Philippines Itinerary Help for first time visitor
 

I will be traveling to Philippines for the first time in January for business and going to take my college age son five days early to explore. Staying at the Manila Hotel, then going to Boracay. I am having a tough time pulling together my itinerary and hope for help from fellow Fodorites.

These are sites that are priorities for us:
Intramuros (Carlos Celdran tour, Casa Manila, San Agustin Church and Museum)
Rizal Park
Chinatown
Chinese Cemetery
Nayong Pilipino (on Sunday)
Corregidor Island day trip
Tagaytay City and Taal day trip
Rice terraces of Banaue (if doable)

If we have time, these additional sites:
American Cemetery
Malacanang Palace
Subic-Bataan Natural Park
Villa Escudero Resort (day trip for Waterfall Restaurant)

Does this seem reasonable? Any must sees that I am missing?

Will it be possible to see the rice terraces of Banaue? Has anyone taken the overnight bus? Any other way to do this? I thought this would be a highlight, then realized that this is not a day trip from Manila. Our current plan is to fly to Boracay from Manila, but if it is possible to fly from an airport near Banaue and save the travel back to Manila, there might be some hope of getting out this far.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Banaue will not be a trip you can take in a day or two. You would have to devote more time to the drive north. I enjoy Intramuros (married at San Agustin) and have also taken day trips to Tagaytay.

If you have some time to kill definitely take the trip to Tagaytay, once there you should go and eat a mid day meal at Sonyas Garden..a must do stop if in town.

As for Boracay, I am a bit bias because I see Boracay as too commercial. Within a country of so many beautiful beaches I would like to see the rest before the one everyone travels to. However, your catch phrase is that you will be travelling with your college age son. Boracay will be right up his alley, and of course you will enjoy as well. I still prefer the more pritines spots offered in Palawan or a trip through the Central Visayan region.

Enjoy..the Philippines is wonderful!

Another suggestion:
Villa Escudero. See this link for details:
www.villaescudero.com/

We did this on our first trip to Manila and it was great. Its outside of Manila so you will need a driver.

Also you can check out Pagsanjan falls. See the link:
pagsanjantour.blogspot.com

Its about 2 hours from Manila. Its a great river ride leading to the falls. We also did this on our first trip.

Many of the Fodor regulars skip doing the Philippines but they are missing some great sights- I don't know why that is as they seems to venture to every other part of SE Asia!

To BillT:

I will be in the Philippines for 3 weeks on business and wanted to arrange a suitable driver for my wife. How did you find dependable drivers in the Philippines?

We have a large group of relatives there so we always had drivers. I'll contact them as one of them works for American Express and I'm sure she can arrange some drivers for where ever you would like to go. Give me a day or so to communicate with her and I will respond back to you. In the meantime give some particulars about your trip- dates and areas of interest.

To BillT:

Thanks so much. I will be in the Philippines for 3 weeks on a Fulbright scholarship. The dates will be Jan 22-Feb 10. I have not been given firm dates on when and where I will be lecturing and how much free time I will have. My wife will be with me and we would like to investigate engaging a driver for the period we are in Manilla. My areas of interest include but are not limited to:

Rizal Park
Chinatown
Chinese Cemetery
Nayong Pilipino
Corregidor Island day trip
Tagaytay City and Taal day trip
Rice terraces of Banaue
pagsanjantour
And great beaches
Villa Escudero Resort

I appreciate the help.

My relative there has indicated that they are having problems with their local tour operator so she is not recommending them.
I guess at this point for trips out of Manila best to search the web for some tour operators and check them out for reviews and service. For around Manila your best bet is cabbing to all the local places. The Corregidor tour is something not to miss if you are at all interested in history. You don't need a guide for this just cab over to where the boat leaves and buy your tickets. Check it out on thew web for specifics. Its a day trip - leave in the morning, there is a lunch provided and you are back in the afternoon. You tour the island's facilites, barracks, gun emplacements and walk thru the Malanta tunnel - where MacArthur had his headquarters during the siege.

You can also do Fort Bonafacio and Casa Manila- both can be reached by cab.

Your hotel- unless your business is near or at this hotel- I would advise staying in the Makati area of Manila. The hotels there are much much better. We have stayed at the New World as its close to many shops and great restaurants. Great walking around area to. The Manila hotel does not have the best location for this and is an old hotel that is in need of renovations. Other Makati hotels to consider would be the Dusit Thani, Penninsula, Intercontinental.

For out of Manila trips put Villa Ecaduro as must do- you will enjoy the day there.

Here is what I found on Trip ADVISOR:

1) http://www.marsman-tours.com.ph/dt04.htm

2) http://www.sailing.org.ph/tlyc/volctrip.html

3) http://taaltours.blogspot.com/


Marsman is a well-known Philippine travel agency and tour operator that has been around for a long time.


I would suggest you contact the three and compare packages/prices.

You can also rely on the concierge at your hotel to recommend tour operators and/or drivers.

Another option one that my relative in Manila suggests:

ANNSET Holidays, Inc. – www.annsetholidays.com.ph

Manila Office -

Unit 502, Dona Felisa Syjuco Bldg, Remedios St. corner Taft , Malate, Metro Manila

Tel 0632 354-4101 to 04 / Fax 0632 354-4105 / [email protected].