How to get there, where to stay

MANILA, Philippines - • Royal Brunei Airlines has daily flights from Manila to Brunei Darussalam, with flight times of under two hours. Visit www.royalbruneiairlines.com for departure and arrival times.

• If staying downtown, The Brunei Hotel is a great choice. Right in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, its 65 recently refurbished rooms and Choices Café offer an excellent home base for exploring downtown. It’s a short walk away from popular tourist destinations such as  Kampong Ayer, the  “Water Village,” the Tamu or Night Market and the main bus terminal and ferry landings for the national park in Temburong. It also has the distinction of being Brunei’s first-ever hotel.

• If looking for a bit of luxury, The Empire Hotel, overlooking the South China Sea, is a high-end experience: created by 300 designers and craftsmen from around the world, it features opulent suites and a prize-winning 18-hole golf course, as well as water activities and several fine restaurants.