Where to travel domestically?

[Camiguin]

Yeah...the small (on a map) hop across Manila on the EDSA can be a tedious nightmare. If you can, aim to make any Manila transits in the early AM to avoid the worst congestion.

When traveling from Manila (or more South) towards the North Express Way during peak hours, we always try to use the coastal route:

Roxas BVD, Radial Road 10 (past the Pier, Tondo and Smokey Mountain) towards Navotas. Across the Navotas river, take direction 5th Avenue to Caloocan and then finally Bonifacio Av up to the EDSA / North Express Way intersection in Balitawak. This way we completely bypass EDSA.

Admittedly, this route does not exactly bring you through the nicest areas of Manila, but you can easily save an hour compared to the EDSA route during peak hours.

For those of you planning to take the bus up North (usually from Pasay or Cubao), you can take a taxi to Balintawak (EDSA/Express Way intersection) via the coastal route and take a bus there. Otherwise, you will still be stuck on EDSA

But hey, on the bus you can do something relaxing if you are not in a hurry: have some while watching Jackie Chan.

 

[h2odragon1]

For Manila based day-trips; Corregidore, Vilia Escudero, Lake Taal, Intramuros (the old walled fort in Manila), Baguio should be a 2-3 day trip, Binaue for a day-trip from Baguio.
Others have already suggested great trips to other areas.
There is as much to see and do above the water in the Philippines, and there is a lot to do underwater!

 

[FrogGremlin]

Thanks for all the suggestions: I expect to be able to take advantage of several of them over the next couple of years. For this trip, it looks like we'll fly from Manila to Tagbilaran and stay at the Polaris Beach and Dive Resort on Cabilao Island.

 

[boljakool]

When traveling from Manila (or more South) towards the North Express Way during peak hours, we always try to use the coastal route:

Roxas BVD, Radial Road 10 (past the Pier, Tondo and Smokey Mountain) towards Navotas. Across the Navotas river, take direction 5th Avenue to Caloocan and then finally Bonifacio Av up to the EDSA / North Express Way intersection in Balitawak. This way we completely bypass EDSA.

Admittedly, this route does not exactly bring you through the nicest areas of Manila, but you can easily save an hour compared to the EDSA route during peak hours.

For those of you planning to take the bus up North (usually from Pasay or Cubao), you can take a taxi to Balintawak (EDSA/Express Way intersection) via the coastal route and take a bus there. Otherwise, you will still be stuck on EDSA

But hey, on the bus you can do something relaxing if you are not in a hurry: have some while watching Jackie Chan.

not many people take this route but this is very effective. coming from Navotas, i always take this route when i go to meet up with buddies (most of them coming from QC, Mandaluyong or Makati)on the way to Anilao.

yes, you will see the poor areas of Manila when you travel along this part. but it will ease you of the EDSA traffic. especially now that there's the LRT construction going-on

how did you find out about this? this is supposed to be a secret so that visitors get to enjoy the famous Manila traffic!

but then again...your post would be big help to everybody who gets to read it, particularly when you're headed for Subic, Baguio and anywhere else up north. pd:

 

[jigo]

doesnt the area around bonifacio ave get clogged up also?