*Getting to your hotel-
Once you arrive at the international airport you will realize that there are no independant taxi's available. The airport has allowed taxi companies to completely take over the front of the arriving passenger exit. The prices they give are outrageous and taxi meters are nowhere to be found. I did see some families loading up their balikbayan boxes into a jeepney but the jeepney may have been owned by a family member. You will be forced to pay 250 pesos to Pasay City, 275-300 for Ermita/Malate and 300/350 to Makati. The difference in price amongst the mafia tables are about 5 pesos so just pick the one with the hottest chick and move on.
*Within Manila-
Ask your hotel to flag down a taxi meter as there are very few who actually use their meter. You will hear the typical bullshit like: "meter broke" or "cannot use meter"...blah, blah, blah. I used to have big problems with taxis in Bangkok but they are saints compared to these cocksuckers. If you think Thai men are lazy and corrupt...times that by ten and you have your average Filipino taxi driver and most of their male local population. There is a light rail you can also use to get around the town but pickpocketing is rampant. I would avoid jeepneys and trikes in Manila as the traffic is dangerous and thick. Ok to use jeepneys and trikes in Angeles but this is Manila.

About Taxis, when you get out of customs turn right and find the elevator to the second level, this is where the meter cabs drop off, you can pick one up for normal and avoid the crooks.

Look to my 2005 edition, it covers that in detail.

Jeepneys most certainly allow luggage. However, I wouldn't ride one if I had more than a backpack and a small rolling suitcase with me. Getting on and off would be a pain, and you'd occupy more than one seat with your person.

If a veteran, and know where you are going by jeepney, you can catch one to the right of the airport exit (looks like a parking lot).

If not, you can catch metered cabs where Frobin suggested, or if you walk out of the airport doors, turn left, walk past the drive-in security, and you can catch one on the main avenue to the right beyond the checkpoint.

Ok, maybe I am not taking the normal route for a monger, but I had many points with the Holiday Inn and opted to stay at the Galleria Manila HI, and they had a free shuttle pick me up at the airport. Walked to the right after customs, and there is a lounge to wait in. It seems that I avoided one of the crooked traps lying in wait for unsuspecting tourists.

Perhaps these options were not available back when the previous posters were commenting....either way, so far, so good.

A lot has changed since 2003. Now they actually have metered taxi's out front so most of the corruption has been subsided.

Futbolito,
I stayed at the HI Galleria on my first night in Manila on my cherry Phils trip two years ago. I was directed to the lounge that you refer to and they tried to put me on the Hotel "Limo" for 1500p. After I objected they offered a regular cab for 800p, still a rip off. If there was a free shuttle at that time, it wasn't offered to me.

Did you consider using your HI points at the Makati Intercontinental? IMHO it is a much better location for a Monger than the HI Galleria.

H1

Metered taxi from terminal 3 (cebu pacific) to 5 star in Pasay -- p150.

Metered taxi from Terminal 1 to Ermita (LA Cafe), p200. It's not CHEAP but it's not exactly a ripoff either.

Even though it's supposed to be metered, there are drivers that will bitch about using it to foreigners.

I LOVE 3rd WORLD TAXI DRIVERS!

I actually DO love Blue Bird taxis in Indo, tho... Those guys kick ass!

Update.....

Well, I spoke too soon....(as usual...lol).

The HI charged me for the transfer when I checked out.......I thought about complaining as I still hold Platinum member status with Priority Club but had other things on my mind and let it go.

I think it was 1100 pesos....

If you are going from terminal 3 (Cebu Pacific) to Terminal 1 (Ariana) allow an hour. You have to go into town and then out again, there is no ring road.