The absolute crappiest major international airport I have been to. Food options are like microwaved hamburgers and pizza, and 7-11 type sandwiches on white bread. This is no exaggeration. If you have a layover here (and if at all possible), LEAVE IMMEDIATELY and go to a mall or something, then come back. The Mall of Asia is 15 minutes away by taxi.

The exchange rates at the banks at the arrival terminal are about .2 pesos worse than exchange rates you'll find around Manila and Angeles City. Not a disaster to exchange even your whole trip wad there, but you can do better once at ground zero. There are ATM's at the airport, but like many ATM's in the PI, you are usually limited to 4,000-5,000 pesos per transaction, making them a HORRIBLE deal when considering international transactions fees.

The taxi mafia at the arrival area is horrible, you will likely wind up paying p300 or more to go to hotels in nearby Pasay City -- 80 pesos if using the taxi meter. The best idea is to go upstairs to the departures area and try and get a taxi that just dropped someone off and get them to use the meter. I have done this several times, but needed to BS the security guard at the escalator leading up from arrivals to departures (told him I needed to see a ticketing agent about my return trip home), and if arriving late at night, there may not be too many taxis to choose from and they may not want to use their meters.

China Airlines (among others) doesn't maintain a loung at NAIA, but use some shitty pay per use lounge. This lounge has almost ZERO food, pay per use internet, and limited free booze options. I haven't used any other lounges there, but they all appear quite small.

The PI actually built a brand new international terminal, but in true bass-ackward3rdworldnightmare, are refusing to pay the German contractors that built it, so it's never been opened and has been collecting cobwebs for YEARS now. Only in D Philippines...

BTW, if you're traveling internationally on Philippine Airlines, you will be using your own dedicated terminal. It is even more sterile and bland than the main international terminal. One wouldn't think that was possible!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_International_Airport

http://www.manila-airport.net/

In addition to the lounge China shares with a number of other airlines, there is another one right next to it that you can use on a pay basis. Wasn't particularly expensive, but the facilities and refreshments were kind of lame. I recall that the entrance fee provides for about 15 minutes of free internet time.

The Cathay lounge was only a little better.

Porker is absolutely right. Suckiest "major" airport I've ever been in.

I agree completely with everything that has been said, the place is a rat hole. It does,however, have one important attribute...like many other crowded public places in P.I., its pretty damn easy to meet women there. While waiting for their outbound flight to their maid job in Dubai or whatever, they're oftentimes more than happy to engage in pleasant conversation. Not much chance for immediate gratification, but who knows when the contact information might come in handy.

All, what an embarrassement NAIA is.. That being said, I've never been to/from the "new" terminal 3 complex.. looks good from the far.. but as we all know...
Sadly, there is only that 9-seat snack stand after security and that's it! You have to plan your eating and run over to JollyBee or KFC before you check-in to get anything of substance before departure..

I flew Cebu Pacific recently and they flew out of Terminal 3. It was an improvement over the older teminals but construction was still going on. The little mini 4 kiosk food court which had a Jollibee closed about 9pm and there was a noodle house and the 9-seat snack stand you mentioned after you pass security. Oh, there was also a coffee shop there with some tables.