Manila Travel Information
Manila, being the premier city, is the main embarkation point for tourists and visitors. Major tourism offices, attractions and accommodations facilities are located in the city.

Metro Manila is made up of nine cities - Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Kalookan, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Mandaluyong - and eight municipalities, covering 630 sq. km in total. It is a delightful mix of old and new, where traditions, modern customs, centuries-old buildings and gleaming high-rise hotels and skyscrapers, quaint street stalls, modern shopping malls, stately museums and discotheques and bars all fit together in a mishmash way that is very appealing and makes Manila the vibrant city it is today.

Weather
Weather conditions in Manila are generally the same as those in other asian cities. Due to its lower elevation, the temperature is generally higher, as is the humidity and wind velocity.
Manila experiences the highest amount of rainfall as early as the second week of May to October. The number of storms passing the city are the same as those prevailing in the Metro Manila area.

Language
There are two official languages - Filipino and English. Filipino, which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English, also widely used, is the medium of instruction in higher education.

Time Difference
GMT + 8 hours

Visa
A valid passport is required for travel to the Philippines. Except for stateless persons and citizens from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors may enter the country without visas and stay for a period of up to 21 days, provided they have tickets for an onward journey. Holders of Hong Kong and Taiwan passports must obtain that special permits. Visas and special permits may be obtained from the Philippine Embassies/Consulates.

Currency
The Philippines' monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, major department stores, banks, and authorised money-changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

Shopping
It is extremely easy for the happy shopper to get lost in Metro Manila's treasure trove of malls, flea markets, bargain centres and antique shops. Visitors can choose from an exciting selection of great buys at reasonable prices: South Sea pearls, handwoven cloths, embroidered fineries, terra-cota, porcelain, coral and mother-of-pearl home accessories, among many others.

Big malls are located in Manila, Makati, and EDSA, while handicraft, antique, and curio shops abound at the Ermita District in Manila. Duty-Free Philippines near the NAIA is the country's largest duty-free outlet.

VAT
N/A.

Gratuity
Tipping is expected for most services, with standard practice at 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge

Business Hours

• Banks and Government offices:
  In general, banks open from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm and government offices either from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm or 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
• Offices:
  Most offices open from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm daily
• Shops (Hours vary):
  Shops generally stay open from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Sunday.
  

Eating Out
Metro Manila tempts gourmets with a cosmopolitan range of cuisine. Filipino specialty restaurants are plentiful, enticing visitors with their wide range of island flavours from the different regional kitchens of the country. Bistros, patisseries, steak houses, diners, seafood grilles and noodle houses vie for patronage along busy restaurant rows in Ermita, Malate and Roxas Boulevard (Manila), on Makati Avenue, Jupiter Street, Pasong Tamo and Pasay Road (Makati), and on Timog, West and Quezon Avenues ( Quezon City ).

Moving Around
Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide, although jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places.
In Metro Manila, the fastest way of commuting is via the railway system. LRT connects Monumento on the north to Baclaran on the south. MRT traverses the length of EDSA from North Avenue to Taft Avenue.

Telephone Network
Telephone Service is modern and you can direct dial to anywhere in the world. Public phones are plentiful and require a minimum of two one-peso coins for a local call.

Health
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travellers journeying from infected areas. Children less than a year old are exempted but may be subjected to isolation when necessary.

Electricity
220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used.

Public holidays
New Year's Day, EDSA Revolution Day (People’s Power Day), Day of Valour, Labor Day, Independence Day, Manila Day, National Heroes Day, All Saints' Day, Bonafacio Day, Christmas Day, Rizal Day