... They have been described as the
Latin Americans of South East Asia and most certainly they are markedly different from Malays,Thais,Vietnamese or Indonesians.
Manila,the capital and chief city of the Philippines is also very much the artistic and commercial capital. It is located in ... Read review
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
...four times and I like the city. More specifically I like the Fillipinos who are warm and friendly,very hospitable and have a thoroughly infectious love of life. They have been described as the
Latin Americans of South East Asia and most certainly they are markedly different from Malays,Thais,Vietnamese or Indonesians.
Manila,the capital and chief city of the Philippines is also very much the artistic and commercial capital. ... ...air communications with the US, Europe, Australia and regional centres in Asia.
Night life is alive and well in Manila and it is comparatively cheap; much cheaper,for example,than Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong.The favourite beer in town in San Miguel which is owned by a company based in the Philippines.
Makati is a sophisticated district and here you will find the stamping ground of the well-heeled,rich,Fillipinos. ... more
I have been to Manila four times and I like the city. More specifically I like the Fillipinos who are warm and friendly,very hospitable and have a thoroughly infectious love of life. They have been described as the Latin Americans of South East Asia and most certainly they are markedly different from Malays,Thais,Vietnamese or Indonesians.
Manila,the capital and chief city of the Philippines is also very much the artistic and commercial capital. It is located in Central Luzon Island and enjoys good air communications with the US, Europe, Australia and regional centres in Asia.
Night life is alive and well in Manila and it is comparatively cheap; much cheaper,for example,than Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong.The favourite beer in town in San Miguel which is owned by a company based in the Philippines.
Makati is a sophisticated district and here you will find the stamping ground of the well-heeled,rich,Fillipinos. Roxas Boulevard-the Orchard Road of Manila-is another very lively area,full of plush hotels,nightclubs, and good eateries.
Of course Manila has its seedy areas with sex shows,low class bars and pick up joints and the income gap between rich and poor in this city is very wide.
Food wise I must say I do not rank Manila as highly as places like Singapore,Kuala Lumpur,Bangkok or Hong Kong. The local dishes are rather bland,there is a lack of really fiery or spicy dishes, and the fast food is generally mediocre. Having spent 500 years under the Spanish and a further 50 years as a US colony,not surprisingly there are a number of bodegas reputedly specializing in Spanish cuisine as well as US style fast food haunts.There are several good Cuban restaurants in town and other Asian cuisines such as Japanese,Korean, Indonesian and Chinese can also be found.
A number of the hotels have elegant,up market-style coffee houses and if you are prepared to pay you can get good food in the Philippine capital. However, the middle range restaurants serving up very tasty food that are so common in Singapore,KL, Bangkok or Hong Kong,are a bit thin on the ground here..
Nominally the Fillipinos do speak English,as well as the national language, Tagalog,but be warned, they often have a rather strange accent-a sort of a cross between American and Spanish English. Flamboyant expression also seems to be a distinct characteristic of this fun-loving people.
Musically the Filipinos are often very gifted and it is no wonder that singers and musicians from this country have become greatly demanded in numerous other Asian cities. A number such as Freddie Agguilar have become international famous and Filipinos have also made their presence felt in some Hollywood productions.
Getting around town can be fun particularly if you opt for a ride in a jeepney. These are locally assembled jeeps which accommodate about 15 or more passengers and they are colourful,and noisy, with the latest pop songs blaring. The great merit of this most popular form of local transportation is that they are incredibly cheap and ,if you can make yourself heard above the music,it is easy to strike-up a conversation with fellow passengers. Taxis are also plentiful and there is a reasonable number of bus services.The traffic jams though can be more than a bit wearing.
If you have a social conscience there is something a bit disturbing about Manila. Whilst foreign visitors,especially those from the USA and Europe,will be regally welcomed and can have a whale of a time,it dosen't take long to realise there are a lot of poor people in this city. The income differential between the rich and the poor is obscene.That is why for me,Manila, although a hospitable and fun place is very much a city that mixes up my emotions.
Advantages: The people are one of the friendliest in the world Disadvantages: The long flight to get their 16-20 hours from London
On first arrival in the Philippines.
You will most likely enter via NAIA, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, (Manila international airport).
The first thing that you will notice is there is a group of three men with instruments welcoming you. Not suprising considering that music and singing is so much the part of filipino life. The customs area can be very busy at times, but is always in constant movement, it may take about an hour to get through ... ...The filipinos make it easy for people to get around and find your destination with ease, as there are so many staff waitng to help you. nothing is to much for them, they will do all they can to help you. Just make sure that you approch someone that is wearing a name badge and who works at the airport.
if you know where you are going to you can get a taxi to your destination for a fixed rate. these are a lot higher than normal, but it means that ...
lordmatthews 05.04.2006 (06.04.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Philippines - Manila
Advantages: Friendlyness and that unusual twist on life Disadvantages: Not on the standard "around the world" stops
The Philippines are not always the first place you think of visiting when planning your Aisan holiday, but for many travellers it can be an excellent idea. The Philippines have a long and turbulent history, but they are now heavily influenced by a mixture of Asia and America. The Philippinos are able to take the normal and add their own little twist to it. Thus they have massive shopping malls (try the mega mall), but hold church services there every ... ...2 inches). Go and see the basketball and the movies and experience the joy and excitement that a Filipino finds from life. Finally their ketchup is made from banannas but is still red! To add to it's other advantages it is not expensive to eat and travel well.
For a facinating mixture of Asia and the west, combined with the friendlyness and humour of the Filipino's visit Manilla. Then move onto the islands for that special beach holiday. ...
SuperBright 12.08.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Philippines - Manila
Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "The Philippines - Manila"
Advantages: er...some locals can have a job Disadvantages: corruption, corruption and more corruption
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was moved to its current site, about 7km south of the country's capital city Manila & southwest of Makati City (now the Central Business District and our second home) in 1948. The original airport serving Manila was opened in 1937 and was in what is now Makati City. Unfortunately as with all other "systems" in the Philippines, it just about works in a completely f***** way (sorry for the strong language but there are no other words strong enough to describe the poor state that it is in).
Nonoy Aquino (NAIA) was originally called Manila International Airport, but was renamed after the EDSA Revolution (People Power Revolution) in 1986 which led to the down fall of Ferdinand Marcos - I am sure that if you don't know about Marcos' regime you will know of his wife Emelda, who was famous for her ...
Advantages: Gateway to the Phillipine islands, clear direction signs Disadvantages: Long check in times, security hassles, poor facilities
I was told that one of the first ways to know you are nearing Manila Airport or to give it its proper name Ninoy Aquino International Airport ( Code MNL) was to look at the sea and watch for the change of colour from a brilliant blue to a dark brown. Unfortunately, that indeed was one indicator I did notice as the coast became nearer.
Once the plane got lower my immediate impression was that the airport was actually very close to built up areas but in some ways this proved to be an illusion as the majority of places people will want to go to are still over 10k away.
On landing, I was struck by how quiet the airport was, there were relatively few planes docked at the piers and only one other plane taxi-ing to the runway, this was about 4pm on a Friday afternoon. Leaving the plane was quick and I was glad to see relatively clear ...
Advantages: Modern facilities and clean environment Disadvantages: Sometimes chaotic atmosphere due to voluminous arrivals especially during the holiday season
Formerly Manila International Airport and renamed to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in honor of the Philippine hero in modern times. Located at the southern part of Metro Manila, NAIA serves as the main artery of air travel in the country, that includes the adjacent Manila domestic airport. The hospitality and accommodating attitude of airport personnel never fail to amaze arriving tourists. Even newcomers with no contacts can easily get to their place of destination by seeking assistance from the concierge, also known as Information Counter. Classy dining is one of the cheapest in the world that will surely be appreciated by weary travellers. The new buildings boast of modern facilities, from monitors to clean restrooms, wide aisles and free use of carts. Uniformed porters are friendly and render their services ...
