Need cheap place to stay in Manila.

Hello. A friend of mine is going to visit the PI soon. He has only a budget of 40,000 pesos at most per month (all-inclusive, food, shelter, etc.). (He can spend more, but if possible, he would stick to that.) He is not coming as a tourist, but for an important and private errand. He needs to see someone in a province called Laguna. Is anyone here familiar with the Philippines? What advice can you give? How much do hostels usually cost per day?

He plans to stay for a month or more, preferrably more. Are there specific inns or hostels you can recommend? Places in Makati, Manila or near San Pedro, Laguna are best.

Thank you so much.

Pluto

i am from manila. rooms here in manila cost something like 500-1000 pesos a day. of course non-aircon ones cost cheaper. i think 40,000 pesos a month can go a long way if he knows how to budget his money well. i think he should initially stay in manila at the malate/ermita area becoz there are lots of cheap but ok pension houses there. san pedro, laguna is only about an hour or two away from manila depending on the traffic.

I visited the Philippines several years ago and so cannot offer current prices, but I stayed in Ermita at a place called Pension Natividad. I'm not religious but this place had some sort of affiliation. Didn't matter it was okay, affordable, the people were cool and they served beer!

I found this place by looking through the book at the information desk at the airport, then asking the counter person how much a taxi to P.N would cost.

A web site listing says dorm prices there are 350 peso and a room is 550

P.N is located only one block from Roxas Blvd.

http://www.diveright-coron.com/manila.htm

Take care.

Nick