The Island Explorer

Surprisingly, staying in El Nido town is not a common option amongst travelers. With its ruckus from bars and tour operators, it is a busy district. It is suitable for a day's trip to either dine in one of its restaurants, or for some souvenir shopping . But other than that, there's really nothing much here. It used to be a party place at night, but since Corong Corong and Maremegmeg had its boost, the town is losing its charm. Here's my take on it. If it's your first time in El Nido, spend your first night here to get acquainted with the entire region. In my case, I decided to spend all of my days here. When you have a car rental or a scooter, it is easier to get around El Nido. Also, I wasn't really into a real vacation. I was here to explore and survey the beaches. Hence, staying in the center became a good option.    To further support my decision, I stayed in one of the better options in El Nido town, Sanse Boutique Hotel . This lovely boutique hotel was quite...

There are several new accommodations open in Cebu City. On top of that list is probably Yello, a budget friendly boutique hotel that satisfies both business and leisure travelers. Let me take a step back. When I go to Cebu, I usually stay at either Mactan or in Lahug. Even though Yello is not located in the central business districts, it is near enough for a good 15-minute walk to IT Park or Ayala Center Cebu. I say walk, but a 5-minuter taxi ride would be better. What I like about Yello is it's charm. From the outside, you'll know that it is one modern hotel. I used to stay in a lot of these budget hotels in Thailand and Malaysia, so I was quite happy to see that Yello that sort of resemblance. The lobby is well lit and functional. It is not as spacious, but a come-and-go hotel usually has this characteristic. The staff are well-trained and very blunt. Again, it is not what you may expect in 5-star hotels, but they get the work done. Check-in is fast and easy. Now, I got a sin...

If you have been reading my blog, you would have noticed my love affair with the hotel group, W. This hotel chain fits me perfectly. I love its flair for design, its whenever, whatever service and of course, its style. I've been to the W in Bali before but I have never stayed here. So, in this trip, I decided to book one night before we head back home to Manila.

Shanghai is one of my favorite cities in the world. It is probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia, along with Hong Kong and Singapore. But Shanghai has that old world charm blending with such a futuristic backdrop. It's something hard to describe without seeing for yourself.

After Mongolia, I had a short visit in Shanghai, which excited me more than the nomad country. It's been 4 years since I visited Shanghai, so this trip I knew must be memorable. And even though it was a 4 day trip only, I decided to change accommodations every night! My first hotel was one of my most anticipated ones, considering it was a member of the Design Hotels group . Also, it was owned by Singapore's famous hotelier, Loh Lik Peng , who conceived New Majestic. Recipient of a T+L Design Award and landing in the Conde Naste Hot List, this hotel is surely making waves. The Waterhouse at South Bund looks nothing like any hotel you've been to. Upon seeing the building's facade, you'll know you're in for a treat. My luggage as left behind in Seoul as I dashed to my connection there. Hence, I arrived in the hotel with only my hand carry. The hotel noticed my lone bag, and intuitively asked if I had lost my luggage. I explained what happened and th...

I guess by now, you know that I am a frequent visitor of Hong Kong, and every time I go, I try to stay in a hotel that I haven't been to. This time, I crossed the waters to stay in Kowloon after learning about this newly opened design hotel called Madera. 

We begin our escapade across Sri Lanka, a speed tour more accurately as we only had 3 days to cover the places that we wish to go to. From Colombo, we would travel 4 to 5 hours all the way to Dambulla, where the Sigiriya Rock is located. I was surprised at the length of travel, since the roads were bad and everyone drove recklessly. I was in fact challenged to drive in Sri Lanka, but I figured it would be safer to stay at the passenger seat. We made it to Dambulla after 4 gruelling hours, for a distance that is only 120 km. That was pretty slow.  We passed through a landscape that seemingly looked like South Africa. We drove up dust roads with signs of animal warnings like monkeys and elephants. I was in Sri Lanka indeed, and the scenery has gotten me really excited. And when we arrived at our resort, the Kandalama Heritance, I was already brimming an irresistible smile.  Perched on the top of the hill, the award winning Kandalama Heritance is a classic des...