Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Fares
Tickets range from P12 to P20 (at the time of writing
fares were expected to rise by P5-10). P100 stored value
tickets are also available.
streets. The destination is written on a sign in the front
window. Most vehicles are ageing contraptions bought
secondhand from Japan or Taiwan, and feature no
particular colour scheme; it's a matter of luck whether any
one bus has air conditioning.
Fares
Most fares range P15-20 for the first 5km, and
increase P2-2.20/km thereafter. As with jeepneys, tra
c
congestion will add travel time and even larger buses will
often be packed.
JEEPNEYS AND FX TAXIS
Jeepneys
are the cheapest way to get around, and they
run back and forth all over the city. At the time of writing
fares were expected to rise to P10 for the first 4km, and
increase by P1.75/km thereafter. Destinations are written
on signboards at the front.
FX taxis
You'll also see tiny minivans or “FX taxis”, usually
labelled UV Express, that zip between fixed points, usually
without stopping, for around P20-30 per ride. While
sometimes useful (linking SM Mall of Asia and Baclaran
station, for example), both forms of transport are usually
incredibly cramped, and tra
c congestion can make even
short journeys last hours.
TAXIS
Most Manila taxi drivers are honest these days and use
the meter, though some may still try and set prices in
advance or “forget” to switch it on (insist on the meter).
Taxis come in a confusing mix of models, colours and
shapes; most metered taxis are white (and often called
“white taxis” to differentiate them from the yellow airport
taxis that have higher fares).
Fares
Fares are good value and you'll save a lot of time
using white taxis over any other form of transport. The
metered rate is an initial P40 (for the first 500m), plus P3.50
for every 300m thereafter (every 2min waiting adds P1).
BUSES
Local buses in Manila bump and grind their way along
all major thoroughfares, such as Taft, EDSA and Gil Puyat
(Buendia) Avenue, but are not allowed on most side
INFORMATION
Tourist information
The Tourist Information Center
is located inside the Department of Tourism Building,
351 Sen Gil Puyat (Buendia) Ave (Mon-Fri 7am-6.30pm,
Sat 8am-5pm;
T
02 525 2000
W
visitmyphilippines.
com) in Makati. Plans are in the works for a dedicated
tourist information office for Manila, but don't hold
your breath.
Maps
Many bookshops (see p.98) sell the Accu-map range
of atlases (
W
www.accu-map.com), A-Z-like pocketbooks
that cover the whole of Metro Manila.
Listings
Daily newspapers such as the
Philippine Daily
Inquirer
(
W
inquirer.net) and the
Philippine Star
(
W
philstar
.com) have entertainment sections with details of movies,
concerts and arts events in Manila. Online, ClickTheCity
(
W
clickthecity.com) has an events calendar, movie and
gig guides and listings of restaurants and hotels.
TOURS AND ACTIVITIES
Tours
Filipino Travel Center, G/F
Palm Plaza Hotel
, 524
Pedro Gil St at M. Adriatico St, Ermita
T
02 528 4507,
W
filipinotravel.com.ph (Manila day-trips from P1700).
Also Walk This Way and Old Manila Walks (see box, p.62).
Dive operators
Adventure Bound G/F, GBI Building, 2282
Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati
T
02 813 2067,
W
adventure
bound.com.ph; Scuba World, 1181 Pablo Ocampo St
T
02
895 3551,
W
scubaworld.com.ph.
ACCOMMODATION
Most of Manila's budget accommodation is in the Manila Bay area, specifically in the enclaves of
Ermita
and
Malate
,
which also have a high density of cheap restaurants, bars and tourist services. In recent years a number of reasonably priced
mid-range hotels have sprung up, as well as several five-star places along Manila Bay, joining the historic
Manila Hotel
. In
the business district of
Makati
, there's some mid-range accommodation in and around P. Burgos St at the northern end of
Makati Ave, beyond the
Mandarin Oriental Manila
. This is close to the red-light district, so if you want somewhere else in
Makati try the somewhat anaemic but comfortable chain hotels in Arnaiz Ave (formerly Pasay Rd), behind the Greenbelt
mall. The hotels in
Quezon City
are almost all around Timog Ave and Tomas Morato Ave, close to the nightlife; if you're
planning to catch an early bus from Cubao it might be worth considering staying here. If you have an early flight and a bit
more cash to spend there are some convenient and luxurious options close to the airport.
pp.60-61.
Fabulous luxury hotel, right across from
Terminal 3 (with free shuttle bus to all terminals). Stylish
rooms come with flatscreen TVs and funky bathrooms with
AIRPORT AREA
PASAY CITY
Manila Marriott Hotel
10 Newport Blvd, Newport
City Complex
T
02 988 9999,
W
marriott.com; map
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
JEEPNEYS, MAKATI; STREET FOOD, BACLARAN MARKET
P.100
; ILALIM NG TULAY
P.75
; SENTRO 1771
P.92
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