Part1: The Davao Experience - What to Expect?

Davao has a lot to offer when it comes to tourism. It is located in Mindanao but this province is very safe for travellers who wants to visit the place. This blog is somehow late but I feel I still need to share such information to help everyone with their travel.

How to get in Davao:

Davao transportation can be through plane. Davao has an international airport called the Francisco Bangoy International Airport. Terminal fee costs around 200php per head.

Weather in Davao

Davao's weather is very hot and humid so I really suggest taking an aircon room to relax and pamper your day.

Where to Stay in Davao

Davao got plenty of hotels around the city and you can choose from cheap up to expensive hotels. As what I always suggest, buy a map as this is very reliable when things happen unplanned.

List of Davao Hotels and Inns
http://adventurousfeet.blogspot.com/2010/08/list-of-hotels-and-inns-in-davao-city.html

We stayed at the Sampaguita Inn II which costs us 800php aircon room/night - good for 2 persons. We really wanted to get the cheapest room (650php) but all rooms were already occupied so we opt to stay for the next cheaper rate.

For my hotel review - not so much with the amenities, it is simply well-maintained, got a chair and a table (650php room don't have this), there's a cable television, with simple and clean toilet (shower is not working though but it is fine with us), and a very cool aircon. I don't have any complain with this hotel, really like it in fact, except for one - the receptionists were not so hospitable to any guests and wouldn't like smiling at all. I'm a bit sad about it because I'm expecting smiling faces of davao as this is my first time to visit the place, i hope other hotels will hire good receptionist or just provide warm greetings to the guests.

Sampaguita Inn II
Quirino Ave. cor Camus St./Mayon St., Davao City
Our room - Php 800 - Aircon room, Cable Television, Queen-size bed, with cr, table and chair
Room Rates ranges from Php 700+ onwards
Check in: strictly 2pm
We don't have reservations!

Transportation in Davao

There are lot of taxis outside airport and you could just ask them to bring you to the hotel you would like to stay. Taxi drivers in davao are very honest and don't ask for a higher extra pay like what drivers here in Manila sometimes do. Roughly around 100-200php for the taxi fare depending on the location of your destined hotel/inn.

If you're on a tight budget you can roam around the place through jeeps. Jeepneys are everywhere, just make sure you know where your destination is. Aircon and non-aircon taxis are everywhere too. (for non-aircon taxis: 25php flag down rate). 

From where we stay, Quirino Avenue is one of main roads here in downtown Davao City. Looks like a cleaner Recto (in Manila) to me, you can just ride one jeepney with a signboard "MATINA" and could pass by Bangkerohan Public Market, Matina Town Square (for foodtrip and gimikan), and the NCCC Mall.

Where to shop or buy Pasalubongs:

Durian Candy Factory
Magsaysay Park - Numerous fruit vendors selling durian and mangosteen for you to try out
Aldevinco Shopping Center - near Marco Polo Hotel and Ateneo De Davao.  Beside Aldevinco, there are fruit vendors selling pomelo.  Nenita pomelos are the best pomelos I've tasted so far.
NCCC Mall/SM Mall/Gaisano Mall

Aldevinco Shopping Center

Pomelos with Nenita sign

NCCC Mall located in Quirino Ave. corner Ma-a Rd

Where to eat in Davao:

If there are so many hotels in davao, there are pretty numerous places to eat in Davao City. Davao is known for grilled foods and seafoods. I love their grilled chicken, the best!

To name a few:
Penong's
Dencio's Hilltop
Pard's Seafood
Jo's Chicken Inato
Nanay Bebeng
Banoks
Jack's Ridge

From JP Laurel Avenue along F. Torres St., you can see few restaurants close to each other.  Also, you can find many food choices outside Victoria Plaza Mall.

Pards infront of our hotel.

Penong's

You may want to check these too!
Davao: List of Hotels and Inns in Davao City
Part2: The Davao Experience - Zip City at Night and Dencio's Hilltop
Part3: The Davao Experience: Jack's Ridge Resort and Restaurant
Part4: The Davao Experience - Outland Adventure Extreme Zipline!
Part5: The Davao Experience: Sites to See in Davao
Part6: The Davao Experience - The Guide to Samal Island
Part7: The Davao Experience: Monfort Bat Cave in Samal Island
Part8: The Davao Experience - Canibad Beach Cove in Samal Island