How to Find Hotels in Manila, Philippines

The thriving city of Manila, Philippines, is a diverse cultural and economic center home to many attractions, businesses, universities and important religious destinations. Located in Southeast Asia and named for the flowering mangrove plant on the shores of the bay, many flock to Manila for the friendliness of its people. Read on to learn how to find accommodations in Manila, Philippines.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Passport

Book Accommodations in Manila

1. Book accommodations through the Philippine Department of Tourism Web site. See the Resources section below for a link or call 011 ([phone].
2. Find a hotel room in the historic Manila Bay area. Rooms are available for an inexpensive nightly fee.
3. Pick accommodations based out of central Manila if traveling for business. The downtown location provides easy access to the airlines and government offices.
4. Make a reservation for moderately priced accommodations on Roxas Boulevard to enjoy the sunset and the many sights on this popular road.

Know Your Destination

5. Feel comfortable speaking English, although the official language of the area is Tagalog. The abundance of the English language attracts many English students to Manila.
6. Visit one of the many Buddhist or Taoist temples built by the Chinese, although Roman Catholicism has been the primary religion of the Philippines since the 16th century, when the Spanish converted the inhabitants.
7. Enjoy the tropical climate of Manila. The best months to visit are between December and February, but keep in mind the city sits along the typhoon belt.

Get to and Around Manila

8. Travel around Manila by taxi--however, a light rail system, buses, jeepneys and even tricycles for short rides are also available.
9. Fly into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which serves 30 different airlines. Philippine Airlines is the most common airline to get to Manila.

Learn Local Information

10. Save the money you would spend on a visa on nice accommodations. A visa is not needed to travel to the Philippines.
11. Stroll down to Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard for a romantic evening and have dinner at one of the many great restaurants.
12. Take advantage of the good exchange rate and visit a Manila mall such as the SM Mega Mall, Market Market or Gateway.

Tips & Warnings

• When taking a taxi, request that the driver uses the meter.
• You can book accommodations and more online to save money and time.
• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00."
• All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• If visiting, it is not recommended to rent a car because roads are often very crowded, making for difficult driving.
• If traveling to Manila, please keep in mind that there is a risk for Americans in the Philippines because of terrorist groups and radical insurgents.

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