Oslob Accommodations

Continuing my Sumilon Island, Oslob and Dalaguete summer adventure thread, I will now move on to our Oslob adventures.

It was 'nong Tallo, my Oslob contact person, who became my hero for anything Oslob-related.  He arranged for a tricycle for the five of us for our transfers from Bancogon to our Oslob accommodations.  This cost us Php200.00.  A tip to those who would like to  follow our itinerary:  Make sure that you already arranged for your transportation as come night time, there are too few or worse, no available tricycle or multi-cab that ply the streets of Oslob.

Since Oslob too is not yet a developed tourist area, finding an acceptable accommodation was very difficult.  I did some online search but there were no helpful contact numbers or web and blog sites.  Thankfully, we have one staff in Plantation Bay who is from Oslob and her uncle, Tallo, happened to be a town official so he knows everything about Oslob and was the one who arranged everything for us.

Our accommodations were pretty basic.  Below is a photo of our room.  Pardon the quality as this was taken when I woke up at 5:30 AM and it was still pretty dark.

Inside, there was a small bed, mismatched bedsheets and blankets and towels (one was green and the other was blue) and the toilet and the bathroom areas were kind of cramped.  The furnishing was just one plastic red table and two chairs.   

As it was also new, there was an ongoing construction, which woke me up very early in the morning.

At Php1,750.00 per room per night, it was kind of expensive, especially since they also charge an extra Php400 for the mattress but then  the best thing about our accommodations was its location.  The registration and the briefing area for whaleshark-watching were just right in front of it.  

That and the fact that the people there were all friendly and helpful, which is typical of those from the province.

As our accommodations were newly established, it didn't have a name yet.  For inquiries, please send me a private message as I do not want to publish 'nong Tallo's contact details.

Coco Grove Resort - Siquijor

As mentioned at the start of my Siquijor blog thread, Coco Grove Resort was actually my first choice of accommodations options when I made our Siquijor itinerary but I gave way to my friend who preferred to stay at La Playa (but we ended up staying at the Danish Lagoon as stated HERE).  I also agreed with Yen because Coco Grove's reservation and cancellation policies are so stiff.  

That is, as pictured from a screenshot of an e-mail I got from them, that they require 50% deposit (and to UCPB at that, whose branches here in Cebu I'm not familiar with) and that regardless of any cancellation reasons be it force majeure, they will not cancel one's reservation but just move the reservation dates or give a refund but keep 25% of the payment made.  Wow.  If indeed we booked here, we would have been in a mess as our original travel date was canceled due to an earthquake.

We had every intention of finding another resort though when we arrived in Siquijor primarily because even if the Danish Lagoon was okay, its beach was not and Yen was after a very nice beach.  Thus, when we went to Coco Grove for dinner and finding it to our liking, we immediately made a reservation and as was their policy, paid Php 2,500.00 for a standard room outright.

Check-In

This is the lobby of the resort.

That was furnished with wooden sculpture like this cat.

We arrived here at past 12:00 noon and since our room was not yet ready, opted to just deposit our luggage so we could proceed with our tours of Lugnason Falls, Mt. Bandilaan and Butterfly Garden.

When we came back at about 5:00 PM, we claimed our bags and were given our room key.  We were pleased to know that we were upgraded for free from a standard room to an executive one, which is two categories higher than standard and worth Php 3,800.00 per night.  How's that for a good welcome, huh. 

While waiting for  the bell staff, we met Macky, the resort's resident parrot, which reminded me of our very own Cranky parrot in Plantation Bay's  lobby.  As there was a signage in Macky's post warning guests that it bites, I dared not come close to it.  

He does look brooding, don't you think?

Still, I was amused by its antics because the staffs would coax it to spread its wings and dance and it would .  Unfortunately, I was unable to capture it on camera.

Our Room

Our room was Plantation III and located on the second floor.  Here's how the building where our room was located looked like from outside.

Here's a shot of the same but taken at night time.

As our room was Plantation III and earlier because of Macky, I kidded Yen that wherever I go, Plantation Bay seemed to still haunt me.  

Upon entering, I couldn't help but notice the quaint look of our room.   

And the small bed.

If this was already an executive room, how would a standard room look like?

The bathroom though was quite spacious.

There's also a private balcony though its view was limited to trees.  

The Restaurants

Coco Grove Resort has two restaurants namely Sunset Restaurant and Salamandas Restaurant all of which I have already reviewed in detail  in my previous posts.

Having dined in Sunset Restaurant twice and in Salamandas Restaurant once, I can say that these restaurants are so overhyped.  The food was expensive but not worth the price as they tasted bland.  Service could also get slow.  The ambiance for both was nice though because like the rest of the resort, each was tastefully furnished.

Service

My contact with the staffs of Coco Grove was limited because we were only here for a short time.  The ones at the front desk were friendly and efficient and our food attendants at the Salamandas Restaurant were accommodating.  As mentioned in this post though, a food attendant at Sunset Restaurant totally ruined our dining experience there with his snobbery.

The bellman who brought us to our room also annoyed me because he was eavesdropping on my conversation with Yen and at some point, would even butt in in our conversation.  After depositing our stuff, he also lingered in our doorway, obviously waiting for a tip, which we did give.

Other Facilities

Coco Grove also has spa.  I actually wanted to have a massage but was unable to because of our tight schedule.

It also has a souvenir shop.  Pardon the photo quality as these were taken during our 10:00 PM leisure walk around the resort, which was right after our late snack at Sunset Restaurant.

They have a bar too.

And a bird sanctuary.

But I did not see any birds there and the bellman told us it's because it's not the season for birds.  I did find these pigeons on our way to Salamandas Restaurant.

Pros

The Beachfront

Its expansive beachfront and very good access to the beach are two of Coco Grove's main selling points.  Click HERE to view my detailed post about it.

The Pools

The resort has two swimming pools.  An Olympic-sized one that was near our room.

And this, which was close to Sunset Restaurant and its bar.

Yen and I originally planned to go swimming in its pools but I slept and woke up late and so we were unable to even enjoy this facility.  

Lushly Landscaped

Another pro for the resort is that it is lushly landscaped.  The above photo is taken at its entrance.  All around the resort too, trees abound and coconut trees dotted its beachfront.

Tastefully designed

The photo below is taken right beside the front desk.  

All around the resort too are lamps light this.

That come in handy at night.

Cons

Primarily, the overhyped restaurants that serve expensive but tasteless food.  Also, some of its staff should get more training on customer relations.  And yeah, maybe a little flexibility when it comes to their reservation and cancellation policies.

As a hotelier and traveler myself, I know that guests sometimes change their travel plans and so Coco Grove should not impose cancellation fees provided that guests cancel their reservation within a certain period of time e.g. in a week.

They should also do something about the stairs leading to our room as it was so steep and when it's dark, going up could be troublesome.

They should also make it non-slip perhaps by overlaying the surface with sandpaper.

Possibilities

With its expansive beachfront, I imagined the resort as a perfect venue for beachfront weddings.

And with its many cabanas as pictured below, it could also host intimate meals for families or corporate groups.   

I was told the above set-up is for tomorrow's breakfast.

My Verdict

Coco Grove for me is the best resort to stay in when in Siquijor.  Its beachfront is nice and it also has very good access to the beach.  And if saltwater is not to your preference, they have not just one but two freshwater pools.    

Though a little expensive that other resorts, staying here is worthwhile as the place is really pretty and offers a wide variety of options be it for couples or a family. 

Now if only they will work on their food, it would be an absolute heaven!  

The Danish Lagoon Luxury Beach Resort

We stayed in this resort for two nights by accident.  We were supposed to check-in at La Playa but since our trip on the 6th got canceled and we were unsure if we could still go, La Playa released our reservation and it was already fully booked when we finally pushed through with our trip on the 7th.

I actually saw The Danish Lagoon Luxury Beach Resort's website while I was still doing our itinerary and scouting for places to stay.  As I browsed their website, the first thing that attracted me to it is its unique villas as each has a huge circular glass panel.  Though I found it pretty, my friend decided on La Playa for a night and just look for another accommodation to transfer to when we were already there.

Room Rates

An overnight stay in this resort costs Php2,900.00 but we were given a rate of Php2,500.00 per night when we checked-in since when we were there, they had no cable service.  How's that for a luxury beach resort, huh.

Compared to other resorts, The Danish Lagoon's rate is actually more expensive since it does not include breakfast or pick-up to and from the pier.

The Room

The Danish Lagoon Luxury Beach Resort only has about 6 villas so expect privacy when checked-in here.  Below is how its villa typically looks like.

Our room is called The Nightingale.  Like all their other rooms, it's by the cliff and affords us a good view of the sea.

When Yen and I entered the room, we were amazed by this hanging bed.

There's also a smaller bed on the corner as well as a small sofa set.

The bathroom was also pretty spacious though I couldn't help but notice the already discolored old bath mat with its frayed edges.

I also love their tiled floor because it's non-slip.  It had this granule-like texture that even when my feet were wet, I did not feel as if I were in danger of slipping.

The Service

Since there were only a few guests, service is prompt and very personalized.  The local staffs were quite familiar with Yen and me and were very helpful.  Even the Danish owners would smile at us and engage us in small talks, asking us what our itinerary for the day was.

We were the only locals among the guests.  Guests were primarily Danish or Europeans and long-staying but we did not feel as if they were prioritized.  If I may say so, the local staffs were even more accommodating of us, perhaps because we found a common ground with them as the front desk staff and her husband both came from Iloilo (Yen is from Iloilo) and we speak the same dialect (Bisaya).

Our Dining Experience

The resort only has one restaurant called H.C. Andersen's Restaurant.  It's quite popular in the province as we noticed that even guests from other resorts would dine here.

My dining experience was limited to the one dinner and two breakfasts I had here.  I enjoyed my dinner as stated in my previous post though for Php200.00 (the rate is not inclusive of breakfast), I found my breakfast not commensurate to what I paid for.  I will write about them in detail as I go along with my Siquijor blog thread.

The Mermaid

The resort's name and even its restaurant's were obviously a tribute to the Danish lineage of the owners and to cement this, they have this mermaid statue by their beachfront.

A similar statue sits on a rock in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, specifically on its harbor in Langelinie.  It is a Copenhagen icon and a major tourist attraction based on a Hans Christian Andersen's popular fairy tale, The Little Mermaid.

view of The Little Mermaid from our balcony

The Pros

Of the two resorts that we stayed in, this is closest to Siquijor Pier so its location is really strategic.  Please note that there are two piers in Siquijor Province.  One in Siquijor and the other one in Larena.

I love the resort's service.  As one of the staffs said, they're almost a family and this is evident in their smiles and their genuine desire to be of service to their guests.  Truly, when one is happy with what s/he does, it shows.

I also love the room and its interiors.  Though we were unable to fully enjoy its comforts as we were mostly out for our tours, I appreciated the lounger in our balcony.

Despite their small pool, Yen and I enjoyed our night swimming on our second night as we had the pool to ourselves.  The staffs said use of the pool is exclusive to in-house guests.

The Danish Lagoon's garden was also lush.  Below is my best find.

I actually did not know its name but a travel forum I joined identified it as the flower of a passion fruit.

Another pro is the fact that there was security on duty so we felt secure even if we went back to the resort at 10:00 PM.

The cons

Their small beach.  In the mornings that we were there, it was low tide so I could see the rocky shore, some parts of which are muddy that my slippers got stuck the morning I went for a walk.

the whole expanse of their beach

To make up for the small beach, they had a saltwater pool but this too was small that for sure, if all their in-house guests were to use it all at the same time, they wouldn't fit.

The room rates were also expensive considering that they did not include breakfast.  Even the rates on their menu were expensive.  Foreigners may not question it but locals would surely balk at such.

Our sink also got clogged up.

My Final Say

Though our decision to stay here was decided purely on desperation as the other resorts we contacted were also fully booked, I can stay that we did not regret choosing this place.

Over-all, The Danish Lagoon Luxury Beach Resort is a good resort to stay in primarily because of its service.  Guests would surely feel the privacy and exclusivity it offers and appreciate its smiling and very helpful staff.

The Danish Lagoon Luxury Beach ResortH.C. Andersens Boulevard
Paliton, San Juan, Siquijor
Philippines
Mobile: +63 908-627-0975
E-mail: info@thedanishlagoon.com
Website: http://thedanishlagoon.com

Carlton Hotel Singapore

Carlton Hotel Singapore is just about thirty (30) minutes away from Changi International Airport. It’s a 4-star hotel that our company chose because of its proximity to Suntec, the place where the convention was being held.

Our room

Truth be told, I don’t know what our room category was as it was our company’s travel agent who made all the necessary arrangements. It’s a pretty room though, with two separate beds. My share of the bed, which was small but comfy, is pictured below.

What I liked best about our room was the bathroom with its spacious bathtub, which unfortunately I was not able to take pictures of.

Below are the views from our room.

Breakfast

Our room rates were inclusive of daily buffet breakfast. I am a heavy breakfast eater thus I relished choosing my favorites among the extensive selection of breads, fruits, cold cuts and hot dishes.

After the third day though, it became a little boring as the selection was the same every day. I was so familiar with it that I could practically locate where the bacon or bread was placed even with my eyes closed.

The Service

The service was okay but it lacked the warmth and innate graciousness of Filipinos. Oh, they were courteous enough but the staff would not go out of their way to assist their guests. It was also not prompt and attentive since when we ate during breakfast, even when there were only too few diners (we usually ate early as our convention’s at 8AM), we had to signal for a waiter to fill in our coffee cups.

What I liked about the hotel

The best thing about Carlton Hotel Singapore was its strategic location. It was near the financial and convention district, which was pretty convenient since we were there for client meetings and a travel convention. Culture and shopping havens like Raffles City, Orchard Road, Marina Square Shopping Centre and Esplanade were also just a stone’s throw away from Carlton Hotel Singapore.

Below is a view of Carlton from Suntec.

Most popular tourist attractions like the Chijmes, Merlion Park, the Singapore Flyer and the National Museum were also just walking distance from the hotel.

Another thing that I liked about Carlton Hotel Singapore was its lobby as I found it elegant in its simplicity.

Least liked

There was an ongoing construction when we were there thus we had to tolerate some noise. The signage about it was also an eyesore.

The carpet in our narrow hallway was also old and stained.

Over-all experience

The Carlton Hotel is a good hotel to stay when in Singapore basically because of its prime location. It needs an uplift though and the hotel realized this thus the ongoing renovation when we were there in 2008.

Carlton Hotel Singapore is located in 76 Bras Brasah Road, Singapore 189558. For more information, please visit their official website or contact them through (+65) 6338 8333 or mail@carltonhotel.sg.