Out of Town Blog
A Luxurious Staycation at The Bellevue Resort Bohol
Bellevue Resort Bohol Staycation
I’m the kind of traveler who likes exploring by foot, finding hidden alleys that lead to food stalls, walking around downtown to immerse myself in the local cuisine and culture, looking for the best things to photograph with my gadgets, and shopping for interesting souvenirs. I’m always on the go.
But sometimes, chilling out in one place for a couple of days can be just as rewarding as an hour’s worth of walking… just as how I immensely enjoyed my recent luxurious staycation in Bellevue Resort Bohol (Check Rates).
Alongside other bloggers, I was generously invited by The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts (BH&R), the manager and owner of the resort, to experience their hotel hospitality. It was the perfect opportunity—it was scheduled for 3 days and 2 nights, and it was almost summertime. I wore my fancy sunshades and joined in the party.
We reached The Bellevue Resort after a 30-minute drive from our arrival in Tagbilaran Airport. When I saw a nearby, small secluded beach, the elegant and welcoming hotel lobby, and my even more elegant, welcoming, and comfy room, I threw in another pair of shades on my face.
Location
This 5-star hotel is located near the shorelines of Doljo Beach, in Panglao Island, Bohol. It’s just less than a kilometer away from Tagbilaran City where there is an airport. From here, one can also visit the nearby Momo Beach, as well as other Panglao Island landmarks like the Panglao Church. This hotel is highly accessible as well.
My room
In my staycation paradise, I dwelled in room 644 in the east Bali wing, which gave me a bird’s eye view of the nearby Doljo beach, and the resort’s infinity pool. My room had a fancy tropical theme, and my king-size bed made me feel like a real king. Beside it was a mini-living room with a large, convertible couch and a lounge chair.
My favorite part of my luxurious room is the bathroom, where I had a bathtub and a rainfall showerhead with just the right amount of water pressure. My toilet had a bidet and I was given a complete set of toiletries. In front of the bathroom is a huge closet equipped with bathrobes, laundry bags, slippers, and a safe box.
Adding more to my perfect room is a super-fast WiFi, a cable LED TV, a mini bar with Bohol delicacies, and conveniently placed sockets.
Food
There are two restaurants and one bar in the resort. All three open on 7 AM and close at 10 PM daily.
One is the Lamian World Cuisine Restaurant. Aside from serving international and local dishes, this restaurant also offers a breakfast buffet from 7 AM to 10 AM. Their buffet ranges from dangit, different slices of ham, freshly baked bread, and fresh fruits. The local hot chocolate, or Tablea, is my favorite in their breakfast spread.
The second restaurant in the resort is the Marea Al Fresco Dining, which specializes in seafood dishes. They have tables near the beachfront so it’s especially enticing. Marea Al Fresco also has a selection of wines and cocktails, but not as much as the bar.
The Flujo Bar serves a wide spectrum of cocktails and shakes. The bar has a sunken lobby and a very relaxing ambiance. If you’re having a hard time choosing which concoction to try out, the professional baristas would be happy to recommend you something, if not make a completely new one for you.
Facilities
The Bellevue Resort Bohol (Resort Reviews) is abundant with facilities that are perfect for me, the staycationer summer king, or, basically, for anyone.
Aside from the amazing restaurants, the resort also has a game room where guests can spend time in. There is a game room and recreation area for us grown-ups, complete with table tennis tables, billiards, and even a basketball arcade machine! The playground of the younger crowd is blue and underwater-themed.
Aside from having several toys, there are also books, and a PS3. There is also a wide fitness gym in the vicinity. I don’t really have a beach-bod and I love food more than exercising, but if I were given the chance to stay inside the resort for a longer period, I might just make visiting the gym a habit!
The spa house, Azurea Spa also looked very appealing. They had professional therapists who are trained to pamper guests to perfection.
Before going out the hotel you will see the Lobby Shop, an in-house souvenir shop that sells Bohol’s local crafts and delicacies. Meanwhile, the nearby tour desk offers basic information as well as tour packages.
Outside the building are two areas where large group meetings or events can be held. These are the Cena, which is a large, open-air court; and The Bellevue Pavilion, which can be used as a convention center for large groups.
There is also a bike rental facility, an archery range, and an outdoor playground. If you don’t fancy playing around on land, the resort also offers beach and water sports activities, such as diving lessons, and beach sports like Frisbee.
Lastly, the resort has its own infinity pool that offers an excellent view of the secluded Doljo Beach, ocean, horizon, and beyond. It’s perfect for relaxing, chilling out, or simple sightseeing.
Island Hopping Tour
We had a chance to try out the island hopping tour offered by the resort doing our stay. With a speedboat, we were able to visit an island and watch dolphins swim nearby!
We visited Isola de Francisco, a very beautiful white sandbar owned by the Philippine Center of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. It is a private island but it is open to the public without any entrance fees. On the island is a statue of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, an Italian saint. There is also a small museum made of local materials. On and around the island are statues depicting Jesus Christ’s life.
The Hinagdanan Cave is our last stop for our short, island tour. The cave is a beautiful cavern that is known to be approximately 100 meters long. Its walls are mostly made of limestone, and the holes on the cave’s ceilings serve as lights.
Bellevue Family Mission School
During our stay, we also visited the Bellevue Family Mission, a missionary organization based in Panglao. The volunteers originally started working since 2006, but it was only three years later when the present organization was formally established. Some of the current members of the organization include Eveline Gamonez, an American psychiatric nurse, and Kim, a retired American soldier. The organization is further manned by volunteer teachers, and a gardener.
One of the organization’s vision is to provide assistance in terms of education. Their current program schools 40 3 to 5-year-old children. Aside from the English language, the children are also taught housekeeping and spiritual values.
Honesty Shop
Like the ones we see in Batanes Honesty Coffee Shop, Bohol also has its honesty shop, and it’s located in Bellevue Resort Bohol. The shop is just a small corner that mostly sells local handicrafts. Nobody watches over the store; customers who wish to purchase a product need to refer to the price tags and deposit their payment in the box.
Bellevue Organic Farm
Located right next to the Bellueve Family Mission School is an organic farm. The farm has a symbiotic relationship with The Bellevue Resort—the resort uses some of the herbs and vegetables being grown in the organic farm, while the organization uses the resort’s kitchen wastes, such as vegetable peelings, as compost.
The organic farm grows a variety of vegetables, ranging from lettuce, eggplants, to potatoes and even cassava. Small farm animals such as chickens, pigs, and rabbits, are raised in the farm.
Overall review
There is no other word to describe my staycation in the Bellevue Resort Bohol other than “perfect’. Its facilities and interiors were all tropical-themed and laid back, which makes me think that the place was really created for the summertime. The beach is always clean and peaceful. The staff were all very attentive and kind.
The hotel’s location is also one of the best things about it. It’s accessible to us yet is distant from the crowds. In overall, this resort is the best, summertime getaway I can ever recommend to anyone.
I would also like to commend the hotel staff for their efforts of throwing a huge Luau party during our last night. We had our dinner in the Lamian Restaurant, which served us their finest dishes. We had a wide array of seafood dishes, namely: sinigang na salmon, buttered prawns with garlic, and Crab with Chili Sauce. We also had a fair share of local delicacies, which included native spicy chorizos, pork sate dipped in peanut sauce, boiled corn on the cob, baked potatoes with condiments, and java rice. We had slices of smoky Inihaw na Manok and Inihaw na Liempo as well.
We spent the rest of the night being entertained by local performers and fire dancers. It was a beautiful, chilly night of music, dance, fire, laughter, and food.
I wouldn’t ask for any other way to conclude my perfect, summer staycation.
The Bellevue Resort Bohol
Address: Barangay Doljo, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines
Book Online: via Agoda
Telephone: +63 (38) 422-2222
Facebook: thebellevueresortbohol
Twitter: @bellevueresort
Instagram: @bellevueresort
Also Read:
- Ultimate List of Best Hotels and Resorts in Panglao Island, Bohol
- Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Heritage Churches of Bohol
- DIY Trip: Ultimate Budget Travel Guide to Bohol
- Why You Should Visit Bohol Soon?
- Bohol: What of Beauty, Exotic and Fantasy?
A Luxurious Staycation at The Bellevue Resort Bohol
Melo Villareal