Up north you'll find TriNoMa, another massive addition to Manila's collection of malls. It's easily accessed by the MRT, which has an entrance that connects directly to the mall. The train ride takes about twelve minutes from the Ayala station in Makati. The mall itself is shaped like a large lopsided triangle which makes navigating its environs a bit of a challenge. But if you're patient enough, you'll find everything you could possibly fancy. Kids can go to the local Toys R Us, mums can check out a few designer bags, while dads can get their fill of gadgets ranging from electronic shavers to the latest model mobile phones. Hungry? Choosing from the multitude of dining establishments can be a challenge. Mall hours are from 10am to 9pm.
Down south, for those staying in the Makati or Roxas Boulevard area, the Mall of Asia is a must-see. It's the largest mall in Asia, and is built on a huge patch of reclaimed land, south of Roxas Boulevard. Moving around requires a bit of legwork but there's a competitive selection of latest-season goods. The mall also has the only IMAX theatre in the country. At P350 its shows cost about triple the normal movie rate but still draw crowds, and matinee showings cost only P250 on weekdays. The best way to get to the mall is by cab and the fare from Makati should set you back around P80-120 depending on traffic. Mall hours are from 1030am to 9pm.
Should you be in town during the holidays you may want to take a train as close to your station as possible, and then a cab from there. Your concierge should be able to help you with this. Doing the whole trip by cab could take more time than the actual shopping. If you're doing your shopping over the weekend, try to arrive early and leave before 4pm or 5pm. Taxi queues can get pretty long in the evening.
[source:www.smarttravelasia.com]
