Best Posts in Thread: How to save money while traveling in Dumaguete

Sadly though, this is why a lot of people i have talked to in aus about here, people who have been here a few times before,
are not coming back here, going to south vietnam and thailand instead because the attitude of ripping off the foreigner is not as bad
there as it is here ..................

 

I was in the Dumaguete port area the other day. There was a trike driver and two foreign tourist discussing fare rate with the driver. Obviously not all of them, particularly the tourists, were happy with the negotiations. I almost stepped forward to help them out. The trike driver could see me listen, and did not want me to be part of the discussion for the obvious reasons. He even noted to me that he was taking them to Dauin and it was a long ways. Most likely after dropping them off and collecting his fare, he would send his family Cebu for a weeks vacations at a resort with his profits from the tourist fare. What I am trying to say is they were targeted as easy marks.In this case because they were identified as not knowing enough information to make a wise decisions while negotiating the prices., i would have advised these tourist to use a combination of travel methods including the bus to Dauin. They would have probably saved about 70% on their travel costs and had a much more pleasant ride also. However they never asked so they were at the mercy of the trike driver's very self serving information.

Here is how you save money here when traveling:
Do ask locals to help you for finding things and places, particularly if they are foreigner and are willing to guide you a little.
Do not look like a tourist to anyone selling anything that does not have a price tag on it when you walk up to it; because you will pay a lot more than the locals pay.
Ovoid carrying a fully packed back pack as that instantly identifies you as a tourist mark. (Use a local (Robinson, Lee Plaza) plain plastic bag... looking like you are a local expat living on a survival budget not on a luxurious vacation budget.
Do not carry a tourist guide book (like lonely planet, etc) around with you insight of others because prices will increase a lot for you as the identified tourist mark.
Do not look vulnerable or lost even if you are.
Do not let a trike driver deliver you to a local resort, as his only motivation will be to get his kick back, and you will most likely pay the additional cost for your stay.

Please post additional hints on how to save the tourist here some money on their first visit. Maybe they will buy you a beer and reduce you beverage budget for the day.

 

Rented one of those types on siquijor--an XRM with the loosest steering and virturally inoperative brakes. With rentals---ALWAYS check them out beforehand, especially steering, tires and brakes.

 

One of the few things that you can be very sure of here is there is another trike not far away that will accept your fare

 

If you negotiate, including walking away you may be able to get a 125 Honda (xlr ?) with no clutch for easy driving for about 200 P a day for 4 days. The area with the most bikes for rent I am familiar with is right up the street from the C & L Bay View Hotel, in the area of the Yamaha Dealer (across the street and around the corner). The guy on the corner is a little more expensive because he washes the bikes between uses.

 

I agree, I have almost always found the aircon comfortable taxi cheaper than the uncomfortable trikes of Dumaguete.

The trike driver was very obviously trying to keep me away from the negotiations so I could not hear what he was quoting. He was aware that I was ready to pounce before he skinned this young couple if I heard his price.

In this case the Trike was parked by Harold Mansion, so it probably was not under the jurisdiction of the posted rates. Even if it was under the rate jurisdictions the trike drivers just ignore those rates if it you miss seeing the posting, just like the baggage handlers do. Personally I find the trikes about the most uncomfortable ride available, particularly after I "unwind" my body after getting out of the small passenger compartment. If you are up to it, it is cheaper to rent a motorcycle and go where ever you want to go if you are traveling much, and paying tourist rates in the Trikes. i use a bus for anything over 7 Km on the highway, and then using a local trike. The bus is a much more comfortable ride to me. I take the Ceres bus to Bacong for 20 P, the multicab for 10, and the trike well .... 150 to 250 P if they can get it out of you.

 

Renting in Trike for Dummies: (or new residents to the friendly City of scam artists masquerading as trike drivers ) Part 1

Know where you want to going, and act like you know where it is, showing any unwariness on your part makes the drivers feel like you are Santa, and Christmas has arrived.

Do not ask the driver where a place is located or how far it is, as your have just demonstrated you lack of the local area , and may have the opportunity of travel a little distance out of our way for a higher fee.

Do not ask for them to take you to a hotel or restaurant... be specific. They may get "kick backs" for delivering guests to locations. Their personal economic interests will surmount you need to have a good place to eat or sleep.

Do not stop to eat and ask the driver to wait for you to finish as you are heading to your destination. Leave the trike and get another when done eating. They will assume you are buying them a meal also, or will charge you through the butt again.

When renting a trike Always ask the fee before putting your butt in the seat or the driver will have your economic @ss for dinner.

Always have a natives ask the price, do not be seen with the native before coming upon the trike. The fee will be 12% to 50% of the fee they will quote you as a newbie. Have the native tell them the number of people that is going to ride (as you hid in the bushes... opps no plant growth in Dumaguete, so hid behind a beggar ) so they do not try to jack you around when you show up.

Following these suggestion should reduce your travel costs.