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Mornin' All-
Just doing some travel planning for my trip to Cebu in December.  Has anyone flown China Airlines to Asia?  They seem to have some cheap flights from Los Angeles through to Cebu (coupled with Cebu Pacific to Cebu).  Anyone have comments on Cebu Pacific Airlines?  I had a ticket on PAL through Manila, but the dates didn't work for my work schedule, so have to reschedule....will use those tickets in February or March.  

Thanks much.

Rick

... in response to Flights to Cebu, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

The most screwed up flight I have ever had was on china air. Wound up spending the night in bangkock (Coming and going) We weren't even supposed to be near bangkock.

Cost me 2 days of a 10 day vacation.

Never again.

Larry.

P.S. Cathay Pacific has some good prices right now. I've found as low as $645 Seattle/Manila. Will be booking NWA in the next few days for around $750.

Larry.

... in response to China Air., posted by shadow on Oct 17, 2002

[This message has been edited by Jay]

Hi Larry,

Two night's in Bangcock, what a shame. Just kidding. ;-) Hey, last time I was on Philippine Airlines going to LA, they announced on a barely audible PA system, that we were now making our final decent into San Francisco. I thought I heard it wrong. I looked out the window (I was in an aisle seat in the middle), and then I saw the approach into SF. I had done this approch many times before. It's over the water.

I couldn't believe it. They had diverted to SF and not told anyone. Last time I ever used PAL. LOL!

Jay

... in response to Flights to Cebu, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

Thanks for the input.  I decided on Cathay Pacific.  The China Airlines were cheap, but at the cost of doing an overnight layover at the Taipei Airport...no way thats happening!  Plus I've always wanted to see Hong Kong...even if it is the airport and only for 4 hours.  

Anyone have a line on good seafood restaurant in Cebu or Lapu Lapu?  Thanks.

Rick

... in response to Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

[This message has been edited by Jay]

Hi Rick,

Did you check to see if China Airlines put you up in a hotel overnight at the airport? Unless they stopped doing it, they put you up at the Chang-Kai-Sheck(sp?) Hotel at the airport. It's a really nice hotel and you get free meals. Dinner and breakfast. Sometimes, the same on the return, depending if you have to overnight. I used to take that flight all the time from L.A., but that was a few years ago. I'm curious if they still do that.

Anyway, Cathay is cool. A good airline.  Safer then China, too. I don't think I'll use them again. Tooo many incident's and crashes. When I was flying them, they had a couple of crashes, but they have continued to have more. After B-18255 crashed into the South China Sea in last May, I said that's it. I  had flown on that plane before, once (maybe twice?) across the Pacific.  

Jay

... in response to Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

...I found in Cebu was Seafood City in Lahug. It's a little pricey but the food is excellent and the "Shopping Helpers" are outstanding!!!!!

Ray

... in response to Best Seafood..., posted by Ray on Oct 17, 2002

Howdy Ray...

Thanks for the tip.  My "friend" wrote in her first letter that she loved seafood...a definite plus since I am also wild about it.  She really peaked my interest with that...and the fact she loves Jackie Chan movies....WOW!  Many other things too...but those things started the conversations out right!

I'm thinking of heading up to Subic to see how O-Town has changed since I was last there in '91.  Do you have any recommendations on tours there?  I may put it off until Feb though, I want to concentrate on getting to know her and see the sites of Cebu.

Thanks again Ray...

Rick

... in response to Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

Flew through there on the way to Manila august 15th, and coming back on sept 30th, 4 hour layover on the way there,
cool looking city from the airport, quite stunning, foggy,
huge mountains surrounding the city, bring lots of film,
hope next trip to be able to see the city, of Hong Kong, maybe i will see Jackie Chan

... in response to Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

have you purchased the tickets and if so, whats ur rate,
my agent got me 1600 dollar tickets for Cathay Pacific for 988 by booking a consolidator rate.

... in response to Re: Tickets are purchased, posted by outwest77 on Oct 17, 2002

Outwest...
Bought my tickets this morning on Orbitz.com.  My final price from Los Angeles was $1100, still have to buy a ticket from Denver to LA though.  I'm having to run piecemeal to work the trip into the old budget.  I have another set of tickets that I was going to use in November, but work required that I change my vacation schedule and the United/PAL flights were all like $2000 on orbitz.com.  So I will hold those over for Feb...Valentine's Day trip..

(***They do have St. Valentine's Day in the PI don't they?)  8^O

As things progress I will start using a consolidator...right now, as a newbie to Far East or Near East travel not involving Military Transport...I'm using orbitz for peace of mind.

I'm just really excited to go...kinda feel like going on a first date in high school...except I gotta go a bit farther to pick her up.  Feels promising and refreshing though, I must say.

Regards...

Rick

... in response to Re: Re: Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

Sory for the pushing of travel agent, lol,

If its your first trip for 10 yrs you will be amazed, and
by the way where is she from, my gf is from manila on luzon, but she was raised in batangas to the south of manila.

I met my gf , penpal, first trip in april and it was very frightening to meet her but i was very pleasantly surprised, She is the sweetest angel i have ever met and dated, although she can have a bit of a temper sometimes,

We had a wonderful 3 weeks, If you are on the island of luzon near manila i can suggest a thousand things to do.
Other islands, i only know of Mindoro, where we went snorkling etc, the most beautiful coral i have ever seen,
(the only Coral.)

you will really love it, and if you are with her, and you two click it should be a blast, You might want to brush up on your tagalog, if only a few words, they love that, i have a great website for you , if you want.

JUST email me at outwest7177@nospam.com

have a wonderful trip , Rick, and look below for some of my trip tips i hope those help, im no expert though, only 2 trips so far

... in response to Re: Re: Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

I find using the travel agent much better than orbitz
you are dealing with a real person who can issue the ticket, make changes, etc on a moments notice, even print the ticket at her desk, who wants your repeat business.
If you want to change the date of the trip, etc, just call the agent, My agent beat any price i could book directly on the net , by 300 dollars, so thats all for a 20 dollar agent fee, im hooked on agents. now.

... in response to Re: Re: Tickets are purchased, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

ROFL!

But don't be surprised if she shows up with an entourage of chaperones when you get there. It’s not like Olongapo Rick. Traditionally, there might be anywhere from 1-5 friends or relatives tagging along and you will be expected to buy them lunch, dinner, etc. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t take a crowd of them to Seafood City. I think it cost me around $40 for dinner for three about 2-3 years ago. Jollibee or McDonald’s is always a cheap way to feed a crowd for lunch.

Have fun on your trip…

Ray

... in response to First date in high school, posted by Ray on Oct 17, 2002

If it this trip were anything like Olongapo I don't think I'd be going.  (Fine at 18...not so much at 33...ha ha...man I'm getting old).  I want this trip to be strictly respectable Filipino courting...so to speak.  I have been reading the book "Culture Shock: Philippines" and I think I'll be about 25% prepared for what I'm in for.  But that will be the fun part I think, the "innocence" of the process vs. here in the United States where its "Hi, how are you, wanna sleep over".  It'll be fun...

I just don't know when I meet her parents how to do the 'mano' gesture.  I'm sure they don't want some sweaty kano rubbing his sweaty brow across the back of their hands.  ha ha

Who knows...my work keeps me locked at my desk looking at a screen 12 hours a day...I'm up for some adventure!

I'm looking forward to Jollibee.  I've read so much about it.  I want to see why people say the spaghetti tastes so funny....

LOAD UP THE JEEPNEY!  WE'RE GOING TO JOLLIBEE!  WOO HOO!

... in response to Re: First date in high school, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

Jollibee’s secret is Sugar...LOTS of sugar! They even mix sugar in with the ground beef for their burgers. McDonalds with their 100% beef just can’t compete.

Re the mano po thing. They won’t really expect you to use it, so it’s optional, but I think it’s fun. I only use it with the older women. When I met the parents, I used it with mom, but just a good firm handshake for dad. It worked for me. All the little kids will be well trained in it, so they will do it to you if you offer them your hand.

Are you going to travel to her home town, or just meet them in Cebu City?

Ray

... in response to Why the spaghetti tastes so funny..., posted by Ray on Oct 18, 2002

[This message has been edited by Jay]

Hi Ray,

First time I ever tried the Mano po thing, was with my mother in law first time we met. I did it as a last second decision. I screwed it up bad. I stuck the back of her hand to her own forehead before I realized something was wrong. LOL! I quickly rectified the situation, by putting her hand to my forehead.I was of course, a bit lit up, as was usual at the time, but I feel mostly it was nerves that had cuased me to screw it up. I had seen it a million times, though never did it myself, and couldn't believe I messed it up. Criselda says if she is ever down, she just sees that in her mind, and it makes her laugh hard. She didn't laugh that day in the province, but she does now whenever she thinks of it. Even after all these years. I do too. From what I hear, so does "Mom". :-)

Jay

... in response to Re: First date in high school, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

As Far as the shock, you have no idea till you get there,
but be prepared to be dropped into another planet, its like nothing you have ever seen in your life, Its a wonderful adventure and you will be continually amazed, never a dull moment, you  will feel like a celebrity, I spent 3 months in phils this year probably more than most guys on the board, and i cant wait to get back, Its a blast, wonderful people, Do avoid the water though, and ice, my first trip i didnt and had a bit of sore gums, this trip i had VERY PAINFUL gums and i started with the bottled water and ice, but i was not totally strict about it, my gums are still swollen, be careful about that.

Try not to pack too much, a rolling carry on size with a backpack would be adviseable,
I kept a copy of my passport in my wallet , along with about 50 dollars in pesos, All the other stuff, passport,
money, credit cards, plane tickets, etc i kept in the hotel safe. You need your drivers license and boarding pass in the US boardingsk, and in foreign countries they want your tickets and passport,

Try to get a zipper, type , big enough to hold your tickets,,passport, money, etc, and  put all of that in it, i found one in walmart for 10 bucks it was my lifeline, i kept that in my backpack along with magazine, snacks(you will need some snacks they only feed you 2 times on a 13 hour flight from california to Hong Kong, on Cathay pacific, so bring some chips, candy etc, in your backpack.

Keep camera, money, tickets, passport, snacks, etc in the backpack, anything of value, Keep the rest in your rolling carryon, shoes, clothes, etc.

That way you can fly through the airport, Also bring seasick pills, diahrrea pills, etc, i bring earplugs, and eye covers for the flight,

i Brought a pair of super small binoculars, 20 bucks, funnest thing my gf enjoyed looking in, Also a big hit was 1 dollar glow in dark night stick, she loved that, i got it in the sports dept of walmart i think when i boought the binocs.

Camera, bring a cheap 35mm, not  expensive, this trip i bought a new 100 dolllar pocket size with a good flash

Dont bring too many clothes, raincoat not necessary most use umbrella if it rains, too hot for coat.

Pen, Notebook  is good to have, i keep that in backpack.
Set up a yahoo email account if you dont have one already, and email yourself important phone numbers etc passport number , cc numbers etc in case you lose them, you can access in internet cafe.

Hope this helps you some

... in response to Some Helpful tips for the first trip, posted by outwest77 on Oct 18, 2002

The ticket Holder i used was my lifeline in the airports.
The one i found was a book type with zipper side, which held my tickets, passport, and drivers license, easy to access all in a flash, If you get something like this, not that easy to find, but i found in  walmart, one which the tickets will fit without bending, you will hold on to it, like a friend, Just a suggestion, but i was very happy  to have it this trip, made things much easier and anyone who saw it was like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,wow where did u get that, thats real slick. hehe.
Its the little things that make ur trip easier lol

... in response to Flights to Cebu, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

You should look at flying Cathay Pacific- they are a very good airline and they have a flight that goes from the USA to Hong Kong to Cebu City. I have flown this routte and it is a nice way to go and the service even in coach is fine.
Their flights go through their US hubs of San Fran. and
Vancouver BC.

Nathan

... in response to Re: Flights to Cebu- Cathay Pacific, posted by Nathan on Oct 17, 2002

oops...I just moved Vancouver BC into the US as a USA hub...will they notice the annexation?

... in response to Flights to Cebu, posted by Rick C on Oct 17, 2002

[This message has been edited by outwest77]

I would fly china at your own risk, they are the cheapest, but they are also the most dangerous, see below airline safety records link
all major asian airlines usually have about 1.someting deaths per one million passenger miles, china has 7.6 on that site but that has not been updated, their most recent crash in april, killed 250 people flying out of tapei airport, no survivors, the plane just disintegrated in mid air, their average plane the fly is from the 1960s, they try hard but they just fly too old of planes, I flew them in april but i would not fly them again, last trip i flew cathay pacific, if you book through a good travel agent you shoudl be able to get a very good price this time of year, my agent is angeles travel

1-209-357-1610 Kristina..........if you want my travel site i made the link is...........
http://www.world-class-babes.com/travel.html

... in response to china airlines, posted by outwest77 on Oct 17, 2002

sory here is the correct link for travel site

http://www.world-class-babes.com/travel.html

Here is link for Airline Safety Records

http://www.airsafe.com/events/regions/asia.htm