AirportsMadeSimple Guest Author Post

Had an opportunity to Guest Author a post on a really great travel site called AirportsMadeSimple.

Check out my article on a wet market in Pattaya, Thailand.

Too Hot to Hit the Links? Hit the Range Instead

Summer in the Philippines Mean Less Golf, More Range

April and May are very hot and humid months in the Philippines. Heading out to play a round of golf can be tortuous due to the weather. The next best option is heading to the range, hitting some balls and working on my swing. 

EG Golf Driving Range is a simple and basic range that is never overly crowded and the price is right. 

Didi's Pizza in Angeles City, Philippines

Didi's Pizza is an independently owned restaurant in Angeles City that has been serving up their version of Filipino style pizza for over 40 years! While pizza is the local's favorite, the BBQ ribs are what really impressed me.

If you're a pizza lover and want to try something unique and different then be sure to hit up Didi's the next time you visit Angeles City, Philippines. They get very busy but will deliver right to your door. More info and pics on SleepEatGolf.

Independent Coffee Shops vs the Chains

Starbucks & Everyone Else

I don't like how Starbucks and other chains have commercialized and ruined the coffee shop experience. It's so cliche and trendy to bring your laptop and park yourself at the mall while having a coffee and working. Seriously, how long do you need to sit there and pretend to work?

What happened to the independently owned coffee shops (like Starbucks started out)? Where'd they all go? There's a funny South Park episode that tackles this very subject when Tweek's parent's are pushed out of business by one of the big chains called "Harbucks." 

I don't know about you, but I miss the small, independently owned shops. They're quaint places that are more personable and in my opinion a lot more of an authentic experience. If you're lucky enough to find one in your neighborhood drop by sometime instead of going to Starbucks, The Coffee Bean, Seattle's Best or one of the other chains. You just might find a better coffee or drink for less money!

Fortunately here in the Philippines, chain coffee shops aren't as prevalent and there's still room in the marketplace for entrepreneurs to open their own stores. One such place is Hand Drip Coffee Na and it's just down the street from where I live in Angeles City. It's my favorite place to go when I want the occasional coffee beverage.   

Grand Central Suites

Great Hotel in the Heart of Walking Street

Grand Central Suites is a hotel on Fields Avenue that you've probably walked by dozens of times if you've ever visited Walking Street in Angeles City. Yes, there are hotels directly on Fields Avenue but they're usually easy to miss with all of other action and constant calls from Filipinas trying to entice you into their bars for a drink. 

This hotel has been open for over a year and a half and was formerly known as the Orange Lion. New owners took over, gutted the lobby, remodeled the rooms and added a third floor. They also put a coffee shot and large patio outside. 

The initial selling point is their location right in the middle of Walking Street. The coffee shop and patio are hard to get a seat once dusk arrives. The rooms are really great looking and the price is right. I highly suggest checking out Grand Central Suites before you book some of the other well known hotels in the area. Be sure to read more about this often overlooked hotel on SleepEatGolf and book early as they only have 20 rooms.

Pizza in Asia

Canned Tuna Is Not a Pizza Topping

Pizza in Asia is weird. I mean, it's pizza, so it's still ok even when it's bad, but as an American I don't understand some of the toppings and flavors they're combing. For example, I recently saw a margherita with canned tuna in a pizza place. Seriously? Canned tuna on a pizza! 

American Style Pizza 

Hawaiian pizza is the favorite pizza in the Philippines and in Australia, but you'll rarely see this pizza being ordered in the U.S. Your choices for American style pizza is typically limited to:

• Pizza Hut
• Shakey's
• Papa John's

While these aren't terrible choices compared to their Asian counterparts, they're not exactly my pizzas of first choice. Sure, there's a few Italian restaurants that do a decent job with a pizza, but they're typically overpriced and only slightly better. 

All hope is not lost as S&R has an absolute spot on copy of the pizza you can get in the U.S. at Costco or Sam's Club and with similar pricing. S&R is the Philippines version of Costco/Sam's Club and operates exactly the same, stocking similar items. If you have a branch near be sure to stop by for the pizza. Please note you do need a membership to enter S&R stores unless you're accompanied by a member. 

Mmmmm...Donuts

The Best Donut Chain You've Never Heard Of

J. Co Donuts is an Indonesian company with stores almost exclusively in South East Asia and Shanghai, China, but I would expect this to change in the future. If you're ever in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines or Shanghai, China be sure to check out some amazing donut creations with flavors you haven't seen or tasted before. 

Hopefully their continued success and growth will mean expansion to the U. S. as well, but for now, South East Asia has the best donut chain in the world. See and read more about them in the latest Drop-In on SleepEatGolf!

Drop-Ins

Drop-Ins

Doing new and frequent posts that I call "Drop-Ins." They're pretty much places I drop in at when I'm out and about town. A lot of times I'm carrying only a cell phone and see SleepEatGolf type places. Sometimes I'll just check them out, maybe grab a bite to eat and take a few pics or video. Some deserve some sort of write-up until I can get back there for a full in depth review. Other places are too small or limited to do a full review, but they have a viable service SleepEatGolf related that I think my readers would enjoy.

Case in point (and first Drop-In review) is Walter's Bistro. A smaller place that just does a snacks type menu. The food was good, but how do I get 1000 words, pics and video to do a featured review? I think Drop-Ins solves this problem. Check these places out because if I like them, then you probably will too!

The Search for a Subway Style Sandwich in Angeles is Over

Vietnamese Restaurant Explosion in Angeles

A few years ago, there was only one place to get a halfway decent sandwich in Angeles City. Don't get me wrong, every restaurant and hotel has several sandwiches on the menu. They're just not that good.There's even a couple of deli place that will put together a sandwich for you, but they were all lacking something.  

In fact there hasn't been one place where I would go consistently for a sandwich that was on par with Subway, Quiznos or Jimmy John's. No one was even close. Maybe that's why whenever I'd travel outside of the Angeles to Manila or another country I'd always stop by any Subway franchise I saw. I'm not a huge fan of Subway, but when you don't get a decent sandwich over the course of a year even Subway is appealing. 

This has all changed in the past year with an explosion of Vietnamese restaurants here in Angeles. The Banh Mi sandwich is world famous and one of the most delicious sandwiches you can sink your teeth into. Even the worst Banh Mi is still pretty good. Fortunately we now have 4 (maybe 5) Vietnamese restaurants that opened up within the last couple of years and they all serve their own version of the Banh Mi. 

One man and one restaurant is focusing almost exclusively on perfecting and tweaking versions of the Banh Mi sandwich. That man is Rex Soriano, a Filipino-American citizen who has opened up a small cafe in an area known as Angeles City Proper. He's worked with some big names in the restaurant business over the past 10 years like Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay to name two. I found his place by accident and will continue to go back. The latest review on SleepEatGolf.com gives you a visual taste and history about the man and his passion for the Banh Mi sandwich. 

Las Vegas Style Buffets

Las Vegas Style Buffets

Once you've been to a Las Vegas buffet you've pretty much reached the pinnacle. Vegas buffets were once known for being cheap and delicious spreads, often comped to gamblers. In today's Las Vegas buffets are now high end dining experiences. The Buffet at Bellagio hotel-casino will set you back $33.99 to $39.99 per person!

Buffets in Other Parts of the World

I once paid over $100 for a buffet at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong which could've been about $21 less if I had known that a soft drink was $7 each. Other than that experience, I've rarely seen a buffet anywhere else in the world that compares to Las Vegas. 

Buffets outside of the US and Las Vegas simply can't really compete in other parts of the world in Western eyes. But The Cruise Buffet Restaurant in Angeles City, Philippines is giving it their best shot. Run by a Korean-American Texan, Jeff Choi knows what Americans expect from a buffet and he's doing his best to bring the Las Vegas style buffet experience to Angeles City. Read all about this exciting new restaurant at SleepEatGolf.com. 

Hotel vs Guest House

Hotels, Hostels & the Forgotten Guest House

When you're traveling you're likely staying in a hotel. But think about it: You're basically paying an outrageous amount of money for a room that you likely spend less than 10 hours a day in and most of that is sleeping. 

What about hostels? Are you college aged or a Euro-backpacker? Then come on in! Just be ready to share a room and bathroom with strangers. Also make sure you're out of the room in the morning and don't come back until late afternoon/early evening. 

So you'll stay in a budget hotel you say? How many times has that choice ever worked out?! It's usually sketchy at best, not in the best neighborhood and typically what most people would consider a "flop-house." Even name brand budget hotels just provide the absolute bare minimums. 

If only there was something in between a hotels and a hostel for lodging that wasn't a budget hotel!

Wait, there is! It's the often passed by and forgotten guest house. A guest house is right in between a hotel and a hostel but much, much better than a budget hotel in most cases. You'll have your own private room, bathroom and many of the same conveniences you have in a studio apartment setting like a microwave, internet, cable TV, medium sized refrigerator and other amenities you want but often don't find in a hotel or hostel. 

Plus the price is right. Guest houses typically will be your next cheapest option after a hotel, often 50% less (or more) than even a name brand budget hotel. Guest houses are usually owned by individuals and therefore can vary in degrees of niceness from owner to owner, but in my experience each one has a more homey feel. 

So don't miss out on checking into the guest house for lodging on your next trip. You might be just as satisfied and end up having a lot more spending money in your pocket. Check out my latest review of a guest house in Thailand at SleepEatGolf.com.

Golf in Thailand

Hit the Links in Thailand

Thailand is the new top spot for tourism and is world renowned for some great golf courses. Unsure of where to play or how to even set up a round? 

SleepEatGolf can put you on the right path by putting you in touch with professionals who can do all the leg-work for you. All you need to do is set up a booking and show up to play.

Our latest post focuses on the beach city of Pattaya, Thailand where you have over 20 challenging golf courses available in the surrounding area. 

Part II of My Experience at Blue Rock Beach Resort in Subic, Philippines

Blue Rock Beach Resort Part II

Part I of my review focused on the room. 

Part II is my experiences with the food and bar scene at Blue Rock Beach Resort. 

Overall, this place didn't live up to my expectations. Read the full reviews before you head there for my opinions.