What is the best way to travel to Angeles City from Manila (NAIA) airport?

[GoodEnough]

I'm genuinely bewildered at the seemingly endless discussions about how to get to Angeles. Guys are spending thousands of dollars on airline tickets, hundreds more on hotel rooms, meals, bar fines and drinks, all for the purpose of having as much fun as possible. Given the size of the financial outlay why would anyone not just spend Php2,700 or so and arrange for a private car. Who cares about the savings of $25-30 within this context? I read with amazement the stories of guys taking jeepneys, trikes and cramped vans, thus sacrificing precious time and physical comfort, all for the sake of a few bucks. It makes zero sense to me.

GE.

[Hutsori]

Three FRs from 15 Feb 2015. Thanks to Mr. E, Pompetus and Free2 respectively.

Re Victory Liner (public): http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...=1#post1682659

Re Fly the Bus (private) and taxi: http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...=1#post1682703

Re Fly the Bus (private) and using Five Star Bus (public): http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...=1#post1682714

Map of Five Star Bus Company, Pasay, https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fi...a2d4d92108f815

[Hutsori]

An informative FR re taking the bus from Manila to AC, http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...=1#post1681913.

Thanks, RG.

[Hutsori]

Since this question is asked often in the Angeles City thread I decided a "sticky" will be useful. Aside from a few edits and hyperlinks I've shamelessly plagiarised WestCoast's post of 20 Jan, 2015 - http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...=1#post1671241. Thanks, Westy.

There is no "best way" to make this journey. There are various methods (already discussed on the boards). The costs vary. Mostly your time-of-day arrival will effect your time spent in transport. Arrive 9 pm-6 am at NAIA, especially Mon-Fri, and you could conceivably be in your AC hotel 2-3 hours later (clear immigration & customs, then take ride directly to your hotel from NAIA). Arrive at NAIA at the busier time of day and it might be 5-6 hours until you reach your destination. Arriving on Sunday is smart as traffic is *much* lighter.

Options:

1. Hotel Transport. Have your AC hotel send a car / van just for you. Margarita Station also does so, http://www.margaritastation.com/NAIA.html. Prices quoted are p2600 to p3000. I prefer this method, even though more costly, as the driver / car is waiting for me, and is at my beck-and-call: literally, he stops if I need to weewee or eat (be nice, buy him a burger when you get some fast food for yourself), I control the radio (not him), and I can stretch out and sleep in the back seat (it's all mine).

2. Public Bus. Try the Radical Guy method: Taxi to Victory Liner bus terminal in Pasay (p100-200), then take one of the aircon buses (the Pasay-Dagupan bus route, departing every 30 minutes or so depending on number of passengers, p200?) to Dau, then take a trike (p100) to your hotel. This is a cheaper method, but will take longer (could be much longer as trying to get a taxi at NAIA has become difficult), and you are traveling with locals. This seems the 'po man's method. Google map of Victory Liner's depot, https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vi...3fb47ddbc7ed06.

3. Shuttle Bus. Taxi to Swagman Hotel in Manila (p150-200), then take the Fly-the-Bus that departs three times a day, p600, http://www.swaggy.com/fly-the-bus/. Google map of Swagman Hotel, https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sw...c21d3140d6a1a8. Swagman also offers private car and van transport from NAIA to Angeles. The Southern Cross Hotel, located around the corner from the Swagman on Del Pilar St in Manila, also operates a once-a-day shuttle bus to AC, http://www.southerncrossshuttle.com/#!about/c20r9.

4. Public Taxi Direct to AC. Arrive at NAIA, grab luggage, take elevator upstairs to the airport's departure area. There are many taxi's dropping off departing passengers. Hail one and ask if he wants to take you to AC. He will quote a very large amount, 4-5000 maybe. Counter with 2500. Bargain. You should be able to hit at about p3000. Even though you are only going one way, remember it has to be enough for him to go there and return to Manila, which could be a 5-hour (or more) round-trip for him; he is renting the taxi for a 12-hour shift and must return it in Manila. You might have to attempt this with many taxi drivers. If you are willing to do this, you should re-consider option #1 above (same cost). Keep in mind many taxis are old and poorly maintained. Choose wisely.

5. Private Driver. From time to time some ISG members have recommended private drivers, such as this http://www.internationalsexguide.inf...=1#post1671509. Check the AC thread for their FRs or maybe they will (re)post their info here.

6. Rental Car. Expensive. Pointless to do so.