http://www.smarttravelreport.com en-us http://www.smarttravelreport.com N/A travelgirl12866@yahoo.com Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:34:49 MST 20 http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/202/An-almost-perfect-journey-on-Indias-Shatabdi-Express.html I am writing this post from India where I am on my annual holiday to see friends and family but this time around instead of staying put in my home city of Mumbai, I have had the chance to travel a fair bit to destinations like Delhi, Rishikesh and the sunny state of Goa. For my travels I have used the most common modes of transport available in modern India today , the Indian Railways which is a the legacy of the British Raj and the homegrown low cost airlines whose rapid proliferation have totally transformed the Indian aviation sector as we know it.The Indian Railways is a government owned organization which is amongst the biggest and busiest railway networks in the world. It transports up to eighteen million passenger as well as two million tons of freight every day. While I was in school in India, we always availed of its  long distance trains for our school trips. For those trips we used to be bundled into the second class compartments of these trains which used to be invariably crowded and lacking in toilet facilities. Hence my memories of long distance journeys aboard the Indian Railways were not very pleasant, so when my husband's uncle mentioned that we would be traveling by train from New Delhi to Hardwar on our way to the town of Rishikesh in the foothills of the Himalayas I was a bit apprehensive but decided to keep my opinions to myself as I didn't want to offend him as he  had purchased our tickets in advance. We had reservations for our journey on one of India's fastest trains called the Shatabdi Express which is nothing like the express trains in France or Germany but is still reasonably fast for the Indian Railways. The trains which constitute the Shatabdi Express are fully air-conditioned unlike other trains that operate on the Indian Railways network which  are usually partly so.  Our group which consisted of six people boarded the train early one morning in November at the New Delhi's main railway station which was over run by sea of humanity even that early in the morning. Boarding on the Shatabdi was quite easy once we had located our air-conditioned chair car compartment as we had confirmed reservations.  Our seats were quite comfortable and each three seater row even  had its own individual power outlet where passenger could recharge their cell phones or plug in their laptops etc. The train set off right on time for its four hour journey to the holy town of Hardwar located on the banks of the River Ganges. As soon as the train departed from the station, each of us was handed a  big bottle of mineral water called(Rail Neer) for our journey and soon after we were served tea/ coffee in small individual trays.  The tea/coffee tray contained a small plastic mug, a small packet of creamer, a packet of two biscuits, and a small bag labeled tea kit which contained a tea bag and a stirrer and a thermos of hot water for us to make our own tea. I was quite surprised by all these amenities as I couldn't remember any of my previous train journeys being as pleasant or perhaps I had forgotten for with the advent of the low cost carriers on the Indian aviation scene I had never experienced the need to take a train. An hour after the tea service, we were served a substantial breakfast wherein we had a choice of vegetarian or non-vegetarian dishes. Once again the breakfast was served in a tray and consisted of omelets served with bread, jam and butter for the non-vegetarians and vegetarian cutlets, bread and jam for the non vegetarians. Breakfast included another round of tea and coffee as well. I couldn't help but be impressed at the quantity of food and the efficiency of service for all this was included in the princely sum of Rs 450($9) which is the price of a one way ticket to Hardwar from Delhi.   Our return a few days later was equally pleasing as during that journey we had the chance to experience the train's dinner service which was equally impressive and even had ice cream as a component.  I couldn't help but think of all those airlines which in recent times have begun cutting costs and services like food and other amenities for their passengers, compared to those airlines  travel on the Shatabdi seemed like pure luxury at a very nominal price. Though there was one area in which this train came up short and that was in the condition of its toilet facilities which were abysmal. It was quite okay for us to avoid using the rest room on our relatively short journey but I couldn't help but think of the other passengers who were traveling on ahead from Hardwar how in the world would they cope with the foul smelling and dirty toilets? Getting down from the train to use the rest room at the few stations that train halts at is not an option as the Shatabdi being an express train, its halts at the stations are extremely brief. If it were not for this, our journey aboard one of the premier trains of the Indian Railways was almost perfect. Anjeeta Nayar Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/200/Luxury--Hotels-soft-targets-for-terrorists.html I am writing this blog post from Mumbai which is currently under a terrorist siege. I have been traveling in India for the past month and have just come back to my base in South Mumbai which since last night has been the scene of a well planned and coordinated terrorist attack. The main focus of these attacks has been the two super luxury hotels located in South Mumbai – the iconic Taj Mahal and Palace Hotel and the Oberoi and Trident Hotels. These hotels are the premier hotels of the city of Mumbai and are the top choice for business meetings, award functions and high- end leisure travelers.  Both these hotels have been under siege since 10pm(IST) last night with scores of hotel guests having been killed and also being held hostage. I have been watching the events unfold live on television and have even heard two explosions that took place at the Oberoi Hotel. I can’t believe the images that I am seeing on TV and am hoping that the siege ends soon so that the trapped guests and staff of both hotels can get out safe.  Both hotels have been extensively damaged due to the successive grenade and sniper attacks. In fact the heritage wing of the Taj which housed its most expensive suite was on fire early this morning. The Taj Mahal and Palace Hotel has for long been used as symbol of Mumbai as it overlooks one of Mumbai’s most well known landmarks the Gateway of India and this dastardly attack on the hotel and its guests is a tantamount to a strike at the heart of this city. I like many residents of Mumbai have frequented this hotel innumerable times as I have wined and dined at its many restaurants and also attended many a wedding which has been held here at the Taj which is a favored spot for elaborate Indian weddings. In fact I was scheduled to take my mother in law for high tea at the Taj’s Sea lounge restaurant later today as she was coming to visit my family from New Delhi where she is vacationing. Needless to say she has canceled her trip to this city. In recent times terrorist attacks have been concentrated on soft targets like hotels in major cities which are difficult to secure and are the epicenters of business and leisure activities. This trend does not augur well for travel and tourism  at all for I am sure that hotels will soon have to introduce elaborate security measures like airports and airlines in order to somewhat secure themselves and their guests. Yes this will be a major inconvenience but I do think it will have to be done if it can ensure safety of travelers.  In the meanwhile the owners of the Taj Mahal and Palace Hotel, the Tata group who also own and manage many hotels worldwide including the prestigious Pierre Hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York City have just released a statement that they will rebuild each inch of the damaged historic hotel so that it will restored  to its former glory. I am heartened to hear this as I have been extremely distressed to see the damage and destruction that has been inflicted on this iconic hotel by the heartless terrorists who have no consideration for human life or anything else.  Images of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the Oberoi Hotel Mumbai originally posted on http://www.flickr.com  by k travasso and Zephyr. Anjeeta Nayar Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/199/Birdwatching-A-New-Tourism-Activity-in-the-Philippines.html The Philippines has more than 600 species of birds and about 33% of these are only seen in the country. The Department of Tourism in the Philippines has lately added to their tourism packages the “bird-watching” tours. Secretary Durano tells reporters that there are a lot of tourists who travel the world to look for birds. Since the country has plenty to share to tourists and it has the most endemic bird species per square kilometer in the world, beating Brazil and Indonesia, what they need to do is to properly package these products.There are many places around the Philippines where you could enjoy bird watching; Candaba, Pampanga, Subic, Palawan, Olango Island in Cebu and Agusan Marsh in Mindanao, where thousands of migratory birds from mainland Asia and Japan come to rest to escape the winter.One might ask if birding is expensive compared to other tourism activities. According to birdwatch.ph, all you need to have is a hat, a notebook, a field guide, binoculars and a good place to watch the birds. Birds are beautiful and interesting creatures, but some people in the country hunt them for food or for ornaments, bird watching lets us learn more about them, admire its beauty and preserve their species.It has been reported by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines that bird watching is one of the fastest growing recreational activities in the world, so now is the time to let Filipinos be aware of these new tourism activity.“The Philippine Bird Festival aims to get people excited about nature and conservation through recreational bird watching and bird photography,” said Michael Lu, President of Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. kris janiya Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/198/Lufthansa-Is-Taking-Over-BMI.html Lufthansa is buying a controlling stake in bmi, for a sum believed to be around £320 million. The German carrier, which already owned 30% of the airline, is buying the 50.1% share owned by Sir Michael Bishop. Analysts now expect Lufthansa to make a bid for the remaining 20%, currently owned by SAS. The deal will see Lufthansa become the second largest airline operating out of London Heathrow, behind British Airways. Bmi controls 11% of landing and take-off slots at the airport. Throughout its network, Bmi employs around 4,300 people, with a fleet of 54 aircraft on both scheduled and charter services, and flew 10.6 million passengers in 2007. Lufthansa said it plans to complete the deal no earlier than January 12. It refused to confirm the amount it had paid for the extra 50% stake. Speaking to analysts as the airline unveiled its third quarter results today, Lufthansa chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber said: "Ahead of us lies a challenging and doubtlessly difficult time, which for various reasons can change the course of the entire industry as well as that of Lufthansa. "We know that new challenges await us, daily. They only spur us on and we welcome them. We are equipped with a stable management, outstanding specialists and a service-oriented team, who work willingly and well with partners. That is Lufthansa attribute. " Mary Thomas Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/197/The-charm-of-an-old-world-airline.html I am writing this blog post from my home city of Mumbai in India, where I arrived almost a week ago on my annual visit to see friends and family. The mood in Mumbai doesn’t seem as despondent as in the US though the Mumbai stock market like other global stock markets has also taken a beating and is down nearly 40% from its January 2008 high. People have seen a large chunk of their wealth wiped out but are going about their business especially since it is the festival season here with the Hindu festival of  Diwali being celebrated  this week. India has undergone many changes since my last visit and these changes have largely taken place in its rather vibrant aviation sector which has grown in leaps and bounds and now includes a plethora of low cost and private carriers in addition to the two government owned carriers Air India and Indian Airlines who have dominated this sector since the 1950’s. Until recently these new carriers like Jet airways and Kingfisher were confined to serving the domestic sector alongside Indian Airlines while Air India hogged the international routes. However now these new carriers have begun to spread their wings and fly on international routes as well, especially Jet Airways which now flies to destinations in the UK and the US and has developed a reputation for great service among many international travelers. This has somewhat threatened Air India’s position and it has risen to meet this challenge by upgrading its fleet and improving its service. As I live in New York and need to go home once year to see my family, I am always on the lookout for good fares. In June this year a friend mentioned to me that he had received a flyer for unbelievable promotional fare on Air India’s daily direct service to Mumbai from JFK. This service had been launched last summer had received plenty of accolades from my friends and family who had already flown on the  brand new Boeing 777-237LR  aircraft which had been introduced on this route. Moreover the direct service gets you to Mumbai from New York in a mere fifteen hours which is an unbeatable time saver. So I went ahead excitedly and booked the promotional offer which gave me a ticket for a direct flight to Mumbai for a great price of $995. As soon as I received my e-ticket in June I logged on to the rather old fashioned Air India website and booked my seat and meal preference. Though the Air India website is clunky and not very user friendly the fact that it allowed me to pick and book my preferred exit row seat months in advance has made me it’s a fan for life as no other airline until now has allowed me to do so in coach and some like Virgin have even asked me to cough up extra for the privilege of sitting in a bulk head or exit row seat. The Air India flight from JFK to Mumbai departs daily at 9.30 pm and having traveled Indian carriers before and being familiar with their long check-in lines I decided to get to check-in right on time at the recommended three hours before departure. That evening even the traffic gods smiled at me as my cab got me to me JFK in a mere twenty minutes from my apartment in Manhattan. Though when I arrived at the check in counter, I was shocked to see that there were almost a hundred people already waiting in line ahead of me including a big tour group from Boston who were on their way for a tour in South India. I was expecting to be in line for an hour or so when I was called aside by the ground staff and asked to check in at the business class counter as they were trying to reduce the load at the economy class counters.  My check- in was swift and as I was given my boarding card I was told that boarding would commence as early as 8pm so I was to make sure that I cleared security before then. Knowing that security at JFK can be a veritable nightmare for full flights to Asia I grabbed a bite at one of the many fast food outlets and bought some duty free before I proceeded to board the flight.  Boarding was swift and before long was I was settled comfortably in my seat for my fifteen hour flight. The aircraft was reasonably clean which is a first for Air India as in previous years it has been accused of poor aircraft maintenance and I also noticed that along with the headphones for the in-flight entertainment each passenger had been supplied with a complimentary bottle of water, extremely surprising in an era where most airlines are looking to cut costs and all kinds of freebies. Soon after we were airborne after a long wait on the tarmac at busy JFK, we were served complimentary drinks and snacks, unlike American carriers Air India doesn’t charge you for alcohol and in fact the steward who was serving my section gave me second bottle of wine without me even asking for it!  The meal service followed the drinks service and I received my specially ordered low fat meal which was composed of a substantial portion and had two salads and yoghurt too. My seat mates also seemed happy with their meals which they had chosen from a selection of vegetarian and non vegetarian choices. After the meal service I hunkered down in my seat for a nap but I could barely sleep as there was young mother in the adjoining seat who was traveling with her six month old infant who wouldn’t stop crying no matter what she tried. I gave up trying to sleep and decided to pass my time reading and walking around the cabin so I didn’t get too stiff on the long journey. The crew at this time had gone for their rest but near the pantry they had laid out trolley with bottles of water, soft drinks, sandwiches, cookies and crackers all for the benefit of the passengers who were not asleep but were watching the many channels on the in-flight entertainment system. This had me truly gobsmacked for in recent times most of the carriers that I have been using have become increasingly stingy with food and drink in an effort to cut costs.  The rest of my flight continued in the similar vein as were again served a great breakfast when we were a few hours away from our destination. The service all throughout the flight was extremely attentive and helpful and the cabin staff even took turns to calm the howling infant in the neighboring seat so they the young mother could get a breather and have her meals. The piece de resistance of our flight was our arrival into Mumbai as the aircraft landed one hour ahead of schedule thereby shortening the fifteen hour journey into a fourteen hour one. I was so impressed with my journey that I can’t stop singing Air India’s praises and I do hope that my return journey to New York will be  just as pleasant as my outbound one.Images of AirIndia direct posted on http://www.flickr.com by lemoncat and MitRebuad Anjeeta Nayar Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/195/Transportation-in-the-Philippines.html Though Philippines is a country composed of more than 7,000 islands, it is not difficult to travel from one place to another. There are a lot of modes of transportation in the Philippines, from motorcycles and jeepneys to airplanes and inter-island ships. With its archipelagic structure, the Philippines have found many ways to transport people and goods across the islands Airplanes and ferries are the major means of transport to and from the main Islands of the country. There are 255 airports and 2 heliports (2004) including 2 international airports - the Ninoy Aquino Manila and Mactan International Airport, Cebu Island. Philippines Airlines is the premier airline in the Philippines connecting all key cities. There are about 6 more domestic airlines in the country. International airlines such as Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Silk Air and Singapore Airlines also service tourists. Water transportation aboard inter-island ships, ferries and boats are the most popular way of getting to and from the island in the Philippines. The country has excellent waterways and each major island has its own ports. There is also rail transportation in the Philippines but only in Luzon. It is the best way to get around Manila because it is cheaper and faster. Most roads in the country are paved, so traveling is easier. The primary means of transportation in cities are jeepneys and taxicabs. Jeepneys are colorful shared taxis using jeep-derived vehicles, they are not only used in the city but are also means of transporting goods from the towns to the cities. Since I live in a town about an hour drive to the city, I take the bus or van. Most of these vehicles are air-conditioned and makes traveling smooth and relaxing. In my town, our means of transportation are motorcycles and tricycles, which are cheaper.*photo from flick by Max Akkerman kris janiya Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/194/A-case-for-American-Airlines.html In recent time most US carriers have been pilloried by the media for the many fees and charges that they have begun to charge their hapless customers as a response to rising oil prices. First there were  charges for food and drinks, then came the charges for blankets and pillows and then when oil climbed to over $100 a barrel, these carriers went into overdrive and started imposing myriad fees on checked bags and the like. In recent months United Airlines even tried to impose  a $6 fee for meals on its long haul flights but it quickly withdrew this proposal due to customer outrage.   As I tend to travel quite a lot, I like to keep abreast of all these issues in case my journeys are affected by these changes, for nothing causes me more stress than air travel. Last week my mother in law who lives in London wanted me to fly out for a few days to help her with an urgent matter. I had just come back from London the previous week and though I didn’t mind flying out again, I was hoping to get a cheap ticket on British Airway or Virgin Atlantic.   Ever since the demise of the low cost Trans Atlantic carriers, like MaxJet, Zoom and Eos I have been using BA or Virgin to fly me across the pond.  Luckily for me in spite of all the chaos and turmoil in the airline industry I have managed to get special offers and deals on both these airlines in both their coach and premium economy cabins. However last week in spite of trawling their respective websites I couldn’t manage to find a suitable fare in coach on either carrier for under a $1000. I even checked Kayak.com but it was of no use and then my husband suggested that I look at the discounter priceline.com. A quick search on priceline.com got me a quote of $694 for a trip from JFK to Heathrow on American Airlines.   I don’t usually fly on the US carriers as they really don’t enjoy a great reputation for food or service and my last flight on American Airlines in January 2006 had not been too pleasant. The flight had departed out of an old and ramshackle terminal at JFK where there had been long lines at security and the meals that had been served on the flight had been unpalatable as they had featured way too much candy. This time around too I was not terribly enthusiastic about flying AA but the price was too attractive to resist and I quickly booked my ticket for my trip.   When I got to JFK for my flight last Tuesday evening, I was surprised to see that the American Airlines terminal had been completely overhauled and instead of the dusty old place, the terminal in front of me was sparkly clean and new.  As I had an E-ticket I was directed to self service check-in kiosk and when I got stuck while doing my check-in, an AA person quickly came to my rescue and got me sorted. The bag drop was also equally fast. This time around I even whizzed through security as there seemed to be numerous TSA personnel who were helping passengers pass through quickly as there were a number of long haul flights scheduled to leave at approximately the same time that evening.   JFK airport's Terminal 8 has certainly improved a lot since I last flew out of it and now it has several food and shopping outlets like its other Terminals. It also has several power outlets located at its various gates where you can plug in your laptop and take advantage of  free WiFi which is quite a boon if you have a long wait at the terminal as I did. (Thanks to my paranoia I had arrived at the terminal four hours before my flight and with the speedy check-in I had a lot of time to kill.) When we finally boarded I was happy to learn that I had two seats to myself so I could actually stretch out and be quite comfortable for the entire duration of the flight. The in-flight entertainment, the in-flight magazine and the food this time around were also quite good as was the service. We were even served a warm croissant for breakfast before we landed in London which was a pleasant surprise and I couldn't help but compare this breakfast to the breakfast that had been served to me on my Virgin Atlantic flight the previous week when I had been flying in the Premium Economy cabin and had been served a sickeningly sweet cookie for breakfast. Perhaps Mr. Branson's catering department could take some pointers from American Airlines not everyone likes to have a sweet treat in the early hours of the morning!   My return journey on American Airlines was just as good, this time around though the flight was full but the service and the food did not falter (for a snack this time around we served a slice of pizza which was packed in a cute little box imprinted with the popular sights of Europe and no there was not a candy bar in sight though there was a Walkers shortbread biscuit!)   After this pleasant experience I think I am ready to revise my opinion of this premier American carrier, it really is not all that bad as it is made out to be. Yes its fleet is old and could do with an upgrade and it is manned by staff that are over a certain age and you have to pay for your alcohol though you don’t have to pay for your checked baggage as yet but the service and the quality of the food is quite adequate.  I think I am ready to add American Airlines to my choice of airlines for my trips across the Atlantic.   Anjeeta Nayar Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/193/Spanish-Architecture-Preserved-in-the-Philippines.html We have learned in our history classes that the Philippines was colonized by Spaniards for more than 300 years. The Spaniards have influenced Filipinos in so many ways, from religion, language, culture and architecture to name a few.One particular place in the country that has preserved it’s Spanish touch even up to this modern times is Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur in the northern part of the country. Vigan showcases Spanish architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage because of it’s planned Spanish colonial set-up with a European atmosphere. If I wouldn’t be given any chance to visit the country of Spain, I would love to walk on the streets of Vigan and still experience a piece of Spanish ambiance. The ancestral houses in the Mestizo Villa in Vigan were built by Chinese traders, the houses are made of bricks and clay.Not only the houses reflect grand architecture, the St. Paul’s Cathedral in Vigan is an example to a Baroque architecture. Its interior walls are well-preserved and hammered-silver panels decorate the altar. The church’s structure was built to surpass earthquakes and typhoons. A belfry was also build 10 meters away from the cathedral. The two fu dogs on the outer doors and the octagonal shape of the belfry reflect the influence of Chinese traders on the church’s design.It is nice to know that the people of Vigan have worked hard to preserve these beauties that even we, younger generations, could still appreciate the grandeur of old architectural designs. kris janiya Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/192/A-charming-attraction-located-south-of-the-river.html In almost cities of the world there are certain areas which are considered to be hip and happening and thus more desirable than other areas. When I lived in my home city of Mumbai, there was a constant debate that raged between residents of South Mumbai and the residents of North Mumbai about which part of Mumbai was more desirable to live in.  The popular perception was that South Mumbai which is inhabited by 'Old Money' is stuffy and boring while North Mumbai which is largely populated by the film and advertising industry folk, though nouveau riche is infinitely more 'happening'.   Now I live in New York City and I notice the same phenomenon prevails here as well. In New York, I am an east side dweller and I am constantly been told that I live way out on the eastside and that I should move to the Westside which is more laid back thus a nicer part of Manhattan to reside in. I also spend a lot of time in London, where once again I notice this snobbery but here the areas north of the River Thames are the ones which are considered to be infinitely more desirable than anything that is south of the river.   Needless to say, many of my friends who live and work in London reside in areas located north of the river and they always moan and groan about coming out to meet me in the south. However there is one star attraction located in the southern part of London that my friends can't resist coming out for and that is the fantastic food market called Borough Market which is located on Borough High Street in the borough of Southwark located in  South East London.   Borough market is a wholesale fruit and vegetable market which is housed in a historic building conveniently located near one of London's busiest stations, the London Bridge Station. This vibrant and colorful market is open for trade for three days during the week and is a hit with both locals and tourist alike. Borough Market is open on Thursdays from 11 am to 5pm but for the full market experience and in order to see all the traders in action you have to visit this market and sample its many fine foods on either a Friday or a Saturday when it is open from 12pm to 6pm and 9am to 4pm respectively.   The traders at Borough market sell a wide range of fresh and prepared produce like free range eggs, meats, poultry, game, teas and coffees, fruits and vegetables, cakes and chocolates, breads, honey, dried fruits, cider, wines, fish and sea food, specialty foods, jams and preserves, olive oils, flowers etc which are of a much superior quality than those which are found at London's traditional super markets like Sainsbury's and Tesco.    When you visit Borough, you get a chance to sample many of these fantastic wares which you can then take home or back to your hotel in an eco friendly specially produced for Borough market bag which can then serve as a souvenir for your visit to this emporium of good food. You can easily choose to have breakfast or even lunch at the highly acclaimed 'Roast' restaurant which is located within the environs of the market. Though when I visit Borough, I love to wander amongst the stalls and talk to the chatty congenial traders while I chomp on a freshly made sandwich which I tend to pick up from one of the many food stalls located in the market.   Around the market are a number of pubs and cafes as well as an outlet of one of London's best bakeries, called Konditoor and Cook which is renowned for its many mouth watering confections so a visit to Borough market for a foodie like me is always high on my list of priorities on any trip to London.   London Bridge station is actually well served by two of the London Underground lines as well as many London Buses and overland trains and it is quite easily accessible from any part of London. So next time you are on a visit to London why don’t you venture out of the  traditional tourist stronghold of Central London and head south of the river to sample some marvelous ,typically British  goodies  at one of London's oldest markets?Photos of  London's Borough Market posted on flickr.com by Manray3 Anjeeta Nayar Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.smarttravelreport.com/blogs/190/Luxurious-Hotels-in-the-Philippines.html Filipinos are known as hospitable people, they make sure that visitors always feel welcome and comfortable. They only offer the best accommodation for their guests. The Philippines has its own share of 5 star hotels and accommodations throughout the archipelago. Here are some of the five-star hotels in the Philippines that offer guests with luxurious, comfortable and unforgettable stay in the country. Discovery Shores Discovery Shores is a five-star hotel in Boracay Island, Aklan.  It boasts its great location in the Island, where it fronts a white sand beach, let’s you witness the popular boracay sunset and located at the peaceful side of the island. They have 88 spacious accommodations complete with cable TV, internet access, hairdryer, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, mini bar, private bathroom and coffee making facilities. Their restaurant serves a la carte and al fresco delicacies and you can also get some drink in their bar. Other facilities include a spa, children’s lounge, gift shop and recreation facilities.   Badian Island Resort and Spa This five-star resort, located in Cebu City, is designed for comfort and relaxation. It is situated in an Island 2.5 hours from Cebu City. All their villas and suites have private balconies, sea and mountain views, beds, air-conditioned, bathtub and shower, mini bar, coffee maker, telephone, safe and radio. For your culinary desires, their chefs are very flexible as to what the guests want, Philippine, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish or any other international cuisine of your choice. Other facilities in the resort are swimming pools, scuba diving, clubhouse, children’s playground and spa services.   Plantation Bay Resort and Spa Plantation Bay Resort and Spa is one of the world’s largest privately-owned waterways. It is located in Mactan, Cebu and close to local attractions such as Fort San Pedro, Magellan Cross, Basilica de Santo Nino, Christ-Child Statue, Taoist Temple, Gorordo House and Carbon Public Market. They have 188 guest rooms furnished with air-conditioning, hairdryer, in-room safe, mini bar, bathroom, telephone and TV. They have a billiard hall, gymnasium, restaurant, swimming pool, spa, tennis court and accommodating and friendly staff.   Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort This is another five-star hotel in Cebu City. It has 8 stately royal bungalows and 74 luxurious deluxe rooms with either a sea or garden view. Rooms are air conditioned with bathroom, telephone and television. Hotel facilities include swimming pool, gym, conference room, spa and restaurant.   Ascott Makati Serviced Residence Manila A luxurious serviced residence designed with elegance and sophistication. It is conveniently located in the country’s business district, Makati, and is surrounded by restaurants, malls and other business establishments for convenience. This property has 306 units to accommodate its guests, the rooms are furnished with air conditioning, satellite TV, kitchen, safe, refrigerator, bathroom, telephone, hairdryer, microwave and internet access.   Discovery Suites Manila With its excellent services, high standards of comfort and friendly atmosphere, guests to this luxurious hotel will surely receive an exceptional accommodation. Located 14 kilometers from the Airport, the hotel is near the business centers, shopping malls and restaurants. With 225 comfortable accommodations, guests will surely have a great time staying here. Each room has a living room, dining area and a kitchen.   Heritage Hotel Manila A five-star deluxe hotel in Manila with 450 elegantly designed rooms, 12 function rooms and restaurants offering local and international cuisines. Other hotel facilities include a cocktail bar, cyber room with internet access, lounge, conference facilities, banquet facilities, gym, Jacuzzi and sauna.   Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila It is the only resort hotel in Manila, Sofitel has 609 rooms and suites offering guests with luxurious accommodations and quality services. The hotel looks over the magnificent Manila Bay, other facilities are Spiral restaurant, Le Bar, 7Pecados entertainment centre, Sunset Bar with cultural shows, lagoon-shaped pool, spa and gym, 16 meeting rooms with pillarless Grand Ballroom, Harbour Garden Tent and Grand Sunset Pavilion.   Mandarin Oriental Manila Mandarin Oriental offers its guests with a strategic location in the country’s business district, relaxing atmosphere and comfortable accommodations. Guestrooms are equipped with modern facilities for the guests’ convenience. They have well equipped conference rooms, state-of-the-art gymnasium, swimming pool, sauna and their rejuvenating spa. kris janiya Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MST