In addition to being the capital of the Philippines and its second largest city, Manila is also the business, political and academic epicenter of the country. The city, which has a population of nearly 10 million, rests on the shores of Luzon Bay on the largest island of the Philippines. Manila has played a crucial role in the history of Southeast Asia and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourist and business travelers annually. English is one of the official languages and is widely spoken.
Call the Philippines Department of Tourism in New York at 212-575-7915 for assistance in booking your accommodations or book online through the department's Web site (see Resources below).
Consider booking a room in a pension house; these are usually old homes converted into tourist accommodations and provide comfortable lodging at a cheap price. Most pension houses are found in the Malate and Ermita neighborhoods known as the 'tourist belt,' and offer considerable local flavor as well as convenient proximity to Manila's principal attractions.
Explore one of Manila's many 'apartelles.' These apartment-like lodgings are popular in the financial district, known as Makati, and usually offer large rooms with kitchenettes, refrigerators and utensils. They can usually be booked on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Check out the many motels found just on the outskirts of the principal downtown areas. Manila is congested with automobile traffic and visitors on a budget often find these accommodations convenient.
Look to one of the beach resorts in the greater Manila area; some can be surprisingly inexpensive at under $75 per night for the level of accommodations and beauty of the surroundings.
Look to securing cheap accommodations in the heart of the city along Roxas Boulevard and Ayala Avenue to the Ortega Center. Most of the top-notch hotels are located here, but the area features a number of good deals for the budget-conscious traveler.
Book a flight on one of the nearly three dozen major international carriers that service Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, located just a few miles from the city center.
Consider reaching Manila via a cruise; numerous lines make stops at Manila as the Philippines are a popular diving destination.
