Travel
Airports
Moving around the Philippines by air, land and sea is easy with national
highways connecting the major islands and an extensive public
transportation system.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is located to the south of
the main city areas, approximately nine kilometers from Makati. It takes
about 30 minutes by car to the major Makati or Roxas Boulevard hotels,
except during peak hours (7.00am to 10.00am and 4.00pm to 7.00pm) where the
trip may take one hour or more.
Ground transport
Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, but use a reputable taxi company
(check that the company name is on the door and that it has a meter –
although it is common for the meter to be ‘broken’). In this case, agree on
the fare before departure.
Avis and R&E Taxi are among the most reputable metered taxi services;
both have stands at the airport and at hotels in Makati’s business
district. Avoid the use of public buses and jeepneys.
Mobile ride sharing applications such as Uber and Grab are commonly used
and considered good alternative to taxis.
Hotels
Corporate room rates may be available in some hotels for guests of the
Australian Embassy or the Austrade Manila office, so you may want to make
your bookings and reservations through the Embassy.
Note that Metro Manila is commonly used to refer to the National Capital
Region (NCR), which is comprised of 16 cities and municipalities, including
the city of Manila. When booking accommodations, some visitors mistakenly
interpret Metro Manila as Manila and book hotels in this city, which is
usually an hour or more away from the central business districts of Makati
City, Taguig City, and Pasig City. In considering hotels, make sure to
double check the meeting addresses and book an accommodation within or
closest to the same city to avoid traffic.
Dining
Places to eat include five-star hotel restaurants, fast food restaurants, sidewalk cafes, delicatessens and food courts in shopping malls. Western, Asian and local cuisines are available. English is widely spoken in all establishments. Most dining spots offer free Wi-Fi and some restaurants have function rooms conducive for business meetings.
Tipping
Tipping is generally expected for any services provided and the standard practice is 10 per cent of the total bill.
Tourist attractions
As a major tourist destination, the Philippines provides a wide range of
attractions for the visitor.
Find out more about
tourist attractions in the Philippines
.