Maybe its just to simple. Maybe its just so easy, and makes to much sense, that's why The Philippines authority's cant really get it.. I never thought to be a real smart man, or never thought I could be a world leader, or come up with a cure for cancer, or change the world in some way. Never thought I was smart enough for that. But, maybe I am smarter than I think, maybe ,,actually ,,its so simple and common sense and easy, that it did not require enough brain work or education to figure out. Maybe this is why the problems with tourism here in Philippines can be fixed.
Lets see, Some of the major problems and bad reputations for tourism come from
Taxi Drivers - Overcharging, not running meter, ect......
Fix ----- Have it a national law, if you are caught doing this, YOU ARE FIRED AND LOOSE YOU LICENCES
Street Vendors Scamming Tourist - They are everywhere, very easily seen, very easily watched.
Fix - Lets see, why not just set watch them, arrest them, and take their stocks of what they are selling....
Children running up to car windows at intersections - They do it everywhere, in middle of busy intersections and main highways. In front of business and on streets....
Fix - Well it would seem that police should stop and remove them. Find the parents and fine them, take the children to children services.
Helpers to find taxi's, parking, and many things - They are always doing this and aggravating for tips. They are always after the tourist.
Fix - Business owners - don't allow them to stand outside your business.
Government - Don't allow them to stand on the roadsides and on public sidewalks in front of business and do this. Make it illegal, and put stiff penalty's on anyone who does it..
They are many more. Some might say, well you cant stop this, it cant be fixed here in Philippines. It cant be done.... Well I am here to tell you it can be done. The Jungle Restaurant and Cultural Entertainment Center does it everyday. Let me show you how it works..
If a child is standing in front of my business - I tell him to move, you can not stand here and do that. If he comes back or refuses, I go to the parents and tell them, please keep you child off my property. I don't want my customers aggravated with that.... If that don't work, then each time they get close to the property I yell at them. Get away, or I call the police..
If someone is trying to sell something or vend something in front of my business. I tell them that's not allowed here, you have to move. If they don't move, I tell them again. You will have to move, or I will call the local barangay and have you removed. Plus I will check to see if you have a street vendors licenses for this...
Tricycles and " helpers try to park in front of my business to wait for customers".. I tell them, you can not do that here. You are welcome to park across the road, but you can not bunch up here in front and all of you stand around. Wont happen here, move it now. For the helpers, i tell them. The customer don't need you to flag down a taxi for them. I have staff who does that. Plus many customers are very capable of doing it on their own. If they need you they will call for you. You are welcome to stand over on the side of the property and if someone asks your assistance you can come. Do NOT approach or aggravate my customers, its NOT ALLOWED here.
When someone brings a guest to my business, they are more than welcome to their commissions and free drinks for their hard work and helping the Jungle. But when they tell me, now i want my commission and also add on large amount to the bill for me also.. They don't know... I simply say, THAT IS NOT ALLOWED HERE. You will get your commission you earned, but you will not take advantage of a tourist or scam them in my place. If you don't like my rules, then don't come back here again.... If you want to earn your commission ( which is very good ) then you are welcome. I will not be a part or allow any tourist to be scammed here...
When guides come in and bring guests. I am very happy. When the guide then comes and says, OK I don't want to stay long, please cut the shows short so I can go home early... I reply, SORRY THAT WONT HAPPEN HERE. These tourist paid for this, and they deserve the best possible treatment. Its not right, nor respectful to short change them because you don't want to do your job. The agency in which you work for, has sold this package to the customer. I am sure they don't want their guests treated in this way. NOR will I allow them to be treated this way..
If guest of The Jungle have a reservation problem, or a staff member can not answer their questions properly. Or they can not order something because they are out of stocks. OR my staff is rude, or mess up the orders. Two things happen here at The Jungle. My customer is either returned his money, or he is given what he wants with my deepest apology and I will make it right to him. Second thing that is done, I have a meeting with the staff. Then I will find out who is responsible for the failure and who's job it was. They are immediately suspended, or fined, or terminated. Depending on the servility of the failure... NO EXCUSES...
My dancers perform daily. They have a set of requirements in which make them the best on Mactan and in Cebu. Even if those do not fit within their comfort level or what they feel like doing. I will tell them simple, this is what you are required to do, I don't want to hear your excuses for failing. They will be no failures here. If you cant do the job, I will find someone who will replace you. I will not accept any excuses for failure. You are given the right opportunity to practice, you are fed, you are given the tools in which you need to do your job. If you are shy, or too lazy, or don't like that action or don't like this action. I DON'T CARE. You will do it, you will do it properly, or you wont work here. NO EXCUSES........ ( This goes also for other staffing )
If my CR's are not clean, If my staff overcharges, if they try to solicit tips, if they are not on time, if they are not in uniform, if they are texting, if they are acting silly, if they are having stand by outside waiting to talk to them. If the food is not done properly, if they try at any time to implement their own ways or likes or dislikes into the business, they will be terminated or fined severely each and every time. NO EXCUSES...
If I find any corruption in book keeping, staffing, tips, under the table deals, scams against my customers or suppliers, kickbacks or anything like that. The police is called immediately and they will have to face criminal charges. ( If applicable ) ITS NOT ALLOWED HERE. NO EXCUSES..... I fully push and keep up the effort and make sure it goes through the courts..
Now they say this cant be done. It's impossible. Well here at The Jungle Restaurant and Cultural Entertainment, they is none of these problems. We have stop ed all this. I don't have a PHD or anything... So how come the others cant just follow these simple instructions also. Its really not a hard thing, or a real brain storm. Its just simple common sense. Maybe it so simple, no one can get it. Maybe i should send this to the Presidents office.
So the biggest thing I would like to hear from other business owners, police officers, government officials. WHY CANT YOU DO THIS ALSO. Me, a simple small country boy from Kentucky changed a small area in Maribago. I am nothing.... If I can do it, why cant anyone else or the country do it...
You say it wont work.... Well that's excuse..... The Jungle Restaurant and Cultural Entertainment Center is Ranked by the World's Leading Travel Guide, THE No.1 RESTAURANT ON MACTAN ISLAND. PLUS THE NO.1 IN POPULARITY IN THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g667507-d1483128-r60899763-The_Jungle_Restaurant-Mactan_Island_Cebu_Visayas.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294245-Philippines-Vacations.html
We accomplished this by doing the things stated above. So if it worked for us, why don't other business, government, police want to do the same thing.... If we can do it, other surely can do it also... I will say The Jungle still makes some mistakes sometimes, we are not perfect. But when we do make a mistake, we learn from it, we make it better, we change it.
ITS REALLY THIS SIMPLE........
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mactan Island Resorts - Save Money and Time
Mactan Island Resorts - Shangri - la, White Sands, Maribago Blue Water, BE Resorts, Tambuli East, Tambuli West, Costabella, Hilton, Plantation Bay, Imperial Palace. All of these resorts offer a great and wonderful vacation experience. Each one with their own appeal and offers in which you can find what will fit your wants and budget best...
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g667507-Mactan_Island_Cebu_Visayas-Hotels.html
WARNING ::: WARNING ::: Living here and being around the resorts for over 8 years now, please listen to this advice. The resorts are nice, and i am not against them. But they are certain things I believe you should know, that you will not be told and will be hidden from you.
The resorts will try very hard to " TRAP YOU INSIDE" . What i mean to say is this, they will make it very difficult, and even advise you against going out of the resort. They will tell you they are no meter taxi available, they will have you to walk to the main gate for a taxi. They will give other business you have reservations booked with a hard time in getting you. They do this in the hopes you will say its too much trouble and I will just stay inside the resort.
TAXI - Ok, here's how this one will work. The resorts and hotels all have their own taxi or transport. It costs you about twice as much as the normal meter taxi from outside. Most of them will or do not allow meter taxi on their property. So if you ask for a meter taxi, they will tell you you have to walk to the main gate, or if you protest enough, some will call you one. But they will make the process very slow and aggravating, so you will not want to do it the next time. Some of the resorts the gate is far from the main building, and sometimes they will not even supply you a transport to the gate. Again if you protest, they will get one, but they will make it very aggravating and time consuming.
HOW TO FIX THIS - Most all other restaurants, tours, places to go, things to do on Mactan Island offer free hotel pick up and drop off. Remember to ask if you decide to go out to a restaurant or activity ask them if they have free hotel pick up and drop off. If they do not, then ask and demand for a meter taxi early. Give your self about 30 minutes before you want to leave so they can time their normal slow time in getting you a taxi. Or you can also walk yourself to the main gate and ask the guard to call you a taxi. Don't let them tell you one is not available. That is not TRUE. They know where the taxi's are and how to get them..
NOTHING TO DO OUTSIDE THE RESORTS - This is a absolute LIE. Mactan Island holds a great wealth of things to do and see outside the resorts. This is a common practice used by the resorts to discourage you from going out. They want you to spend all your money inside, at lot more expensive prices. Don't expect any staffing or guards to tell you anything. They are trained and also have penalty or even termination if they recommend or tell anything outside the resort to do. Most of the resorts were located in out of the way areas, I believe just for the fact that it would make it harder to get out and find things to do. Most resorts and hotels here will not allow flyer's, or other establishment to put any kind of tourist information about Mactan Island inside their resorts. You will also hear that its not safe, and you should not travel outside the resort. THAT IS LIE. I will agree that they are places that are not safe, but those places hold no interest to a traveler and would not be in those areas walking around anyway. All of the places of interest and restaurants , activities on Mactan Island is very, very safe.
WAY TO FIX THIS - Research and The Internet. Get on the Internet and find things close to your resort. Search for things to do on Mactan Island. Find a business owned by a foreigner from your country, or any foreigner and you can feel comfortable with the advice he will give you. I will agree that listening to the locals, they usually have a hidden agenda in their recommendations. Not all, but most.. Get the Free hotel pick and drop off options from the other establishments. REMEMBER - The resorts will still give those persons a hard time picking you up sometimes. So its up to you to tell the front desk, you are being picked up by ????????? and you expect they will be no trouble with that. As a customer of the resort you have to stand up and say, This is my decision and my transport from ??????. As your guest i suggest you should not cause any delay or any issue with this.
ALL INCLUSIVE OPTIONS - BEWARE of this. Most of the higher end resorts will always try to include with the rooms a inclusive dinner packages. I will agree that you should always take the breakfast package, because breakfast outside is very hard to find on Mactan Island. But be very careful of the inclusions for dinner and lunch packages. Once you do it, its done. If you don't like it, or its not great quality, NO REFUNDS. Plus they do this also again, to keep you inside the resort. Another main thing, is that some of the inclusive packages they will include contain shows of different styles. Hawaiian, Filipino Cultural, and many others. You will find many travelers who will tell you, these shows are very short and of poor quality. You pay a large expensive price for them, but they are not very good with poor performers. Read here what some travelers have said about this issue:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g667507-d1483128-Reviews-The_Jungle_Restaurant-Mactan_Island_Cebu_Visayas.html
HOW TO FIX THIS - Of course, you should not accept the inclusive deals, unless you know for sure and have experienced them before. You should make your decisions as you go. So not to lock yourself into something , that you end up waisting your time and money for.
So for all in all i can end up with telling you this. If you like to stay in the resorts and not travel out much. You for sure can find good foods, and some nice things to do inside the resorts. I by no means am telling you the resorts are not good. Actually most of them are very nice, and very comfortable. I am just writing this to let you know, if you want to go outside the resorts on Mactan Island, they are lots of great choices, and cheaper places, with good quality also. I am telling you this because they will not tell you....
THINGS TO DO ON MACTAN ISLAND - CLOSE TO ALL THE MACTAN ISLAND RESORTS
1. Mactan Island Aquarium
2. The Jungle Filipino Cultural Center - Restaurant and Cultural Shows
3. Maribago Grill - Restaurant
4. Fun, Sun, Dive Inc. - Dive, Island Hopping, Jet Skis, Para Sailing, Snorkeling.
5. Mr. Hamms - Resto Bar - Daily Acoustic Music Lounge
6. Datag Filipino Public Market
7. Soong Lapu Lapu Sports Complex - Cock Fights every Weekend
8. Won Spa
Places and activities very close to ALL MACTAN ISLAND RESORTS
1. Mactan Shrine
2. Amazing Show - All gay performers
3. Gusiano Grand Mall and many restaurants 2 locations
4. Red CoCo - Shows
5. Sea Walker - Underwater Sea Walk
6. Mactan Shrine Native Shell Arts and Crafts
7. Algre Guitar Factory - Handmade Guitars
8. Shooting Range
Plus the hundreds of fine restaurants, nightlife, islands, historical sites. These are all famous and established places that tourist at the resorts are not told about. There is a great wealth of things to do. Lot of public beaches, that are never spoken of. Lot of local life to experience. Lot of high end places to experience also.....
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g667507-Mactan_Island_Cebu_Visayas-Hotels.html
WARNING ::: WARNING ::: Living here and being around the resorts for over 8 years now, please listen to this advice. The resorts are nice, and i am not against them. But they are certain things I believe you should know, that you will not be told and will be hidden from you.
The resorts will try very hard to " TRAP YOU INSIDE" . What i mean to say is this, they will make it very difficult, and even advise you against going out of the resort. They will tell you they are no meter taxi available, they will have you to walk to the main gate for a taxi. They will give other business you have reservations booked with a hard time in getting you. They do this in the hopes you will say its too much trouble and I will just stay inside the resort.
TAXI - Ok, here's how this one will work. The resorts and hotels all have their own taxi or transport. It costs you about twice as much as the normal meter taxi from outside. Most of them will or do not allow meter taxi on their property. So if you ask for a meter taxi, they will tell you you have to walk to the main gate, or if you protest enough, some will call you one. But they will make the process very slow and aggravating, so you will not want to do it the next time. Some of the resorts the gate is far from the main building, and sometimes they will not even supply you a transport to the gate. Again if you protest, they will get one, but they will make it very aggravating and time consuming.
HOW TO FIX THIS - Most all other restaurants, tours, places to go, things to do on Mactan Island offer free hotel pick up and drop off. Remember to ask if you decide to go out to a restaurant or activity ask them if they have free hotel pick up and drop off. If they do not, then ask and demand for a meter taxi early. Give your self about 30 minutes before you want to leave so they can time their normal slow time in getting you a taxi. Or you can also walk yourself to the main gate and ask the guard to call you a taxi. Don't let them tell you one is not available. That is not TRUE. They know where the taxi's are and how to get them..
NOTHING TO DO OUTSIDE THE RESORTS - This is a absolute LIE. Mactan Island holds a great wealth of things to do and see outside the resorts. This is a common practice used by the resorts to discourage you from going out. They want you to spend all your money inside, at lot more expensive prices. Don't expect any staffing or guards to tell you anything. They are trained and also have penalty or even termination if they recommend or tell anything outside the resort to do. Most of the resorts were located in out of the way areas, I believe just for the fact that it would make it harder to get out and find things to do. Most resorts and hotels here will not allow flyer's, or other establishment to put any kind of tourist information about Mactan Island inside their resorts. You will also hear that its not safe, and you should not travel outside the resort. THAT IS LIE. I will agree that they are places that are not safe, but those places hold no interest to a traveler and would not be in those areas walking around anyway. All of the places of interest and restaurants , activities on Mactan Island is very, very safe.
WAY TO FIX THIS - Research and The Internet. Get on the Internet and find things close to your resort. Search for things to do on Mactan Island. Find a business owned by a foreigner from your country, or any foreigner and you can feel comfortable with the advice he will give you. I will agree that listening to the locals, they usually have a hidden agenda in their recommendations. Not all, but most.. Get the Free hotel pick and drop off options from the other establishments. REMEMBER - The resorts will still give those persons a hard time picking you up sometimes. So its up to you to tell the front desk, you are being picked up by ????????? and you expect they will be no trouble with that. As a customer of the resort you have to stand up and say, This is my decision and my transport from ??????. As your guest i suggest you should not cause any delay or any issue with this.
ALL INCLUSIVE OPTIONS - BEWARE of this. Most of the higher end resorts will always try to include with the rooms a inclusive dinner packages. I will agree that you should always take the breakfast package, because breakfast outside is very hard to find on Mactan Island. But be very careful of the inclusions for dinner and lunch packages. Once you do it, its done. If you don't like it, or its not great quality, NO REFUNDS. Plus they do this also again, to keep you inside the resort. Another main thing, is that some of the inclusive packages they will include contain shows of different styles. Hawaiian, Filipino Cultural, and many others. You will find many travelers who will tell you, these shows are very short and of poor quality. You pay a large expensive price for them, but they are not very good with poor performers. Read here what some travelers have said about this issue:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g667507-d1483128-Reviews-The_Jungle_Restaurant-Mactan_Island_Cebu_Visayas.html
HOW TO FIX THIS - Of course, you should not accept the inclusive deals, unless you know for sure and have experienced them before. You should make your decisions as you go. So not to lock yourself into something , that you end up waisting your time and money for.
So for all in all i can end up with telling you this. If you like to stay in the resorts and not travel out much. You for sure can find good foods, and some nice things to do inside the resorts. I by no means am telling you the resorts are not good. Actually most of them are very nice, and very comfortable. I am just writing this to let you know, if you want to go outside the resorts on Mactan Island, they are lots of great choices, and cheaper places, with good quality also. I am telling you this because they will not tell you....
THINGS TO DO ON MACTAN ISLAND - CLOSE TO ALL THE MACTAN ISLAND RESORTS
1. Mactan Island Aquarium
2. The Jungle Filipino Cultural Center - Restaurant and Cultural Shows
3. Maribago Grill - Restaurant
4. Fun, Sun, Dive Inc. - Dive, Island Hopping, Jet Skis, Para Sailing, Snorkeling.
5. Mr. Hamms - Resto Bar - Daily Acoustic Music Lounge
6. Datag Filipino Public Market
7. Soong Lapu Lapu Sports Complex - Cock Fights every Weekend
8. Won Spa
Places and activities very close to ALL MACTAN ISLAND RESORTS
1. Mactan Shrine
2. Amazing Show - All gay performers
3. Gusiano Grand Mall and many restaurants 2 locations
4. Red CoCo - Shows
5. Sea Walker - Underwater Sea Walk
6. Mactan Shrine Native Shell Arts and Crafts
7. Algre Guitar Factory - Handmade Guitars
8. Shooting Range
Plus the hundreds of fine restaurants, nightlife, islands, historical sites. These are all famous and established places that tourist at the resorts are not told about. There is a great wealth of things to do. Lot of public beaches, that are never spoken of. Lot of local life to experience. Lot of high end places to experience also.....
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