Manila hasn't always been the easiest city to explore, something Coldplay would attest to. In January 2024, when the band performed here, lead singer Chris Martin was so shocked by Manila's traffic that he sang an impromptu ditty about its congested roads.
It's true Manila can seem chaotic, particularly in neighbourhoods like Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown - a place where jeepneys (beautifully painted buses cobbled together from vehicles abandoned by US soldiers) dodge wooden handcarts, but that's part of its charm.
In reality, there are cities with worse traffic, and Manila is also becoming much more accessible these days. The Philippines Department of Tourism introduced Manila's first Hop-On-HopOff (HOHO) bus in 2023. Stops include the National Museum, and the Binondo and Intramuros districts, and there's a slick dedicated website (philippines-hoho.ph) and an app. There are also plans for a new Philippine national railway service, which will connect downtown Manila with Laguna, Quezon and Camarines Sur, known for its palm-fringed beaches.
Greater connectivity is also occurring off-road. In October 2023, United Airlines launched new San Francisco to Manila flights, while in November, Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines' direct flights to Manila took to the skies. In late 2023, Cebu Pacific increased flights between Manila and Sydney to five times a week, and last month, Philippine Airlines added a third weekly flight between Manila and Toronto.
There's a new international airport on the horizon, too - in 2028 the New Manila International Airport is scheduled to open in Bulacan, 30 kilometres north of the capital. It will have an initial capacity of 35 million passengers annually, with a target of 100 million passengers a year once complete, and is intended to provide a much-needed solution to the capital's air traffic congestion.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 2024-Ausgabe von Business Traveller UK.
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Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
BACKGROUND This biophilic property opened in June 2023 and is the second Pan Pacific hotel in the city, the other being the Pan Pacific Singapore. The hotel is a member of the Green Collection within the GHA Discovery loyalty programme. It is BCA Green Mark Platinum-certified for its sustainability credentials.
The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam
BACKGROUND The Hoxton brand debuted in London's Shoreditch in 2006 and is part of Ennismore, in which Accor holds a majority stake. The brand has 16 properties across Europe and North America, including two in Amsterdam - the first opened in 2015 in the city centre, followed by this property in the Eastern Docklands in August 2023.
Ruby Zoe, London
BACKGROUND Germany's Ruby Hotels launched in 2013, and operates 17 properties in locations including Amsterdam, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Zurich.
London Hilton on Park Lane
BACKGROUND The London Hilton on Park Lane opened in 1963 - the first Hilton property in the UK. To celebrate its 60th anniversary last year, the hotel embarked on an extensive multi-million pound refurbishment led by the GA Group.
Philippine Airlines A321 business class SINGAPORE-MANILA
BACKGROUND Philippine Airlines operates flights from Singapore Changi Airport to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, using A321ceo aircraft, which stands for 'current engine option, indicating an older aircraft than the A321neo. My flight (PR502) was a morning departure at 1035, arriving 1425 local time in Manila.
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