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| Manila Travel Guide |
| by Aida (Author), Azhar (Mapper) |
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| What's inside? |
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Make Manila more than just a transit point. Discover its well-kept secrets. Be charmed by its 3 Cs - culture, cuisine and chaos.
a4trip's Manila travel guide provides extensive information that can assist you from the time you plan your trip to the time you leave for your trip back home. It consists of details and tips on when and how to get to Manila, what to & not to bring, accommodations, dining, shopping, nightlife, sightseeing, even scam alerts.
A handy companion in exploring Manila's nook and cranny, it comes with maps and suggested day trips including Intramuros walking tour and Chinatown calesa tour. And while locals are fluent English speakers, learning basic Pilipino phrases from the language guide would endear you more to the Filipinos. |
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| Save the Philippine Eagle |
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| Collecting fund in progress... |
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| Manila Travel Guide is featuring the Philippine Eagle, one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. It is endemic to the Philippines, and listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN. Read our Animal Blog and meet our animal ambassador! |
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| What is an a4trip travel guidebook? |
| a4trip travel guidebook will provide the necessary information to help you plan your travel.Our guidebook, in PDF format, are designed to be concise and comprehensive, yet small enough to keep with you everywhere you go. |
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| How do I make payment? |
| We accept credit card payment via PayPal payment gateway. Credit card such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only), Discover (USA only). Your a4trip transaction will appear as PAYPAL*A4TRIP on your credit card statement. |
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| Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Contact us and we will email the guidebook to you. |
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| How often do you update your guidebook? |
| We update our guidebook once a month. |
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| What should I do if I have question regarding a4trip? |
| Please contact us. |
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| An Introduction to Manila |
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| By Aida, a4friend |
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MANILA is the capital city of the Philippines. Landlocked by 7 cities, it is located at the mouth of Pasig River, a 25 km long river that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay and divides the city into north and south banks. Maynila as it is referred to in the native language literally means "there is nilad". Nilad is a star-shaped flowering shrub that used to grow abundantly in Pasig River and Manila Bay.
Currently included in the list of the world's global cities, Manila is one of Asia's densely populated, bustling and hustling cities. It is a melting pot of people from varied ethnic groups and races bringing with them their own culture, fashion, cuisine, and religion. Manila's landscape is a blend of Chinese, Spanish, American, Japanese, and Malay influences, particularly evident in each of the 16 districts comprising the city. Each district has its own character reminiscent of a period in the city's rich and tumultuous history.
Binondo is a living legacy of the early years of trade with the Chinese and until now is the top-of-mind source of textile and clothes where haggling and bargaining are the secrets to a successful shopping spree. A walking tour of Intramuros, with its forts and walls refurbished, transports and reconnects the present generation to the city's grim past. The twin districts of Malate and Ermita which were once Manila's red light district are now teeming with accommodation options from a backpacker's hostel to a businessman's deluxe or a jet-set's boutique hotel. At dusk, the place becomes the swingiest entertainment locale with Western-styled bars, al fresco dining, and live band performances.
Beyond shopping and sightseeing, a visit to Manila is also a gastronomic trip. There is a wide variety of food choices to satisfy one's palate - street hawkers, fast food joints, international flavours including Asian, American, European, even African, and the local pride which is a fusion of Oriental, Malay and Spanish cuisines. Culinary tours are conducted with visit to obscure kitchens, cooking demonstrations, and food tasting as part of the itinerary.
At the end of the day, there is no better place to be than at the Baywalk and a front seat to the famed sunset of Manila Bay. The golden sun's reflection on the water provides a soothing effect worth more than a day at the spa. For nightcap, have a leisurely walk at Rizal Park, one of the city's open parks dedicated to the country's national hero whose exact execution site is a few feet away from where his monument now stands. Close by is the "kilometre zero" marker where all distance measurements in the whole archipelago start.
From Rizal Park, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is approximately 7 kms. to the south. NAIA is the country's premier airport and gateway to Manila with more than 27 international airlines serving this route. Tourists from more than 146 countries with diplomatic ties with the Philippines are given 21 days visa-free stay in the country. However, holders of Hong Kong and Macau- issued passports can only stay in the country visa-free for 7 days. For longer or extended stay, it is advisable to secure visa prior to travelling to the Philippines. |
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