Manila

Manila is a fast-paced cosmopolitan crossroads that attracts both business travelers and pleasure seekers

Most visitors to the Philippines, whether business or leisure travelers, will find themselves at least passing through Manila, the country’s capital. Manila is a fast-paced urban metropolis with many of the charms, and some of the setbacks, associated with Asian cities. You’ll find wonderful restaurants and vibrant nightlife, friendly people and history around every corner. You’ll also find a fair share of grit and grime as you navigate the exhaust-laden streets. Every great city is a study in contrasts, and Manila is no exception.

A Premier Suite at The Peninsula Manila offers a spectacular view of the Manila skyline.

Makati, Manila’s business center, is where you’ll find the largest selection of high-end shopping. The Philippine people are mad for malls, and even if you’re not a fan of shopping centers, you’ll probably enjoy an hour or two strolling through the sprawling Greenbelt Mall. The mall has loads of open space, alfresco cafés, real restaurants—rather than fast-food outlets—and shops such as Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo.

“Jeepneys”—twin-benched jitney buses that seat about a dozen passengers—are a delightful and colorful sight on Manila’s streets. Each jeepney has a name painted above its windshield, usually in Tagalog, sometimes in English—names like “Fantasy Island” or “Sunrise.” When you add cyclos, motorcycles and bikes—plus kids hitching rides by hanging off the rear end of the jeepneys—you have a road mix that plays out like a chase scene in a Hollywood movie.

Many business travelers are now taking their families with them on their trips, combining family time with work. A good bet for families is the newly opened Manila Ocean Park, which houses one of the largest aquariums in Asia. Don’t be put off by the unimpressive entrance. Even though the park just opened in March, the entrance looks like it belongs to a much older facility. Once inside, after paying a 400 peso (approximately $10) fee, you’ll see fascinating marine exhibits. When the Manila Ocean Park is in full swing, it will have one of the largest man-made seawater lagoons in the Philippines, where guests can swim and snorkel and even learn how to scuba dive. Although a completion date for the lagoon isn’t available, the project should be finished by the end of the year.

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