Hotel Hints

Because the hotel is old, rooms may look very different. The best life hack is to ask politely for a room that has just been refurbished or in a “newer wing” at check-in. A room on a higher floor and not facing the main street should make it less noisy. Recent reviews in the library might bear fruit about which sections of the hotel have been done up.

The big outdoor swimming pool is one of the few great features left in the hotel. Cool off in the city’s tropical heat. It’s much less crowded early in the morning or late in the afternoon. While there are hotel restaurants, the best foods are far from there. Roxas Avenue Night Market visit is a must for all foodies; go there on an empty stomach and try everything.

Make souvenir shopping easy by using the very convenient positions of the hotel. Instead of purchasing generic stuff, just walk over to Aldevinco Shopping Center just across the road. It’s the best place in Davao to buy authentic and good quality local crafts from the various indigenous groups of Mindanao. Friendly textiles, brassware, and jewelry abound here, and polite haggling is acceptable.

Think of the hotel as your classic, grand base, not the usual super-modern luxury property, and, in fact, make the most of its great location by sightseeing on foot within the city during the daytime. After a few days exploring all the features of Davao, relax by heading off on an excursion recommended by the hotel concierge to some local attractions such as the fine beaches on Samal Island, the Philippine Eagle Center, or a chocolate museum at Malagos Garden Resort. This city stay may thus be combined with a host of attractions focused on nature.