Most passengers coming from international destinations arrive in the Philippines via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), formerly known as the Manila International Airport (MIA). Named after Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., the late husband of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and also the father of another Philippine president, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, this airport serves as the country’s main travel hub for those coming from other countries.
There are many ground transportation options available at the NAIA. However, it is crucial to plan one’s itinerary ahead of time to avoid hassles and delays due to traffic and other transportation issues. This becomes a big concern to foreigners who have no friends, colleagues, or family members to pick them up at the airport.
Like in other airports, car rental is a readily accessible option for travelers intending to drive around the metro. However, it is not usually advisable for international travelers to drive around Manila, because the risks of getting lost and encountering delays are quite high. This is primarily due to the city’s heavy traffic congestion, local traffic rules, and one-way streets. Manila’s road congestion often lasts for about 20 hours a day, especially in its major thoroughfares during weekdays.
Even at this age, when GPS is already becoming increasingly popular, it is still not a good idea for foreigners to traverse the Manila roads by driving on their own unless they are already familiar with the city’s traffic and road conditions.
Hotel Shuttles
Generally, a hotel shuttle is the most comfortable and safest transportation option for international travelers. Given the mostly chaotic situation inside the airport, which is largely attributed to the NAIA being one of the busiest airports in Asia, the convenience of having a hotel or transportation representative picking up the passenger from the airport’s arrival area to its parking area where the shuttle is helps make everything easier.
Take note that hotel shuttles in Manila are always booked ahead of time. Although a Hotel Bus Information desk is available at the airport, an unplanned request would mean a much longer wait time. This also becomes a more expensive option.
Taxis
There are two types of taxis that travelers can ride within the NAIA’s premises: the airport taxi or the regular taxi. Airport taxis are clearly the accredited ones meant to pick up passengers coming from the airport. This lessens the risk of getting unscrupulous taxi drivers who may charge too much or possibly take advantage of tourists who are not familiar with the city. Payment is made in advance, then a ticket is presented to the driver. However, the actual rate for this taxi option is quite expensive.
Regular taxis picking up passengers from the airport can either be a better or a worse option. Taxi drivers in Manila are a mix of the kind ones and the money-grubbing ones. Although a regular taxi is generally much cheaper than an airport taxi, this increases a traveler’s risk of encountering a defective cab meter or being extorted money.
Buses and Jeepneys
A number of buses and jeepneys are readily accessible within the airport’s vicinity. However, often times, riding any of these public utility vehicles is not a very ideal choice for tourists. The more adventurous ones may find it interesting and challenging, but carrying large bags in buses or jeepneys would be quite a hassle to many travelers.
Most likely, those unfamiliar with the directions going to their exact destinations in Manila would end up getting lost when taking these public transportation options. English speakers won’t have to deal with communication issues in the Philippines, but the country’s complicated roads, traffic, and pick-up and drop-off points often cause major delays in a tourist’s travel time when riding any of these modes of tranport.
