Originally Posted by
blueline7
Many thanks for this, RichardInSF. For whatever reason, the impression that I am getting about Manila from my online research and speaking to my children's nanny, is that Manila can be very dangerous, and is not a place to walk about, or to take anything but a hotel car....Is this the usual bogus hype, or is this place different from Bangkok, Singapore, HK, etc., where crime is of no concern whatsoever....
It really depends on what part of Manila you are in. Never felt any danger wandering around the area near the Pen and Shangri-La. There is an upscale mall, an art museum, a separate upscale restaurant mall, and corporate HQ for some large companies.
Well, ok, I stayed inside the Shangri-La the one time there was an abortive coup attempt that centered on the Pen across the street, but even during that no one got hurt and the Shangri-La club lounge kept serving food and drink as normal.
Incidentally, $80 to get between the Pen and the airport area is an absurdly high price for any car less specialized than the Popemobile.