Chauffeur service in Philippines

BlaakLane.com provides chauffeur, black car and limousine service in 2 Philippines cities: Manila, Cebu. Every city page lists the airports served, the pickup rules, the business districts and hotels we drive to most and the intercity runs booked from there. Trips are booked on one account at a fixed fare shown before you confirm, with flight tracking on every airport pickup.

Chauffeur service across the Philippines: how arrivals work

Most long-haul passengers enter through Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila, where international flights use more than one terminal and the terminals are not linked airside. Check the terminal printed on your ticket, because the chauffeur is positioned at that terminal's designated pickup area. Mactan-Cebu International (CEB) is the second gateway, and Clark International (CRK) north of Manila is growing. A BlaakLane.com chauffeur tracks the flight and waits up to 60 minutes from the actual landing for international arrivals. Meet and greet inside the terminal is an add-on that is only available in selected locations.

Every arriving passenger must complete the eTravel registration online before landing. The Bureau of Immigration lists visa-free durations by nationality, and many visitors qualify for 30 days on arrival.

Key routes by car from Manila and Cebu

The Batangas run is the usual first leg for Puerto Galera ferries, and the Clark route links travellers to the Freeport Zone. Longer days are best booked as intercity transfers.

Traffic, coding rules and the Filipino calendar

The Philippines drives on the right. Metro Manila's traffic is heavy from early morning to late evening, and EDSA is the most congested artery. The metro area runs a number-coding scheme that keeps vehicles off many roads on one weekday according to the last digit of the plate, and local affiliates plan vehicles around it. Expressways such as NLEX, SLEX, Skyway and the NAIA Expressway are tolled. Parking at NAIA and any gratuity are added at the actual amount in pesos.

The dry season runs roughly from December to May, and the wet season from June to November brings typhoons that can close roads and delay flights. The Christmas season starts unusually early, with shopping traffic building from September, and Holy Week empties Manila as families head to the provinces. Cebu's Sinulog festival takes place on the third Sunday of January, Kalibo's Ati-Atihan follows in January, and Baguio's Panagbenga flower festival fills the mountain city in February.

Which vehicle fits which trip

• Standard Sedan: a single traveller from MNL to a Makati or BGC hotel.
• Luxury Executive Sedan: board members and bankers moving between Ayala Avenue offices.
• Standard Black SUV: family trips to Tagaytay and anything with six checked bags.
• Executive Black SUV: VIP guests heading to Entertainment City resorts on Manila Bay.
• Sprinter Van: seafarer groups, wedding guests or corporate retreats up to 12 passengers.

Stretch limousines and party buses are sometimes booked for weddings, subject to local supply. The fleet lists capacities for all nine classes.

For evening departures, most travellers leave Makati or BGC at least two and a half hours before an international flight, because the approach roads to MNL and the terminal forecourts back up and every passenger passes an initial security screen at the terminal door. Domestic flights to Cebu, Bohol or Palawan include 30 minutes of waiting from the actual landing on the return leg. Child seats are free on request in most cities, which helps families moving between Manila hotels and weekend resorts in Batangas.

Business and leisure hubs

Makati's Central Business District and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig hold most corporate headquarters, with Ortigas Center as the third office cluster. The Bay Area in Pasay and Parañaque combines casino resorts with convention space. The Philippines supplies a large share of the world's merchant seafarers, so manning agencies regularly arrange crew change transport through Manila. Leisure travellers use Cebu as a base for Bohol and the Visayas beaches. Start with the Manila and Cebu pages, see what the fare covers on rates, and find island guides from the Department of Tourism.