Intramuros Horse Carriage

One of the common scams in Manila's biggest popular tourist destinations, that includes the expansive Rizal Park, the historic Intramuros Spanish Citadel, and the lengthy waterfront boulevard Manila Baywalk. They are known as "Kalesa", and they provide rides to tourists looking for a distinctive way to see the city. Kalesa are artistically painted horse-drawn carriages that were influenced by the Spanish era of the Philippines.

A certain number of people who operate carriages are dishonest and prey on both tourists and locals. They often carry out their scams in two distinct manners: once the tourist asks for a ride, the driver will advise them to get in and then leave without questioning about the fare. When you object, they will bring up an unreasonable cost and raise their voice and gesticulate in an attempt to intimidate and humiliate you in front of others.

Right before getting onto the carriage when taking a journey, it's crucial for passengers to negotiate over the most affordable fare. Some drivers might be willing to give you a rough estimate for a fair fee, but the actual price will be several times greater than the estimate. To prevent this, you could come to an understanding on the final amount to be paid before boarding the carriage and reiterate that it is the amount that you are obligated to pay after your trip is over.