Davao is a mere
120-minute flight from
Manila, but it may
seem like a world
away. On one extreme
lies the lush beauty of
Samal Island in the
Davao Gulf, with its
fine beaches and
surrounded by
excellent dive spots of
WWII shipwrecks.
Meanwhile, at the
heart of Davao, is the
country's tallest peak,
Mt. Apo, jutting out
from a virgin national
forest which is home to
a variety of wildlife and
the magnificent
Philippine eagle. The region is also dotted with
beautiful waterfalls such as Aliwagwag Falls, a
338-meter plunge through a series of 84 step-like
mini-falls. There are also popular caves such as the
submerged Tibanban Cave and the largely uncharted
T'boli Cave.
If planning a visit to Davao, a traveler can consider going
to the Marco Polo Davao, the only five-star hotel in the
region. The hotel, nestled in the economic hub of
Mindanao, is a short 15-minute drive from Davao
International Airport. And since this isn’t Manila, that’s
with or without traffic.
Some of its features and amenities are commanding views
of Mt. Apo or the Gulf of Davao, 245 rooms with cable
TV, remote controlled TVs, executive desks, IDD
telephones with voice mail facility, fax modem ports,
internet access, tea and coffee stations, mini-bars, and
personal safes.
Visitors could opt for the Continental Club Rooms – on
the top two floors – and treat themselves to a private
reception area, a library stocked with newspapers,
magazines, and reference books, separate check in/out,
butler service, shoe shine service, complimentary
pressing of the first suit, and a private lounge serving
complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, and cocktails.
Steeped in luxury and creature comforts, if a guest finds
the urge to venture beyond the room, the hotel
restaurants offer quite a wide selection. He can relax and
watch the local color stream along Claro M. Recto St.
from the second floor Café Marco which offers Asian,
Mediterranean, and international cuisine, buffet or a la
carte, in a mural-adorned ambience or out in the balcony.
Or they can entertain business associates at the Lotus
Court Chinese Restaurant, which serves fine authentic
Cantonese cuisine complemented by fresh quality seafood
in a casually elegant setting. Or mingle at the Lobby
Lounge, the focal point of the main lobby where Davao’s
elite mill about enjoying a drink or a light snack, soothed
by live piano entertainment.
There is also the sophisticated wood-paneled Eagles’ Bar
where guests could lounge in plush leather seats for a
cigar or wine from a climate-controlled storage.
Large gatherings may be relegated to one of several
function rooms equipped with the latest audio-visual
facilities, or the ballroom, which can accommodate up to
750 persons.
Guests not wanting to break from their exercise program
may use the state-of-the-art gym with aerobics room,
and cap their workout in the sauna or with a massage.
Finally, they can wind down at the pool terrace on the
fourth floor and take in the panorama of the setting sun,
and perhaps dream of more journeys to come.
And so, while Davao and its environs have so much to
offer, one can boldly say the stay at the Marco Polo may
be the journey itself.
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