Manila Map 'n' Guide - Get your copy now

Manila's got one at last! Finally, a brand-spanking hip new map of Manila that's totally with it. Its glossy laminate keeps it together so it doesn't rip and wash out in your hands when the rain starts to pour. Here's the press release:

Manila, Once Overlooked by the Jetset, Gets Groovy

Manila is back on the fast track as a final destination, with this month's launch of the Groovy Manila Map 'n' Guide, the latest publication from one of South East Asia's hippest publishers, Groovy Map.

Aimed at business and leisure travelers, the Groovy Maps and Guides are simplified, color-coded, city map-guides with reviews on where to go and what to do in a city, with witty and insightful tips on the best dining, bars and shopping areas to hit during a short stay trip. Since its first publication of the ever-popular and still best-selling "Groovy Bangkok Map 'n' Guide back in 1996, this Bangkok-based publisher has produced titles for such major cities as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Sydney.

It's now time for Manila to hit the Groovy Map radar.

Says Aaron Frankel, MD and founder of Groovy Map, "Manila is a booming city, so it's time to put it 'on the map' and show travelers why it really is groovy."

Travel is on an upsurge in the Philippines, with an estimated 33 million Filipinos making 2 or more domestic trips, and 2 million Filipinos traveling overseas, nearly equal to the 2.5 million inbound visitors. This is clearly a growth market in a country with a mixed cultural heritage, interesting historical roots and an abundance of natural attractions. Often overlooked by other rival SE Asian cities, Manila is an inexpensive travel destination where almost 80% of the 90 million Filipinos are English speakers, making it a user-friendly market for Western visitors.

The city offers plenty of things to do and see, many of which are covered by the new Groovy Manila Map 'n' Guide. From where to go for a pampering massage to how to order a merienda, from dining in a Dickensian mansion to drinking in art houses with dotcom savvy beatniks, Groovy Manila has it covered. "Finally this city is getting the attention it deserves as a groovy hotspot," says Frankel. "There's a lot more to Manila than meets the eye."

Dig?

The Groovy Manila Map 'n' Guide sells at National Bookstore outlets to the tune of only $8.95.