Direction Bytes: From Cubao To Makati Shangri-La Hotel

At times when you're not familiar with the routes to your destination, it counts to stay to main roads to make sure you don't get lost. So I give you the simple route and let you pass through the familiar roads available.

Let's begin with Araneta Coliseum. That's our landmark in Cubao, our point of origin. The road between Araneta Coliseum and Shop Wise is General Aguinaldo Avenue. Take the south lane of General Aguinaldo. If you don't know your south, just take the lane nearest to Araneta Coliseum and drive away from Gateway Mall Gazebo. Cross next intersection of General Mc Arthur Avenue and turn right onto P. Tuazon Boulevard, the main thoroughfare that borders Araneta Center to the southwest.

Stay to the middle of P. Tuazon Boulevard until you see up ahead the main thoroughfare that intersects P. Tuazon Boulevard, and where MRT-3 passes through. That road is EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos), the wide road that connects five cities of Metro Manila - Caloocan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay, in that order.

Turn left on EDSA and drive all the way to Makati, the fourth city EDSA connects. On your way to Makati, stay to the middle of EDSA, follow road sign with "Makati" on it, and pass through Santolan-EDSA flyover, followed by Ortigas EDSA flyover, where you must choose the lane going to "Pasay" and "Makati", then, after you pass under the elevated MRT-3 Ortigas Station, you will pass through the EDSA-Shaw Underpass.

After EDSA-Shaw Underpass, you will pass under the elevated MRT-3 Boni Station followed by the Guadalupe Bridge. At this time, you're already in Makati and the buildings you see to your right while traversing the bridge is Rockwell Center. Immediately, after the bridge, you will pass under MRT Guadalupe Station.

Up ahead you will pass under a flyover that comes from the opposite lane of EDSA going to Rockwell. Next, you will pass under the long flyover that runs above EDSA towards "Buendia" where "MRT-3 Buendia Station is located at the corner of EDSA and Buendia aka Gil Puyat. At this point, choose the lane where "Ayala" road sign is displayed. Next to EDSA-Buendia junction is the Ayala Tunnel. Avoid passing through the tunnel by changing lane to the right and stay to the lane going to Ayala Avenue, the main thoroughfare that crosses the heart of Makati's Central Business District.

As you approach Ayala Avenue, take the dedicated lane to the rightmost of EDSA and turn right onto Ayala Avenue. Makati Shangri-la Hotel is located at the left corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue, the first intersection of Ayala with traffic lights. To get to the front of the hotel where driveway is located, change lane to left of Ayala Avenue and turn left on the last left turn slot before Makati Avenue. Follow direction to the Parking area.