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.

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. 

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. 

Blue Rock Beach Resort -- Subic, Philippines

Subic, Philippines

Have you been to Subic? It's the closest beach town nearest Angeles City. I've been here for years and have never made the 1 hour trip to check it out. This all changed a few weeks back when I was desperately searching for a 1 year anniversary present. 

Check out Part I of my review on where I stayed in Subic for a few days. The place was called Blue Rock Beach Resort and it was right on the water. 

SleepEatGolf Offering Lowest Price International Business Class Airline Tickets

International Business Class Airfare More Affordable Than You Think

There are two problems with flying overseas:

1. The amount of time it takes
2. Flying Economy Class on a U.S. airline

A 9 to 20 hour flight on a U.S. airline in Economy sucks. Even U.S. airline Business Class pales in comparison to the standard that international carriers provide in their Business Class sections.

You probably think that International Business Class airfare is out of your budget. If you're searching online for deals or dealing direct with airlines then you are correct. 

Think you can use your miles program to upgrade? Think again. I've rarely heard of anyone who gets the dates they want without it already being sold out, blacked out or having to use three times the amount of miles you're led to believe it will cost. 

It's nearly impossible to find a deal on airfare tickets in this day and age. Most large travel sites prices vary only by a few dollars these days. Fortunately SleepEatGolf can help you travel in luxury on your overseas trip on an International Business Class ticket. 

We're not talking about budget or U.S. carriers. You can obtain International Business Class airline tickets on top of the line airlines like Lufthansa, Virgin, British Airways, Aeroflot and many others from European or U.S. origins. 

We've partnered up with a 100% legitimate, no hidden costs, airline consolidator who can provide you with the absolute lowest prices for individuals or groups without blackout dates. You will save hundreds of dollars on posted fares and the extra amount you spend on a Business Class ticket on an international airliner will be money well spent on long haul trips. 

Imagine arriving to your destination well-rested and actually enjoying a flight overseas, dining on gourmet food, sleeping on flat bed seats, having extra leg-room and really experiencing what flying should be all about. Most business class tickets also allow you lounge access at the airport instead of wandering around aimlessly or sitting for hours at a Starbucks waiting for your flight to board.

Contact me via our main SleepEatGolf site with your travel dates, airport origin and destination for a free quote and then search in vain to find a lower price. We're confident you won't find a lower price. When you're ready to purchase tickets we will put you in direct contact with our partner who has over 20 years experience selling airfare and the tickets will be issued in your name and you will arrange payment. There is no catch to this or anything additional to sign up for. 

You can afford to fly in luxury on International Business Class like the rich and famous, but searching for last minute deals or hoping for an upgrade from the airlines are a thing of the past. Send me a message for a quote and see for yourself. 

Viet Garden Angeles City, Philippines Review Now Up

Check out the newest review on SleepEatGolf for Viet Garden in Angeles City, Philippines.

Lots of new Vietnamese places popping up and we'll get to them all.

Hotels, Restaurants and Golf Courses Around the World

Hotels, Restaurants and Golf Courses

I love traveling to new parts of the world and look forward to staying at hotels/guest houses, eating exotic foods and playing challenging golf courses. Whenever I have an upcoming vacation or business trip I have three main things on my mind:

1. Where am I going to sleep?
2. Where am I going to eat?
3. Where am I going to golf?

Finding this critical information in one place can be a daunting task. I usually have to search the internet for hours and check out many different sites to get this information and then I can never be 100% certain that I'm getting accurate and up to date information. As the internet has grown it's become more and more difficult to decipher which reviews are sponsored and who you can really trust.

SleepEatGolf Will Help Avoid Disappointment

I can't tell you how many times I've gone to big, well known websites and made plans based on user reviews only to find out that the information posted isn't accurate or is outdated. In some parts of the world, particularly Asia, things can change very fast with little to no warning even in this age of instant information. I've made plans to stay at hotels that get rave reviews only to find that the pictures I was looking at online were touched up and reviews were completely inaccurate, likely paid. It was the same with restaurants and many sites providing information to places that aren't even in business any longer. Golf courses that showed pictures of immaculate greens and wide, lush fairways turned out to be burned out treks of dead grass, unkempt and run down links.

I started SleepEatGolf so that others won't have to go through these disappointing experiences on their vacations or business trips. You're likely on a tight schedule and want to get the most out of your time away. Sites with a few paragraphs of a person's experience are helpful, but I wanted a community where I can get more in depth information from real people. SleepEatGolf is going to provide you with up to date and accurate information from our staff and actual users. Some information you can expect to find at our site will include:

• Restaurant menus
• Maps with actual locations
• Untouched pictures
• Little known spots where locals go
• Updated contact information
• Interviews with the people in charge
• Video clips
• In depth, honest reviews (good and bad)

Asia and the Rest of the World

SleepEatGolf is going to focus first on the South East Asia region. This area is growing fast and rapidly developing. Many countries are focusing on tourism and getting quality information on this part of the world can be a challenge. Countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and others are becoming more and more popular tourist and business destinations. Thailand recently became the #1 tourist destination in the world and this part of the world is full of world class hotels, restaurants and golf courses that you haven't heard about. We intend to change that and help relieve the apprehension and mystery of South East Asia that you may have. As we grow and build our community more and more countries and cities all over the world will be added. 

We look forward to you interacting with fellow travelers within the community to share your experiences, tips and knowledge. With your help SleepEatGolf will fast become the go to destination for all your hotel, restaurant and golfing needs.