⌛ Manila Airports and transition between them

I am planning to go to Manila from Hong Kong(I come from europe to Hong Kong first) using Cebu Pacific Air.
My girlfriend comes from Cagayan de oro to Manila using also Cebu Pacific Air.
If I understood, I will be in Manila International airport and she will be in Domestic airport in manila? What is the distance between then and where is a good place to meet? I think I should go to Domestic? Where is the meeting point??? I haven't ever been in Philippines so I have no clue about that..
thanks in advance.

 

If your girlfriend is gonna be waiting for you at Domestic airport, I think you should go to Domestic airport, you can take a cab, and don't let them know (the cab driver) that that's your first time in Philippines. Pretend you know where you're going. Directly tell the cab driver you're going to domestic. And if the meter is not visible, tell him you want the meter up. Some drivers are tricky. They keep their meters out of sight from passengers. But there are also many honest and nice drivers around. So don't take the first one. That's just my suggestion. Believe me, my husband and I had a not-so-good experience with a cab driver there at Ninoy Int. We had to get out of the cab to transfer to another one which was a lot better with good working air con and a nice and honest driver. Good luck.

 

Thanks for ur advice..seems like it is 1 km distance between those airports...Should near be able to walk...
Well I try to be convincing, I will be in Manila 3 nights. Do u know anything about philippean travel tax when going out from country, does that 1640 pesos apply also to foreigneirs,, meaning when I go to Hong Kong back I have to pay that there ?

 

I think it's more than two kilometers. It would be better for you to take a taxi. You would feel much safer than walking with all the traffic and the exhaust you're going to inhale plus dragging your luggage is not practical in my opinion.

Sorry, I don't know anything about Philippine travel tax, but airport tax you have to pay upon exiting the country. Hope someone who is more knowledgeable than myself could answer your questions. Good luck and enjoy your stay in the Philippines.

 

The distance is about 2 miles and there is no convenient midway place to meet. At the International Airport, to get to the domestic airport you can get a Cebu Pacific shuttle if you are prepared to wait until it is full or you can get a taxi for P150. Make sure you have P100 to pay for the taxi. If you only have P500 notes, the taxi driver "will not have any change". Go to the domestic airport and meet her just outside the Cebu Pacific Arrivals hall. There is no marked "meeting point" as in most US & European airports.Try to avoid having her come to the International Airport if she is travelling alone.

Good luck,

Gary

 

Manila Airports

The distance is about 2 miles and there is no convenient midway place to meet. At the International Airport, to get to the domestic airport you can get a Cebu Pacific shuttle if you are prepared to wait until it is full or you can get a taxi for P150. Make sure you have P100 to pay for the taxi. If you only have P500 notes, the taxi driver "will not have any change". Go to the domestic airport and meet her just outside the Cebu Pacific Arrivals hall. There is no marked "meeting point" as in most US & European airports.Try to avoid having her come to the International Airport if she is travelling alone.

Good luck,

Gary

 

The travel tax or airport exit tax does apply to foreigners and you will have to pay it before you go to immigration when exiting the Philippines.

Gary

 

The travel tax or airport exit tax applies to foreigners, but that's not the same as the 1640 P that Stranger was referring to, is it? Isn't that some tax that overseas Filipinos pay?

 

Terminal Fee

Any one who is going away should pay the Terminal Fee whether you're a foreigner or simply filipinos. Leaving the country thru NAIA costs you 1640PhP and 1500PhP in Cebu International Airport.

 

Best option

Its obvious you are visiting manila for the first time (or very infrequent visitor). So I suggest this to you:
1)Dont ever walk anywhere in manila.
2)Now that's settled, take AIRPORT taxi from international terminal arrivals (lower level). There will be people asking you if you need taxi. Tell them yes. They are not scammers of any kind, but quasi-airport employees. They will then guide to you a line of airport taxis waiting immediately outside the terminal (true, they are about 2 times more expensive but it beats waiting for taxis that come sporadically on the departure upper level and having to fight for taxi with all the people--waste of time and temper, unless you know what you are doing, and are arriving when there are only few people on the upper level. Just not worth the pain in the @ss for first time visitors like you--it will probably cost you about 450, whereas you would haggle the upper level taxi down to 200.). Tell them that you want to drive by the domestic terminal to pick up your friend at no extra charge. They should readily agree, as domestic terminal is on the way to manila central, either malate or makati.
3)Make sure to tell your girlfriend to wait you at the CEBU PACIFIC ticket office (there is ticket counter INSIDE the airport, and also separate OFFICE BUILDING outside the airport but is almost connected to the airport--tell her to wait at the OUTSIDE office building). (And i am assuming that she will arrive before you will, and that you cannot communicate with her via cellphone).
4)Tell the driver to take you to cebu pacific office, and you should be able to see her from taxi as the office building has big wall of windows.
5) Go inside and give her a big wet kiss.
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AIrport exit tax is much cheaper for non-philipinos than filipinos. Different price... Have at least 3,000thou pesos in cash with you for you and your girlfriend if you are planning to exit phil.