Davao City Travel Forum

It is my first to visit Davao City. Dates will be from 05-07 Aug.
I am more interested in the city rather than visiting beaches and resorts.
I would love to visit the eagle farm,orchid farm and the malls around the area.
As this visit would likely to discover if this would be a city to where i want to retire, it would be a great help if you could advise how to effectively go around the place within the 3 days of short stay.
ANy suggestions would be appreciated.
I would be staying in an inn at Rizal St.? How much would be the cab fare from airport to Rizal Street? ANd if I would go straight to Phil eagle center upon landing at 9am in Davao Intl airport, how much would it cost? Thanks

Insist that the driver use the meter, and assure him you will give him a tip (taxi meter have not been recalibrated despite the succesive petrol price hikes over the last few months). Around P180 - 200 from airport to rizal street, a tip of P30 should do. If you will take a taxi to the Phil. Eagle Center, make sure you agree on the rate before departing. Unfortunately, I have no idea about alternative transport (car hire; public transport would entail getting off at the Calinan town center and taking another transport to the Phil. Eagle Center, unfortunately I am not aware of the details)

Davao just topped the survey of most competitive Philippine city. read www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/07/06/davao.city.is.rp.s.most.competitive.city.html

you can take the public transport (jeepneys) within the downtown area. Davao has a number of malls (Gaisano malls, Victoria Plaza, SM, NCCC), lots of seafood and grill (ihaw-ihaw, pronounced ee-how). The local festival (Kadayawan) is in the month of August, so you might want to time your visit.
see www.angdabawenyo.com/2008/05/17/kadayawan-2008-calendar/

Davao is the home of indigenous communities, residing mostly in the rural areas. If that is of interest to you, the Davao Ethnologic Museum at Insular Village, Lanang would be worth visiting (it's a small museum and you should be done in 20-30 minutes).

There are private hospitals - Davao Doctor's Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, among others.

Have a safe trip and have fun!

cab fare from airport to rizal st will cost you not over 200.oo pesos, do insist to the driver to plug down his meter. and if he doesn't; you can get his name in his ID visibly hanging at the rear view mirror of his cab or take note of his cab number. there are many TASK FORCE DAVAO operatives in the visinity of the airport and report his wrongdoings as a taxi driver.or call 911. the honorable mayor of this city always ephasize to them that they are the frontliners of Davao city so they should behave well as a driver. as for the TIP its up to you to give or not. they won't force you but they would be very gratefull to accept it.

if you are planning to visit those places you mentioned above. huggle your price with the driver. with the high price of petrol today i don't think it would be less than 2,000.00 pesos.

There is an American that lives in Davao for over 20 years with his Filipina wife and together they offer much information (all free) at there web magazine. Its called www.livinginthephilippines.com check it out and I am sure they will help you in your visit. His first name is Bob, have a nice visit there I have read its a beautiful place to visit and live and I am planning on going ther also in Sept. Take care,
Joseph