Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
City Scene, Manila
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Asia » Philippines » City of Manila » Manila » Things To Do » City Scene Reviews

Manila Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

City Scene, Manila

VIP Lounge - Manila
VIP Lounge
by machomikemd
City Scene tips and photos posted by real travelers and Manila locals.
• 51 Photos
• 31 Reviews

See all Manila Things To Do
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
City Scene: Kalesa: our one horse open sleigh a.k.a. Karitela
  • Tip Rating:
  • nixca316
  • Updated By nixca316 on March 21, 2007
  • Manila Page by nixca316
  • City Scene - Manila
    by nixca316, 4 more photos
    Let this be a thing to do, transportation, warning & a tourist trap tip rolled into one kind of tip...

    It's fun to ride the kalesa (kah-leh-sah) & see the Manila sites, but before doing so, make sure the driver is telling you the truth. He told us that the fee was 250/hour & we had a 1 hr 1/2 trip, so more or less, the trip was PhP325.

    I had my autistic savant brother, RJ w/ me because I didn't want to travel alone @ night after our VT meet & since we arrived Manila at around 4:30PM, we had ample time. I told the driver that "I'd pretend I'm a tourist, but please, don't charge us (his name is Jonjon) sky high because I only have enough". I made sure to tell him that even if I were dressed like a rich person I wasn't equipped. He said, "Of course, ma'am...don't worry"

    I was thinking he was just going to give us a ride around the Malate area, but I was wrong, he brought us to Intramuros and Chinatown. I don't regret that, but I thought to myself, What's 325 for moments of pleasure & my brother seems to be having fun...

    When we returned to Malate, the 325 became PhP1,000. I don't understand his logic...he said it became per person...so even if it were per person it's only PhP500, right? Then he reasoned it was a special trip...up to Chinatown...I already told him that I'm not really a tourist & he knew darn well that I even know the places...I said 500...then he begged for more..

    Honestly, I was going to give him 500, thinking that the tip was already included, but man! The trap was he wouldn't let us down until we gave a good deal or maybe let the trained horse go on if we wouldn't pay his price...It only went down to PhP700!

    People like that won't be able to sleep at night...wait a minute, I'm an insomniac. Let me rephrase that, people like that would never sleep like a baby. They will have restless sleep and will ALWAYS be disturbed by their consciences whether they get rich or not!

    At any rate, now that you know, you can STAND FIRM that if it's only 250 per hour, it's only 250 per hour!

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Manila?

    Read reviews about Manila Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    City Scene: Malacanang Palace
  • Tip Rating:
  • nixca316
  • Updated By nixca316 on March 8, 2007
  • Manila Page by nixca316
  • City Scene - Manila
    by nixca316
    Malacanang Palace is special to me because...

    We we were treated as VIPs during dad's promotion. The picture here shows former President Corazon Aquino (I just came from the beach so I had an extra tan)

    ;p

    According to history books:

    It was originally built as a private, 18th-century country house and purchased by the government in 1825, this opulent palace is the current seat of the Philippine government and features a palace museum open to the public.

  • Address: JP Laurel Sr. St | San Miguel, Manila, Luzon, Phil
  • Phone: +63(2) 521-2307
  • Website: http://www.op.gov.ph/malacanang.asp
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: The Manila Yacht Club
  • Tip Rating:
  • nixca316
  • By nixca316 on February 4, 2007
  • Manila Page by nixca316
  • City Scene - Manila
    by nixca316, 4 more photos
    As a tourist without friends who are members of this exclusive club, you can still "view" the Yacht Club from the outside, but let me give you a glimpse of how it looks from the inside.

    The food is great and the service is superb, but I cannot put this on the resto review because it's for members of only (maybe I'll still do one later)

  • Address: 2351 ROXAS BOULEVARD, MANILA, PHILIPPINES P.O. BOX
  • Directions: It's near the Philippine Navy General Headquarters and the Cultural Center of the Philippines
  • Website: http://www.manilayachtclub.org/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: Manila Pavilion Casino
  • Tip Rating:
  • machomikemd
  • By machomikemd on September 15, 2008
  • Manila Page by machomikemd
  • VIP Lounge - Manila
    VIP Lounge
    by machomikemd, 2 more photos
    A Great Place to Gamble! (Yes I'm a Gambler!)

    PAGCOR-PAVILION BINGO SCHEDULE:

    a. 5:00 to 9:00 pm (M T W Th)
    b. 2:00 to 6:00 pm (Sat & Sun)

    SLOT MACHINE REGULAR PROMOTIONS:

    a. Lucky Pick Promotion (Main)
    12nn-4pm (Tuesdays & Sundays)
    b. Payday Raffle Promo (Main)
    6pm-12mn (15th & 30th)
    c. Mucho Papremyo Raffle Promo (Ronquillo)
    12mn (Thursdays & Sundays)
    d. First Five at Four Early Bird Promo (Mabini)
    4pm (Daily)
    e. Raffle Mania (Mabini)
    8pm-12mn every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the Month
    f. Winner on Wheels (WOW) Car Raffle Promo
    g. Jackpot To Joyride SM Promo

    TABLE GAME REGULAR PROMOTION:

    a. Araw-Araw Instant Papremyo (Main), 6pm-10pm (Daily)
    b. Winner on Wheels (WOW) Car Raffle Promo

    NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT

    Mondays Sabor Latino (10pm-2am)
    Tuesdays IAXE Band (9pm-2am)
    Wednesdays Beat (9pm-2am)
    Thursdays MixMatch Band (9pm-2am)
    Fridays Joey Mulatto Band (9pm-2am)
    Saturdays Moranos w/ Ledge Dancers (9pm-2am)
    Sundays Silk (9pm-2am)

    PAGCOR Club-Ronquillo

    Mondays Tom Cat (9pm-1am)
    Tuesdays Two Notes (9pm-1am)
    Wednesdays Palito & D'Gang (9pm-1am)
    Thursdays Henry Madrid (9pm-1am)
    Fridays Black & White (9pm-1am)
    Saturdays Quarter Notes (9pm-1am)
    Sundays Elvis (9pm-1am)

  • Address: Manila Pavilion Hotel, United Nations Ave, Manila
  • Phone: (632) 523-8691 to 97
  • Directions: 2nd Floor Manila Pavilion Hotel, United Nations Avenue cor. Ma. Orosa Street, Manila 1000 Philippines
  • Website: www.pagcor.ph/pavilion/pavilion.php
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: Admire the babes!
  • Tip Rating:
  • D._Pepper
  • Updated By D._Pepper on May 6, 2003
  • Manila Page by D._Pepper
  • A Babe with her Baby - Manila
    A Babe with her Baby
    by D._Pepper
    Browsing through some Philippine VT pages, I noticed that women NOT typical of the ordinary Pinay or Filipina are presented as enticements for the male traveler to visit the Philippines. I propose to show what the typical Pinay really is - not just a pretty face, but a woman of substance equal or maybe even better than her counterparts elsewhere. I renamed my Babes of Manila travelogue to "Babes of the Philippines" because they are not just here in Manila, they're everywhere! The typical "babe" I know is beautiful, brainy, a fine friend, a loyal partner, a great mom or an exciting single (well, the moms are equally exciting), independent, fun, a lot of other superlatives that escapes me at the moment, and most definitely not the cheap variety depicted by others.

    Check out the Babes of the Philippines travelogue for yourself, and see the difference. I'm proud to know these ladies.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Offices, malls, cafes, etc. NOT bars
  • Directions: Choose a nice, comfortable spot to enjoy a cup of coffee and the view. :o)
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Manila?

    Read reviews about Manila Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    City Scene: Play golf! This is Fairways...
  • Tip Rating:
  • syllybabe
  • Updated By syllybabe on August 31, 2002
  • Manila Page by syllybabe
  • City Scene - Manila
    by syllybabe
    Play golf! This is Fairways and Bluewater in Boracay.
    Golf is a very popular sport in the Philippines. Most cities have them and even in the heart of busy Manila, there are several courses to choose from. What makes golfing in the Philippines special, though, is the fact that it wouldn't be uncommon to find umbrella girls (to carry umbrellas for you so you don't suffer from heatstroke), ball boys (to fetch your ball if it goes out of bounds), beer boys (make sure that the beer in the coolers are always ice cold), and of course your caddy, who will carry your golf bag for you.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: Other Old Churches Outside Intramuros
  • Tip Rating:
  • nimato
  • Updated By nimato on November 25, 2007
  • Manila Page by nimato
  • Remedios Church (a.k.a. Malate Church) - Manila
    Remedios Church (a.k.a.
    Malate Church)
    by nimato,
    3 more photos
    Manila has a few other historical catholic churches, outside Intramuros:

    1. Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene, Quiapo, Manila

    More popularly known as Quiapo Church, this minor basilica is actually named St. John The Baptist Church. Widely visited for its said-to-be miraculous statue of the Black Nazarene, thousands of faithful gather every 9th of January to parade and celebrate its feast day - a must see!

    2. Basilica Minore of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila

    This church is a site to behold, considering its old baroque architecture being surrounded by modern structures. Founded in 1596, it was destroyed during WWII and restored in 1972.

    3. Basilica De San Sebastian, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila

    This all-steel church, first in the Philippines and in Asia and second in the world, was designed by Gustave Eiffel (designer of Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, etc.) in 1883 and was prefabricated in Belgium. Completely knocked-down for shipping to the Philippines in 6 ships, it weighed close to 50,000 tons. Its stained-glass windows were done in France.

    4. Remedios Church, M. H. del Pilar St., Malate, Manila

    Another beautiful baroque-era church, the Our Lady of Remedies Church was built in late 16th century by Augustinians. A 1624-statue of the Virgin Mary, unscathed after the bombings of WWII, is kept inside and revealed only during its feast day on every third Sunday of November.

    5. Holy Spirit Parish, Sta. Cruz, Manila

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: Christmas Light House!!!
  • Tip Rating:
  • bike_packer
  • Updated By bike_packer on August 19, 2006
  • Manila Page by bike_packer
  • The Main House - Manila
    The Main House
    by bike_packer, 1 more photos
    A must-see when in Metro Manila on Christmas season.

    Policarpio St in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila is where the most-lighted houses (numbering about 4) in the country come Xmas season. The about 150m street is closed to vehicular traffic on weekends beginning late November till early January every year to give way to the big crowd flocking the place to get a glimpse of these enchanting houses as if the electricity bill doesnt matter.

    Visitors would have to park their vehicles in the adjacent streets and walk down through Policarpio St. to experience the event named "Pasko-Pasko sa Policarpio". Keep those cameras clicking for that cool combination of starry lights.

  • Address: Policarpio St. Mandaluyong City.
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: Museo Pambata (Museum for Kids)
  • Tip Rating:
  • bike_packer
  • By bike_packer on September 7, 2006
  • Manila Page by bike_packer
  • City Scene - Manila
    by bike_packer
    An enjoyable place for the young ones, as well as the young once, Museo Pambata at the north end of Roxas Blvd. is an enjoyable place that excites and stirs my kids' inquisitive minds. Combiming history and "Science-at-Work", the 2-storey museum would surely make any kid to wanna stay longer once in.

    A must-see for children 10years and below.

  • Address: Roxas Blvd. Manila
  • Directions: Beside the US Embassy and within the vicinity of Luneta Park.
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    City Scene: UST - Asia's First University
  • Tip Rating:
  • nimato
  • Updated By nimato on November 2, 2007
  • Manila Page by nimato
  • UST Main Building - Manila
    UST Main Building
    by nimato
    The beautiful campus of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Sampaloc, Manila is like an oasis in the midst of the city's dense concrete jungle. Old trees, parks and green fields co-exist with the institutions infrastructures and dozens of buildings housing various colleges, faculties, hospital, church, etc. The stunning main building houses the university's Museum of Arts and Sciences. At its Espana Gate stands the Arch of Centuries - part of the main entrance of the original UST building at Intramuros destroyed during World War II.

    Founded in 1611, UST antedates Harvard University (America's oldest) by 25 years and is reputed to be the oldest existing university in Asia. UST is also the largest catholic university in the world, in terms of student population (Est: 30,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduates).

    Since its foundation, academic life was interrupted only twice: 1898 to 1899, during the Philippine revolution against Spain; and 1942 to 1945, during the Japanese occupation of Manila, when the university was converted by the invaders into a concentration camp.

    Among its long list of notable alumnus are four Philippine presidents - Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Jose Laurel and Diosdado Macapagal; heroes - Dr. Jose Rizal (national hero), Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini and Antonio Luna; ten saints, including the first Filipino saint - St. Lorenzo Ruiz; fourteen national artists including Leandro Locsin, Ernani Cuenco and Alejandro Roces; business people Tony Tan Caktiong, Washington Sycip, Alfredo Velayo, etc.

    In recognition of the university's achievements, a number of important dignitaries have officially visited, among them, during the last three decades: His Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 28, 1970; His Royal Highness King Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1974 and 1995; Mother Teresa of Calcutta in January 1977 and again in November 1984; Pope John Paul II on February 18, 1981 and January 13, 1995.

  • Address: Espana Street, Sampaloc, Manila
  • Website: www.ust.edu.ph
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Manila Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 252 - Photos: 240
    Things To Do
    Tips: 498 - Photos: 890
    Nightlife
    Tips: 106 - Photos: 105
    Transportation
    Tips: 181 - Photos: 175
    Restaurants
    Tips: 288 - Photos: 415
    Shopping
    Tips: 97 - Photos: 159
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 83 - Photos: 136
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 15
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 93 - Photos: 29
    Local Customs
    Tips: 116 - Photos: 149
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 19 - Photos: 6
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 16
    General Tips
    Tips: 121 - Photos: 94
    Flights
    Tips: 36 - Photos: 0

    Best Manila Travel Deals

    Manila Luxury Hotel
    Photos, Customer Ratings & Reviews. Save on Manila Luxury Hotels.

    Crowne Plaza Manila
    Simply relax & enjoy your travels. Official Site. No Booking Fees!

    Manila Accommodation
    AsiaRooms.comŪ Helps You To Find Cheap Manila Accommodation.

    Shangri-La in Manila
    Luxurious Retreat for the Busy Traveller. Book online today!

    American Express Travel
    Book a hotel offer and earn double Membership RewardsŪ points.

    Sponsored Links

    More Manila Travel Deals

    17 Hotels in Manila
    Hotels with Info, Photos & Reviews Free reservations at Best prices !

    American Express Package
    Receive Complimentary Nights With The Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts.

    Luxury Manila Hotels
    Enjoy Luxury Manila Hotels Guaranteed lowest rates , Book now!

    Sponsored Links


    Manila Hotels





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.