Most people going from Manila to Cebu will fly, not us. We are spending 2 weeks travelling from Manila to Cebu by bus, boat, and also GRAB when we really have to. The first stage of this journey was getting from Manila to Batangas Port, Philippines, by bus and this is how we got on.
Booking Manila to Batangas Port, Philippines, by bus.
Throughout this trip, we have been very loyal to using 12GoAsia. We find them so easy to use. Yes, of course, we are paying for their service, but it is just so simple to use (apart from their app, which is rubbish). This journey was no different; we had numerous different options for times, bus stations, and service providers, but in the end, we went with Ceres from their station on Taft Avenue. We would recommend you try and find a provider with a station that is handy to get to. There was another station closer to us on the map, but the only way to get there was by GRAB or bus, and if you have ever visited Manila, traffic is mayhem and you can’t time anything. However, buses to Batangas Port are frequent enough at least every hour from whatever option you choose.
There was also the option to book tickets at the bus station.
The booking cost us £15 for the 3 of us, leaving at 10 a.m. from their station on Taft Avenue. *Prices correct as of February 2024.
Go to the right station!
We had to get a GRAB from the train station to the bus station. Our GRAB driver asked us what station, this confused us as we had put the station into the app. He looked at our booking and obviously took us to the wrong station.
I did think we were at the wrong station, but Nicola went to the dispatcher, and he said it was the right station (so I was wrong!). Or was I… As we got closer to our departure time, I read about how we needed to get tickets from the desk as they didn’t accept them from the email. I got to the ticket desk, and they told us that this was the DLTB station, and the Ceres one that we needed was across the road (told you!).
Thankfully, it was just across the road, so we hotfooted it through the Manila traffic and arrived at the terminal where our bus was waiting and went to the ticket desk.
Print your tickets.
More drama for us; you would think we have never travelled before. The guy at the desk told us we needed to have printed tickets, which he would exchange for bus tickets. WTF! Why not just look at our e-tickets on the phone and give us bus tickets that way? Of course, his friend across the road would print them off for us for 8 PHP each. Hardly an expensive sum of money to hand over just over 10p sterling, but still really not needed.
Nicola went and got them printed off, handed them to the guy, and we got on the bus. Easy!
Seats on the bus.
We have been getting on buses pretty frequently all over Asia, and every single one has been allocated a seat; this time it was first come, first served, and you sat anywhere. That was no problem for us as the bus was mainly empty, and we set up camp at the back of the bus.
The bus was as clean as it could have been. Certainly not the cleanest, but not the worst on our travels. There didn’t seem to be any AC as described, but the windows opened up to let air in.
The Journey!
There were no real dramas on the journey; for the most part, we sat on the motorway and just admired the ever-changing scenery as we headed towards Batangas.
The journey took just under 2 hours. I was surprised, as all I have seen so far in the Philippines is heavy traffic.
No toilet on the bus; if you have a weak bladder, bring an empty bottle!!
Arrival at Batangas Port.
We were dropped off at a bit of waste ground just around the corner from Batangas Port; all buses seem to drop off here, not just Ceres.
Getting to the terminal from here is easy, but daunting at the same time. The bus dropped us off at the yellow square, and we walked the red line to a yellow gate and into the port.
Reasons why it is daunting:
- The moment you get off the bus, you will have drivers surrounding you wanting to take you to the port. It is not necessary; you can walk it in a few minutes.
- On the street where the port entry is, there are loads of helpers who want to try and grab your bags and carry them. We saw one lad get all his bags knocked to the ground and get really pissed off.
- Kids beg; it is literally non-stop the entire length of the street. They only know a few bits of English: “Hi!” “Where are you going?” and “Money.” Some kids were coming out of shops and asking for money, which was strange.
- The entrance is easy to miss; we walked past it, and a friendly local stopped us and asked us where we were going. I am always on guard and just walked on, he said, sir. If you are looking for the port, it is behind you at the yellow gate. I apologised as I was being rude, and he said no problem and went on about his business.
While it feels intense, it is only for a few minutes, and after the yellow gate, it is calm again.
Staying the night in Batangas Port.
We spent the night in Batangas Port at ‘The Wharf Transient Hotel.’ While the hotel was spot-on and safe, I’m just not sure about the area. The area is very poor, with a mixture of friendly people and people wanting your money. I was approached by a number of youths carrying sticks asking for money, which I declined, and leaving the hotel, I hadn’t even put my foot on the concrete, and kids were running over looking money.
If you can, it is probably best to just move on as soon as you can. There really isn’t anything in the Port area anyway, not many options for food cooked in view, and I just felt a bit uneasy while we walked around.
Overall thoughts of Manila to Batangas Port, Philippines, by bus.
After the initial balls-up of going to the wrong station and not having our documents printed off, it really was simple. The toughest part was the walk from the bus to the terminal. However, that only lasts a few minutes. If going to Batangas Port from Manila, we would recommend going by bus.
Thank you for taking the time to read about us going from Manila to Batangas Port, Philippines, by bus. If you have any questions, please ask.
The Lewis family.
