by Some hotels are simply somewhere to sleep. The Marco Polo in Davao became part of our family memories.
These are memories of our stays before the pandemic closure. What stayed with me was not only the building, but how comfortable we felt there together.
The First Encounter: “One Day…”
On my first trip to Davao to meet Lizz, the Marco Polo kept catching my eye. I would look at the building and think how lovely it would be to stay there.
My budget had a less enthusiastic opinion.
So, for the time being, admiring it from outside had to do.
A Wedding Weekend: One Night Became Three
Two years later, during Lizz’s sister’s wedding, we finally stayed there. The plan involved two rooms: one for the wedding preparations and another for us, for just one night.
A sensible arrangement. Brief, affordable and perfectly clear.
We stayed three nights.
Once we had settled in, neither of us felt particularly motivated to leave. The Marco Polo had gone from a building I admired to a place we wanted to return to.
Ten Nights with Mutti
Later, when my mother came with us, we made the hotel our base for ten nights.
Comfort mattered to her. Cleanliness mattered even more. We had stayed in other places where she struggled to relax, particularly with noisy air conditioning.
At the Marco Polo, she felt at ease.
I still remember her sitting on the lobby sofa and declaring, “I’m not leaving this place again.”
Anyone who knew Mutti would understand that this was quite a recommendation. Watching her relax and enjoy being there meant more to me than any list of hotel facilities.
A Quiet Pause in Davao
For us, the lobby became somewhere to sit, have a coffee, meet friends and take a break from the city outside.
We liked knowing what to expect. The rooms were comfortable, the surroundings felt clean and cared for, and we could settle in without another round of adjustments.
Davao became part of our life in the Philippines, with all its movement, noise and everyday surprises. I share more about that connection in Davao City: Not a Postcard City, But Our Gateway to Mindanao.
The Closure and the Memories
The hotel’s closure during the pandemic left a gap in the Davao we knew.
I missed the familiar lobby, the coffee, the meetings with friends and the feeling of returning somewhere comfortable. Above all, I missed the connection it held to those days with my mother.
When I think of the Marco Polo, I still picture her on that sofa.
A Place We Carry with Us
I would love to see the hotel welcome guests again. But whatever happens to the building, it already has a place in our family story.
A hotel can give you a room for the night. Sometimes, without anyone planning it, it also gives you memories that stay for years.
Discover more from Lizz and I
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