Is Manila Safe?

[englishbird]

Makati is safeish. The trouble is, that it looks and feels more Western than most Asian cities but it is really the least Western in terms of safety & stability. Greenbelt looks and feels very upscale. It is fun but don't scratch the surface.

If you are doing a 4/5* fine. But understand that the classifications are muddled & pricing like everything else in RP is what you negotiate.

I recommend the Ascott by miles. The Peninsular & Mandarin are OK but are both full of hookers & pricing and room quality very variable.

After that the rest of the 4/5's are really much of a muchness irrespective of official classification. If anything after that I'd recommend The Somerset Salcedo (Ascott chain) again) but don't get the wrong Somerset whatever you do (locals will get my point).

& wow a Brit Woman with a Filipino you have broken the mold on here! Just enjoy the place the people are wonderful. It is a fantastically pretty country other than stunningly ugly but fascinating Manilla - but the government & systems are shambolic.

Thanks for your advise, the Ascott looks great but seems abit out of my price range. I really like the look of the Somerset Salcedo, and the offers on their own website are amazing. I will definately be staying there if I go to Manila.

Thanks again

[EdwardB]

Thanks for your advise, the Ascott looks great but seems abit out of my price range. I really like the look of the Somerset Salcedo, and the offers on their own website are amazing. I will definately be staying there if I go to Manila.

Thanks again

Join the loyalty club for the Ascott Group - The Somersets' are part of the same chain. When you log in you'll find some much more attractive rates - & currently a 25% discount offer on the best rates, but non refundable. You should be able to get The Ascott for round about £100 for a very large one bedroom suite including a good buffet breakfast for 2 & you may get free internet, local calls & possibly at least a one way airport transfer. The Somersets should be nearer £60.

Of The Somersets' I marginally prefer The Millennium which is in a quiet street very close to Greenbelt.

Two other things. Firstly if you aren't being picked up get the hotel to book you a car. It will be from the Nissan counter which is just outside the doors on the right. The airport has a kind of inner security area in to which non passengers find it almost impossible to enter. The Nissan counter is in this inner sanctum. The car will cost more but you will avoid having to go out in to the Zoo, which is scary enough let alone on your first visit and after a very long flight.

Secondly this may make me a bit unpopular for pointing it out, but if you aren't clearly white, unbelievable as it may sound, you are likely to encounter some racism!!

[Tawi2]

Thats true actually,the n***er word is commonly used to describe africans,and its a common misconception,though often repeated,that the indian five-six guys stink

[Tawi2]

Some of the most beautiful women I have seen in pinas are the darkest,yet its the lightest pinays who get the jobs presenting on TV or hosting chatshows etc,theres most certainly an underlying current of racism running through pinoy society

[Pepe n Pilar]

Some of the most beautiful women I have seen in pinas are the darkest,yet its the lightest pinays who get the jobs presenting on TV or hosting chatshows etc,theres most certainly an underlying current of racism running through pinoy society

Filipinos prefer whiter skin and foreigners prefer darker skin..

[Tawi2]

Yeah,its crazy isnt it?Pinoys prefer chinese or mestisa looking even though a darker woman looks beautiful

[adam&chryss]

My memory may be deserting me but didnt they drive a tank into the front entrance of a hotel to avoid a coup last year in Manila? And wasnt Glorietta bombed last year too?
Safe other than that then!
And before anyone says it happens everywhere, it doesnt!

[somebody]

Yeah,its crazy isnt it?Pinoys prefer chinese or mestisa looking even though a darker woman looks beautiful

Funny thing is many non phills are the opposite.

I caused a right old stir when my wife and her friends a few years back in phill asked who i thought were the prettiest in the magazine they had with phill and world stars in.

I was saying the ultra pale ones look odd and mainly rating the ones with darker skin Then when i pointed out many of the whiteys strolling around atc in alabang were with women who did not look so pale taht they were dead they were like

Thankfully i have noticed apart from wearing posh sun block/protection my wife sends over from her workplace many of the ladies in our family and the wifes friends dont go overboard with strange lotions etc.

[Mrs.JMajor]

Yeah,its crazy isnt it?Pinoys prefer chinese or mestisa looking even though a darker woman looks beautiful

Tawi if you say darker woman, do u like the indian women color, no offense to indian/african color people

Take note:no icon

[KeithD]

Filipinos prefer whiter skin and foreigners prefer darker skin..

I have green skin ....my wife has lizard eyes

[pennybarry]

I have green skin ....my wife has lizard eyes

My hubby has lizard lips ssshhhh

[Tawi2]

I have green skin ....my wife has lizard eyes

Dont worry,unless its your 4skin

[englishbird]

Join the loyalty club for the Ascott Group - The Somersets' are part of the same chain. When you log in you'll find some much more attractive rates - & currently a 25% discount offer on the best rates, but non refundable. You should be able to get The Ascott for round about £100 for a very large one bedroom suite including a good buffet breakfast for 2 & you may get free internet, local calls & possibly at least a one way airport transfer. The Somersets should be nearer £60.

Of The Somersets' I marginally prefer The Millennium which is in a quiet street very close to Greenbelt.

Two other things. Firstly if you aren't being picked up get the hotel to book you a car. It will be from the Nissan counter which is just outside the doors on the right. The airport has a kind of inner security area in to which non passengers find it almost impossible to enter. The Nissan counter is in this inner sanctum. The car will cost more but you will avoid having to go out in to the Zoo, which is scary enough let alone on your first visit and after a very long flight.

Secondly this may make me a bit unpopular for pointing it out, but if you aren't clearly white, unbelievable as it may sound, you are likely to encounter some racism!!

.

Thanks for the advise on the loyalty club. Is it safe for me to use my credit card on theie website?.

I will be met at the airport, so will probably just try and grab a local cab and let my friend do the talking.

I am very white!!, so hopefully no racism.

Thanks again

[Mrs.JMajor]

.I am very white!!, so hopefully no racism.

For sure NO, and filipino people like white and some wanted to be white

[EdwardB]

.

Thanks for the advise on the loyalty club. Is it safe for me to use my credit card on theie website?.

I will be met at the airport, so will probably just try and grab a local cab and let my friend do the talking.

I am very white!!, so hopefully no racism.

Thanks again

Ascott Group is a major International company - you will get secure verified booking procedures if you book online. That said they have been known to ask for a fax of both sides of the credit card. I politely pointed out that would completely invalidate protection & insurance - & hopefully they have universally adopted new procedures after the humble apology I got!

The airport is not simple. Unless he can get in to the secure area to meet you, you will find you are entering a human ant colony/zoo when you are extremely fatigued & jet lagged. I have people who can get in but otherwise get a cab from the Nissan counter. The extra 10 quid or so is worth it for peace of mind - & will almost certainly make your next few days feel more relaxed as you won't spend your time thinking you are in a dangerous place - you aren't.

I was there for the hotel revolution. Yes a few shots were fired but it was funny for its classic Filipino ineptitude. Only in the Philippines could a revolution revolve round upper class revolutionaries occupying a 5* hotel.

& yes I stirred a bit of a hornets nest. I had dinner with one of the most famous TV presenters recently. I swear she was using whitewash for make up! Ana (my GF) has the most sensational olive colored skin but insists on wasting money on skin whitening products. & I have had American colleagues over who have been the victims of indescibable racist abuse even in 5* hotels in Makati.