Makati

IMHO there should be a thread on how to get in and out of the airport (or all airports). It's important infor and it scattered about.

Cheers.

[QUOTE=Docwiltro;3000826]I would guess that is true. Last year, I directed my driver to come to Bay 4 in the arrivals pickup area (at NAIA Terminal One), and that is where he drove up to. [/QUOTE]The keywords in Doc's message are "last year. " Both Immigration and Transport Departments have undergone dramatic revisions in the past few months of 2025 so what worked last year has probably changed now. The new heads of both departments are smart and are making significant changes in the airports and in general transport arrangements in Manila.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;3001156]The keywords in Doc's message are "last year. " Both Immigration and Transport Departments have undergone dramatic revisions in the past few months of 2025 so what worked last year has probably changed now. The new heads of both departments are smart and are making significant changes in the airports and in general transport arrangements in Manila.[/QUOTE]One of those changes* is that white taxis have been banished to the departure area, upstairs. Walk outside and be greeted by:

1) The higher-priced van services, right in front of you, which have set prices to different parts of Manila. For example, a run to Makati will probably be about p1500 ($30 USD). The price is fixed, there is no meter, and the vehicle is not a taxi. Drivers are quiet, courteous, and professional. There are touts outside directing you to these vehicles. They are a tad deceptive, and often greet you with: "Taxi sir?" You say yes and they usher you to their vans (deceptive in that they didn't lie to you, but you asked for a taxi and they directed you to a private car). You agree to the price before getting into the van. I have taken these before and have been glad they were there, even though a plain white taxi, a Grab taxi, or a yellow taxi are my usual MO. When there are long taxi lines, these vans can be invaluable. Taking a similar airport vehicle (or taxi) in my country the same 6 km could run me $50-$70. Also these vehicles are convenient, they are right in front of you, just waiting.

2) Yellow airport taxis, stationed to your right. Slightly higher in price than white taxis, but they are by law dedicated to airport pickups only. Typical taxi fare from NAIA to Makati in the yellow is p300-400. Yellow taxis rarely cause any problem by asking for extras. Just pay him the meter amount and walk away (tip as desired). You get a chit (two chits) from a booth operator before getting your yellow taxi, which has your destination on it, the driver's license plate number, and a phone number you can call if there is trouble. You keep one chit, the driver gets the other.

3) Grab booth, probably to your left as you walk out to the street. Price will be the same as a white taxi (below) + grab fee (p59 to 79, depending time of day and availability).

If you want a regular white taxi (bit cheaper than yellow), then elevator upstairs to the departure area and walk outside. White taxis for the same ride to Makati will usually be p220-280.

* Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;3001156]The keywords in Doc's message are "last year. " Both Immigration and Transport Departments have undergone dramatic revisions in the past few months of 2025 so what worked last year has probably changed now.[/QUOTE]I arrived in Terminal 1 this past Wednesday in the afternoon.

I ordered transport via the Grab App.

The App said to meet the driver on the departure level.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;3001213]One of those changes* is that white taxis have been banished to the departure area, upstairs. Walk outside and be greeted by:

1) The higher-priced van services, right in front of you, which have set prices to different parts of Manila. There are touts outside directing you to these vehicles. They are a tad deceptive, and often greet you with: "Taxi sir?"

2) Yellow airport taxis, stationed to your right. Slightly higher in price than white taxis, but they are by law dedicated to airport pickups only. Typical taxi fare from NAIA to Makati in the yellow is p300-400.

3) Grab booth, probably to your left as you walk out to the street. Price will be the same as a white taxi (below) + grab fee (p59 to 79, depending time of day and availability).

If you want a regular white taxi (bit cheaper than yellow), then elevator upstairs to the departure area and walk outside. White taxis for the same ride to Makati will usually be p220-280.
[/QUOTE]Hi Westie,

It's all turned into a bit of a shit-fight at Terminal 1, mainly because there's no signage regarding taxis since the changes.

In March I walked outside expecting to get a yellow taxi to the left and they'd disappeared. Even the security guards couldn't tell me where they were.

I avoid the "Taxi Sir" vans because after a long flight I just want a few moments to get my shit together on arrival without being hassled as soon I'm out of the terminal doors.

I'm also over the white cabs as the pricks never turn their meters on, unless you demand it before your bag is placed in the back.

I do get the yellow cabs to Makati but have never got one as cheap as 400 p.

Stupid shit in the Philippines maybe? To arrive in a country and have to get transport in the departure area?

Anyway, I found that yellow taxis also depart from downstairs. When you head out of the terminal doors, politely turn down the "Taxi Sir?" touts, and walk across the road and then down the ramp. At the bottom, you'll find them.

Footnote: I always get the hotel guys to hail me a cheaper white cab back to the airport and get them to tell the driver in Tagalog to turn the meter on. No meter no fare. No meter, no tip.

_ Phil.

The small bluebird of happiness made a brief pass down Burgos recently. He reports that Fyre and Neon Nights are reopened, up and running. More ladies for thee, and for me.

Thanks birdie.

So far this year, I have had seven return international business flights back into Manila (4 at T1 and 3 at T3), and I ALWAYS use the yellow taxis on arrival (I use Grab to get to the airport).

No fuss. Yellow cabs are always available no matter what time of day. Just get the chit from the despatcher and away we go. I have never had a scam or attempted scam. Fare is always between 800-900 php to my condo in Ortigas and I give a blue note (Grab is almost a fixed price at 810 php from home to airport).

I read the dramas some of you have with taxis and wonder why you experience stuff that I have never had (and I have lived here for 28 years now).

[QUOTE=RedKilt;3001449]I ALWAYS use the yellow taxis on arrival (I use Grab to get to the airport).

No fuss. Yellow cabs are always available no matter what time of day. Just get the chit from the despatcher and away we go. I have never had a scam or attempted scam. Fare is always between 800-900 php to my condo in Ortigas and I give a blue note (Grab is almost a fixed price at 810 php from home to airport).

I read the dramas some of you have with taxis and wonder why you experience stuff that I have never had (and I have lived here for 28 years now).[/QUOTE]Concur. Your success, I imagine, is to always use the more hassle-free method. I flew a few months ago and grabbed a yellow taxi (small 2-minute wait in line for me at the time). Grabbed the chit and off we went to Makati. Pleasant driver. He dropped me at my condo, helped me get my luggage to the front door, and off he went with his meter + tip. I waited in line checking in at the counter and realized I left my phone in the taxi. Ahhhhhh! I ran outside and ran in the direction he went (1-way street). I stopped after a short block and realized he was gone. I was about to grab the chit and see if there was a phone number to call for help in contacting the driver, when he pulled up along side me. He'd realized what happened and circled the block to return. He handed me the phone and I reached into my pocket to give him another tip, but he drove off. Great yellow cab experience.

In addition, I recommend those high-priced touts and their pre-fixed rate vans as you exit the airport door. While expensive, the drivers are professional, the don't get paid extra for driving more miles or more minutes. They just drop you at your destination. Yes, its $25-$30, but its also the fastest vehicle to get into (shortest distance from the airport exit doors, directly in front of you) and out of the airport. I use them on occasion when I enter the country on a long-bow flight over the pond, and am not in the mood to wait in any line or deal with errant drivers.

I believe the problem comes with white and / or Grab taxis, who get paid both per minute and per kilometer.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;3001310]The small bluebird of happiness made a brief pass down Burgos recently. He reports that Fyre and Neon Nights are reopened, up and running. More ladies for thee, and for me.

Thanks birdie.[/QUOTE]Li'l birdie emailed me a recent evening street pic of Fyre and NN.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;3001449]I ALWAYS use the yellow taxis on arrival. No fuss. Yellow cabs are always available no matter what time of day. Just get the chit from the despatcher and away we go. I have never had a scam or attempted scam.[/QUOTE]Have to agree Red. I do the same on business trips and get to my hotel in Makati knowing I'll be paying a little bit more than other dodgy options.

But hey, after a long flight, what's a few hundred Peso extra and the time involved trying to get a cheaper fare?

The only hassle recently at Terminal 1 was trying to find a yellow cab after they'd moved from just outside the terminal doors to the left.

_ Phil.

[QUOTE=Lalake;3001057]IMHO there should be a thread on how to get in and out of the airport (or all airports). It's important infor and it scattered about.

Cheers.[/QUOTE]Let's just say I have deep knowledge in this area. Leave it at that.

I HIGHLY recommend you find the Grab booth in any of the terminals and either download and use the Grab app, or have a Grab employee at the Grab booth book for you. Avoid taxis. AVOID any person who approaches you and offers transport. There are so many scammers and so many scam victims on Reddit. The airport has put out social media posts, posted signs and started public announcements to AVOID AVOID AVOID all persons who approach you for a ride but people still fall for it, every day.

[QUOTE=Pez612;3000053]I'm not a huge fan of P. Burgos street due to the high costs related to barfines etc. There are a few massage girls hanging out on the nearby streets (such as the one leading to Handlebar). You can get what you need from them at a cheaper price. They're not as hot as the bar girls, but you can get a massage and the dirty deed for less. They'll start at 4 k but you can easily get the price down. This option is handy if you can't take someone back to your hotel and don't want the hassle of a short time hotel and freelancer. Don't expect the massage room to be luxurious though. And watch for the LBs (unless that's your thing).[/QUOTE]If the average wage in 2019 was about 15,000 a month and now it is 25,000 so an increase of 60% which is pretty impressive. Average price was 1,000 to 1,500 then which correlates to 1,600 to 2,400. Which is also overpriced as it represents 10% of the monthly wage. But 4,000 is an insulting frickin' number!

Stop Overpaying.

MM.

Hello everybody.

I start my report about Philippine street, with Makati.

Starting form the hotel one my friend suggested, Durban in Burgos area, it was cheaper (20 euros), nice, clean. Room was little and with NO windows, but ok.

Staff was very nice: receptionist collect ID card of my girl and I ask her to confirm that was a real girl (yes) and age (22).

Back to the girl. I was in Burgos before Esater, so not the best day. Friday and Saturday.

In Friday (important day for Catholic) a lot of bar was closed, but someones was open.

I explore all the bar of Burgos, both in Friday and Saturday.

The place with nicer girl was Lips, but nothing special. Really for sure nothing that have the value of a bar fine.

Then on Saturday I went to LA Cafè (I will write about in Manila section) and when I was back I see a very nice girl.

She asked 3 k for one short. I think about I agree shower before and 1 hour, to go in my hotel (not her place), and I was ready to go.

But she told after than will came also a friend (not so beautiful). I told no. She told same price for both. I understand something never work, and I told goodbye. But she follow me and accepted all my condition.

Receptionist check her, really girl and 22 year old.

In the room we do shower, with no clothes she was also more pretty.

Then ask to be pay in advance because her mamasan told so. Wan a short and she was with no clothes, I give the money.

Then and 1 k more for mamasan (I told was not the agreement, but then for 15 euros I give instead of tips (no tips after).

She was really beautiful and sex was nice. But then just would live. I asked a massage but she demand more money.

So good sex with very beatifull 22 years old perfect body girl. But all the rest was annoing, I was not happy at the end. Better will go in Angles, I write a post later in the Angel area.

I have had another booking for Durban after Angels, but I deleted it and I staid in Angels.

[QUOTE=GiovanniVolo;3002811]She was really beautiful and sex was nice. But then just would live. I asked a massage but she demand more money.

So good sex with very beautiful 22 years old perfect body girl. But all the rest was annoying, I was not happy at the end. Better will go in Angles, I write a post later in the Angel area.

I have had another booking for Durban after Angels, but I deleted it and I staid in Angels.[/QUOTE]Great reports Giovanni.

Playing the game in the Phils is definitely a learning experience and the demands for more money is never ending, like many other countries.

However, with experience, you can manage it to your benefit.

It takes more than a few visits to find out what works best for you, but you have to start somewhere like we've all done.

Enjoy the ride and don't let any negative experiences put you off the Pina pussy.

_Phil.

Digs in the Makati area near Burgos. Second pic is the rough map area of the first pic. Thanks to the little birdie for the aerial pic. All of these things are about a 5-7 minute walk from Burgos (depends traffic congestion on Makati Ave).

A. City Garden Hotel.

B. City Garden Grand Hotel.

C. Gramercy Residences.

D. Trump Tower.

E. Century Mall.

F. Fersal Neptune Hotel.

G. Durban St.

H. Milano, Knightsbridge and Spire Residences.

J. Makati Ave.

K. Lourdes Suites Hotel.

L. To Burgos St, 1 block.