Our stay in Manila was quite short, so we wanted to make the most of it. Here are a few things to keep in mind when traveling to Manila:
Traffic can get intense. If you’re planning anything outside Metro Manila, head out as early as possible to avoid peak traffic hours in the morning.
If you’re traveling by air, book accommodation as close to the airport as possible. We stayed at the Savoy Hotel, which was right across from the airport. Our stay was very pleasant and convenient, with local markets and other shops right around the corner.
Although the city is quite safe for tourists now, if you’re traveling alone, be mindful of the area you are visiting.
The best way to commute in Manila is via Grab, which is the local equivalent of Uber. This way, there’s no haggling or overpriced rides. If you haven’t used the app before, you can ask the staff at your accommodation to help you out.
Okay back to the blog. We had 1.5 days in Manila. On the first day, we arrived in the afternoon and wanted to keep things relaxed without overpacking our schedule. We headed out to SM Mall of Asia, about 30 minutes from our hotel, where we enjoyed a hearty lunch and did some shopping. As it was raining heavily that day, we couldn’t explore the local street markets and opted for indoor shopping instead. If you’re someone who enjoys exploring street markets, be sure to plan your travel accordingly.
We stopped at a place called Wild Flower for lunch, and the food was quite good. But their baked goods were on a whole other level. Be sure to try this spot if you’re looking for delicious pastries and treats from their bakery!
After lunch, we spent a couple of hours shopping around the mall, maybe 2-3 hours in total, and then headed to Intramuros for our heritage night walk. Since we had limited time in Manila, we pre-booked this heritage walk via Klook. It had exceptionally high ratings, so we figured it would be the best option to get a better understanding of the city's history and culture. I would highly recommend doing this tour at night, as the entire area is beautifully lit up and looks absolutely stunning.
To briefly summarize, the heritage walk gave us a deep understanding of how the Philippines was colonized, how historical events shaped the country's development, and how this history created the culture seen today. Our tour guide, Russell, made the experience absolutely worthwhile. I highly, highly recommend doing this tour. Also, our tour included dinner, which we only found out later, making it quite a bargain.
Our next day started at 5 in the morning, as we had booked a day-trip package. This trip included a visit to Taal Lake to see the active volcano, followed by a trip to Pagsanjan Falls. We paid around 16,000 pesos, primarily to cover logistics costs since the locations were quite far apart. However, I still believe we could have gotten a better price for this package.
Sharing with you an aerial view image of the volcano. We managed to capture this when travelling out of manila. We were extremely lucky to be sitting on the right side I guess :)
We also headed all the way down to see the lake. We did not have so much time to Kayak around there, but I did manage to capture some kids fishing for Tilapia there.
After this, we headed to Pagsanjan, which was almost a 2-hour drive from Taal. We stopped at McDonald's to try the local menu, which was actually quite good. We also passed a large geothermal plant along the way. Quick note, it’s best to change into swimwear if you have one, as the boat ride to Pagsanjan Falls takes around 30-45 minutes, and you can dry off on the way back. We weren’t fully prepared and went dressed in regular clothes.
The entire trip is very scenic, so take lots of pictures along the way. The upstream journey is quite labor-intensive, as the boatmen have to paddle against strong currents, requiring a lot of manual effort to get to the falls. Be sure to carry some cash, as the boatmen will likely expect a tip.
After visiting the falls, we headed to Inasal, another popular local fast food chain. This place is preferred by locals because it offers unlimited rice and sides. We were absolutely famished, and we ate everything down to the bone. Do try this place if you get a chance, and make sure to try the halo-halo!
We were back around 5:30 in the evening. My friend managed to do some shopping around our hotel. I explored some local snacks and drinks in the area. We retired early as we had an early morning flight to catch the next day.
Although our trip to Manila was short, I believe we made the most of it. Sometimes it’s better to opt for pre-booked tours that can save a lot of time in planning logistics. They might cost a bit more, but they’re definitely worth it, especially if it’s your first time visiting and you’re only there for a short time.
Thank you for following my blog, until next time!
XOXO
Comments