Manila Travel Forum

We'll be arriving around 11pm on weeknight in Feb.

1. How long is the drive from airport to malate?

2. what should it cost us?

3. does the cabbie tak US dollars?

4. Is it easy to take a cab that late from the airport?

5. I want a metered cab. not wanting to bargain. One time I took a cab, and the metered was rigged. This was in China. However, don't want to similar thing to happen in Manila.

6. Does the cabi speak english. if I said, for example, "Cherry blosom hotel", would he or she understand?

which airport ur arriving?? okey, which airline to be precise.Assuming your arriving via Philippine Airlines, just head on to ground floor, for airport taxi, tell your destination, for Malate, i paid 350 php,(the taxi counter will write that amount in the slip and u give it to the driver) almost 8 usd, (thats the only amount you will pay + tip if u want (no toll charge or anything compared to bkk )it will just take you around 20 minutes..Now for English speaking, not unless that cab driver never entered more than grade 3 or less, he cant communicate in English. The Philippines teaching medium is English, thus English communication skills is proportional to Filipino's educational level.

It take around half an hour fr airport to malate. If you used metered taxi it cost you around Php100 (US$2.30), but if you used airport taxi it cost you around Php300 (US$7), I am not sure if metered taxi will take your US$ becaused they have no available US$ to change you, but an airport taxi can take it, metered taxi is 24 hours service, but in your case it is better to take an airport taxi. English is our 2nd language a taxi drive even metered taxi can understand and can speak english. hope it help

6. Does the cabi speak english. if I said, for example, "Cherry blosom hotel", would he or she understand?

That has to be my favourite question for quite some time!

Cabbies quite understand english, even if they will speak broken english at times, it will be enough for communication. Not all cabs know where Cherry Blossom Hotel is, please provide him with a Street name as a guide.

Sorry but most taxis prefer not to use meters when getting out of the airport (it takes a long time for you to find a taxi willing to use one). P150-200 should be the maximum you are paying. Take a few pesos out of the ATMs inside the airport for some fare money. Good point to note the street you will be getting off in Malate. Cherry Blossoms is in Bocobo St, Ermita.

if u will tell him , shangrila hotel makati, then you dont need an english speaking cab, not cherry blossom, because for him it may sound like a motel for short time somwhere else.

I would suggest getting a cab from the Departure area, assuming you're flying with PAL. These are basically regular taxis who drops off departing passengers (locals or non locals). Departure Area is located at the 2nd floor (Arrivals is at the ground floor). Airport taxis' minimum fare is P600. Much lower than that and if you're good at haggling, non airport taxis would be best.

For additional info, Cherry Blossoms is located at Bocobo St. landmarks would be behind the Robinson's Place Manila (the mall).

Happy traveling and welcome to PI, in advance!

Even those cabs from departure area will want to negotiate a price. Even the cabbies in the domestic are doing this too.

airport taxis minimum fare is not 600 but its 350php. I took it one week ago,from airport to makati's hotel nikko

1. About a half hour to the hotel.

2. Cost of taxi??? Late at night I would use the taxi service at the airport. Just after leaving the immigration area (banks available for changing money) go out door and you will see a shack/office on the island. There is a list of prices for various locations in Manila. To the Ermita area, where the Cherry Blossoms is located was 500 pesos 4 months ago. Otherwise you can walk down the ramp to street and hail a moving taxi. Late at night if you have your family with you I would take the airport taxi and pay the high fee for safety! You might luck out and catch taxi dropping off someone at the departure hall. Returning to the airport is much easier to get a taxi to use the meter.

3. Use pesos. Bank and ATM still available at that time of night. I arrive on NWA around 11 PM several times a year. At least one bank has always been open.

4. Easy to get an airport taxi for around 500 pesos, a little more work to get a cheaper meter taxi if you can at that hour. At that time of night don't allow the driver to pick up any "friends" along the drive. Airport taxi is safer if you have a family!

5. I think the taxi service has improved a lot over the past 4 or 5 years. It is easier to get a taxi to use the meter, the prices seemed reasonable too! I have been able to get a taxi to use the meter to return me to the airport using the meter only even at 3 in the morning.

6. Most of the Filipinos speak adequate English. For the Cherry Bloosom Hotel you should have a written address or even a downloaded map. In any event the Hotel is right next door to the huge Robinson Mall. It is between Padre Faura and the Robinson Mall on the J. Bocobo extension.

Map of Ermita, where the hotel is located: http://www.hoteltravel.com/philippines/manila/ermita_map.htm
http://www.hoteltravel.com/philippines/manila/cherry_blossoms.htm

Good luck.

thanks for all the tips! muchos gracias!!