Travel tales and tips for places to go in Manila, Philippines by asiahotels.com

Traveller's Tales: Places to go and see 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.
Guest has requested to remain anonymous	01 August 2005
Stayed at Prince Plaza II - Manila, Philippines.
Metro Manila is quite and interesting place with and interesting mixture friendly people. People who are shopping oriented can find most of anything they need. People like myself who like to sample various ethnic foods, will find this city rewarding. I enjoyed my trips to Baguio,Cabanatuan and Tagaytay learning some of the cultural aspects. On my next visit, I promise myself a trip to Boracay.
C Gundayao	04 July 2005
Stayed at Prince Plaza II - Manila, Philippines.
In Makati at Glorietta--try the Cabalen restaurant--filipino buffet for only 260 pesos--good food. In Boracay, there's Jona's shake. And while in Boracay, stay at Escondido, though not a beachfront hotel, is one of the best kept secrets in the island...Find out for yourself why.
G San juan	01 July 2005
Stayed at Lotus Garden Hotel Manila - Manila, Philippines.
We visited Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. We stayed at the Vigan Plaza Hotel in Ilocos Sur. Very beautiful Hotel and great location. Highly recommend. We also visited Baguio. Be wary of people offering homes for rent. We were offered a 3 bedroom house for 5,000 pesos. We later found out it was an agent and the actual cost of the house was only 2,700 pesos! I would recommend staying at a hotel. Never will we do that again!
L Neubauer	29 May 2005
Stayed at Dusit Hotel Nikko - Manila, Philippines.
We were fortunate enough to go to the rice fields at Banaue as well as Pagsanjan Falls which I would also recommend and last year took in Baguio City and Boracay. Only the best and strongest minded drivers should attempt to rent a car and drive in Manila but Makati is fair once you understand the filipino way of driving.
E Marcos	28 May 2005
Stayed at Fraser Place Serviced Residences - Manila, Philippines.
Lake Taal was an incredible place to visit. It is located in Cavite towards Laguna so accessiblity from Manila was easy. The scenery was breath taking. The climate was cool and pleasant because of the higher elevation. This volcano within a lake is a must see. The restaurants that overlook this panoramic view are all excellent as the serve traditional to modern cuisine. This was the culminating point of our trip. Every picture we took developed into a picture perfect postcard.
M Fraser	26 May 2005
Stayed at Dusit Hotel Nikko - Manila, Philippines.
I took a half day tour through the hotel (cost about USD30) which took me to the American War Cemetery, through the wealthy suburbs of Makati and up to old Manila... what a contrast, and though the old Spanish settlement and Intramurous... it is worthwhile doing... other than that I got around using the hotel taxis or on foot... Makati is quite safe and the people in the area very friendly.
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.
R Wellerding	10 May 2005
Stayed at Manila Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
be very careful of the local street horse carriages...be very certain to agree on price before getting in...they will change currencies, say they gave price by the minute, or say by the person..etc. be very careful. Be sure to vist the American War Memorial...very beautiful and moving. Visit the Churches...amazing history and relics! The old spanish fortress is very close...within walking distance! The Strip by the Ocean is perfect for night walk...with drinks and live music... a must do for anyone visiting!
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.

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