If you have to stay overnight in Manila before going to Coron or when coming back from Coron you can lodge in the following hotels and pensions. All of these facilities have been used by Dive Right's divers. All have been inspected and are clean and safe. All of these facilities are within walking distance of each other, Filipino Travel Center, Edzen Money Changer, internet cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets, and the Robinson's Shopping Mall. This area is well served by independent taxi operators.

We have no interest in where you stay so you can choose the level and price of accommodation that appeals to you.

Swagman Hotel:
Ermita area facing the park opposite the US Embassy.
bookings@swaggy.com
63-2-526-6057 ask the operator for a FAX tone if you want to send a FAX.
Standard Room: $47.75 (double bed, air-conditioning, cable TV)
Deluxe Room: $57.75 (double bed, air-conditioning, cable TV, refrigerator)
Dbl Deluxe Room: $65 (double bed, single bed, a/c, cable TV, refrigerator)

Iseya Hotel:
Ermita area corner of Del Pilar and Padre Faura
63-2-523-8166/67/68
FAX: 63-2-526-2778
Standard Room: PHP 1,050 (currently $22) (double bed, a/c, cable TV)
Family Room: PHP 1,100 (currently $23) (double bed and single bed, a/c, cable TV)
The open air bar on the 6th floor has a regular crowd of afternoon drinkers who can supply both local knowledge and local color.

Malate Pension:
Malate area at 1771 M. Adriatico Street
http://www.mpensionne.com.ph
info@mpensionne.com.ph
63-2-523-8304/05/06
FAX: 63-2-522-2389
Dormitory: a/c, 6 beds, common bath PHP 275
Dormitory: a/c, 8 beds, private bath PHP 300
Super Economy: Fan, single bed w/pullout, common bath PHP 450
Economy Room: Fan, double or twin beds, common bath PHP 550
Economy Triple: Fan, double deck and single bed, common bath PHP 800
Standard Room: Fan, telephone, private bath PHP 850
De Luxe Room: Double bed, a/c, cable TV, telephone PHP 1,050
Executive Room: Twin beds, a/c, cable TV, telephone PHP 1,300
Family Room: Queen and single bed, a/c, cable TV, telephone, refrigerator PHP 1,500

Mabini Pension:
Ermita area at 1337 A. Mabini Street
63-2-523-3930 or 63-2-524-5404
FAX: 63-2-523-4213
Mabini Pension has a variety of fan and air-conditioned rooms with common and private bathrooms.

Pension Natividad:
Editor's Personal Favorite!
Malate area at 1690 M.H. del Pilar one block off of Roxas Blvd and in the second block south (towards the airport) from Pedro Gil street.
63-2-521-0524, 63-2-526-0992, 63-2-524-0811
FAX: 63-2-522-3759
Dormitory bed with use of an excellent common bathroom PHP 300
Fan room with common bath PHP 550
Fan room with private bath PHP 650
Double room with two twin beds, a/c, private bath PHP 900
**Best Value for an air-conditioned double room with private bath.**

Any taxi from the airport will go out onto Roxas (Row-Hass) Boulevard
next to Manila Bay and then turn right down Roxas until it turns right
onto Pedro Gil and right again onto M.H. Del Pilar.  The Pension
Natividad will then be in the second block after the construction on
your left side.                                |
                  SOUTH is UP                  |From
             |  Airport is UP     |            |Airport
     Malate  |X        |         X|Pension     |
     Pension |Adriatico|Mabini    |Natividad   |
             |Street   |Street    |            |Roxas
             |         |          |M.H. Del    |Blvd
       Pedro | Gil St. |          |Pilar Ave   |
------------------------------------------------      Manila
Robinson's   |X Filpino|          |            |      Bay
Galleria     |  Travel |          |            |
             |     7-11|X EDZEN   |            |
EAST         |         |  Money   |            |      WEST
             |         |  Changer |            |
       Padre | Faura St|          |            |
------------------------------------------------
             |         |          |X Iseya     |
             |         |          |  Hotel     |
             |         |          |------------|
             |         |          | small park |
             |         |Flores Ave|----X-------|
-----------------------------------7-11 Swagman| U.S.
             |         |          |     Hotel  | Embassy
             |  United |Nations Ave.           |
------------------------------------------------
                                               | To North
                  NORTH is down                 Harbor

Money Changing:
Before you come to Coron change all of the Traveler's Checks and foreign currency into the pesos you will need. CHANGE MONEY IN MANILA. Expect to lose 10% to 15% if you change in any tourist area away from Manila.

We highly recommend Edzen Money Changer on A Mabini Street opposite of the 7-11 convenience store one block North of Pedro Gil. (see the center of the map above) Edzen has the highest exchange rate I have ever seen in the Philippines and is open until 2 AM in case you get off of your international flight at night and are flying to Coron the next morning. Look for their red and yellow sign. When you go in you will go to the window and one of the ladies will slide a plastic tray under the bars at you. Tell her how much you are changing and place it on the tray. Take the number off of the tray and wait for them to call that number a few minutes later. When you go back up to the counter they will ask you how much money you changed and after you tell them, they will pass you the tray for counting. You give back the number. Needless to say, put your money away before you walk outside on the street. Money belt recommended.

Travel Agent:
If you need tickets to Coron or to any other tourist destination then we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you contact Hans or Mathilda Van Weerden at Filipino Travel Center for your travel arrangements within the Philippines. We have found them to be very efficient and reliable with a European emphasis on timeliness and service to the customer. Filipino Travel Center can write Seair and Asian Spirit flight coupons as well as tickets for the WG&A ship going to Coron on Friday night.

If you want to pass the time in Manila you can go the the Robinson's Shopping Mall on Pedro Gil Avenue. There are a variety of restaurants, some internet cafes, and stores for every need. This is your last chance before you head out for the provinces.

• Normal pick-pocket precautions apply everywhere!
• Walk away from any moneychangers who approach you on the sidewalk!
• Don't talk to anyone who approaches you on the street or in a store unless they work there and are in uniform or are wearing an ID badge!
• Don't walk around at night by yourself!
• Don't go anywhere with ANYONE you meet on the street!
• If it sounds too good to be true, it is! Walk Away!