Philippine business travel: itinerary and safety in practice
Manila traffic can ruin half a trip. Book meetings first, then area, then hotel.
Sequencing
- Meetings first: anchor on counterparty availability; do not squeeze meetings into a full calendar;
- Then area: keep one day within one district (Makati / BGC / Pasig); allow at least 90 minutes between districts;
- Hotel last: near the next morning's first meeting, not the airport.
Time buffers
- Airport to Makati: 30–45 minutes off-peak, 90+ minutes at peak;
- Between districts: 60–90 minutes;
- Factory visits: a full day per round trip;
- Inter-island: allow for flight delay and transfers.
Safety practice
- Use booked cars or reputable platforms, not street hails;
- Avoid unfamiliar areas alone at night;
- Keep documents and cash separate;
- Verify counterparty addresses in advance;
- Keep a local emergency contact.
Materials
Invitation letters, company profile, product materials, quotations, English-facing business cards, authorisation letters where signing is needed. Prepare both digital and printed sets.
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