| K Bumgarner |
07 August 2005 |
Stayed at Copacabana Apartment Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
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Restaurant: Harbour View on the Pier!!!! Outstanding food - a different experience (and we went three times!!!!) Fed 9 people for the equivalent of $100.00 USD!!!!! And everyone was stuffed like a Christmas goose with everything from Female Crab (and I never knew that there was any 'significant' difference (more meat on the female) to Steaks to Veggie favorites. It is not a fancy place and it is somewhat slow for service... But the price, the food and the experience - it can not be beat in Manila for family dining!!!
Unless you are under 5 feet, stay away from the Jeepneys and the trikes...Metered taxis (or if you stay at the Copa, the associated taxi/limos) are the way to go. It is actually much nicer and not all that more expensive to take the taxi/limo from the Copa to your destination and HAVE THE DRIVER WAIT for you for other destinations or the return to the hotel. 9/10 times, picking up a cab at the location and trying to get back to the hotel can be hair-raising and expensive not to mention time consuming while the driver tries to find the hotel. ( You will see some interesting things though!!!)
CAUTION: The best drug store in Manila is the chain Mercury... BUT - they require a prescription for EVERYTHING including what is an over-the-counter item anywhere else in the world. And - they sell by the tablet - not by the bottle or box. You can find some smaller drug stores that will sell w/o but they do not always have what your are looking for. BEST: BRING ENOUGH OF YOUR PRESCRIPTION and non-prescription items with you for your stay. It is best not to have to rely on the local outlets for your needs.
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| C Gundayao |
04 July 2005 |
Stayed at Prince Plaza II - Manila, Philippines.
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In Makati at Glorietta--try the Cabalen restaurant--filipino buffet for only 260 pesos--good food. In Boracay, there's Jona's shake. And while in Boracay, stay at Escondido, though not a beachfront hotel, is one of the best kept secrets in the island...Find out for yourself why.
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| W Burston |
02 June 2005 |
Stayed at Taal Vista Hotel - Tagaytay, Philippines.
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Tagaytay, a real tourist destination, is a delightful place to visit,
I would thoroughly recommend the Italian Restaurant opposite the garage down the hill from the Taal Vista Lodge. Really good Italian food and inexpensive ( 85 pesos a glass) imported house wine.
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| T Niess |
30 May 2005 |
Stayed at Atrium Hotel - Manila, Philippines.
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Jeepney is most economical means of transportation. Negotiate taxi rates in advance,else you may be taken for a ride. I actually ate cooked food at corner stands without a problem. I liked it, even after I found out I was eating pig intestine.
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| J Liu |
26 May 2005 |
Stayed at Cebu Marine Beach Resort - Cebu, Philippines.
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- Is very convinient in the airport upon arrival
- Do not miss the local Market Opom in Lapu Lapu; very colorful, warm hospitality...)
- Should try the local FRUIT and local specialty: BBQ Chicken and Willy's Lechon (BBQ Pig) IT'S GREAT! Q: How to find the good place for take away? A: Follow the crow of local people and advise from the local people, then surely you will find the right place satisfying either your visual & your stomach need.
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| Guest has requested to remain anonymous |
16 May 2005 |
Stayed at Legend Hotel Palawan, The - Palawan, Philippines.
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Went to Sabang to visit the subterranean river. It was an exhilirating experience.
Visited Manila Flame Restaurant right next to the hotel - great ambience and very nice staff. Of course we were there too early at 7pm and we were the only customers by then. We left at 10pm when other customers started to arrive.
Great sea food at Badjao Restaurant, too! It is far from the hotel but we were lucky to meet one creative tricycle driver who offered to fetch us to and from hotel. Made the whole experience exceptional.
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| H Schweitzer |
11 May 2005 |
Stayed at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa - Cebu, Philippines.
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The Lami-ah is a nice seafood restaurant nearby with a cultural show at 8 pm. They offer free transfer to the restaurant and back to the hotel. Reservation is recommended.
Transportation can be annoying since most taxi drivers refuse to use their meter.
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| A Alipio |
06 May 2005 |
Stayed at Fridays Beach Resort Boracay - Boracay (Aklan), Philippines.
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1.Must dine at Gasthoe for their very scrumptuous BABY BACK RIBS. One of the best I have ever tasted.
2.Best to arrange accomodation that includes transfers particularly from Caticlan jetty. The hotel will arrange a porter to pick guests up and lead you to their hotel AND carry your luggages. Believe me this is helpful since walking on sand is harder.
3.Transfers from Kalibo airport to Caticlan is no problem. There's no requirement to pre-book this as there is an abundance of transport companies that will offer you competitive prices to get to Caticlan from Kalibo and vice versa.
4.There is another great way to see Boracay Island. Visit Mt.Lahu which is located in the middle of the mainland. You will be at the top of the mountain and gain panoramic views.
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| J Yu |
05 May 2005 |
Stayed at Pan Pacific Hotel Manila - Manila, Philippines.
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Since the hotel doesn't have interesting food choices (international rest. on the top floor), try Bistro Remedios on Adriatico - a pleasant, 5 minutes walk from hotel. Bistro serves Filipino food at its best, with wonderful musicians making the meal even more pleasurable.
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| A Deocares |
16 April 2005 |
Stayed at BSA TOWER - Manila, Philippines.
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Verify which banks offer you the appropriate ATM access, some ATMS in malls much more dificult to obtain money. Easier at Benak branches. Changing travellers checks much more complicated and long drawn process (1.5 hrs) and with each bank you need to verify which checks go with what bank, my Visa Checks thru AAA had to be done thru a Visa affiliated bank.
SM in Baguio one of the best SM malls I visited. A more open floor plan and not a boxed-style mall. Wonderful restaurants. Discovered a vegetarian resturant with funky setting, an art gallery/coffeeshop/restaurant called "O My Gulay" It is on the penthouse level of a building beside the PCI-Equitable Bank Building on Session Road. Excellent take on vegetarian-style dishes. Also non-vegetarian dishes available. Menu not extensive but what they have is excellent. Cash only payment. Golden Pine Hotel/Restaurant cor Legarda and Carino St. in Baguio. I have stayed here for a number of years. I love their facilities, their restaurant, their friendly and personal service and its proximity to the city center. Very good value also. Interenet access 24 hours near the lobby. Le Souffle restaurant at Camp John Hay, Baguio excellent food the Filling Station at Camp John Hay, Baguio excellent burgers.
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Traveller's Tales: Restaurants and eating places in Philippines
