The Island Explorer

The Imperial Palace is a relatively new resort in Mactan, Cebu. Opened in 2008, it has been touted as a true Shangrila opponent. I've been here a couple of times already, so let me share to you what it looks like. Like Shangrila Mactan, the place is also sprawling. It looks brighter probably because it is still new. Imperial Palace is owned by the Koreans, and has other locations in Fukukoa in Japan and in Seoul, South Korea. Did Imperial Palace live up to their name? Does it look like a palace? With its marble floors and gigantic pillars, it does feel like one, but I find something off with the over-all design. It strives to have an outdoor feel, with a lot of open spaces and views from the lobby. And since it is owned by Koreans, the clientele is composed of Koreans, mostly on a honeymoon, who are dressed in matching attire. As you go out of the main building, you will feel the grandess of the resort. The pool is huge, and located at the heart of the resort. I think they lacked t

I first visited Crimson when it wasn't opened yet. I passed by Cebu for a meeting and decided to hold it in a resort in Mactan. I was intrigued by some road signs that had the logo of Crimson. We eventually found the resort, but was disappointed to see that it was still closed. We were given a quick tour of the resort instead. After that tour, I made it a point to stay for a night there, when it opens. And so I did. In fact, I have stayed here twice already since it opened in July 2010. The first one was another attempt to dine after a flight from Davao. I was so tired after that day, that I decided to check in the resort. This wonderful room greeted me. As my daughter said, it's the best room she has stayed in. Though driven by excitement, I knew what she meant. The rooms were well-appointed and beautifully designed. The bed was heavenly. The bathroom opened up to the entire room. The next morning, we had breakfast in their main restaurant, Saffron. They didn't have buffet

When we talk of white sand beaches in Davao, we are actually referring to the beaches of the Island Garden City of Samal. We always thought the quintessential Pearl Farm Resort is situated in Davao, since it is posted in most pictures of Davao, when in fact, it is just one of the many resorts that dot the pristine shorelines of Samal. Pearl Farm Beach Resort has been one of the pioneers of luxury resorts in the Philippines. With the burgeoning of high end resorts in different parts of the country, Pearl Farm still maintains its exclusive image. From its private wharf in Lanang in Davao City, you board an outrigger that takes you to the resort in Samal Island. If you get there before the scheduled departure times, you can get to relax in their wharf lounge, or even take a dip in a swimming pool. As you arrive in the resort's pavilion, a guest relations officer will brief the entire group about the activities one can engage in. They also show you a map of the entire resort. The pavil

After having a pleasant lunch in Nagarao, we decided to hire a boat to explore the surrounding islands of Nagarao. There was this one island that the staff recommended, Us-usan Island. As soon as I saw a strip of sand glistening from a distance, I knew we were in for a treat. Us-usan Island. The water wasn't as clear though as in Nagarao and in most of Guimaras. The sand bar jutting out of the island seemed like a catwalk on the sea. This provided a nice swimming area for the island's visitors as well. We began to explore the island, hoping to circle it in less than an hour. The island has a narrow shoreline, probably because it was high tide. There were also foliage all around, so it was quite a struggle going around. We were treated though with amazing views of the sea. This tree was alone and offshore for around 100 meters. It was quite strange to see a single tree in full bloom in the middle of the sea. After 15 minutes of walking, we arrived at a mangrove area. There were

Idyllic Guimaras Island is a 15 minute ferry ride from the port of Ortiz in Iloilo. And with flights to Iloilo being one of the cheapest in the country, a trip to Guimaras is your best bet for a budget escape. I already featured Alibuhod Beach in a previous entry. Now, let me take you further to the eastern coast, facing Negros Island. It takes a grueling hour and a half via tricycle to get to Nagarao Island Resort. From its jump off point on the mainland of Guimaras, it takes around 20 minutes to get to this island escape. The resort arranges the boat for you, so you just have to worry how to get to their port. For first time Guimaras visitors, once you dock at the Jordan port, just hire a multicab or a tricycle or even a single motorbike to get around Guimaras. It will cost you P200 for a motorbike (habal-habal), P400 for a tricycle and P800 for a multicab. So it really depends on how big your group is. If you're alone, the habal-habal would be best. Now, back to Nagarao. We app