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english puppet
Joined: 04 Nov 2011
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 Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:50 am Post subject: Manila area |
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Hi,
I'm looking for some opinions on hitting the Manila area for the upcoming holiday. I could take care of some business if I go to the Manila area but understand that as a destination point, Manila's a place a lot of people avoid. What's nearby that's fairly inexpensive and beach like or worth doing? I could use up to 14 days more or less.
I'm a bit torn between there and skipping business stuff and heading to Vietnam for the first time. I had a nice time in Cebu a year ago so I do like the Philippines.
Thanks for any thoughts on Manila (or nearby!). |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Manila area |
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| english puppet wrote: |
Hi,
I'm looking for some opinions on hitting the Manila area for the upcoming holiday. I could take care of some business if I go to the Manila area but understand that as a destination point, Manila's a place a lot of people avoid. What's nearby that's fairly inexpensive and beach like or worth doing? I could use up to 14 days more or less.
I'm a bit torn between there and skipping business stuff and heading to Vietnam for the first time. I had a nice time in Cebu a year ago so I do like the Philippines.
Thanks for any thoughts on Manila (or nearby!). |
It is usually panned on because as a city it sucks. It is dirty, congested, crime is everywhere and violent crime is common. As a "Kano" you can expect more than the usual number of times you should expect to be ripped off on everything from taxi to hotel to prices on everything that you buy.
All that said, there are lots of things to do in Manila and there are some nice places to "get away to" within a couple of hours.
http://www.wowphilippines.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33:manila&catid=24:featured-destination&Itemid=30
http://www.wowphilippines.ca/
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FsBvXh3m2A
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english puppet
Joined: 04 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:00 am Post subject: Philippines |
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ttompatz,
I'll definitely check those links out. As you mention, I've heard Manila is pretty much a hole and to be avoided. I'd just fly in and hit a suburban area (Marikina) I could do some business in. Then I'd head out and away.
Thanks. |
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| i for one enjoy manila. but maybe it's because i don't have a preconceived notion that all cities should be spotlessly clean and super safe. |
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english puppet
Joined: 04 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
| i for one enjoy manila. but maybe it's because i don't have a preconceived notion that all cities should be spotlessly clean and super safe. |
That's good to hear. I'm often more comfortable in 3rd world cities than a "developed" place like Seoul. |
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Gamecock
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Manila is the worst city in Asia. Outside of Makati, the whole place literally smells like a toilet. That's not getting into what you will see, the harrassment from beggars, the scams, the random violence...
The Philippines is loaded with delightful places where you can still enjoy your 3rd world feel. Puerto Galera is my favorite place within reasonable distance of Manila. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm going to be in manila in Feb for 2 days/2 nights by myself. I'm a bit concerned about safety, so where is the best place to stay? I would like to go out at night without fear of being mugged.. |
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christopherjk
Joined: 23 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Eastwood City is a safe and closed off complex of shopping, restaurants, bars and clubs. Either here or out in Makati City if you're looking for safe nightlife. Otherwise, I wouldn't be caught walking around any other part of Manila. |
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Caffeinated
Joined: 11 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
| Manila is the worst city in Asia. Outside of Makati, the whole place literally smells like a toilet. That's not getting into what you will see, the harrassment from beggars, the scams, the random violence... |
Um no, Manila is not the worst city in Asia. There are others with worse infrastructure. It seems to be smelling slightly better though, especially along the Pasig River. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:23 am Post subject: |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
| Manila is the worst city in Asia. Outside of Makati, the whole place literally smells like a toilet. That's not getting into what you will see, the harrassment from beggars, the scams, the random violence... |
Now I confess I haven't been to Manila beyond its lovely airport, but I can't imagine it being any worse than Dhaka or Chittagong in Bangladesh. Those two are definitely at the top of my "Shitty Asian Cities" list. |
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I-am-me
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Hermit Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Only place I go in Manila is Makati. Great environment there, lots of shopping malls, and fairly safe. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Makati gets old fast, but that's Manila in a nutshell, too. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Anybody know a good hotel in a relatively safe area, that isn't too expensive? The general internet consensus is that Makati is the place to go unless you are looking for girly bars, but the hotels are very expensive.
Is Malate/ermita really that dangerous? The hotels seem very reasonably priced around there. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Try Hotel Durban. The rooms are clean and reasonably priced. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| Try Hotel Durban. The rooms are clean and reasonably priced. |
It looks nice, thanks. Did you stay there? If so, how close is it to places of interest? |
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