For Coron back in January, I had to find accommodation for seven people. In booking accommodations, my usual routine would be to research on the internet the top accommodations by bloggers and TripAdvisor. Then, I would check their rates if it fits our budget. If they don't have any rates on their website, I send an email or call them if email is not available.

One deal breaker is not usually the rates but how they respond to my inquiries. People from the hospitality industry should know how to treat their customers right especially during the initial contacts. I do my best to be a good customer so I definitely expect to have good service from them.

When I was booking for Coron, I decided to avail tour package together with the accommodation as my trip buddies prefer a no-hassle trip.

I went for Darayonan Lodge. I emailed other resorts that my friends preferred. One of which broke the deal by this kind of response:


I was inquiring if Tour 1B can be modified and that was what I got. Also, please know the difference between you and you're. I don't mind receiving a reply in Filipino.

I did have a similar concern with Darayonan Lodge's tour packages so I sent them an email. I got a well-written reply.




The letter showed effort and concern to their potential customer. It was not like the first one which was like we had just two options: take it or leave it. I know that packaged tours are usually strict but we would be having one boat for our whole group and won't be bothering other groups. Also, I was still on the process of asking three months away from the trip. It was not as if everything was cast in stone. I wanted to know my options to help me decide better. Those in the hospitality industry (or even those who mainly have clients in their work) should know that how you treat potential customers will have a big impact in your business. Loyal customers are what helps a business grow.


Last May, I was calling Zamboanga inns and hotels for my supposed trip this June. Here were some anecdotes over the phone:

Click photo to enlarge

I obviously booked with Hotel No.3 (and was even amused his concern on my flight).

I am not quite particular with my accommodations. As long as I have a bed and a decent bathroom, I will be quite happy. It's the experience with the people in the hotel/inn that actually makes a difference.

More on Darayonan Lodge soon.

Sun was almost setting when we reached Guijalo Port after spending two hours in a boat from Sabang Port. We were tired from all the sitting we've done throughout the day. We left Manila at 6am and it has been more than eight hours since then. We were dead hungry and tired. My only "meal" for the day were two small, plain ensaymada bought from NAIA Terminal 3.


I heard my name being called by one of the porters as we alighted from the boat. Our ride was there. Kuya Joevic had his tricycle ready for us. I knew his name as he had been asking for our location since 9AM. We were behind our schedule. We rode his tricycle and after more or less 20 minutes we were in Sights and Sand Tourist Inn.

The place looked new and very clean. We were the only guests for that night. We placed our bags on the two double beds inside our room.

At four-thirty in the afternoon we were served big prawns, fried tanigue, banana, and chicken adobo as lunch - a very late lunch. For a group of three small girls, it was a heavy meal. The prawns caught my heart instantly. They were big and fresh.

After eating we settled in our room. Kuya Joevic volunteered to bring us to the Centro church. It was late and we had nothing else to do. We came back from our Church visit and pasalubong buying at twenty past six. I jumped in our double bed to take a quick snooze.


At eight in the evening I was awaken by my companions for dinner. Dinner was as delicious as lunch. We were served six pieces of crabs and one sizzling plate of vegetables and beef for each of us. It was too much for three little girls who are still full from their very late lunch.

One sizzling plate plus a bowl of soup for each of us

We slept with extremely full stomachs. Saturday morning was then welcomed with fried egg, tocino and danggit. Truly a Filipino breakfast in such a homey place.


We had our lunch at Sabitang Laya. We sat on sand as we took in spoonful of white rice paired with prawns, paksiw na baboy and Bicol's laing.

Rucksack Inn at Lavender can be your home away from home in Singapore. It is NOT your fancy hotel or your bed and breakfast inn but it's definitely worth your hard-earned travel money. "Homey" would be the perfect adjective for it, even it may seem overused at most occasions. This isn't one of those occasions.

Rucksack at Lavander is the third of the Rucksack Inns situated around Singapore. The first two can be found in Hongkong Street just near the famous Clarke Quay.

It's technically a backpacker's inn. There is some hesitation for this backpacker's inn virgin. I have been used to hotels and resorts especially during our company trips. Singapore happens to be expensive so we had to find ways. That lead us to this site: http://www.rucksackinn.com/



Staying Inn