Easy and Cheap transport from Manila to AC
I arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 at 10:00 AM. I used Uber to get a ride to the 5 Star bus terminal in Pasay (Uber ride was 77 pesos!) Then, I took the aircon 5 Star bus to Dau bus terminal, which cost 150 pesos. I was quite impressed with this service. My luggage was stowed for me under the bus (I kept all my valuables in my backpack next to me). The bus made just two quick stops, then took the fast expressway directly to Dau. It took two hours to reach my destination, even with heavy traffic. The bus had big comfortable seats with plenty of leg room (I am a tall guy), and it even had wifi on board, so I could surf the net on my iPad the entire way.
Once I got to Dau terminal, I hired two trike drivers for 120 pesos each (one for me, one for my luggage) to take me to the Penthouse hotel in AC. All in all, I was quite pleased with this transportation method, which was a total cost of 467 pesos (Uber + bus + trikes) from the NAIA airport to my AC hotel. I was happy that I canceled the 2800 peso private car I had previously arranged, which would not have had wifi, and probably less leg room.
On my return trip to Manila, I opted to take the 600-peso Fly the Bus deal. BIG MISTAKE! A crowded small van picked me up at my hotel, and I assumed that it was simply a shuttle to the real bus. WRONG! The little van had me crunched in the back seat with my knees almost to my chest. We first stopped at the AC branch of Swagman Travel, and then was informed that we would travel in that terribly uncomfortable van the entire way to Manila, NO BUS! By the time we arrived in Manila (at the Swagman Hotel in Ermita), my ass was numb and my legs were in pain. Never again will I take that Swagman "Fly the Bus" swindle! Next time, for my return, I'll simply take a couple of trikes to Dau terminal (or the hotel shuttle for 400 pesos), and catch another big comfy aircon bus to Pasay.
RG.