Luzon Islands Travel Guide

Keep an eye on your stuff, particularly when walking around.  When you get in at the airport, go upstairs to the departure area to get taxis that just dropped off passengers; the taxis who wait for new arrivals overcharge. 

New traditional Filipino cuisine restaurant in Quezon City, near the Sulu Hotel.  It's called Adarna, and they have very good food.  Highly recommended.

Best bargain shopping, if you're up for a little adventure and heat, is in Divisoria.  Take the MRT north to Quezon Avenue, then hop on a jeepney to Divisoria.  It's a district of stalls and bargain shopping. 

Bring lots of water.  Be polite, but careful.  Although there are a lot of nice people in Manila (and the Philippines in general), there are always a few jerks who try to take advantage of travelers, especially if you obviously don't look Filipino.

You really need to travel with someone who knows how to get around Manila because catching Jeepneys, tricycles or buses is not easy if you don't know how!! Because of the traffic, make sure you allot plenty of time to get to your destination, especially the airport! Don't give money to beggars or more will swoop down like pigeons or seagulls (take your pick). Best way to experience Manila is to stay with a family or a friend who lives there. The only good reason to visit Manila (apart from seeing family and friends) is for the shopping. The malls are huge and pretty cheap too.

Diving is great - stay at Captn' Greggs (run by an aussie) - food is excellent and rooms are clean.  Best dives: Monkey beach (everything is live coral), verde island (trench to 240'), monkey island (hot water from the volcano), washing machine (self-explanatory), and horses head (about 160').  Nightlife is ok, with 3 "bars" in town.  The whole "village" is based around dive tourists.