Good advice for travel

[Escapee]

I was given a list in work by a guy who was passing it on to his friend, it was hints and tips for visiting the Phillipines. He asked if I could get my filipino girlfriend to give her views.

There were such things as
"never discuss religion and your belifs with them"
"Always drink bottled water"
"always use a mosquito net"
"never travel at night"

etc etc

The one that made me smile was "always bargain hard because prices will be artificially inflated by 30% because you are white"

I asked her about this and she agreed, she took a friend from the UK back to the Philipines and said she had terrible trouble in the market, as they wanted to charge her friend almost double what she was paying. She said its very much the same for foreigners who settle in the Phillipines.

I bet you can guess my next question!

Would we be allowed to get away with it here?

I dont think so

[Paul]

I'm sure that no-one in this country tries to take advantage of anyone that cannot speak English when it could be of financial benefit to them Tourists will always be an easy target as they often don't know the language in use or the market price of what they are buying.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Paul

I'm sure that no-one in this country tries to take advantage of anyone that cannot speak English when it could be of financial benefit to them Tourists will always be an easy target as they often don't know the language in use or the market price of what they are buying.

She said it happens in shops as well though, different price for foreigners.

I thought it would be good to combat all the assylum seekers, but this government would probably just dish out some more money to them.

It seems like its a very common thing in the Phillipines, not something now and again. She said she would get up very early to go shopping without her friend because it was so much hassle taking her along. They even wanted to charge her more because she had a foreigner with her!

The guy in work who showed me the advice has been married to a filipino for 15+ years said it is the same when he visits, he was asking my girlfriends advice because she is from the south and his wife from the north.
Interestingly the North and South dont seem to get on, she said its a bit like the Welsh and the English when I asked.