Welcome to Travelers Couch...

More than the usual traveling and making memories all over the world. Travel Reviews, Photos and more.

Moevenpick Hotel, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines

A five-star Mediterranean-inspired beachfront hotel that combines a true lifestyle experience, cool vibe and relaxed chill out spaces.

Manhattan, New York City, USA

Traveler's Couch shares to you the top tourist attractions in this concrete jungle where dreams are made of - New York City!

New 7 Wonders of Nature: Underground River and Puerto Princesa City's Other Wonders

The Cleanest and Safest City in the Philippines, behold the beauty of Puerto Princesa City with it's Undergound River proclaimed as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Experience Honda Bay Island Hopping, Balayong Festival, City Tour and more!

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - Truly Asia!

Formerly known as Jesselton and now often referred as 'KK' within the country and internationally, Kota Kinabalu is a popular destination for most travelers visiting Sabah and Borneo region, offering so much of Malaysian attractions...

FUNtastic Gibitngil Island, Medellin, Cebu, Philippines

Cliff Diving? Beach Zipline? Kayaking? Well, you can experience these in this newly discovered Tourist Destination in Northern Cebu - Funtastic Island in Gibitngil Island, Medellin, Cebu, Philippines! Read my review about the place, the rates, how to get there, etc.

Boracay Island Escapade

Get some sun-kissed skin within this beautiful paradise found in Aklan, Philippines. Named as one of the Best Beach and Island Destination in the World by known Travel Magazines and Sites, Boracay Island's White Beach tops on my list!

Discover the Beauty of Bohol

Chocolate Hills, Tarsier, Prony the Python, Loboc River, Panglao Island - everything in one place, Bohol, Philippines! Discover the beauty of one of Central Visayas' top tourist destination with lots of eco-adventure as well. See my shots!

Sinulog Festival, Cebu City, Philippines

One of the Grandest Festival not just in the Philippines but in South East Asia - Cebu City's Sinulog Festival! The Queen City of the South welcomed thousands of visitors from different parts of the world just to experience this one-of-a-kind event in the Philippines!

Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts

February 15, 2014

Malapascua Island, Cebu, Philippines: A Paradise Recovered (Latest Photos, Updates after Haiyan/Yolanda Devastation)


Malapascua Island is an island of the town of Daanbantayan located in the northernmost tip of Cebu, Philippines. It is known as a dive destination and also for its wide white sand beach named as Bounty Beach. Most of the locals here do a living from tourism, but for some still rely on fishing or farming.

Unfortunately, this beautiful paradise was one of the places raged over by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda in Philippines) that made landfall last November 8th, 2013. The island was leveled that it almost took all the roofs of the houses, hotels and other structures. For couple of weeks (or even months), it has lost its power and some communication/network facilities.

Traveler's Couch made a visit last February 6-9, 2014. This post will guide you through the latest photos or updates of Malapascua Island after being raged by the typhoon exactly three months ago (as of this visit). Please click the photo to enlarge.

ABOVE PHOTO: Sunset view while taking the boat from Maya Port to Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: Bounty Beach of Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: Boat of Malapascua Exotic Island Dive and Beach Resort 

ABOVE PHOTO: Beach side of Malapascua Legend Watersports and Resort 
ABOVE PHOTO: Bounty Beach, Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: Bounty Beach, Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: Beach lounge in Hippocampus Resort, Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: Sunset View, Beach Lounge in Ocean Vida, Malapascua Island 
ABOVE PHOTO: Sunset View, Beach Lounge in Sea Explorers, Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: Sunset Chill in Hippocampus Resort, Malapascua Island
ABOVE PHOTO: The view while taking the boat from Malapascua Island to Maya Port (Mainland Cebu)


CLICK HERE for MORE LATEST PHOTOS OF MALAPASCUA ISLAND, CEBU IN TRAVELER'S COUCH FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.

Support the locals, help rebuild lives. #VisitMalapascua #Cebu now!

February 22, 2013

Boracay, Philippines named as One of World's Top 25 Beaches for 2013 by Trip Advisor (Travelers' Choice 2013)


A well deserved spot was given to the beautiful island paradise of Boracay in Malay, Aklan, Philippines as being one of the Top 25 Beaches for 2013 for this year's Travelers' Choice by Trip Advisor. Ranking 24th over-all worldwide, White Beach of Boracay was the only beach destination included in the list from Asia making it the #1 must-visit on the said region. As quoted by most travelers: "A stunningly beautiful white powder sand beach. Crystal clear, warm water that you can laze in for days on end."

Here's the complete list of  Trip Advisor - Travelers' Choice 2013
Top 25 Beaches of the World - 2013

1) Rabbit Beach - Lampedusa, Italy
2) Grace Bay - Providenciales
3) Whitehaven Beach - Airlie Beach, Australia
4) Baia do Sancho - Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
5) Flamenco Beach (Playa Flamenco) - Culebra, Puerto Rico
6) Playa de las Catedrales - Ribadeo, Spain
7) Lopes Mendes Beach - Ilha Grande, Brazil
8) Horseshoe Bay Beach - Southampton Parish, Bermuda
9) Eagle Beach - Palm/Eagle Beach, Aruba
10) Rhossili Bay - Swansea, United Kingdom
11) Playa Paraiso Beach  - Cayo Largo, Cuba
12) Playa de ses Illetes - Formentera, Spain
13) Chesterman Beach - Tofino, British Columbia
14) Playa del Norte - Isla Mujeres, Mexico
15) Ka'anapali Beach - Lahaina, Hawaii
16) Siesta Key Public Beach - Sarasota, Florida
17) Anse Lazio - Praslin Island, Seychelles
18) Gulf Islands National Seashore - Pensacola, Florida
19) Turquoise Bay Exmouth - Exmouth, Australia
20) Fort De Soto Park - Tierra Verde, Florida
21) Akumal Beach  - Akumal, Mexico
22) The Baths  - Virgin Gorda
23) Seven Mile Beach  - George Town, Grand Cayman
24) White Beach - Boracay, Philippines
25) Woolacombe Beach - Woolacombe, United Kingdom


Below are my shots of Boracay Island during my previous visits last 2012 & 2011. 
(Click photo to enlarge)

 Tropical weather in white Beach in Boracay Island, Philippines

  Tourists relaxing in White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines

  Clear, Whitesand beach of Boracay Island, Philippines
 Late afternoon at White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines
 Helmet Diving in Boracay Island, Philippines
 Relaxing tourist at White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines
 Sunset view in White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines
Another sunset view in White Beach, Boracay Island, Philippines
 

Thanks for visiting my blog.
Your comment is highly appreciated.
#KeepTraveling #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines

June 2, 2012

SM Seaside City Cebu, SMX Cebu and SM Cebu Arena: Updates, News, Latest Photos and More!


Here are the latest updates or news about the on-going construction of SM Seaside City - CEBU, gathered from different sources thru online postings, news article, etc. 

 *PhilStar.com (posted June 2, 2012): "SM Prime hikes SRP Project Cost to P8B". There was an adjustment made regarding the project cost for it to be called a "destination mall", not just a shopping mall facility. From P6 Billion to P8.5 Billion, SM Prime Holdings President Mr. Hans T. Sy decided to make it as the newest landmark in Cebu and making it the 4th Largest Mall in the world that every Cebuano should be proud of. This is just one of the first developments in the master-plan of SM properties from northern part of the South Roud Properties (SRP) to the sea. This flagship project is designed by Arquitectonica ( international architecture, interior design and planning firm from Miami Florida). As posted in PhilStar.com:

"The 3rd SM shopping mall in Cebu, next to the newly opened SM Consolacion, the SM Seaside City Cebu will be a 4-level, circular-shaped, world-class retail mall with multiple anchors, including a two-story SM Department Store and SM Hypermart, a five-theater Cineplex and IMAX Theatre, an 18-lane SM Bowling and Amusement Center, and a food court flanking an ice skating rink."

May 31, 2012

SM City Consolacion: A Preview of Cebu's New SM Supermall (Latest Photos and Updates - Blessing and Opening)

PHOTO: Facade of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

SM City Consolacion, the 2nd SM Supermall in Cebu, the 4th in the Visayas and the 43rd in the Philippines will have its Grand Opening this Friday, June 1, 2012 at Cebu North Road, Barangay Lamac, 6001 Consolacion, Cebu, Philippines. The newly built four-hectare property in the expanding Metro Cebu Area will also cater the needs of our fellow Cebuanos from northern municipalities without heading to the city proper (SM City Cebu) for shopping, dinning and entertainment thru its 3-level, "L"-shaped structure when facing south. The Mall has four (4) Cinemas (3 of which are Digital Cinemas), a Supermarket, a Foodcourt, Department Store, Appliance Center, Toy Kingdom, National Bookstore, Cyberzone, Northwing-inspired Atrium and so much more. A carpack building was built behind the mall.

You may refer to below Photos of SM Consolacion - Cebu.
(credits to the owners, click photo to enlarge)


PHOTO: Interior preview of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: Preview of Digital Theatre in SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.
PHOTO: Preview inside Digital Cinema of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.
PHOTO: The Atrium of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: Preview of Foodcourt in SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: Interior preview of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: Interior preview of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: Interior preview of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: SM Department Store of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: Interior preview of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.
PHOTO: Interior preview of SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.

PHOTO: SM Consolacion, Cebu's Newest  SM Supermall, opens to on June 1, 2012.
Here are the Latest Photos taken by Libotero (via skyscrapercity) during the SM City Consolacion Blessing done just today, May 31, 2012, attended by Mr. Hans Sy of SM prime Holdings and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
(click photos to enlarge)

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Blessing, attended by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and Mr. Hans Sy

PHOTO: Hallway to SM City Consolacion Cinema 3 and 4

PHOTO: Unfinished Male Restroom of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Cinema 3

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Cinema

PHOTO: Interior of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Atrium

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Atrium

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Atrium

PHOTO: SM City Consolacion Interior

Here's the Opening of SM Consolacion Photos, credits to the owners of these pictures
(click photos to enlarge):

PHOTO: The Countdown at the Opening of SM City Consolacion
PHOTO: The Crowd at the Opening of SM City Consolacion


PHOTO: The Crowd at the Atrium during the Opening of SM City Consolacion
 
PHOTO: The Crowd at the Atrium during the Opening of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: The Crowd at the Atrium during the Opening of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: The Opening of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: The SM Foodcourt at the Opening of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: People strolling at the opening of SM City Consolacion
PHOTO: People at Cinema Lounge at the opening of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: People strolling at the opening of SM City Consolacion

PHOTO: People at Al Fresco during the opening of SM City Consolacion

Here are exciting events in store for you at the Grand Opening Week of SM City Consolacion:
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June 1 4pm: Party Pilipinas' Jaya, Bianca King, Kris Lawrence, Rochelle Pangilinan, Mark Herras and Nomer

June 2 5pm: Sam Milby and ABS-CBN Local Stars

June 3 5pm: Paulo Avelino and Melissa Ricks of Walang Hanggan

June 1-3 8pm: FIREWORKS DISPLAY by PYROWORKS
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More updates to come! Thanks for reading. 
What do you think about this new SM Supermall in Cebu? 
Post your comment/feedback now! :)