Google Maps

Google Maps is a web mapping service that helps discover places, alternative ways to get there, transit schedules, and in real-time traffic conditions for traveling by foot, car, bicycle, or public transportation. It also shows the distance and approximate time of travel from one location to another.

Why it’s useful: You can use Google Maps to locate a place, find its address, and discover routes and ways to get there. You can also use it to search for an establishment nearest you (like closest ATM or Starbucks). It’s also extremely helpful when you’re planning your travel itinerary and have to consider your travel time, meet-up points, and places to visit.

Google Maps is available on Android and iOS.
Website: www.google.com/maps

Grab

Grab is a taxi-hailing app that helps commuters book a taxi or private car for a one-way trip to any destination. Grab also has a food delivery service that assigns riders to deliver food to users from restaurants nearby.

Why it’s useful: If you’re unfamiliar with public transportation options in Manila or simply don’t want the hassle of lining up in jeep or bus terminals, taxi service is the more convenient way to get around, and getting one is a lot easier using an app.

Grab is available on Android and iOS.
Website: www.grab.com/ph

In case you prefer a pre-booked airport transfer or a dedicated car and driver to drive you around for a day, you may opt for our GetDriver services.

Sakay.ph

Sakay.ph is a mapping service that helps commuters discover available routes when commuting. It has an accompanying map that shows the jeeps, buses, trains, UV express, and shuttles the user should take, where to get off, and an estimate of how much to pay.

Why it’s useful: When you’re on a travel budget and would like to cut the cost of commute, it’s cheaper to take public transport around Manila. It’s not easy to do so though when you’re new to a place and so finding out your options with the help of Sakay.ph will save you a lot of time and pesos.

Sakay.ph is available on Android and iOS.
Website: sakay.ph

Google Translate

Google Translate is a free multilingual machine translation service for translating text. It provides a quick and easy word for word and whole sentence translations. Additionally, it shows what a word means as a noun, adjective, or a verb in the translated language. This is a pretty useful feature and might help use a word more appropriately.

Why it’s useful: Almost all Filipinos can do a sentence of English, and here around Manila, many, if not most, can speak it fluently. But if you’re here to visit and you don’t speak Filipino or English, Google Translate can help you converse with locals, may it simply be to ask for directions, order food, or even haggle with street vendors for some discount when shopping.

Google Translate is available on Android and iOS.
Website: translate.google.com

Airbnb

A shortened version of its original name, AirBedandBreakfast, Airbnb accommodates guests with short-term lodging and tourism-related activities. Guests can search for places to rent using filters like lodging type, dates, location, and price.

Why it’s useful: If you prefer to stay in a cozy condo than a hotel, then you may find the perfect home for you for a night or a few. You can get a place to rent for a weekend getaway with family, a road trip with friends, and even solo vacation with just a few clicks.

Airbnb is available on Android and iOS.
Website: www.airbnb.com

StayHere units for rent are in Airbnb. You can book directly at stayhere.ph for lower rates and faster processing.