Manila-places and areas to stay.

[teelack 9,640]

I am seriously thinking of having a five day stop-over in Manila in the next few months. Air fares are fine as Philippines Airways run from Auckland, Manila and onto Bangkok. Stop over is fine from the visa point of view as well. 8 in

 

What I would like to do is start doing the research on the areas to stay and the possible hotels. Ideally I would be looking for the Manila equivalent of Sukhumwit Road in Bangkok and Sio LK/Walking Street/Sois 7& 8 in Pattaya. In other words, in the action area.Any advice appreciated. I think that there is enough info on day trips but its the night life that I am interested in.

 

Incidentally I have read Grubers TR but would like some other thoughts.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I am seriously thinking of having a five day stop-over in Manila in the next few months. Air fares are fine as Philippines Airways run from Auckland, Manila and onto Bangkok. Stop over is fine from the visa point of view as well. 8 in

 

What I would like to do is start doing the research on the areas to stay and the possible hotels. Ideally I would be looking for the Manila equivalent of Sukhumwit Road in Bangkok and Sio LK/Walking Street/Sois 7& 8 in Pattaya. In other words, in the action area.Any advice appreciated. I think that there is enough info on day trips but its the night life that I am interested in.

 

Incidentally I have read Grubers TR but would like some other thoughts.

I stayed near the US Embassys but the small nightlife scene is actually in Makati on P Burgos Street.

 

 

Angeles City is more interesting.

[Butch 3,456]

P Burgos for your WS equivalent or Del Pilar for your very-dangerous-to-be-poncing-around-at-night equivalent. However, Del Pilar has the Manila Bay cafe, the best freelancer gaff in the whole of Manila. Girls are 3 deep, but you need to be hard on negotiating. I have no idea what S/T will rush you because I've only been there once and that was for an hour with Mrs Butch to see what all the fuss was about.

 

Hotels are 50% more than LOS and 80% worse in quality. You'll pay 5 star money for 2 star in Manila especially, and there is also a 2 tier pricing system in the hotels. Do some searching but prepare to be disappointed. Bayview park hotel is about the best value in the area for Del Pilar, Burgos St is a couple of hundred peso away. Negotiate before entering the taxi and NEVER use the meter unless coming from an approved Taxi Rank like those outside Mall of Asia. Take a pic on your phone of the ID plate on the taxi drivers seatback and pretend to text it to someone, because kidnapping foreigners in Manila used to be a National sport.

 

My advice:

Get a F/L L/T from Manila Bay cafe, leave and entrust her with picking an alternative venue. Blue Wave at the Mall of Asia is a short 200 peso Taxi ride from Del Pilar with good restaurants and good live music, ironically on the same stretch road as the EDSA entertainment comlex should you wish to visit. The security there (EDSA) ask for cameras to be handed in but surprisingly for the RP, you do actually get them returned.

Alternatively there is a Cowboy Grill up the road from MBC which does bloody brilliant food and all the beer you could drink for a pittance.

 

Belts and braces if you've not been before:

 

Don't use the ATM's but the money changers are fine, be "spatially" aware of your surroundings and what you are doing. Keep monies in the front pocket and prep a "throwdown" in case you get mugged.

 

Don't try to bluff the muggers in Manila, unless you hapen have a firearm or an "Askal" (Dog) with you. Regardless of how tough a guy thinks he is, no one will ever fuck with you when you've got a tamed "street dog" alongside because they're vicious cunts and tend to hurt when they inevitably bite. Alot.

 

Avoid the street dogs, they're vicious cunts.

 

Filipino's are friendly and for the most part, genuine. You will hear tales of hardship but you will see even more.

 

I've said this before and I'll say it again. A while (years) ago we landed at MNL, the car pulled up and we got in. Within 1/2 mile of the Airport sat in a traffic jam I looked out of the window and saw a baby girl, probably 18 months, dressed in a filthy pink or white dress on her own lying on the concrete pillar of the central meridian breathing in the shit and smog while being watched by 2 kids who were begging. We drove on.

 

That night I cried tears of anger at myself for not doing something when I could have. I could have stopped the car, looked for the mother and given her 20 quid to take that kid and feed it. Instead, to my utter shame, I didn't and I feel a cunt for not doing it.

 

Get used to seeing that level of poverty.

 

Yes, Manila is a big City and arguably a great place for the western monger looking for pussy or even a wife, but if you get a chance have a look on youtube for "The Slum" on Al Jazeera to have an idea of where you are going.

 

 

Cheers

Butch

Edited July 9, 2016 by Butch

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

very nice Butch.

 

There are like levels of poverty in Manila. It is not like say our inner cities in America.

 

There are people living on the street whole families. People build shanties in vacant lots - squatters. There are developed housing areas that are very poor.

 

Some of it is very sad.

 

But people are generally nice. I like the women. Their voices not so much.

[teelack 9,640]

Thanks guys. I will keep doing the home work.

[ichy2 429]

I've been a number of times. I highly recommend the Best Western Oxford Suites, Makati. This hotel is good value in Manila as it is right in the middle of the action on the corner of Durban and P Burgos. The bars are across and down the street and freelancers are literally at your doorstep.

 

I booked a deluxe room on my last adventure in Makati for $50 US (including a decent breakfast) on Agoda and they upgraded me to the penthouse on arrival, (woohoo!)

 

Look here: http://www.agoda.com/best-western-oxford-suites-makati/hotel/manila-ph.html

 

You are walking distance to the Greenbelt Mall where you can find high priced freelancers and Glorietta Mall mall where you can find shopping, food courts, movies and girls!

 

Because you are walker, I would challenge you to walk from your hotel to the waterfront and find the Manila Bay/LA Cafe (whatever it is called now). Find a girl late afternoon/evening and taxi back. I did it and it was a grand adventure and hike. The walk getting there was about the same length of time it took for the taxi ride back. The traffic really is that bad.

 

Take a cell phone with you that you can swap sim cards and get a Globe card with data (I found their service to be the best in and around MNL.) You can then fire up Google Maps or Google Earth with GPS and track your movements around town and never get lost. This also works really well when you are in a taxi as you can make sure they are not taking the long way home.

 

There is a lot of poverty in Manila, but not everyone is poor. Just keep your wits about you, don't walk in unknown places late at night and keep your eyes open.

 

If you have time, jump on the Victory Liner in Pasay to Dau and visit Angeles City for few days. You will be glad you did!

 

If you take a taxi from the airport, NEVER put your luggage in the boot. Always on the seat next to you. I found this out the hard way when a driver refused to give me my luggage until I paid him a ransom for the suitcase he was holding hostage!

 

Go, explore and have fun!

[Chang_paarp 253]

I have stayed at the Best Western Oxford Suites, it is OK if a little tired.

 

I stayed a little way from the action, last year as I had a GFE and stayed at The Oasis Paco Park. It is recently renovated with the better rooms being a large step up from their basic rooms worth the extra couple of $ per night.

 

Also stayed at The Pearl Manilla on the last trip and was not impressed, would almost put it on the avoid list as it is very tired. Location is OK but still got the '70s decor.

 

There is a nightlife district behind the Robinsons Mall which is a short walk from either hotel (although the Pinoys might complain about the walk).

 

Which reminds me I must finish writing my trip report with pictures that I am half way through.