World-Class Airport With The Most Reasonably Priced Food

Travelers usually spend US$ 2 dollars just to buy soda in any airport around the world. I've been to Hong Kong International Airport, Changi Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Do you know what is the common denominator of these air transportation hubs aside from engineering feat each has? It's the cost of having a fast meal. If your 2 dollars could only buy you a bottle of soft drink, what good is your 4 dollars in having your stomach full or at least feel full.

It's a fact of life that airport is the most expensive place to buy food. And you might say "Hey, why do you need to buy meal in the airport when you're a shoestring traveler?" Well, actually, I could live with that and even before, I didn't give so much attention. Until I discovered this international airport with world class stature but so sensitive to Pinoys economic status that they literally put up a Food Court inside their terminal.

When I flew to Laoag City this past January, I came to this airport way too early. Boarding time was 4 pm, so as per airline policy I could have arrived at the airport at 2 pm, but because of my excitement I got there at 11 am. Things like this happen and we have our own whims. I needed to pass the time and the temptation to eat kicked in. So, I decided to roam around this airport terminal with its interior comparable to Hong Kong International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport. It's so modern, clean, spacious, inviting, invigorating and comfortable. If a need for me to be here at 3 am like for example I would be catching an earlier flight, then I wouldn't care sleeping at this airport as I had noticed a lot of outbound passengers slumbering in different sides, corners and benches. Hope www.sleepinginairports.net looks into it.

Anyways, I took an escalator to the mezzanine and "WOW!". A sign that reads Food Court hangs conspicuously. I was taken aback. I didn't expect the eloquent airport terminal has food court. What's behind my mind then was expensiveness of everything sold here. I'd just tried my luck. My plan was to buy a sandwich which I thought would cost me Php 150.00 and then maybe a bottled water could go for 60 pesos. As it is, I found myself enjoying the gastronomically delightful meal of Beef Caldereta served with freshly cooked rice in styro box that came with a glass of ice tea that only costed me 90 pesos. Now that's travelling in budget. A full meal - rice, pinoy favorite dish and a drink for the price of US$ 2 dollars at an international airport. Amazing!

So, what is the name of this airport? Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the most modern and expensive airport in the country. As of late, it's one of the airport scenes in the upcoming sequel of Bourne film entitled Bourne Legacy which stars Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton. Their production team shot the NAIA-3 scenes this January. Now, people from around the world get to see our premier airport terminal 3. That's something to watch for.

A restaurant inside NAIA-3 Food Court

Back to our topic. Traveling now via Terminal 3 of NAIA is stress-free. You can head out of your home with empty stomach and then have your meal in the Food Court. There are scores of food stalls and restaurants from which you can buy your food without the worry of running out of money. And if that news is not enough, listen to this: Jollibee has its own outlet right inside food court of NAIA-3. "Now you're talking!", you might quip. Well, that's not all. Do you know those people on the go in Makati and Ortigas rushing to any Ministop any time of the day just to grab a full meal that cost only 59 pesos? Guest what? Ministop, the 24 hour convenience store owned by "Robinson's" has their own branch right at the center of the food court. I've been a regular customer of Ministop primarily because of their Pinoy favorite meals such as Tapsilog and Porksilog as well as rice toppings which include Beef Caldereta, Chicken Adobo, Bicol Express, Sisig, Liempo, Dinuguan, Menudo and even native energy food called Balut. During the days I was working on the my blog entry entitled Commute Guide To Buildings & Attractions Inside BGC From MRT Ayala Station which required me to be at BGC for days, Ministop is the one who fed me. They are everywhere.

Now that I had discovered Ministop in NAIA 3, I will never be stress-out whenever my flight departs from this terminal. I just grab my backpack and take a cab to the terminal hours before my flight, have my heavy meal at the Food Court, relax in any lounges before heading to boarding lounges nearest to designated gate, open my smartphone or notebook and browse blogs of my favorite bloggers like EDMARATION etc, Just Sharing - WEBNATIN, Lakad Pilipinas, Promdi/City Girl Diaries, Batang Lakwatsero, ruthilicious, MICAMYX, The Backpack Man, Pinoy Adventurista, Lakbay Philippines and Arnel Pineda | Official Site. Thanks to the airport's free wifi.

On Feb 26, my flight to Cebu City will depart at 4 am. Right from NAIA Terminal 3. Now, I get to eat my favorite meal from Ministop inside my favorite airport terminal. Hope they don't jack up the price just because they are inside a world class airport. I'll let you know. "Because it just feels good to eat in an airport!" :)