Manila, Philippines 2018/19

How we got there:As always having a bit of flexibility and planning well in advance could save you a great deal of money when flying business class ticketing all the way through to your final destination.Utilizing the google flights search engine (Filtering in for Delta partners) in map mode we were able to identify 4 discounted business class tickets (Z class) for 2000 USD by toggling our departure city to Montreal and ensuring that Manila was both the outbound final destination and the return exit point of our trip.By choosing this itinerary we were also able to finally test out Deltas premier hard product #deltaonesuites currently fitted for the Airbus A350 between Detroit and NRT in Tokyo. This product was wonderful and made the 13 hour flight easy and dare I say pleasant. The cabin configuration is 1-2-1 and I highly recommend booking the 1-aisle seats. The first row did offer slightly more leg room albeit it was a bit closer to the kitchen and forward lavatory. Overall the experience in the suites is a step above other US carriers and it's wonderful to hear that plans are in the works for retrofitting 777/767's in the near future.The NRT to Manila connection however still uses the older 767 delta one configuration again in a 1-2-1 configuration. Flyer tip: odd numbers in the single aisle seating configuration in business offer slightly added privacy as the seats are in closer proximity to the window.Where we stayed:The Peninsula hotel in Makati was a wonderful experience. The hotel has a lovely lobby, extremely welcoming staff with personalized in room check in and offered us a relaxing 48 hours to rejuvenate. While it rained while we were there the hotel has a wonderful pool, fitness center and spa. We would definitely stay here again.Insider tips:Have the hotel arrange your pick up and return to the airport their communication is exemplary.Definitely have the breakfast buffet! If you are not in the mood to leave the hotelIf you aren't in the mood to leave the hotel the wonton soup in the lobby is delicious.https://www.peninsula.com/en/manila/special-offers/rooms/value-the-experience[wpvideo DRVFiRMV ]What we did:We definitely tried to capitalize on our 48 hour stay in Manila and for us this was just the right amount of time. The city is a dense landscape that swings from modern high rises to extensive underserved communities.Insider tip:Traffic is terrible. Prepare to spend a lot of time Getting from point A to B. 8 kilometers will take you approximately 45 minutes! There is no Uber but try Grab for ride sharing.The walled city:Intramuros is also called the Walled City, and at the time of the Spanish Colonial Period was synonymous to the City of Manila. Other towns and arrables (suburbs) located beyond the walls are referred to as "extramuros", the Spanish for "outside the walls".^[3][4]It was the seat of government and political power when the Philippines was a component realm of the Spanish Empire. It was also the center of religion, education and economy. We opted for a horse drawn tour of the walled city and extended the tour to China town ( the largest China town outside of China).We didn't get to do the walking tour below however it came highly recommendedhttps://carlosceldranwalks.wordpress.com/Malls malls and more malls Since the weather was not cooperating with our plans we decided to join the locals in a mall hopping adventure.My favorite: The Powerplant mallhttps://www.powerplantmall.com/This mall rivals and in my opinion beats most in big cities. Having arrived just after Christmas the decorations alone were stunning. You can spend a whole day here and have no qualms about it.[wpvideo XHJQj7ZW ]Ayala Mall: not as fancy in appearance as the powerplant but quite close to the Peninsula.http://www.ayalamalls.com.ph/malls-philippines/glorietta-makati/What we ate:It is all about the breakfast buffets! Start your day with traditional Asian Cuisine to typical brunch. We tried both the buffets at the Peninsula Hotel and the Shangri la hotel and I was in breakfast heaven![wpvideo XmX2zUd2 ]Din Tai Fung: a must do pitstop for lunch. There are a few of this chain but we opted for the powerplant mall outpost and it did not disappoint. This came highly recommended by some close Filipino friends.[wpvideo HWHfesD6 ]