Trip to Manila - A Review

(about Manila, Philippines, added on May 31, 2009)

Place

Manila is the capital of Philippines. Such a very huge city. I never seen anything like it. It has a lot to offer to every person who comes and visit the place.

The roads are huge It can fit around 3-4 cars, if I remember it rightly. There are even huge buildings with beautiful facade and architecture more of a modern style though. Traffic is quite unbelievable, long lines of vehicles going to different destinations.

Never had the chance to explore Manila and all of it. All I can say is that no wonder it became the capital of the Philippines due to it's fast development and economy.

People

The people there are much okay, when talking to them I was talking in Tagalog so that they can't recognize that I am from the province to avoid discrimination because I have heard stories from my fellow Cebuanos that they do get some discrimination but I forgot where though. 

The people in Manila were quite helpful the taxi driver who dropped us in an affordable hotela and who sent us to where the embassy is. The stories I have heard were not even true maybe because I acted normal and acted as a Filipino.

Money Wise

The fare roundtrip it costs about $120-150 for both of us. It was back in Aug. 2008.

We rode a taxi which is just outside the airport and oh it was expensive, the driver told us that he don't use meter. When in Cebu drivers used meters. I thought taxis in Manila also used meters. It costs us more just to drop off from the airport to a nearby affordable hotel.  Later on we rode another taxi and he had a meter which the usual in all taxis. Taxifare for the whole trip was about $50 more or less which we could have used in buying more food.

For the hotel it cost about $80-$100 for an overnight stay in a middle class hotel. The food was quite expensive there I was pretty shocked with the prices, there is quite a difference from Cebu prices on food.

Clothing was quite cheap in Manila. We had quite a bargain there in SM Mall of Asia.

Just for the trip for one day $200-$300 is the budget including airfare, taxi fares, hotel accomodation, food and a little bit of shopping.

Overall

When going to Manila for a trip it should be planned and budget should be a little bit higher in order not to be short. The people there are quite helpful and friendly as well. Taxis near the airport can be a ripped off. Just walk a little bit and ride a taxi which has a meter and it can save you a fortune.

Food was quite tasty but pricey and clothing there was remarkably cheap.