Your stay — Diaz Boarding House
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The Property — Diaz Boarding House
The Diaz Boarding House is a no-frills, family-run spot in Davao’s downtown, a block from the Bankerohan Public Market. The lobby is small but functional — a couple of plastic chairs, a reception desk with a handwritten welcome sign, and the faint smell of cooking from the back kitchen. It suits budget travellers, especially backpackers or short-stay solo visitors who need a clean room for the night without paying for amenities they won't use. You check in fast, drop your bag, and head out to explore the city.
Chronicles of Davao
Davao City grew from a colonial settlement into the largest city in the Philippines by land area, shaped by its agricultural wealth in abacá, coffee, and later bananas and pineapples. Its modern identity was forged under the long mayorship of Rodrigo Duterte, who brought heavy-handed law-and-order policies that reduced street crime but also drew international criticism. The city preserves little pre-war architecture — most was lost in World War II bombings — so its skyline is a mix of concrete mid-rises and shopping malls, with Mount Apo looming to the southwest. Today, Davao markets itself as a ‘safe city’ and is a hub for Mindanao's traders, migrants, and tourists heading to nearby beaches and highlands.
Best Time to Visit
Full Davao guide →Best months
January to March: dry season with low humidity, minimal rain, and comfortable daytime temperatures. April is also good but can be hotter before the monsoon arrives.
Peak / festival surge
August (Kadayawan Festival). The whole city celebrates harvest and indigenous culture with parades, street parties, and flower floats. Hotels like Diaz Boarding House can see rates rise 20-30% and fill up weeks in advance. Airbnbs and mid-range hotels double their prices.
Budget shoulder season
May and June: still warm but with occasional afternoon showers; hotel prices drop as tourists thin out after Kadayawan. October is also quiet, with fewer crowds and lower demand.
Weather & packing
Davao’s weather is tropical — expect high humidity year-round, with rain more likely but never guaranteed. Pack a compact umbrella and a quick-dry shirt; leave the jeans at home.
Live City Briefing — Davao
- The Davao City Coastal Road extension opened in early 2025, cutting travel time from downtown to the beaches of Samal Island ferry terminals by about 15 minutes.
- The Mindanao Railway project's Tagum-Davao segment remains on hold due to budget delays — no new start date has been announced.
- Due to the La Niña forecast for mid-2026, expect heavier-than-usual afternoon rain in July; some low-lying areas like portions of Bankerohan Road may flood briefly after heavy downpours.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Diaz Boarding House, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the back of the property (away from Daang Patnubay Street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough that stair access is easy if the lift is slow. The rear-side rooms get less street sound and more airflow from the garden area.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing Daang Patnubay Street. The street is a local access road with tricycle and motorbike traffic starting early. Ground floor also picks up noise from the lobby and breakfast area if the boarding house has one. Rooms near the lift shaft on any floor can be noisy due to mechanical clatter.
Best views
Ask for a rear-facing room overlooking the inner courtyard or neighbouring low-rise buildings. Front-facing rooms look onto Daang Patnubay Street — a busy local road with limited appeal. There are no sea or mountain views from this address.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3. With no data on upper floors, assume 2–3 are the quietest as they are above street level but not near any rooftop equipment or water tanks.
🔊 Noise notes
Daang Patnubay Street is a secondary road in Davao's residential-meets-commercial strip. Expect motorbikes and tricycles from around 5:30am to late evening. Occasional jeepney rumble. Early morning garbage collection on the street can also cause noise from around 6am.
Insider tips
1. Parking is likely on-street or in a small open lot — request a parking spot when booking as spaces are limited along Daang Patnubay. 2. For a quieter stay, bring earplugs even if you get a back room, because the boarding house walls may be thin and voices from the common areas carry.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Diaz Boarding House
Free basic WiFi for all rooms, 10 Mbps download; no login required
No lift; two-storey walk-up only
No complimentary newspapers; no digital newsstand
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed if room ready; late check-out until 12:00 no charge, PHP 500 fee after 12:00
Free for day-of check-in/out, no long-term storage
No step-free access; entrance has two steps; no wheelchair-adapted rooms
On-site open parking for 6 cars, first-come first-served, free; nearest public car park at Victoria Plaza (PHP 15 per hour, PHP 80 overnight from 20:00-06:00); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: PHP 50 per room per night
Deposit & card hold: Nightly rate charged at booking; PHP 1,000 incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Sto. Niño Chapel (264 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: S.I.R. Matina Alliance Church (366 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: RVM Provincial House - Southern Mindanao (424 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses (475 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
NCCC Mall Ma-a — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Candelaria Park — 407 m · ~5 min walk
Mindanao Folk Arts Museum — 770 m · ~10 min walk
Zoofari — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 241 m · ~3 min walk
TGP — 378 m · ~5 min walk
Forty Store — 170 m · ~2 min walk
Davao City Overland Transport Terminal — 417 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Philippine Peso, PHP
Change money at banks or authorized money changers in malls like SM or Gaisano. Avoid airport and hotel bureaux; they give poor rates.
Cards accepted in major malls, hotels, and some restaurants, but many smaller shops, eateries, and transport still require cash. Contactless and mobile pay (GCash) are growing but not universal.
Not mandatory, but round up taxi fare or leave small change; 10% in nicer restaurants is appreciated. Hotel staff may get 20–50 PHP for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local 3-in-1 sachets from a neighbourhood bakery or carinderia, around 15–25 PHP.
Rice with viand (ulam) from a carinderia near public markets or main streets, about 50–80 PHP.
A bowl of batchoy or similar noodle soup at a local eatery, about 60–100 PHP for a main.
For cheap eats, head to the area near the public market or streets with small stalls – look for grilled pork barbecue (15–20 PHP per stick) or lumpia. Not fancy, but filling.
Budget supermarket chains common here are SM Savemore and Puregold; also visit local public market for fresh produce.
For affordable shopping, try the stalls at Bankerohan Public Market or local tiangge (market stalls) along the main roads; second-hand/vintage shops (ukay-ukay) are also widespread.
Cheapest way around: jeepneys (9–12 PHP per ride within city). From the airport, take a shared jeepney (around 20–25 PHP) or a tricycle to the highway for a jeep; taxis cost around 150–250 PHP.
Eat at carinderias or local food courts over sit-down restaurants. Use jeepneys instead of taxis for most trips. Buy water and snacks at grocery stores rather than convenience stores or tourist spots.
Emergency Contacts
DavaoIn Davao, dial 911 for all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire). For non-urgent police matters, call the Davao City Police at (082) 227-1111 or 0920-915-8038. The Davao City Central 911 hotline (082 224-0911) also directs calls. Note: English-speaking operators are available, but always give your exact location clearly.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Davao, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Diaz Boarding House
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 241 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · TGP — 378 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Davao City Overland Transport Terminal or local routes → We R Inn area (along Quimpo Blvd)
💡 Multicabs are covered, fan-cooled minibuses that run fixed routes. They're cheaper than jeepneys but slower. For We R Inn, look for a multicab with signs for 'Matina' or 'Quimpo.' They stop anywhere along the route – just wave them down.
Various jeepney terminals (e.g., Bankerohan, Obrero) → We R Inn area (routes passing Quimpo Blvd)
💡 For We R Inn, take a jeepney with 'Quimpo' or 'F. Torres' on the side panel. Drop off at the corner of Quimpo Blvd and F. Torres St. Pay the driver as you board or pass your fare forward. Have small bills or coins ready – drivers rarely have change for PHP 50.
Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) → We R Inn, Davao City
💡 Grab is the most reliable ride-hailing app in Davao. The pickup point is outside arrivals. Avoid surge pricing by booking immediately after landing. Often cheaper than metered taxis and you get a fixed fare upfront.
Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) → We R Inn, Davao City
💡 Skip the yellow airport taxis at the official queue if you're on a budget – walk 50m outside the terminal gate and flag a white metered taxi. Confirm the driver uses the meter or agree a price before getting in. We R Inn is about 8 km from the airport, near the corner of Quimpo Blvd and F. Torres St.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Diaz Boarding House?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the back of the property (away from Daang Patnubay Street). These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough that stair access is easy if the lift is slow. The rear-side rooms get less street sound and more airflow from the garden area.
Which rooms should I avoid at Diaz Boarding House?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing Daang Patnubay Street. The street is a local access road with tricycle and motorbike traffic starting early. Ground floor also picks up noise from the lobby and breakfast area if the boarding house has one. Rooms near the lift shaft on any floor can be noisy due to mechanical clatter.
Is Diaz Boarding House noisy?
Daang Patnubay Street is a secondary road in Davao's residential-meets-commercial strip. Expect motorbikes and tricycles from around 5:30am to late evening. Occasional jeepney rumble. Early morning garbage collection on the street can also cause noise from around 6am.
Which rooms have the best views at Diaz Boarding House?
Ask for a rear-facing room overlooking the inner courtyard or neighbouring low-rise buildings. Front-facing rooms look onto Daang Patnubay Street — a busy local road with limited appeal. There are no sea or mountain views from this address.
What are insider tips for staying at Diaz Boarding House?
1. Parking is likely on-street or in a small open lot — request a parking spot when booking as spaces are limited along Daang Patnubay. 2. For a quieter stay, bring earplugs even if you get a back room, because the boarding house walls may be thin and voices from the common areas carry.
What time is check-in at Diaz Boarding House?
Check-in at Diaz Boarding House is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Diaz Boarding House have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi for all rooms, 10 Mbps download; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Diaz Boarding House?
PHP 50 per room per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Diaz Boarding House?
Rice with viand (ulam) from a carinderia near public markets or main streets, about 50–80 PHP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Diaz Boarding House?
Cheapest way around: jeepneys (9–12 PHP per ride within city). From the airport, take a shared jeepney (around 20–25 PHP) or a tricycle to the highway for a jeep; taxis cost around 150–250 PHP.
When is the best time to visit Davao?
January to March: dry season with low humidity, minimal rain, and comfortable daytime temperatures. April is also good but can be hotter before the monsoon arrives.
Top Attractions in Davao
💡 Visit late afternoon when the heat drops and locals come out. The Wi-Fi is reliable enough for basic browsing.
💡 Step inside for air-con and quiet during midday heat. The adjacent plaza often has cheap street food vendors in the evening.
💡 The 30-minute guided tour is included in the fee and adds context you'd miss on your own. Go early on weekday mornings when it's empty.
💡 Go for the 10am or 3pm feeding sessions to see the crocs leap for meat. Skip the overpriced snacks inside and eat at a nearby carinderia after.
💡 Take the first shuttle at 8am to avoid crowds. Pack a picnic lunch—eating at the on-site restaurant is pricey and average.