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Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
A Roof Over my Head in Davao
Location: Davao City, Philippines
Hotel Stays
In Davao, I would usually stay under P200/night in dormitels. Nice! This price point is increasingly becoming rare in this country. This time around though, I had the privilege of hotel-hopping in luxury hotels, thanks to the kind people who opened doors for me. Davao has been more than generous in giving me shelter.
 feeling pampered at Pinnacle Hotel
 Bahay ni Tuding
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After 2 nights with my aunt, I was glad to be back in my old hotel, Bahay ni Tuding, for that homespun charm. Its Poblacion location is central to all transport modes - that fits well into my mass-transit mobility. My room had a working table to get all my online stuff done in the comfort of my underwear (seriously, who wants to get dressed-up just to be able to punch the keyboard?). Wifi was fast and reliable and the room was quiet and very comfortable. I would have an occasional conversation with Mel, who manages the place. We've become friends.
 Bistro ni Tuding
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Mel would boast of her Dad's (Gerry) meticulous kitchen preparation with Kapangpangan dishes (dishes from the gastronomic capital of the Philippines, Pampanga) which they serve to friends on special family occassions. I tried all of them and yes, they are all good - familiar comfort food but with an added twist. It was a refreshing deviation from the usual culinary offering of Davao. I suggested she offer those dishes as well on the menu, and she did - Gerry's Picks.
 Pinnacle Hotel
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This one took an interesting spin. When I checked out of Bahay ni Tuding, I was homeless again and repeated the cycle of pounding the pavement for a possible hotel deal - or I end up on a bunk bed in a dormitel. As I was making a presentation to the general manager of Pinnacle Hotel, one guy overhears my talk and joined in. He got interested about me walking away from the corporate world to pursue a life of travel with no home, no money and no property. When I mentioned "UP" (University of the Philippines), he immediately asked me my student number, to which I immediately gave him with no thinking. He in turn, gave me his as a reply. With that, we both laughed out loud. UP alumni never forget their student number! That broke the ice. He invited me to join him for dinner, and in his words, "to pick your brains". With that, he gave me a huge suite in the hotel for a night with full inclusion of all facilities and amenities. Turns out, he was the owner. Whoa!!! With its buffet breakfast, gym, pool and walking proximity to Gaisano Mall, I felt pampered.
 Apo View Hotel
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Apo View Hotel is as iconic in Davao as it gets. It is Davao's version of the prestigious Manila Hotel in Manila. For its rich history and elegance (and I might say, snob appeal), few can rival Apo View. It remains the place of choice for the well-heeled denizens of Davao. I felt like a king in the days I spent there, inviting friends and relatives to be my breakfast guest. When the sun goes down, I step into their Blue Room Jazz Bar for live music. At Apo View, I was the fly on top of the carabao thinking I was the carabao.
 North Zen Hotel
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With its city central location and the Lounge One Yoga Studio beside North Zen, I was in my elements. North Zen is also a short walk away from the best grilled tuna place, Yakituna and to Gaisano Mall (G Mall). The hotel offers the basic essentials for the traveler including breakfast.
 Urban Zen Hotel
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With the success of North Zen, the owners opened up another hotel, Urban Zen. I was its first hotel guest when it opened. The place offered a koi pond with a central lobby that opened up to the 4th floor ceiling. It was well architectured. Locationwise, it's within range from the cluster of trendy restos mushrooming up the area. Being a new hotel, everything was functional and new (similar to driving a new car that just rolled off the assembly line)!
 Royal Mandaya Hotel
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Royal Mandaya Hotel looks colossal along J. Palma Gil Street. It has a luxurious lobby with well-appointed dining amenities, fitting its rich breakfast buffet offering. The outdoor pool is a great addition. Service is over the top with staff making you feel like a VIP. It's a short walk to People's Park and Cinematheque Davao. The room I had was very comfortable with a welcome fruit platter. The cable channels were clear and numerous.
 Alu Hotel
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There is something about feeling right in a hotel - like a comfortable glove that fits. That is how Alu Hotel came across. With its hands-on and forward thinking manager, Mr. Ibot, wonders to the place have been done. It's one of the few hotels in Davao that has a bidet! One attraction of this place is the view of Mount Apo from its higher floors. For night life, it's right smack in front of the Night Market along Roxas.
 Le Cafe Resto Bar
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Le Cafe is an in-house resto for Alu Hotel but given its food selection and price, it can rival established dining places in Davao. Like Bistro ni Tuding, it offers something a little different from the usual offerings of Davao and well-worth the dining experience. Their P199 Payday Dinner Buffet is bang for the buck and its halo-halo is the richest there is in Davao. When doing the Night Market in Roxas, stop by Le Cafe and explore its menu. Your taste buds and pocket will thank you for it.
Ending Thoughts
For a traveler, hotel stay is the biggest expenditure. To have those looked-after, and add luxury to that, is a privilege I am grateful for. Given all my travels, this is the one time hotel abundance rained down. In the short interim I had no deal, I could always take refuge in my aunt's place. I cannot thank enough the good people who opened doors for me in making all these magical things happen. I appreciate the fact that this doesn't happen to anyone. It's a blessing I wish to pay forward with.
--- TheLoneRider
ps - If you want me to objectively review or assess your hotel from a traveler's perspective, email me.
Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
 Davao City, Philippines
 tourist attractions
 - hotel
 Bahay ni Tuding - central Poblacion location, wifi, hands-on owner
160 San Pedro Street, 8000 Davao City
0947 361 3544 | 7°03'57.6"N 125°36'28.3"E The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites - central location, new management, newly renovated
Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City 8000, Philippines
(+63) 932-8708621 | 906-3185885 | 7°04'34.2"N 125°36'54.2"E The Apo View Hotel - Davao's iconic hotel, old world charm, casino
150 J. Camus Street, Davao City Philippines 8000
+63 (82) 221-6430 to 40 | 7°04'09.2"N 125°36'27.4"E North Zen Basic Spaces - great rooms at affordable prices
Sobrecarey St. (corner Lapu-Lapu St.), Davao City, 8000
(082) 295.3997 | 7°04'43.0"N 125°37'04.3"E Urban Living Zen Hotel - newly opened - all NEW!
F.s. Dizon Bacaca, 8000 Davao City
(082) 287 3133 | 7°05'28.4"N 125°36'22.3"E The Royal Mandaya Hotel - heart of downtown Davao City
J. Palma Gil Street, Davao City, 8000
(+63 82) 225.8888 | 7°04'09.4"N 125°36'36.8"E Alu Hotel Davao - central downtown location
M. Roxas Avenue corner Padre Faura Street, Davao
+63 82 227 5232 | 7°04'07.7"N 125°36'51.7"E One Oasis Davao - hotel accommodation in a condo unit
Eco-west Drive, Ecoland, Davao City
suki_tac@yahoo.com | 0925.500.3211 | 7°02'49.2"N 125°35'19.1"E
 van rental
 Apollo Van Rental - Davao City tour, Samal Island tour, airport transfer
0925.500.3211 | suki_tac@yahoo.com
 yoga | health | fitness
 tour
 resto |  cafe
 advocacy
- one of the cleanest potable water in the country
- smoking is banned from commercial establishments
- pineapple samurais are endemic here and nowhere else in the country (pineapple vendors who cut-up whole pineapples into chunks with just a few strokes of their carving knives)
- public utility drivers conspicuously display their IDs
- durian Mecca of the Philippines (not to mention Marang, Mangosteen and Sweet Pomelo)
- you want to add some more? please submit on the form below
- the weighing scale of fruit vendors specially the durian push cart vendors are a blatant cheat - showing almost twice the actual weight
- Revisiting Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
- A Roof Over my Head in Davao Aug 22-Oct 31, 2016
- Davao Yoga Scene Oct 31, 2016
- Pranayama Oct 24, 2016
- Yoga Beyond the Mat Oct 21, 2016
- Grilled Tuna Overload in Davao Oct 13, 2016
- Duterte Mania in Davao Oct 12, 2016
- Sirsasana, Sarvangasana - Yoga Makaranda II Oct 7, 2016
- Tirumalai Krishnamacharya Oct 5, 2016
- Ashtanga Yoga with James Fritz Freire at Holiday Gym and Spa Oct 1, 2016
- There was a Bomb Explosion? Sep 30, 2016
- Jin in Davao Sep 29, 2016
- Scrubs and Hilot at Holiday Gym and Spa Sep 22-29, 2016
- The Fabulous Dabawenyos Aug 22-Sep 26, 2016
- Nirvana Breathing Fitness with Lita C. Quisumbing Sep 21, 2016
- Massage, Sauna and Ear Candling at Holiday Spa and Gym Sep 17-19, 2016
- Downpour in Davao Sep 18, 2016
- Lounge One Yoga Sequence by May Bel Le at North Zen Hotel Sep 16, 2016
- Celebrating Davao's King of Fruits - Durian! Sep 11, 2016
- The Blast that Rocked Davao Sep 2, 2016
- Hatha Flow Yoga with Joanna Lizares Co at Holiday Spa and Gym Aug. 31, 2016
- Conducting a Power Yoga Class at Yoga Davao Aug 29, 2016
- Good Eats with Mel Pangan's Davao Food Tour Aug 26, 2016
- Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Aug 25, 2016
- A Gifted Dell Laptop from the Usual Suspect Aug. 24, 2016
- The Duterte Phenomenon Oct 21, 2015
- 20 Days in Davao City July 4- 24, 2014
- Goodbye Davao...Again! Sep 28, 2013
- Wine and Cheese at Malagos Farm House Sep 27, 2013
- Custom-made Peanut Butter at Davao City's Bankerohan Market Sep 27, 2013
- Yoga in Davao Sep 26, 2013
- Celebrating 25 Years of Habitat for Humanity Philippines Sep 18, 2013
- Clobbered in a Vicious Karate Match Sep 17, 2013
- Back Into the Black Sep 1, 2013
- No Reply Aug 30, 2013
- Full Body-Cavity Search without the Latex Aug 25, 2013
- Fun Day with Crocodile Sonny and Sports Unlimited Dynamic Duo, Dyan Castillejo and Marc Nelson Aug 15, 2013
- Fun! Fun! at Maxima AquaFun, Samal Island Aug 11, 2013
- Goodbye Davao Jan 22, 2013
- Davao City's Peace and Order Jan 21, 2013
- Holiday Spa Yoga, Davao City Jan 20, 2013
- Free Yoga at People's Park Jan 12, 2013
- Davao City: Family Ties Dec 15-22, 2012
- Breakup Diaries: Chance Encounter in Davao City Dec 19, 2012
- Davao City June 20-23, 2009
- Davao City March 18-20, 2008
- Mount Apo March 15-18, 2008
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