What are the best places to stay in Manila?
Makati
Makati is one of Manila’s cultural hubs. No matter what you’re interested in, Makati has options to keep you entertained while holidaying on cheap flights to Manila. It’s teeming with great shopping, food, and nightlife with options that cater to both luxury and budget travellers. Most of the neighbourhood is modernised, but you’ll find the old-fashioned Salcedo Village tucked amongst the skyscrapers. Salcedo Market is one of the many things to do in Makati, along with various art galleries, Guadalupe Ruins, and Yuchengco Museum.
Malate
Malate is located on Manila Bay. Look into accommodation here if you’re hoping to stay by the water in between return flights to Manila. Malate is a central neighbourhood, but rather than feeling like a bustling city, it has a laid-back town vibe. The scenic Manila Baywalk is one of the top things to do in Malate and other attractions include Metropolitan Museum and Manila Zoo. There are great restaurants in Malate, and in the evenings, the neighbourhood comes to life with one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes you’ll come across while holidaying on flights to Manila.
Quezon City
Quezon City is an artsy area where travellers visiting the Philippines on flights to Manila will find an endless supply of restaurants, shops, bars, and attractions. Some of Quezon is built-up and urban, but there’s also plenty of nature, including Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Centre and the La Mesa Dam and Reservoir. Quezon City is well-connected by public transport, so you’ll have no trouble getting around if you reserve accommodation here after booking cheap flights to Manila.
What are the dos and don’ts of visiting Manila?
Do embrace Filipino sense of humour
Spend time with locals while visiting the Philippines on flights to Manila, and you’ll quickly discover they have a unique sense of humour. For the most part, Filipinos don’t like to take themselves too seriously. Teasing is a common way to joke, for example imitating someone’s accent or poking fun if someone orders a huge meal. Don’t be offended if locals playfully tease you in between your return flights to Manila – if they feel comfortable using this kind of humour on you, it means they like you!
Don’t call anyone older than you by their first name
Respect for elders is huge in the Philippines. One of the ways locals show respect is by avoiding first names when talking to someone older. There are all different titles for different relationships. Unless you’re visiting older relatives or family friends in the Philippines, the only titles you’ll need to worry about are ate and kuya. Use ate for women and kuya for men that you meet while holidaying on cheap flights to Manila.
Do adjust your body clock to “Filipino Time”
Filipinos aren’t strict when it comes to time. It’s fairly common for scheduled things to be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour late. This can include intercity transportation or guided tours you book in between return flights to Manila. Filipino Time becomes a bit more lenient in casual settings. If you plan to grab dinner or drinks with locals while visiting the Philippines on flights to Manila, don’t stress if they’re up to an hour late.
When is the best time to visit Manila?
Since the Philippines is in the tropics, Manila has a wet season and a dry season. The dry season between October and April is the best time to book tickets to Manila if you’re hoping to spend time outdoors. Temperatures average 30°C during the day without too much humidity and little to no rain. The great weather means it’s a popular time of year to book airfare to Manila. The period between December and February is an especially busy time to plan flights into Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). To enjoy the dryer weather without huge crowds, consider booking tickets to Manila in the shoulder months of October to November or March to April. There are fewer tourists than the peak dry season months – just expect some humidity as these months are close to the wet season.
The wet season in the Philippines lasts from May until September. These months come with high humidity, temperatures of around 33°C, and heavy rain. Manila can see around 15 days of rain per month during the peak of the wet season. The high humidity and rain can make it harder to do things outside, so plan for some indoor activities if you’ll be arriving into Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) during the wet season. On the bright side, this is the least touristy season in the Philippines, and hotels tend to lower their rates. You can score some great deals on accommodation by booking airfare to Manila between May and September.
