You open a brokerage account and and the checking account is a like perk for the brokerage account. The same applies to the brokerage account. you get a debit card and can use it anywhere fee free.

The two accounts are linked together so if you withdrawl from your checking and theres no money there they just auto transfer from your brokerage account.

For Americans, the min balance is $0.01 fwiw

I got bit excited also about schwab but when i tried to open account it asked like some us id info. But if someone from uk was able to open it... I'm orginally from Finland but living in Philippines, so can i open it? Or does someone know something similar(minimal exhange/transfer fees) that is open for everyone?

Adding to the discussion... the Capital One VentureOne card is the credit card equivalent of the Charles Schwab account - no monthly/annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, good exchange rate, and decent rakeback as well. Really good for booking hotels, flights, etc.

On the topic of suits, search the thread or on styleforum. In short, you want to go to Hong Kong or Vietnam. Ascot Chang will be quite pricey - if it's anything like the HK branch, you're looking at minimum $1,000 for a suit. Also I have seen some King Philips suits and was not impressed.

Been back in Thailand a month now. I'll list below in alphabetical order, the things i miss about being in Manila.

Yep, it was mostly young European couples and groups. It certainly seems that the harder a place is to get to, the younger the crowd and the more pristine and untouched the locations are. Case in point, here is one of the islands in El Nido that could only be accessed via an island hopping tour:



Soft sand, soft waves, good snorkeling, and very peaceful as there was no development on the island except for a little sari-sari store where you could buy beer/snacks.

But, as crazy as this sounds, I wasn't too impressed with El Nido, in general. It's nice, but I've traveled around quite a bit in the Philippines and I think there are much better alternatives. Bantayan (island north of Cebu) has the best beach I've ever been to. Sohoton Cove (near Siargao and Surigao) blew my mind with its epic scenery and stingless jellyfish. Puerto Galera for a good combination of beaches, girls, mountains, diving, and island hopping. Boracay for beaches, watersports, good food, and partying.

Hey guys, anyone reccoemnd a good taylor in bangkok? My friend is having a wedding on the 12th and I arrive to BKK on 4th. Need to taylor a suit before the wedding.

thx

Was also wondering if the Schwab account is available for scandinavian costumers (am from Sweden). Does anyone know?

Im a US citizen but have been living in PH for 4+ years as a permanent resident, I tried opening a Schwab account a few months back and got this reply.

"Thank you for contacting Charles Schwab.

Unfortunately, we can not open any Schwab bank account for any international client including the U.S citizen who live overseas. We will be happy to help you when you move back to U.S.

Feel free to stop by our local branch after you move back to U.S. We will process your request as soon as possible."

Also the investor checking account is free with no balances or fees, but you have open a brokerage account with them first which is $1000.

+1 for Bantayan, that place is amazing.

do you have to use the brokerage account? or can the money just sit there?

do you have to use the brokerage account or can the money just sit there?

You open the brokerage and joint checking account at the same time and transfer it all to the checking side if you want. The brokerage side can be empty, there is no $1k minimum, idk where he got that from. I opened mine with a $10 bank xfer no problem when I was just seeing if it was legit and to get the card in the mail.

Thanks for that, will put Bantayan on the list for next trip to Cebu.

Planning to go to Davao at some point, Did surigao seem safe enough? Info is a bit scant on Mindanao, I know to avoid the far west, but other than that I'm interested in any info in other places you have been there.

Agree with the Euro couples things too btw (no Brits, French, Dutch etc in the main), that was what I saw in some of the random places I went too like Siquijor etc.

my mistake, i didnt read the fine print.

"The $1,000 minimum required to open an account is waived if you set up an automatic monthly transfer of $100 through direct deposit or Schwab MoneyLink or open a Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking account linked to your brokerage account."

where do you live? or where did you live when you opened the account?

I opened it in USA

Not sure this is what u want: http://www.schwab-global.com/public/...utside_the_us/
("A minimum of US$25,000 is required to open a Schwab One International account")

Would be interested to know if there's a better way for a non US/UK

Was just little while in surigao(going and coming from Siargao) but seemed safe enough. And Davao is def safe(as long as you use common sense)

My brother is in need of some major dental work (10k+USD, needs 4 implants). I'm already planning a trip over there, trying to convince my bro to cave in and experience full degen life, and we're trying to narrow down some choices. Does anyone have recs for a dentist or know anything about beverlyhills.ph?.. or any kind of independant site/forum with lots of unbiased foreigner reviews..

how long does a moneybookers transfer to a bank usually take? if its the first time will it take longer?

say i go get a bank account set up tomorrow and give moneybookers the account info could i have the money in my account by friday? monday?

This is something where I would do a good deal of research before committing to. Pretty sure you can find someone qualified, but you should triple check. Anyhow, I know that St. Luke's in Global City is a pretty good hospital, and that they have some good dentists

I went to this Dentist at the above hospital, and she seemed smart/qualified, but what you're talking about sounds not so run of the mill so I'm hesitant to suggest that you have her do it without doing any research on other dentists/making sure she's the right kind of dentist.

Fwiw, this hospital is one of the few that is JCI accredited (i.e. up to US standards), and it's super nice and modern. Her practice is tiny, but also super nice and modern looking.

Shirley Cheong-Teehankee
Room 840 Medical Arts Building,
32nd Street, Rizal Drive corner South Av,
Bonifacio Global City,
Taguig City
Mon-Sat 9-6
789-7700 loc.7840
Mob 0919 4272512
shirley_teehankee@yahoo.com

(found a review of her and this contact info here)
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2273972

these are places that i saw mentioned as competent dentists in PI when ressearching last year:


Rosero Dental Clinic in Makati and any branch of Dentista Inc (there should be a link to their site on page 183 of this thread if my notes are correct)


dentist in cebu:Ramon is the dentists name and below is his link and information
http://www.cebudentalservices.com/

Phone 253 2699

Our Address
Suite 307-A Ma Cristina Bldg II
Atop McDonald's Fuente
Fuente Osmena, Cebu City
Philippines 6000 "



Smile Makeover Dental Clinic in AC

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe dental implants are complicated procedures and one of the costliest. I personally go to Dentista for my checkups but I wouldn't go there for anything complicated. If I were you I'd really look into India or Vietnam, but if you have to do it in the Philippines, call up every dentist you can find and ask how much they charge and how much experience they have with dental implants. Make sure they are graduates of UP Dental and have an office in Makati/Fort. Here are some to start off with:

Dr. Pio Tripon
892-3249
2F Tesoro Bldg on Arnaiz Ave, Makati
http://www.tripondental.com

Winning Smiles
892-8189
Suite 10M Lower GF Cityland 3 Bldg, VA Rufino St, Legaspi Village, Makati

Dr. Geraldine Campos
815-6353 ext 2347
Makati Med

Dr. Marc Santayana
856-6766 ext 2153
Makati Med

Dr. Joyce Subardiaga
817-9649
108 Benavidez Street 3FL, Makati

Dr. Rannier Reyes
816-3997
Alexander House, Legaspi Village

anyone else find it really odd that someone would recommend checking out india for a dental/health related issue?


(not saying your wrong paul, im sure you know what your talking about, just not what i was expecting to read)

Hey guys,

I have been in the Philippines about 4 months now, and my spot in the Poker Mansion here in Cebu will be available Jan. 1 as i'll be moving into a condo. For more info on the place check out my post at the end of this thread (and more info in the thread itself):

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/92...l#post36034195

If you're interested in the spot IM /email me at sfpokerpro@yahoo.com

thanks!
Mike

Pattaya/Bangkok is the place to go for dentistry. They are everywhere.

I had a 4 tooth ceramic bridge made in Samui earlier this year for $1800. Pattaya would be 20% cheaper at least.

Prices I have seen quoted for implants are around 40-60k baht each, which is $1300-1800 USD.