Makati cope · Cope in Makati
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Cope in Makati
Cope in Makati
Expect heavy daytime traffic in Makati. Avoid traveling during peak hours. While jeepneys are banned from certain areas (namely Ayala Center), they are in full force everywhere else. Makati is noisy. In addition to the general traffic noise, the city is in the midst of a construction boom, and construction is ongoing 24/7. So when choosing a hotel, it's a good idea to find out in advance what is happening in the nearby vicinity. If there's a 40-story tower going up across from the Manadrin Oriental, which there is, ask for a room facing the other direction. Moving along, don't drink the tap water, ever. It's highly recommended to use tap water for washing your hands and nothing more.
Taxi drivers in Makati are notorious for playing dumb. Every other driver will tell you he doesn't know where Greenbelt 3 is, thereby forcing you to give directions or allow him to circle the area, unmercifully driving up your fare. On Friday and Saturday nights, many drivers will refuse to use the meter and insist on an extortionate fare to your destination, for instance, a normal cab ride from P Burgos Street to Greenbelt should be no more than 70 php. On weekends, it's usually 100 php just to get in the cab. Some drivers will outright refuse to take you based upon what they perceive to be their odds of getting a return fare.
Also, beware of citizens stealing your information and making charges to your accounts.
Generally speaking, Makati is the most civilized and comfortable metropolis in the Philippines and definitely the most Americanized outpost west of Hawaii. Travelers of all nations will feel comfortable. While the majority of travel guides will tell you that in contestible situations, the best advice is to smile and say Yes, even when you're getting screwed over, and frankly, the Philippines is scammer's paradise, the truth is, do not hesitate to raise your voice or demand to see a supervisor. Don't be a pushover. You'll never get up off the floor. Use common sense and if you have to get angry, do it with conviction.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Makati
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Makati - updated May 2024
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Makati Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.