date. If baggage weight is your main choice go for one of the Middle Eastern airlines. We hope we have been some help
Peter & Maz
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seernai
2/26/2017 09:07 EST
I used Philippine Airlines Direct from Hearhrow to Manila it was. 10 hr flight but then had a 10hr lay over as I came to Davao the following morning on the early flight , no lost luggage or drama, in the past I've used Cathay Pacific but don't like the attitude of HongKong ground staff I found one guy in particular very rude, I've also used Malaysian Airlines you have to be careful with them as if your luggage is over weight they will try to rip you off for £800 they even took birthday presents for one little boy and tried to grab my Nikon SLR until I threatened to get security so I would avoid them like the plague
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GaryD
2/26/2017 11:48 EST
It all depends what you are looking for, cheapest flight, shortest flight or comfortablest flight. The nearest we have come to all three are with Qatat and Emerates when on offer. Your just can't beat flying in an Airbus 380. The roomest planes I've ever flown in.
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deejay1952
2/28/2017 07:01 EST
I do find it odd that anyone would point to a particular route for a particular price they paid in the past.. All you can do is punch in a search: "cheapest price London (or wherever) to Manila, and take it from there. Try and book at least 3 months in advance. Book also Tuesday (sometimes Monday) to Thursday for the (usually) cheapest options. Unless you are flying business, all the airlines are crap in steerage with restricted legroom peculiar to flights to Asia.There is also a very easy (and free) solution if you want to buy a one way ticket and not a 'throwaway' but I'm not going to publicize it. Regards. D. (fellow Brit)
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