How is Manila For Crime or Scam Concerns?

[widude 38]

 Last time I was over it was just at the airport, then flew to a smaller town down South. This time she will meet me in Manila, one less flight for me.😊

 

  We plan to stay not to far from the Embassy, walk by, St Lukes also.  I had heard something about taking a cab. I’ve traveled a fair bit & usually get a handle on things if getting sketchy.  Just throwing the question out if anything of note to be aware of. Thanks

[top_secret 2,425]

9 minutes ago, widude said:

 Last time I was over it was just at the airport, then flew to a smaller town down South. This time she will meet me in Manila, one less flight for me.😊

 

  We plan to stay not to far from the Embassy, walk by, St Lukes also.  I had heard something about taking a cab. I’ve traveled a fair bit & usually get a handle on things if getting sketchy.  Just throwing the question out if anything of note to be aware of. Thanks

 

 

For taxies install the Grab app on your phone.  https://www.grab.com/ph/ . It's like Uber and makes things cashless and just soooo much easier.  Manila is a big city and there is certainly crime and scams.  But if you just use common sense and pay attention it's probably not much more sketchy than some US cities these days. 

[wildbug100420 115]

39 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 

 

For taxies install the Grab app on your phone.  https://www.grab.com/ph/ . It's like Uber and makes things cashless and just soooo much easier.  Manila is a big city and there is certainly crime and scams.  But if you just use common sense and pay attention it's probably not much more sketchy than some US cities these days. 

I was there in mid January and I didn't feel uncomfortable with the airport. I was in t3. Like anywhere else just keep your wits about you and you should not have any trouble. 

[AKteacher 104]

4 hours ago, widude said:

 Last time I was over it was just at the airport, then flew to a smaller town down South. This time she will meet me in Manila, one less flight for me.😊

 

  We plan to stay not to far from the Embassy, walk by, St Lukes also.  I had heard something about taking a cab. I’ve traveled a fair bit & usually get a handle on things if getting sketchy.  Just throwing the question out if anything of note to be aware of. Thanks

Ermita, as well as most of Manila, is fairly safe as far as street crime, in fact much safer than many US cities. There are many scams, which can actually be kind of amusing if you don't take the bait. Taxi scams can be annoying, just have them use the meter or use Grab. Check out Cowboy Bar & Grill on Mabini for decent pizza, beer and other food, and different sorts of (mostly loud) music. Girl bands, OPM, metal, even an occasional punk band. If you don't like the music, just wait and another band will come on. Enjoy!

Edited February 27 by AKteacher
typo

[widude 38]

 Thanks, I put ‘Grab’ on my phone, I’ll try it. 

[WCF 16]

I've always felt completely safe and never had any problems.  Taxi drivers are a potential source of trouble all over the world. I never used one in Manila. Grab only and never a problem.

 

[NeonParticles 126]

Manila is safer than most big US cities.  You'll be fine walking around just about anywhere in the day time.  Grab has just about completely eliminated the need for taxis in Manila.  Back in the day, taxi drivers would overcharge you at any chance they got, though.

[BadAmmoWitch 213]

In 2022, flying from Manila to USA, the luggage-scanner people planted two 9mm bullets in my wife's suitcase. It was an almost brand new bag that had never come into contact with any guns or ammo. 

 

I had read about this scam before. I argued a lot. They took us to the on-site police officer, who asked us a bunch of questions and then let us go. The whole ordeal lasted about 45 minutes.

 

I think they intended to plant the bullets in my bag, an American, rather than my Filipina wife's bag, so they could threaten me with jail time and extort me for money. I saw other people there that had their luggage shrink-wrapped prior to placing it on the conveyor belt for scanning. I will always do this in the future.

 

Also, Grab is good, but not as good as Uber or Lyft or whatever here in USA. Definitely use it, but I've had trouble sometimes finding a driver, even in Manila.

Edited March 10 by BadAmmoWitch