Travel Enthusiasts Inc. reminds our tourists for SCAMS, WARNINGS, TIPS & UPDATES –A friendly reminder for your safe travel in the Philippines.
Shuttle service in Ninoy Aquino International Airport is still operational from 6AM to 10PM daily. Upon landing in NAIA Terminal 3, go through the exit door. Ignore the coupon and yellow taxi cabs parked outside those are indeed expensive. Walk across the road and look for the two bus stations which are few steps away. Take Bus Route 2 for Terminal 3. Bring an umbrella if in case it rains as there is no shed available the last time we checked. As planned, bus leaves every 15 minutes though this is not guaranteed. I have heard the worse of waiting for two hours. Once you’re inside the bus, wait for the conductor to collect the fee. The bus has a flat rate of only 20 pesos.
INTERNET SCAMS And Other WARNINGS, TIPS & UPDATES!
THE SCAM: DISHONEST TAXI DRIVERS
If this is your first trip to the Philippines, Probably the first person you will meet, and be taken advantage of, will be the TAXI DRIVER. Taxis taken from the airport are a premium, but at least there is a set flat rate for the area you are going to. You pay the “dispatcher” who will give you a ticket which a copy will also be given to the taxi driver. (They will pay him later.) A couple of scams ran by the airport taxi will be. No matter how much tip you give him, he will ALWAYS say its not enough! He will tell you there is a fee for each piece of baggage, or carrying the baggage, loading or unloading, etc.. The easiest way to handle this is to just write down the name on the license which is posted, and also the number of the taxi (on the door) and the license plate, and tell him you want to stop a police officer to handle the situation. If you have a camera handy, take a photo! If possible get both the driver and the license plate or the cab id on the side of the cab. Probably the most prevalent scam the tourist will run into when taking a taxi cab in Manila, Cebu, Davao or any other major city, is the drivers claim that his “meter is broken”, or not working for some other reason. He wants to charge you much more for the trip than you would have paid by using the meter. (Besides, if the meter did not work, the cab could not legally be operating!) The easiest way to handle this is to tell him to just use the meter and you will still give him a good tip. If he complies, just tip him a hundred pisos once you arrive at your desired location. If, for some reason you are really steamed, you can tell the taxi driver to let you out and that you will call the police and turn in his cab number. Never let a taxi or tricycle driver see a wad of cash! Keep the bulk of your money in a separate location than the pocket you will most often pay from throughout your trip. Also insist on using the aircon (air conditioning) in the cab because the meter rate is based on including air conditioning, unless you are in a non-air conditioned cab.
THE SCAMS: MONEY CHANGERS
It goes without saying that the safest place to change your money is at a bank, or at a money changer who is linked to a major bank. Upon landing in the Philippines, it is a good idea to change a couple hundred dollars at one of the money changers booths right at the airport. Most reputable hotels change money, and some at a better rate than the banks.. Also, as a ge eral rule, the dollar to piso exchange rate is always better in Manila than in the provinces, and the dollar is usually lower in the probinces and other islands. In the event you have not yet read of scams ran by Money Changers in the city, such as in Malate, Manila, here is one example. A “hocker” approaches you and asks if you want to exchange money at a higher rate than the banks give. Greed sets in and you say sure, why not. He then leads you to a small storefront with bars on the windows, which is the norm for money changers. The money is counted out on the counter, maybe even twice, right in front of your own eyes. A third individual enters the money changing office, which is intended to distract your eyes from the stack(s), even if only for a second or two. At that time, the cashier either “palms” or “flips” a stack or number of bills to the floor. You don’t even realize that you have been “taken” until you are back at the hotel or down the road, when it is to late to blame the money changer.
10 Things to Know About Using Taxis in Manila
Getting around Manila is easy, but you should know some of the basics before you jump into any old taxi. They come in many colors but generally the yellow metered ones are dedicated airport taxis, have a higher “drop rate” AND a higher “run rate”. They will cost about 50% more than white metered ones.
The way it works here in the Philippines is the driver pays a “boundary” or daily rental rate for the taxi. Anything over that, plus fuel, he gets to keep. They will do anything to make more than the boundary and have some money to take home.
The rules in the Philippines state they must engage the meter but in some places they disregard this.
Cebu and Bacolod City are wonderful for Taxis with never a problem. Manila is the exact opposite; the taxi system is out of control and they show complete disdain for the rules.
We’ll go over some things to do or to watch for when using a taxi in Manila.
*This can also be viewed as a general warning of possible taxi tourist scams common to many 3rd world countries.
1.) It costs the same if the taxi is in new condition or a beat up piece of crap so choose wisely. The drivers of the newer ones will generally be more professional.
2.) When engaging a taxi on the street, open the rear passenger door. But do NOT get in. Ask the taxi driver if he’ll turn the meter on. If he does not, leave the door open and walk away. You will do this because, after the 2nd or 3rd taxi, you will get angry and want to slam the door. However they do not care, it is not their car. Your only revenge for their dishonesty is leaving the door open so they must get out and close it. ?
The problem is, during heavy traffic or rainy days you will sometimes go thru numerous taxis before you get one to turn the meter on. At these times it really depends on how desperate or late you are getting to your destination. Sometimes they will ask for meter rate + 20 or 50 pesos. Sometimes it is double. It really depends on how badly you need the taxi as to whether you want to accept this.
3.) LEAVE EARLY! We cannot stress this enough! It is much less stressful to be early at your destination then frantic and fuming while the minutes tick by in a snarl of smoking traffic.
4.) Whenever possible, have the complete address printed on a piece of paper so there will be no confusion about where you want to go. The driver will speak English but many place names sound similar and they can be mistaken or claim to be when you have just paid to get to the wrong place!
5.) ALWAYS, Always carry LOTS of small bills in the Philippines. The driver WILL NOT have change or will claim to have none. Either way you will need to do one of two things. Leave all the change with him or WAIT while he goes looking for some. Neither sounds good so be sure you are prepared.
6.) Lock your doors, just in case. This is just common sense.
7.) Whenever possible, ask someone what the approximate fare should be to your destination.
8.) Do not be afraid to tell the driver to slow down or stop using their cell phone during the ride. It is illegal in the Philippines to call or text while driving.
9.) How about Tips? If the driver turns on the meter immediately, drives the most direct route, does not try to have you pay above metered price and is generally a nice guy then reward him with a 20% tip. Other than this a 10% is fine.
10.) Now here is something we want to mention but do not want to frighten anyone. Very, very rarely we have heard of this happening. You will deposit your luggage in the trunk, arrive at your destination, exit the taxi and… the car speeds off with your belongings! Just be aware, have one of your companions stay in the car until all is unloaded or. If alone, leave the passenger door open till you get your stuff.
POLICE WARN PUBLIC OF TAXI SLEEP-SPRAY AS THE NEW MODUS OPERANDI –NEWS UPDATE (March 30, 2014 10:24 pm)
Manila police on Sunday warned the public of a taxi driver who attempted to immobilize a female passenger by spraying chemicals on Friday. Jemimah Cristel Umengan, 19, student, and a Pasay City resident told investigators that she boarded a cab with plate number TXD-102 at Robinson’s Place in Ermita around 6:30 p.m. Upon reaching Malate, she noticed the driver had sprayed an unidentified compound, which caused her to feel dizzy. Despite feeling weak, Umengan was able to open the door of the taxi and safely alighted from it. The taxi speed away immediately. The victim said nothing was taken from her.
Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Rolando Asuncion had directed SPO2 John Cayetano of the General Assignment Section to coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRRB) to probe the operator of the involved taxi and find out the identity of the driver. The spraying of sleep-inducing chemicals is a new modus operandi to make female passengers drowsy, making it easier to rob or abduct the passenger. Similar cases earlier were reported to the LTFRB. A taxi franchise was earlier meted with a 30-day suspension, pending the completion of an investigation involving the same modus operandi. At least eleven taxis were accused of resorting to chemical spraying since October last year.
Please keep in mind that the Philippines is a poor country but not a really bad one. Like all countries there will be bad people so just be aware, be alert and have fun.
Always remember that you can go and plan your trip with TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS INC. so we could guide you in every step you take to avoid such hassles and dangers!