A kalesa or calesa (sometimes called a karitela) is a horse drawn calash (carriage) used in the Philippines. The word, also spelled calesa, predates the Spanish conquest and descends ultimately from an Old Church Slavonic word meaning “wheels.” This was one of the modes of transportation introduced in the Philippines in the 18th century by the Spaniards that only nobles and high ranked officials could afford. They are rarely used in the streets nowadays except in tourist spots and some rural areas. The Kalesa driver is commonly called as “Cochero” or “Kutsero”. When “Cochero” direct the horse to turn right he says “mano” and he says “silla” to direct the horse to turn left . Source : Wikipedia

Melo Villareal Jansport Daypack

This is why customer feedback is vital to the success of the businesses that go that extra mile to make sure that their customers are happy.

This is why the Holiday Extras team have been working tirelessly on making sure that their customers get the chance to give their honest and truthful feedback about the travel companies that they have been using whilst they have be booking their trips away (whether it be for business or pleasure).

The Holiday Extras Customer Awards have been going for three years now and they are a great way to get the opinions of customers out into the open within the travel industry. The winners of the awards are chosen by the online voters who visit Holiday Extras and these are then compiled and brought together to celebrate those who are giving the best service and value for money to their customers in that year.

This year 66,000 people voted in the Holiday Extras Customer Awards and this figure is almost three times more than the number of people who voted last year. The way that these awards are growing in popularity just goes to show just how there was a gap in the market for such an event in the travel industry.

This year’s awards were held in London on 15th September and saw all the movers and shakers from the travel industry join together to celebrate the best performers in 2011.

Here are the people that Holiday Extras awarded as the best in 2011:

- Best Airline: Emirates
- Best Airline Cabin Crew: Emirates
- Best Airline for Value for Money: easyJet
- Best Airport: Belfast International
- Best Airport Car Park: Edinburgh Park and Fly
- Best Airport Hotel: Gatwick Sofitel
- Best Airport Hotel Restaurant: Manchester Premier Inn
- Best Airport Lounge: Edinburgh Servisair
- Best Airport Hotel for families: Manchester Premier Inn
- Best Airline for Travelling with Babies: Virgin Atlantic
- Best Airline for Travellers with a Disability: Virgin Atlantic
- Most Inspirational Travel Film: Shirley Valentine
- Best Travel Guide Publisher: Lonely Planet

It can be really refreshing to know that the winners are successful because of the people who use them on a daily basis (and we all know that customers can often sometimes be the fiercest of critics) have thought that they deserve to be recognised for the good work that they have been doing.

Next year’s awards are set to be bigger and better with more categories and more people are expected to vote– so watch this space!

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Amorita Resort is located in Panglao Island in Bohol, a province in the Visayas Region of the Philippines. The resort is located in the center of Bohol’s ecotourism destinations where one can experience Bohol’s finest tourists spots.

Located on top of a seaside cliff at the north eastern end of the famed Alona beach in Panglao Island, Amorita treats every guest with a breathtaking 180 degree view of the Bohol Sea.

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This island in El Nido Palawan has a beautiful white sand beach stretching to some 300 meters that is ideal for picnic lunches during island-hopping trips. There is an underwater tunnel at its northern side and a fringing reef on its southern end. The island is also called Helicopter Island because its limestone cliffs resemble that of a helicopter when it is viewed from a considerable distance. – Wikipedia

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Located in Davao City, the Philippine Eagle Centre used to be primarily a breeding and conservation facility, but it has opened its doors to students, locals and foreign tourists for educational purposes.

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While walking around Roxas Boulevard, I saw this group of kids with this an adult companion swimming in the almost black colored water of Manila Bay.

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It wasn’t what I planned to do last weekend, but since I was invited to visit and experience the Santorini inspired first class resort in Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point along with couple of blogger friends and some friends from traditional media, I just found myself spending “Another Day in Paradise”. – Out of Town Blog

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Cagayan de Oro City is home to some of the most scenic and exhilarating whitewater rafting in the Philippines. Second to Chico River in Kalinga Province, this river in Cagayan de Oro is probably one of the wildest that I have conquered.

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The Miag-ao Church was built in 1786 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries and was declared as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Baroque Churches of the Philippines” in 1993. On the front facade, which is flanked by two watchtower belfries, one can see the unique blending of Spanish and native influences.

source – Wikipedia

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On our second day in Club Paradise Resort in Coron Palawan, I had a short trek in the Dimakya Islands highest peak. It took me 30 minutes to reach the pinnacle and I was really surprised how they preserved their mini forest in its natural state providing a perfect habitat for local flora and fauna.

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