Driving at night mnl-Anilao?

[diveUAE]

Have a question for those who have done the mnl-Anilao transfer:
We land at terminal 3 11.40 pm on a Saturday. Going to Anilao Photo Academy.
Since there’s 3 of us, we’re going to take their transfer and they say they can pick us up straight from the airport, tempted, but driving at night in Philippines is it safe?
Would it be better to spend the night close to the airport and do the drive Sunday morning? I’m thinking we can still do 2-3 dives Sunday, it’s just more convenient not having to check in to a hotel just for a few hours.

From Anilao we’re going to PG (think I already know how to do that, thanks to the many trip reports/answers to questions).
Going from PG to mnl however? Silat seems like a good option, but only have 11 am departure, planned to reach Manila 3.30 pm. With a 7 pm flight, I think that’s too tight?
Any other ferry/bus options on the day?
Alternative is transfer the day before - but the 11 am is kind of early.

Appreciate you help, thanks.

 

[Searcaigh]

Have a question for those who have done the mnl-Anilao transfer:
We land at terminal 3 11.40 pm on a Saturday. Going to Anilao Photo Academy.
Since there’s 3 of us, we’re going to take their transfer and they say they can pick us up straight from the airport, tempted, but driving at night in Philippines is it safe?

When traveling to Anilao I have always stayed overnight in MNL and arranged the pickup early the following morning (Crystal Blue Resort).

My recent trip to Tulamben my flight arrival was late (8pm) and after the first two hours I regretted not staying over as I had to constantly talk to the driver to keep him awake on the windy hilly roads where he was drifting over to the wrong side frequently.

My personal choice will now be stay overnight any time I have an arrival after 6pm in Bali and Manila.

Edited to add:

How long a flight do you have prior to arriving in MNL?

 

[diveUAE]

When traveling to Anilao I have always stayed overnight in MNL and arranged the pickup early the following morning (Crystal Blue Resort).

My recent trip to Tulamben my flight arrival was late (8pm) and after the first two hours I regretted not staying over as I had to constantly talk to the driver to keep him awake on the windy hilly roads where he was drifting over to the wrong side frequently.

My personal choice will now be stay overnight any time I have an arrival after 6pm in Bali and Manila.

Ohh, yes forgot about the keeping the driver awake Had a drive once from Abu Dhabi to DXB just before iftar during Ramadan - never again.
I think we could be out of the airport around 1.30-2 am? Any hotels in walking distance? (With heavy dive gear)

 

[Searcaigh]

I wouldn't be walking anywhere in MNL at these times, especially with dive gear.

Just get a GRAB at the terminal to a hotel, traffic should be light at that time of night.

 

[diveUAE]

I wouldn't be walking anywhere in MNL at these times, especially with dive gear.

Just get a GRAB at the terminal to a hotel, traffic should be light at that time of night.

Thanks! Guess I'm just used to UAE and Denmark, where you can walk most anywhere (weather permitting of course). Are Grab drivers allowed at the airport? I'll get an esim, so connection should not be a problem (at least it wasn't a problem, when we went to Cebu)

 

[Centrals]

1. Traffic will be light, just keep reminding the driver to drive slowly if necessary. Driver sent by the operator usually does not drive crazily.
2. I took the 11:45 ferry yesterday from Balatero to Batangas and then bus to PITX. Something to eat ,changed to another bus and eventually arrived at T3 around17 :00.
3. There are earlier ferry.
4. Plenty of hotels just across the road from T3. Runway Manila from the 3rd floor in T3 will bring you directly behind Belmont Hotel.

 

[Centrals]

This is the break down on either public or Si-Kat.
From PG to Balatero would require two tuktuks for three persons and bags which is P300.00 per vehicle ie. P200.00pp.
1. Si- Kat is P1,500.00pp from Baletero to City State Tower Hotel. Taxi from CSTH to T3 transfer should not be more than P400.00(P130.00pp). Individually, about P1,830.00pp.
2. Public ferry is P600.00pp, bus is P290.00pp and the taxi from PITX or Buen Dia is about P300.00. There is a much cheaper way but not practical with three big bags. Individually, P1,390.00.

Taxi directly from Bantagas to T3 is P5,000.00(P1,700.00pp). Individually it is about P2,470.00(P1,670.00 + P600.00 + P200.00).

 

[diveUAE]

Edited to add:

How long a flight do you have prior to arriving in MNL?

Way to long - think 21/22 hours. Sometimes it's just nicer to "push through" to final destination, but not this time.

1. Traffic will be light, just keep reminding the driver to drive slowly if necessary. Driver sent by the operator usually does not drive crazily.
2. I took the 11:45 ferry yesterday from Balatero to Batangas and then bus to PITX. Something to eat ,changed to another bus and eventually arrived at T3 around17 :00.
3. There are earlier ferry.
4. Plenty of hotels just across the road from T3. Runway Manila from the 3rd floor in T3 will bring you directly behind Belmont Hotel.

2/3: Not bad - how long time from PITX- T3? Would it be possible to get a Grab or Taxi? - I'm thinking there might be a 9 or 10 am ferry? That way it could be possible to reach T3 without racing around.
4: Perfect, Thanks. Belmont hotel booked Top tip for anyone looking: booking directly with the hotel gave me a cheaper price, included breakfast and one way transfer - very nice.

 

[Centrals]

There are THREE ferry companies offering service from Balatero to Batangas: Galerian, Island Water and Montenegro.
Time table is NOT reliable. Best to check it while you are already over there.
Grab from Manila to Anilao can be arranged and should cost considerably less than the vehicle sent by the resort. However, I would like to point out for three divers with bag and hand carry would probably need a van rather than a car.

 

[Porcupinefish_26]

I have done a night transfer from MNL to Anilao: I was staying with Buceo that time, around Christmas 2022, and my flight landed in MNL at around 3:45am. The pickup and driving was not an issue (I think I passed out most of the time) but have to say that it was almost dawn when we left metro Manila so not entirely driving in the dark.