Hotels in London - WC1

By Carin Robert

Tavistock Hotel:
Tavistock is a 3 star hotel located in Bloomsbury, WC1. This hotel is close to the Russell Square Underground station and is only a few minutes away from Covent Garden, Euston and Holborn. This is one of the best options, if you are looking for a location that is central to shopping, markets, attractions, nightlife and lots more. Guests can have a hassle free journey to Heathrow Airport on the Piccadilly line which provides a direct service to and from London Heathrow. This hotel is near to many attractions and places including the British Museum, the British Library, Marble Arch, Regent street and Oxford street. The Tavistock hotel holds a restaurant and a minibar and is in easy access to Central London with good transport links.
Euro Hotel:
The Euro Hotel is set in a Georgian Crescent in Bloomsbury and is a few minutes walk from the Russell Square tube station. It is also near to Euston, King Cross and St Pancras Eurostar terminal stations. A range of rooms from basic rooms to large en suite rooms are available in this hotel. Euro hotel is in walking distance from attractions such as the British Museum, the British Library, Madame Tussauds, Covent Garden, Regents Park and many more. All of the rooms are facilitated with a work desk, central heating, hair dryer, clocks, electric kettle, tea and coffee making facilities and lots more.
The Apollo Hotel:
The Apollo Hotel is just a few metres away from Kings Cross tube station and St Pancras International Station. It offers comfortable and hygienic rooms at affordable rates and all of the rooms are en suite. The rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryers, TVs, Wifi connection and much more. It is just a few minutes away from Oxford Street, the British Library, Madame Tussauds and Leicester Square.
Staunton Hotel:
The Staunton Hotel is located in Bloomsbury with seventeen en suite guest rooms including standard rooms and principle rooms. All of the rooms hold a decent and lively interior with pastel fabrics, a perfect blend of colours, cherry-wood furnishings and lots more. This hotel is 10 miles away from London City Airport, 21 miles from Heathrow and 35 miles from Gatwick. A wide range of cafes, pubs, restaurants and lots more are available near to Staunton hotel. All of the rooms are provided with Electronic security locks, a mini bar, full English breakfast, continental breakfast, coffee lounge, tea and coffee making facilities and lots more.

Samal Beaches

By Beau Genesis G Baslao

Paradise Island

This island resort is definitely not named "paradise" for nothing. It features a long stretch of white sand which also happens to be the cleanest and finest in the island. The thrill for adventure can be satiated with the resort's various water sports such as jet skiing, scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing and aquacycling. There are also other fun things to do without even touching the waters such as volleyball, badminton, billiards, table tennis, and a playground park for children. To complete the ecotourism paradise, they also have an aviary where animal lovers and non-animal lovers alike can view a wide variety of birds.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort

Perhaps the most popular destination spot in Samal is Pearl Farm Beach Resort. This vacation place features white sand beach and crystal clear waters ensuring any beach-goers spend is worth every penny. As its name suggest, this beach getaway used to be a cultivation farm for south sea pearls and has now matured to become a magnificent and luxurious retreat destination.

BlueJaz Beach Resort and Water Park

Another luxurious beach resort is the BlueJaz Beach Resort and Water Park. It boasts as a 3-star world-class resort with various facilities to fit any traveler's need. Complete with three white beaches, eight adult water slides, four swimming pools, and a spa, BlueJaz is sure to fulfill any beach-goer's dream. When the need for diving beckons, worry not for nearby is Davao's top snorkeling and diving destination.

Maxima Aqua Fun

Probably one of the many beach resorts with the most comprehensive adventurous activities is Maxima Aqua Fun. They offer the usual but inexpensive fun filled water sports such as diving, snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking, jet skiing and banana boat rides. But what sets this tourist spot different from other resorts is it is massive giant slides that are sure to feed the thrill of an extreme plunge. They also have the so called Canopy Walk, an exciting activity of getting to cross between trees using safe hanging bridges.

Buenavista Island Resort

For a more private vacation, Buenavista Island Resort is the perfect beach rendezvous. You can never have hassles regarding outsiders ruining your holiday in this exclusive island paradise. This vacation island has a "rent one group at a time" policy which means you basically own the island for a day. You can also get to enjoy diving activities and find awesome coral reef formation along with colorful marine life.

Canibad Beach

Untouched by commercialization, Canibad Beach is another option if you want to enjoy nature at its finest. What this virgin beach lacks in luxurious accommodation and amenities surely makes up for its simplicity and natural beauty. You are sure to capture precious memories with its painting-like view of white sand beach and blue waters. Plus, you get to experience a fun downhill walk in order to arrive at its cove

Davao Beach Worth a Visit - Dahican

By Beau Genesis G Baslao

Here, any surfer looking for a challenge will certainly get their hopes up once they get to meet the enormous and seemingly ravaging waves. In addition, wind surfing can be enjoyed thanks to the playful waves and strong breeze. Most importantly, skim boarders will be greeted by flat waves that are suitable for thrilling skim rides. Best time to visit this Skim paradise is from November to April when the weather is dominated by trade winds. This season is called "Amihan" in the city's dialect and is associated with strong winds that help make waves ideal to board sports. It is during these months that waves become challenging for surfers, which is what they usually prefer.

On the other hand, the place acts as an ideal vacation spot for non-surfers and there are exciting activities to be had for the less daring travelers. For non-sporty adventurous explorers or vacationers who just want to have a relaxing time, the stretch of pristine sands on this beach is enough for a tranquil walk or artistic picture-taking. For those who are not into board sports, a possible alternative sport is kayaking, offering a good combination of a body workout, sight-seeing activity, and navigation adventure. For the animal lovers, Dolphin Watching services are available in Dahican. Additionally, Sea Turtles and other fascinating marine life can be seen here, promoting ecological awareness and nature's raw beauty.

Perhaps the main reason why it is known as the skim and surf paradise is that it is home to the talented "Amihan Boys". These boys are revered as beach idols by those who have witnessed their awesome exhibitions. For those who enjoy extreme sports in action, the Amihan wave riders are certainly worth a visit. Their impossible stunts are splendid to watch inspiring non-surfers to try the hobby out. These kids would play all day long if time permits it. They are also known to be hospitable and helpful to travelers who are new to Dahican. If availability of kitchen utensils prove to be difficult, these boys are more than willing to lend a helping hand and can even cook for visitors.

This hidden paradise is definitely worth a visit for surfers and non-surfers alike. Beach freaks will certainly enjoy skim boarding, surfing, kayaking or simply relaxing in Dahican. Despite being known as the best spot for skim boarding in the county, this Southern Davao paradise is suitably perfect for any beach enthusiast. Dahican is a tropical haven a beach lover should not dare to miss.

A Land of Promise for Shoppers

By Beau Genesis G Baslao

Along with a number of business class hotels in Davao, many malls have sprouted to usher the rise of commerce in the city. Find below for the many Major Malls in Davao City:

Davao's first supermall is SM City Davao located at Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland, Matina. It opened last November 2001 and is the first SM Mall to be opened in Mindanao. It has a wide floor area and has three floors filled with various commercial outlets to choose from such as shops, recreational and service centers, cinemas and restaurants. They also recently opened a nearby extension to facilitate more shops in order to cater more customer options. This is more popularly known as SM Davao Matina due to the fact that another SM mall has been opened in the other side of Davao, which leads us to...

SM Lanang Premier, also known as SM North Davao, is another mall destination to spend time and have fun with family and friends. It is the fourth SM mall in Mindanao with the other two being SM Cagayan de Oro and SM General Santos. This is where you can find the largest Dancing Fountain in the Philippines and the first IMAX Theater in the Philippines. They also feature a water fountain garden near several restaurants, giving one's dining experience a captivating view as well. The mall's exterior asymmetrical and abstract design is said to be inspired by Origami, the Japanese art of folding. Its location is at Jp Laurel Avenue, Lanang.

Along JP Laurel, specifically in Bajada, is another mall complex called Abreeza Mall. It features a three storey mall of retail shops. These sales outlets offer wide assortment of products and services such as restaurants, fashion concepts, and gadgets among others. Abreeza Mall also has additional community development projects such as boutique hotel, office buildings, and residential towers. They also have a water fountain which is best viewed at night when the colors are most vibrant. On the top floor is the open air supermall's food court, presenting a fresher dining experience as well as a remarkable view of the sky. Abreeza is also the location of many popular brands where they opened their first branch with Star Bucks being the most famous.

NCCC Mall is another large mall to checkout in Davao, located in the corner of McArthur Highway and Ma-a Road. This three-floor shopping complex houses a food court, restaurants, a department store, a supermarket, cinemas, electronic stores, bowling and billiard complex, appliance stores, and even a post office. This is perhaps the most wallet friendly mall among the above picks.

Gaisano Mall or otherwise known as Gmall is perhaps the most populous mall complex due to their strategic location. They offer a lot of choices for fashion, electronics, dining, and recreation with the many commercial stores. They have a VIP Cinema where the seat is most comfortable, ensuring a most relaxing movie experience. A recently opened portion called The Peak paves the way for more food options and a slightly bird's eye view of the city.

Hotels Are Great for Travel

By Antoinette Ayana

Are you sick of your daily routine? A vacation may be just what the doctor ordered! While it may be tempting to save money by staying in a lower-priced establishment, such as a motel or hostel, hotels are more affordable than you realize. With careful planning and plenty of research, a luxurious vacation is absolutely within your reach.
Part of what makes staying in hotels a cost effective choice is that there are many bonuses that come along with your nightly rate. The treats begin when you walk in the door. Since most people who would stay in a hotel are not local to the area, local businesses do their best to appeal to tourists. Look for coupon books or deals located neat the front desk. The receptionist who checks you in is also a great resource - they often will be able to provide guests with coupons, tips, or ideas to make your stay in the area more memorable.
More upscale hotels will employ a concierge who is tasked with helping guests with their every need. If you are looking for a nice place to eat or a unique activity, the concierge will be the best person to ask. They can also help with those annoying little travel problems you might encounter, such as dry cleaning or finding a babysitter for your children. Just remember that it is customary to tip a concierge for services rendered, but their expertise is well worth it!
There is much to explore once you get to your room and plenty of other bonuses to take advantage of. Many hotels offer complimentary local treats in the room for newly arrived guests, giving you a taste of the local flavor. Pay close attention to the pamphlets and information that will have been left out by the staff; these can contain additional discounts and details on fun local activities. While you are looking around, make note of any delivery services who are willing to deliver to the hotel as this is often a more affordable option than ordering from the hotel kitchen.
Ultimately, hotels are really for one thing: resting. While cheaper hostels and occasionally motels can charge additional fees for linens, a hotel is a chance to experience sheets and pillows nicer than those you might have at home. If you plan on staying at the same place for multiple nights, be aware that housekeeping may or may not stop by to tidy up the room or offer a turn down service in the evening. If you are not comfortable with the service or would like special services, such as fresh towels or sheets each day, a quick call to the front desk will help you to customize service to your room.
By making the most of the resources at your lodging of choice, you will be able to justify spending just a little bit more on some luxury. Just be aware of the kinds of features your hotel will offer before you book - sometimes it is worth spending a little more to get a lot more!