After
a few weekends of not allowing myself to travel, I finally found myself reclining
comfortably on a bus en route to the gate city of the south, Digos, Davao del Sur. This kind of feeling was
something I looked forward to as my commitment to service in our charismatic
community here in Davao required me to devote my weekends hence, I had to take
some time off from wandering. Not only that, knowing I’ll be giving a talk on
photography and joining a mission trip as a few of my itineraries on that day
only added to the feeling of excitement stirring up inside me.
Coming
in from Davao City with the help of Google Maps, I arrived at Avenue One Hotel
earlier than I expected. Situated along Roxas Extension, this 2-storey hotel
was pretty easy to locate. I was welcomed to a main lobby that may seem like a
little compact most especially when jam-packed, yet exuding a homey and welcoming ambiance. Checking in was a breeze that
after a few minutes, I was given my keycard and was ushered to my assigned room.
Wandering
around, I was quite fascinated with how the hotel exuded a touch of art and
culture yet subtly blending it with a modern contemporary façade. Rooms are
uniquely named after different avenues and streets in the Philippines thus giving
a unique vibe that's truly Pinoy.
The
room has all the amenities I needed for a relaxing stay - not really grandiose,
but practical, which I thought was already more than enough for my stay on that weekend.
It has its own cable TV, a desk, closet with hangers, and a toilet and bath
equipped with a hot and cold shower and toilet essentials. Every room, save for
the backpackers room, was already provided with its complimentary breakfast as
well. Wi-fi connection is very reliable even inside the room. Power sockets are
numerous and strategically located such that using and charging my mobile phone at
the same time was never an issue.
I had to fight the urge to nestle myself in the comforting embrace of the bed as I still had a long day ahead of me. But one thing’s for sure, at the end of the long day, I knew that coming back to my room was going to be an irresistible reward.
Since Avenue One Hotel desires to cater to all sorts of travelers - whether for business or for pleasure - and most especially to those who opt to visit Mt. Apo and the nearby areas, this hotel offers a backpacker option for as low as P349/head per day. Room rates for standard rooms are usually P1,500 and up.
Aside
from its comfortable and inviting rooms, Avenue One Hotel also has the
following amenities:
- Fitness Center
- Souvenir Shop
- The Red Box / Green Box which can be an event area
- Avenida Hall (Function Hall)
- Conference Room
- Prayer Garden
- Salon and Spa
Guests who feel too lazy to go out and eat (ehem, like me!) will surely be delighted at the hotel's in -house restaurant, Cafe Leonida, which serves a wide array of delicious yet affordable food to choose from. It also offers a payday buffet for only Php198/per head.
The
hotel doesn’t have an elevator but their hotel staff were truly noteworthy in
giving much-needed assistance. Everyone seems to be always ready to lend a hand
and serve you with a charming smile, which added to the homey vibe of the
hotel.
So, whenever you're in Digos City, whether for business or just wandering around, Avenue One Hotel can be your best choice for a back-to-the-basic, no-frill kind of accommodation but topped with excellent service and relaxing comfort that can surely give you more than the value of what you paid for.
AVENUE ONE HOTEL
Roxas Extension, Tres De Mayo
Roxas Extension, Tres De Mayo
Digos City
(082) 272 1434 / 272 1388
http://avenueonehotel.com
