What is the Best Area in Metro Manila?

[PaulnUsa 19]

I am going to Manila for a month or longer while waiting for my fiancee Visa to be approved. Since we will only be at the Embassy for 1 day do not see the need to stay close to the embassy. What is the better Areas of Metro Manila and while?

Trying to decide between.

1. Malate

2. Mall of Asia Area

3. Makati

4. greenbelt

5. Mega Mall area

6. Green Hills Mall Area

7. Eastwood in Quezon area

Please tell me about any of the above area and what is your favorit and why or any other areas you think would be better place to stay while exploring manila for a month or two.

[Psoas10 17]

I like Binondo area, and Baclaran and Baclaran is close to MOA.

[jen1217 5]

my hubby likes Manila or Mall of asia area, near in everything you need like int'l and domestic airport,US embassy,hospitals ST. Lukes in particular, Makati etc... by the way do you have a place to stay? i have a condo rental near Mall of asia lol.

[CristiFur 15]

Just all depends how deep your pockets are..lol..I was there in June and I stayed 1 week at the following places:

Makati: Ascott Makati hotel(around the corner from green belt). First week good transition hotel and location, lot's of shopping restos and bars.

Mega Mall area: (Ortigas business district) stayed at Discovery Suites and Malayan Plaza. Discovery suite is nicer but pricier..

Mall of Asia: Microtel Inn, right in back of MOA. Decent price if booked online..good place for farewells, a couple of clubs, restos bar near the water..

Just depends on what your into and looking for, but all the places you mentioned are all the same (Bars, malls, restos and lots of people in every direction)..

I'm actually planing to be back there in April and I'm going to stay in the old manila area..(Malate, Ermita, Binodo, Baclaran etc..)hotels are cheaper and those are the places how I remember manila was 34 years ago. I did not get a chance to stay there back in June. Will again use Microtel Inn as my last hotel..

[th and jv 3]

... try The Fort ...

... greenbelt is in Makati ...

... megamall and greenhills in one area... both in ortigas ...

if i were to choose, i would consider :

... the fort (in taguig but near makati)

... makati area (condos along buendia, dela rosa, near makati sports)

(we normally stay in these areas since we attend meetings in the central

business district)

... MOA is ok, but i consider it a little far from the CBD _ i.e. ayala, ortigas

... eastwood in quezon city is ok, but the farthest of those mentioned

... if you have sometime to spare, why not explore other places?

... palawan, bohol, sagada, baguio, hundred islands, etc...

... but depends on your taste ...

good luck and enjoy!!!

[A and T 82]

Makati is super nice, but i dont think its near where you need to be at all. You should stay in Ermita , Malate, its nice enjoy

[hubby4life 3]

Tondo, Metro Manila. Safest place in the Philippines!!!

[raquel_1208 1]

Eastwood, Libis. I choosed it for security reasons. I used my iphone out in the open everyday for a month because of all the free wifi in the restaurants and bars without the fear of being snatched in my hands or mugged by thieves. We rented a condo and stayed there for a month.

[F & J 21]

The last time we were in the Philippines, we got the chance to stay in Eastwood and it was a lot of fun! There's a lot of stuff to do - good places to shop and eat.

If you decide on the Megamall / Shangri-La (very nice mall - the only mall I felt completely safe at back when I was in college when my parents finally let me go to the mall by myself, LOL - they were very strict) / Ortigas area, the Linden Suites is a great hotel (one of our favorites) - we had a GREAT suite when we stayed there! The Astoria has better food though - cheaper too but the rooms are just okay.

Edited January 17, 2012 by Fatima and Jim

[giantkoolit2011 0]

My husband every time he visited Manila always stays at Las Palmas Hotel. He said that he always feel safe that US Embassy is just around the corner aside from the hotel staffs are very warm and accommodating. So for me, Malate or Mabini area is ok.

[Bron Chase 1]

When I first arrived in The Philippines I rented a furnished condo at the Greenbelt Radisson for a month. There are tons of people that own these condos and rent them out when they're not in town. You can look online, or even better you can have your fiancee check out some places before you arrive. In the grand scheme of things the Greenbelt area isn't too far from the Embassy really, and is a good place to be for someone who doesn't live here and isn't used to it.

- Bron (Makati)

[rlogan 2,036]

Is she from Manila? There are some interesting places to stay all over the Philippines, depending on whether you like Scuba, seeing indigenous peoples, or dodging bullets from MILF, Abu-Sayyef, or NPA guerillas. I liked the Mountain and Kalinga provinces, if you are into trekking in the ancient rice terraces. Scuba is good in Northern Palawan and Cebu. Mindanao is hot for guerilla war action.

[actob99 156]

I always stay at Palm Plaza Hotel in Malate/Ermite. Its's clean, small and about 2400 peso's a night. Your right in the middle of everything and can see all those places on that list too as transportation is so very cheap. Huge Robinson's mall across the street and plenty of places to eat and have a drink. I have walked around alone and with others at night and no issues, but you will get mobbed by people if your girl isnt on your arm!!! Good area to see is by the oldest church in Manila(maybe Phils I forget)which has plenty of nice places to hang out and is just a walkdown the street from the hotel..

Also stay at the Intercontinental in Makati which has a few huge malls and more upscale. It's expensive therethough.

Don't rule out leaving Manila for a few day trips if no reason to be there. I try to spend the least amount of time I can in Manila. Enjoy!!!

[AKteacher 104]

Tondo, Metro Manila. Safest place in the Philippines!!!

It depends on your definition of "nice." I rented an apartment in Tondo (Tayuman, Pritil City) a few years back and had a great time. No tourists there (and I mean NONE). I got to know the local people and just hung out and lived there. I must say it was a wonderful experience despite the grinding poverty, trash, roaches and high crime rate. A real local feel. I still go back there every so often to visit friends. If you want an authentic experience, go to Tondo! If you want high-priced, flashy glitz, go elsewhere!