Travel tales and tips for getting around in Manila, Philippines by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Getting around in Manila, Philippines

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K Bumgarner	07 August 2005
Stayed at Copacabana Apartment Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
Restaurant: Harbour View on the Pier!!!! Outstanding food - a different experience (and we went three times!!!!) Fed 9 people for the equivalent of $100.00 USD!!!!! And everyone was stuffed like a Christmas goose with everything from Female Crab (and I never knew that there was any 'significant' difference (more meat on the female) to Steaks to Veggie favorites. It is not a fancy place and it is somewhat slow for service... But the price, the food and the experience - it can not be beat in Manila for family dining!!! Unless you are under 5 feet, stay away from the Jeepneys and the trikes...Metered taxis (or if you stay at the Copa, the associated taxi/limos) are the way to go. It is actually much nicer and not all that more expensive to take the taxi/limo from the Copa to your destination and HAVE THE DRIVER WAIT for you for other destinations or the return to the hotel. 9/10 times, picking up a cab at the location and trying to get back to the hotel can be hair-raising and expensive not to mention time consuming while the driver tries to find the hotel. ( You will see some interesting things though!!!) CAUTION: The best drug store in Manila is the chain Mercury... BUT - they require a prescription for EVERYTHING including what is an over-the-counter item anywhere else in the world. And - they sell by the tablet - not by the bottle or box. You can find some smaller drug stores that will sell w/o but they do not always have what your are looking for. BEST: BRING ENOUGH OF YOUR PRESCRIPTION and non-prescription items with you for your stay. It is best not to have to rely on the local outlets for your needs.
K Torii	06 August 2005
Stayed at Fraser Place Serviced Residences - Manila, Philippines.
Moving around Manila by car was not a bad experience this time. The roads got better, less traffic jams, rental car was good idea, especially if you are traveling with family. But this is of course if you do not mind driving and you have driven in Philippines before.
T Niess	30 May 2005
Stayed at Atrium Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
Jeepney is most economical means of transportation. Negotiate taxi rates in advance,else you may be taken for a ride. I actually ate cooked food at corner stands without a problem. I liked it, even after I found out I was eating pig intestine.
P Lo	24 May 2005
Stayed at Lotus Garden Hotel Manila - Manila, Philippines.
Should be very careful and conscious for Taxi Expenses since most drivers skip the meter but charge you a high rate; Be careful for most of the Money Changer on the street because most of them play many different tricks to cheat you, thus, remember to change your money in the Banks only; the last point should be beared in mind of check-in at the Airport as earlier as you can owing to the very poor efficience for the Airlines, Security and Immigration Officials overthere.
S Kiebooms	23 May 2005
Stayed at Bayview Park Hotel Manila - Manila, Philippines.
The philippines are great, but hot and humid. Bring plenty of T-shirts and light trousers or shorts and sandals or semiclosed shoes. I traveled from Manila to Puerto Galera. Obviously looking as a foreigner, I was initially annoyed by vendors and beggars, but I learned quickly that after a firm 'no' they would leave you alone. Keep some small change at hand (20 or 50 pesos bills per suitcase) for porters if you have a lot of luggage and if they ask for more money, just be firm if what you have given is reasonable. Cabs in Manila are cheap, but negotiate the rate on beforehand if possible.
J Drake	10 May 2005
Stayed at BSA SUITES - Manila, Philippines.
As far as location goes, this place is a little out of the way. It is in Makati, but not close enough to the points of interest for a walk. We found ourselves taking taxis everywhere from here since there are no jeepneys to be found here. This is good and bad since it tends to be much quieter without the jeepneys. Also, when you are out in the Pasay City area, many of the taxi drivers are not familiar with this location. You will need to help them find the place. I recommend that you memorize the street it is located on and find some landmarks that will get you there.
M Jennifer madria	10 May 2005
Stayed at Atrium Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
Only spent a few days in Manila and gave up on the idea of renting a car. I always thought New Yorkers were crazy drivers but dont compare to the ones in Manila. Cabs are not too expensive as long as you don't use the hotel cab. Also spent seven days in Boracay.... truly beautiful.
R Taningco	01 May 2005
Stayed at BSA TOWER - Manila, Philippines.
I travel to the Philippines every year, yet there always seems to be something new. High-rises are sprouting like mushrooms as open land in urban areas are becoming scarce. New clubs and restaurants are constantly being opened or revamped to meet the locals' changing tastes. Americana is quite popular, since a lot of Filipinos view Westerners through the eyes of Hollywood. There are some things that, for better or worse, stay the same. Filipino drivers are still extremely undisciplined, so do yourself a favor and DON'T DRIVE! Get a friend or hire a driver to do it. Customer service at most establishments is always good if not exceptional. CSRs at most stores and restaurants are attentive but not pushy, and seem genuinely friendly. Thanks to the favorable US $ to peso exchange rate, locally-made goods can be had at bargain prices. The Landmark Mall is a great place to shop for such items. (Unfortunately, if you're on the "hefty" side, you may find it difficult to find clothes that fit.) On the food front, Gerry's Grill is great for native dishes. You MUST try their grilled blue marlin belly. Try Kimpura for Japanese or the Jade Garden for Chinese. Other good places to eat are Oody's (sp) and Dad's. Of course, McDonald's, KFC and such are all over the place if you're looking for a quick bite. If you want to get out of the concrete jungle, visit the Taal volcano in Tagaytay, about 90 minutes drive from Makati. It's a small active volcano in the middle of a lake. Interestingly, the lake itself is actually the mouth of a massive volcano. Poverty is still a huge problem in many places, and you will see it any time you travel outside the urban centers. If you don't have the stomach for it, you should limit your travels to "tourist-friendly" areas.
S Grainger	29 April 2005
Stayed at Palm Plaza Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
The Philippines are a wonderful place to visit, we come every year and are still not fed up with it. There is such a varied and wonderful number of places to visit to see all the different cultures here. There are planes, air-con buses, and local transports to use, all of which are safe and reliable. I love to return here and plan to retire here.
G Corpuz	13 April 2005
Stayed at Holiday Inn Galleria Manila - Manila, Philippines.
Getting point to point in Manila is very accessible if you have a car but Manila or Ortigas Center where this hotel is located is very Metropolitan in nature this hotel has an access to various types of transportation. They have jeepneys which is so cheap, buses where it is so convenient and people friendly. Of course we have railway transit which every huge cosmopolitan city in the world has it's own. The food facilities are so western in style. Just make sure about people who you go with.

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