It was in 2012 when I first learned about Go Hotels. A new hotel back then, it provided a convenient and affordable place to stay.
The Go Hotels Bacolod was the perfect starting point for my friends and me to explore the sights of this capital city of Negros Occidental during the Masskara Festival.
The second time I found myself in a Go Hotels branch was in Tacloban, where we did a story on the economic growth of Palo, Leyte, after Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
Go Hotels is the wise choice for business travelers or tourists who plan to visit an area and spend most of their time outside. Go Hotels is a godsend for backpackers.
The hotel chain, owned and operated by the Robinsons Group, has just opened its latest branch in Davao. The event was attended by media guests, local business people and Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go.
At the launch, Go reiterated Go Hotels’ vision to “provide convenient and affordable accommodations for tourists and business travelers. The strategic locations of our hotels, many of which are in the provinces, provide the perfect option for many on-the-go individuals.”
As a treat to the guests which included our group, hotel management toured us around Davao City proper, where we sampled its world-renowned fruits such as durian and pomelo, as well as delicacies.
Durian ‘pastillas’
The best place to buy Davao delicacies is Lola Abon’s, which sells durian-flavored pastillas as well as other sweet treats.
I was never a fan of durian, but, lo and behold, I couldn’t stop eating the durian pastillas.
Other candied variations of durian are available at Lola Abon’s, as well as the famous frozen durian fruit and ice cream. Shoppers can also have a picture taken with a life-sized standee of President Duterte.
On the roadsides of Davao, you can find stall after stall of pomelo, durian and lanzones. It was fun watching the other guests haggling for a cheaper price.
Go Hotels Davao was the perfect jump-off point to Samal Island in Davao Del Norte. The trip to the public seaport was just a half-hour’s drive from the hotel, followed by an hour’s boat ride. The sea was rather rough; the best time to travel by boat to Samal is in the summer.
I was amazed by the sights of Samal and its beaches. The water is as clear as on any beach or dive spot in Palawan; you don’t need diving or snorkeling equipment to see the fish and corals.
The place is a gem, but like many destinations in the Philippines, the infrastructure is wanting. Hopefully, with the new administration, this will change.
After an afternoon of fun in Samal, we returned to Go Hotels Davao, where the rooms are considerably large, the internet connection good (an absolute must for hotels nowadays), and the bathroom facilities complete. After having your fill of Davao, the hotel is just a few minutes’ ride to the airport.
Go Hotels has future developments, but most exciting is the planned development in Palawan. The concept of democratizing hotels, making them accessible to a wider spectrum of travelers, is what makes Go Hotels a noteworthy development. —CONTRIBUTED
Visit www.gohotels.ph/
