Acitivity suggestions in/around Ermita area

[DaRoq 36]

Hi:

I'll be in the Philippines for 15 days/14 nights beginning this coming Memorial Day weekend (Saturday). We'll be spending the weekend at Casa Bocobo across from SLMCEC so that we can get a feel for the hotel/area before my Fiancee has to come back alone for her medical. So far all I have planned is dinner at Seaside Restaurant (Pasay City) and a visit to Manila Ocean Park. We basically have 2-3 full days to fill, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, does anyone know how much it should cost to go from NAIA to Casa Bocobo via taxi? Last time we took a van to Lancaster Hotel Manila

(Mandaluyong) it cost ~1600. Not sure if that's the going rate, but we did have 5 of us in a van and a good amount of luggage that time....

Thanks

[ellaparu 4]

Dont pay more than 10 bucks. They'll always try to rip you off--especially if you're a foreigner. Make sure there is a meter on it.. make sure you ask the driver..

[Fight for Love 98]

I think it's better if you guys hire a driver/taxi for ALL day...it will save u more money.

go to tagaytay for view, boat ride, back horse riding, biking and eating some good food in the area.

or maybe go to enchanted kingdom.

baguio city.

visit some famous mall such as mall of asia and etc.

Edited May 13, 2013 by Fight for Love

[M and C 32]

From the NAIA, get the authorized taxis, there's a flat rate to designated areas in Metro Manila. It's printed on the piece of paper the dispatcher will give you.

I would suggest a day tour to Corregidor Island. The ferry leaves from the Manila Yacht Club (across the Cultural Center of the Philippines) at around 7am, then goes back in the afternoon. It's a guided tour, lunch included.

http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/

Edited May 14, 2013 by M and C

[LAMike 1]

I second the recommendation for Corregidor Island. If you have any interest in history at all, it is highly worthwhile. From the same location, you can do a Manila Bay Dinner Cruise, which is also nice. A short distance away is Intramuros, where you can visit Fort Santiago and see some interesting artifacts related to the very fascinating Jose Rizal while you take in the pleasant aroma of the Pasig River.

[infinity2012 3]

My USC fiance was here last April 2013, we stayed at H2o Hotel just beside the Manila Ocean Park. I got the authorized taxi cab for only 300 pesos from domestic airport to international airport ( i was from Davao city) but paid the dirver 1,000 pesos from aiport to h2o hotel because my fiance had a delayed flight so we waited for my fiance for 3 hours (was inside the cab together with my 12 year daughter) Already 12:30 midnight when arrived at hotel thats why i did prefered to stay inside the taxi cab near in police station than to stay outside.Its better to be safe than sorry.

Oh, u will surely enjoy the ocean park attractions with those sea lion shows, fountain shows and big aquariums with different fishes including sharks, fish spa and many to mention. We do this all for 1 day. We had our dinner at STRIP STEAKHOUSE at Solaire Resort and Casino Hotel located near Mall of Asia, thats the time he gave me an engagement ring

Next day, we visited TAAL LAKE for a trek where taal volcano stands and of course its located in Tagaytay where u can also do site seeing there. We also visited INTRAMUROUS in manila located at the mouth of the Pasig river. You can either hire a kalesa (horse driven carriage) that includes a tour guide or you can just walk in by yourself through out Intramurous where u can see the oldest church in Manila, dungeons, fort santiago park and many to mention. We also visited the Luneta park or Rizal park, Chinatown, Bay walk and Mall of Asia. We want to visit some more of the attractions in Manila but we only stayed for 3 days then we heed to Davao city my hometown.

Hope this help! Goodluck and have fun staying in the Philippines

[kambingaso 9]

Beware of the horse & buggy rides--they will quote you a low price, and then casually tell you about a palace or structure worth seeing, and you won't realize they are adding it to your itinerary. Eventually your 200 peso ride becomes 1500 each or something ridiculous. Just say no.

However, all the other things sound great! I would also visit some places nearby so your fiancee can easily get meals and sundry items close to the hotel, since she will be there alone for the interview (I'm assuming it's the interview portion?). Good luck, and hope to read about smooth things went!

[Robb&Ann 101]

when we were in Intramuros, there was this man offering us P2,000 for a Kalesa ride to see 27 attractions around intramuros for 1hr! and told us we can go inside... I know it was just a trick. So I kept on saying NO NO NO as they kept on following us. I know that the kalesa ride is not 2k but they are overpricing it bec our man is a foreigner.. there is always local and foreign price.lol. the tourist guide were pissed at me. and kept on saying im a smart girl.. The hats that they are selling in intramuros cost us 300 each.. where in tagaytay and divisoria, the hat was only P150 each. hahahaha. i was really pissed but it's fine. it was hot that day too. atleast we didn't took the bait with that Kalesa ride instead asked our driver to drive us to San Agustin church. If u have a car, 2k is more than enough to make the car full tank..

there are many places to go in Manila.. like coconut palace, museums, divisoria (168,999,11/88, divi mall), quiapo (quiapo church,wellmanson in villalobos st if u love beads) , harbor square (see the sunset), star city, rizal park, there in T.M. Kalaw feels great.. i like seeing the parks..(and there is a church there too), manila zoo, resorts world, intramuros, san agustin church... take lots of pics with some churches there in manila... in museum,etc.. just search the google map where ur hotel is located and try to explore in different directions, you would see some attractions in that place.. there are many attractions as u go search from ur hotel to the US embassy, to Mall of Asia.. then search the name of that attraction in google so u have an idea how it looks like in that place..MAnila is beautiful (except the air pollution)

[Stevephoto 230]

I second the recommendation for Corregidor Island. If you have any interest in history at all, it is highly worthwhile. From the same location, you can do a Manila Bay Dinner Cruise, which is also nice. A short distance away is Intramuros, where you can visit Fort Santiago and see some interesting artifacts related to the very fascinating Jose Rizal while you take in the pleasant aroma of the Pasig River.

[Stevephoto 230]

Beware of the horse & buggy rides--they will quote you a low price, and then casually tell you about a palace or structure worth seeing, and you won't realize they are adding it to your itinerary. Eventually your 200 peso ride becomes 1500 each or something ridiculous. Just say no.

However, all the other things sound great! I would also visit some places nearby so your fiancee can easily get meals and sundry items close to the hotel, since she will be there alone for the interview (I'm assuming it's the interview portion?). Good luck, and hope to read about smooth things went!

We actually took a horse and buggy ride (price established upfront) through downtown Manila and Chinatown...it was fascinating, eye-opening and a just scary enough to make it interesting!!!

[DaRoq 36]

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas! I'll do some research and make a list later when I'm more coherent...

[Travelpro 3]

Beware of the horse & buggy rides--they will quote you a low price, and then casually tell you about a palace or structure worth seeing, and you won't realize they are adding it to your itinerary. Eventually your 200 peso ride becomes 1500 each or something ridiculous. Just say no.

That's funny because I got screwed too. I asked how much and he said 200 php. p/ 1/2 hr. I asked how long it takes and he said up to you but usually 1hr. I confirmed again "total 200php p/ 1.2 hr and he confirmed.

Yes, he did his best to extend it and that was fine. We were having fun. At the end, not only did the he try to get us to pay for more time than we actually had, he insisted it was 200php PER PERSON. We just got off and I threw at him what I thought we should pay and not the per person rate. I suggested we go to the tourist police and I will agree to pay whatever they think I should pay. He backed off after that.

[A and T 82]

When you arrive at the airport dont take the airport taxi. Just walk as far away from the airport as you can and get the regular white metered cab. You should be looking at less than 250php for that distance, maybe depending on traffic. Things to do, thats a hard question since its rainy and hot. Intramorus is nice to check out, You could take a public bus to batangas and then a boat to minidoro and enough the beaches there its cheap only a few hours ride

[Travelpro 3]

When you arrive at the airport dont take the airport taxi. Just walk as far away from the airport as you can and get the regular white metered cab.

I have to disagree.

Just outside the doors of the airport there is a range of taxis. Yellow and white are the main ones and I think white are cheaper. Yellow cost a bit more but are newer and nicer in my opinion. Either one, just demand they turn on the meter before you drive away. Act confident so that you appear you come to Manila frequently. The third one is Coupon taxi and they are a flat rate. I've never used them.

Avoid the people who approach you and offer taxi service or any taxi service outside the airport. They will normally charge double or triple the rate to your destination.

[DaRoq 36]

My options for transportation might be limited because I'll have a large suitcase, medium-sized box (16x16x15), carry-on suitcase and laptop backpack; the Fiancee will have a weekender or carry-on suitcase as well. Not sure if the luggage would fit in a standard taxi...

We decied to go on the Manila Bay Cruise, Manila Ocean Park, and the Corregidor Island Day Tour. Probably also check out Rizal Park and other places if we have extra time.