Philippines Vacation

Metro Manila is a very busy and crowded city. There are many ways to get from point A to point B. To get around the city you can either take a bus, taxicab, their famous jeepney or a tricycle.

The most common means of transportation in Manila is the colorful and cheap jeepneys. It has open windows and sits about 16 passengers. It has certain routes and normally has a signboard on their windshields. The jeepney fare is PhP5-7 ($0.10 - 0.15) per kilometer.

A taxicab is another way to get around. The taxis have meters, but watch out for drivers who will take advantage of unknowing tourists, so make sure the meter is down and look at it once in a while. The plug down rate is PhP30 (about 75 cents) and an additional 2.50 per km. All taxicabs are air-conditioned.

If you were going for a short ride, your best choice would be a tricycle. A tricycle is basically a bike with a sidecar. It can carry 3-4 passengers. The usual fare is PhP7-10 per person.

You’ll also find tourists riding in a calesa (also spelled kelesa), which is a horse drawn cart made of wood and is mostly ridden for strolling purposes. It was the old way of transporting people from one place to another. You can take two or three of your friends to ride along with you. It’s really fun. A ride in a calesa is PhP10 per person.

Buses, both air-conditioned and regular are available almost anywhere in Metro Manila. An air-con bus fare is PhP8 minimum and regular bus fare is PhP3. There is an additional fare for every succeeding km.

There you have it. Whether you’re a tourist or a Filipino visiting back the country, here are the most affordable ways to go around Manila. It is safe and easy to get to where you want to go. And it’s fun too.