Overnight Stay at Marco Polo Davao

In the city, we stayed at Marco Polo Davao, one of 13 hotels operated by the Marco Polo group in Asia.

From its website:

Standing in the heart of Davao’s shopping and business district, with 245 elegant guest rooms and suites, Marco Polo Davao is your first step to the Davao experience! Retreat to any of our rooms and suites, which are elegant realisations of comfort, warmth and space. All the rooms and suites in Marco Polo Davao are equipped with broadband internet and other amenities befitting a business traveler.Marco Polo Davao is extremely close to the airport at a distance of just 12 kms and is a 20-minute drive by car or by the hotel’s shuttle bus, which plies to and from the airport at a nominal fee.

I'm happy that we chose Marco Polo Davao because the hotel was spacious and well-maintained.

Lobby Lounge

Spacious Lobby

Breakfast was at Cafe Marco and it was also not wanting in choices. Food quality was at par with international standards.

More importantly, our superior room was very comfortable and was equipped with modern facilities. We were lucky that we were billeted in the floor that was recently renovated.

Amenities at Marco Polo Davao include a lap pool,

fitness center for health buffs,

and the highly acclaimed Lazuli Spa. Having heard a lot of good reviews, we decided to give in and spend a few hours relaxing. 

My private room had its own shower and steam areas. Lazuli Spa also makes sure guests are at ease by playing soothing music and having warm lights.

I chose the signature A Touch of Lazuli oil massage which combined Eastern, Western, and deep tissue techniques. I had no difficulty sleeping that night thanks to the very capable hands of my therapist. 

Off To Dreamland

With my very positive experience, I say that Marco Polo is arguably the best hotel in Davao. I would not think twice and would stay here again the next time I'm in Davao.

Marco Polo Davao is located at 81540 C.M. Recto Street, Davao City. For more information, call (6382)221-0888 or click here.

Lazuli Spa is located at Marco Polo Davao. For more information, click here.

Qi Wellness Massage

Absolutely enjoyed my traquility massage at Qi Wellness.

Relaxing Ambiance

Spacious Foot Massage Area

Expert Hands with Technical Know-How

Comfortable Bed

Superb Service

If only it were closer to home...

Qi Wellness is located at 119 L.P. Leviste St. Salcedo Village, Makati. For more information, call 5561818 or click here.

Buzzkill at Terra Wellness Spa

After a long vacation, going to a spa is a must. 

Terra Wellness Spa at the Discovery Suites was almost perfect...

Modern Facilities

Peaceful Ambiance 

Clean Bathroom

Personalized Service

Room was also spacious and my Terra Touch Massage was heavenly. The masseuse had expert hands and it was exactly what my tired body needed. 

I forgot all the things going for Terra Wellness, however, when my thigh started cramping in the middle of the massage! Changing positions didn't help as the cramps lasted until the end of the session. 

I think I had cramps because Terra Wellness Spa is equipped with the most uncomfortable massage bed ever invented. The bed was hard as a board and it would better suit a chiropractor's office for patients who have back problems. 

Buzzkill

Sigh, it's really hard to have it all.

Terra Wellness Spa is located at the 4th floor, Discovery Suites, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig. For more information, call 6389145 or click here.

Memorable Nuat Thai

Nuat Thai is an affordable Thai massage parlor that has mushroomed all over Metro Manila. 

Pearl Drive branch

I visited its Pearl Drive branch where I had a dirt-cheap 125php one hour body massage thanks to an Ensogo deal. 

Receiving Area

List of Services

Space was limited but Nuat Thai did try to create a relaxing and peaceful environment for its clients.

Foot Massage Area

Hallway

The Massage Room

With my very low expectations given the cheap rate, Nuat Thai still failed to deliver a satisfying massage experience. Instead of being rejuvenated, I felt tired and harassed after the session because I was subjected to stretching positions that were acrobatic in nature haha. 

I honestly can't help but laugh whenever I remember the day Nuat Thai turned me into a pretzel. Looking at the bright side though, the trip to Nuat Thai was at least memorable, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Nuat Thai has branches all over the Philippines. For more information, click here.

My Chinese Encounter at Cinese Foot Spa

Believe it or not, I've hit the gym more times than the buffet table lately. 

Because of this miracle development, my body feels like it has been ran over by a speeding bus. 

I cope by indulging in a massage whenever I can and the last massage parlor I've tried is Cinese Foot Spa.

Facade

Parking slots are quite limited but there's always the option to park on the street.

Lobby

I like that the lobby is well-lit. The receptionist was polite and professional.

Lounge

Sofa was comfortable though I wish they had interesting magazines to keep me company.

Common Area TV

Unfortunately, I forgot to reserve a private room so I had my massage at a common area. While my neighbors were mostly quiet, the TV was quite a distraction. 

Massage Chair

I got a Chinese therapist for my massage and there was no doubt that she was skilled. Her strokes were confident and she managed to remove the aches of my body. Unfortunately, I also heard her complain to the receptionist before the massage that she was already very tired. No wonder she lacked finesse and I felt that she was rushing the process. She also had a heavy hand and was not gentle at all. It certainly was not the most relaxing massage experience but I still give points to my Chinese therapist for giving me a pain free body. 

Service Menu

Cinese Foot Spa is located at 17 M. Paterno Street San Juan. For more information, call 7239559 or 7272322. Mobile number is 09275840224.

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi at the Lotus

I'm not talking about food believe it or not.

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi is actually a type of massage I experienced at The Lotus.

The Lotus is a massage parlor that has four (4) branches in Makati. We certainly made the right decision when we chose to go to its Somerset branch as it is far from the bustling streets of Makati. 

Perfect location for a few hours of relaxation!

Facade

Signage Outside Somerset

We Are Welcomed

List of Services Offered

Though space was tight, I give credit to The Lotus for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere the entire time we were there. The massage attendants were also very professional and made sure that we were perfectly comfortable during the entire session.

Small Space

The Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi massage was so pleasurable that it almost put me to sleep. Too bad the techniques didn't help in relieving the aches and pains I had.

Massage Room

I would still recommend The Lotus though if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

The Lotus has for branches in Makati. For more information, click here.

Foot Zone Treat

Curls was kind enough to surprise me with a gift voucher from Foot Zone.

We tried Foot Zone in no time.

Lobby is well lit and space is huge. The place reminds me of a popular spa I once visited in Thailand.

Our room is just right for two people. It also has La-Z-Boy chairs which certainly help in making one feel comfortable at the start of the session. There's also a TV screen inside the room for those who prefer to entertain themselves while having a massage.

The only service available at Foot Zone is Foot Reflexology with Body Massage. It costs 500php for an hour and 20 minutes. Add 100php if you prefer a therapist from China.

Massage starts with a soak in this tea colored solution. It gives the feet a refreshing feeling after. Techniques used during the massage are good. Every touch serves its purpose and gives temporary relief to the body.  I also appreciate the fact that the massage didn't concentrate on the feet as I feared. It has equal parts feet and rest of the body.

 Foot Zone, however, fails in giving a relaxing experience since I had to switch positions multiple times. Also, expect lulls as therapist will leave the room more than once to get massage paraphernalia (sticks, towels, etc.).  It is distracting and is a mood breaker.

In any case, the massage is pleasurable enough and is a decent massage parlor option. 

Thanks Curls for the treat!

Foot Zone is located at 17 Annapolis St. Greenhills, San Juan. For more information, contact 7051301 or 09214988889.

Getting What I Paid For at Shui Hilot Spa

Curls and I love getting massages. We are also suckers for all things cheap; thus, it’s no surprise that we availed of Shui Hilot Spa’s cashcashpinoy promo!

For only 255php each, we were entitled to a 90 minute Whole Body Hilot Massage with Dagdagay Foot Therapy.

Since a lot of people availed of the promo, it’s required to schedule an appointment with Shui. We were encouraged to be at Shui 15 minutes before our appointment or face the possibility of losing our slot. Good thing Shui is just at the back of Greenbelt 5 so getting there was not a problem.

I was surprised at how tiny the place was when I first entered the premises.

Reception Area

The "Hallway"

No wonder the room was also small.

The Rooms

What Lies Behind

Spartan room with only a thin sheet of curtain for privacy made for one uncomfortable massage session.

It was hardly the relaxing massage I was looking for due to the poor “facilities.” Noise level could also be improved as I could hear all conversations from outside my room.

For those who aren’t too particular with ambiance, I’m happy to report that techniques used by Shui were at least pleasurable. It reminded me of massages I used to have with a trusty neighborhood masahista. It’s important to note though that my massage was a good 15 minutes short. As I was not really feeling it, I no longer complained.

I certainly got what I paid for at Shui.

Shui Hilot Spa is located at G/F Tropical Palms Building, Perea St. Cor. De La Rosa St. Legazpi Village, Makati. Call them at 3932313 or visit their website for more details.