1) Hotel in Manila - Crowne Plaza (in Ortigas) or Intercontinental (in Makati). You can book these hotels in Priority Club website. Hotel rate starts from $120-150 per night. Or you can also try Shangrila (Ortigas or Makati) or the Manila Pen. You can book these rates at discount in advance (non-flex).

I have stayed at the Crowne and IC several times being a member of PC and I would say these are nice hotels. CP is located inside a big mall and IC Manila is just a 3 minute walk. You can either go through the basement parking entrance or just across it are diff malls ( Glorietta/SM/Rustans). At night time IC is near to where the bars and night lifes are.

Same thing with Shang and Manila Pen.

2) Transport - from the airport there are taxis with fixed rate ( for each location) and you pay first at the counter. No one is gonna rip you off on this one. Tip is necessary ( about $1-5 will do). Tha taxi fare will be around $10 max.

From the hotel, it is a metered taxi and it is the same thing you wont pay that much. Just make sure the hotel called for your taxi.

3) Tipping is necessary especially in your hotel room so you will get extras. $1-2/day will go a long way.

4) Places to see in Manila - try tripadvisor. or you can go to SM Mall of Asia and try to watch an IMAX movie. Its got one of the largest screen in Asia. Plus theres a lot of bars near the malls at night time. I think its one of the biggest mall in the world too.

Daytime - Luneta, Intramuros, etc.

It is always better to get car rentals from the hotel if you dont wanna drive. That way you just pay the bill at the end of the stay for eveything.

Oh btw, ask for "Insider Experience booking" at the Intercontinental Manila and that will include hotel/sightseeing/car etc. it can also be found in the Intercontinental website. If Money is not a problem suites starts at $300/nyt. if you have time enroll in "Ambassador" program of the IC and see the benefits.