It was two in the afternoon and we just got back to our room after chilling at the beach. There were dark clouds all over Alona Beach and after a few minutes, it started to drizzle. I rested my coffee mug on the table of our balcony and went back to our room. I jumped into the bed and looked for our son who was cocooned inside the warm duvet. I joined him as he watched his favorite show on the TV. Outside, the rain kept on, but we were happily tucked into our cozy room not worrying about our next plan getting cancelled. ‘Coz we got no plans. ‘Coz the only plan was to have a five-day staycation at Best Western PLUS The Ivywall Resort – Panglao.
It was the school break before our son, Akira, would be going to formal school for the first time. He’s four years old and we started to bring him on our backpacking trips during my school breaks. It was in 2022 when we brought him to Boracay for three weeks and in 2023, we went to Malaysia, Singapore, Siargao, Surigao City, and Dinagat Islands for five weeks. This year, 2024, it was his first time to ride a big ship going to Bohol. We’re then hopping to other islands in Central Visayas—Siquijor, Dumaguete, and Cebu. Afterwards, it’s gonna be Japan—Nagoya, Takayama, and Furukawa—for 11 days.
Bohol was our first stop and we specifically dedicated five days for a staycation in Panglao Island. Best Western PLUS The Ivywall Resort – Panglao was the choice as it is perfectly situated along the famous Alona Beach. The beachfront resort is the first international chain resort in the province of Bohol. Although it was my fourth time in Bohol, it was my first time staying in Alona Beach.
Getting There
We came from a four-day stay in the town of Anda in Bohol so from the Dao Bus Terminal in Tagbilaran City, we saw an AC bus that goes around Panglao Island with a specific stop at Panglao Airport and Alona Beach Road. We paid ₱70 each for the fare and it took us one hour to reach the main road going to Alona Beach.
Best Western PLUS The Ivywall Resort – Panglao has their shuttle service from the airport or seaport and it’s best to contact them when you want to avail of their service.
Hotel Overview
Best Western PLUS The Ivywall Resort – Panglao has all the amenities for a comfortable stay. They have a fitness center, business center, spa, souvenir shop, clinic with an on-call doctor, adult and kiddie pools, play and game areas, and even meeting and convention rooms.
The resort has almost 80 rooms with four different room types—Superior, Deluxe, Premier, and Family. They also have dining outlets such as Alon Restaurant which serves all-day brunch and island fares, Teraza View Deck Bar and Lounge, Agos Pool Bar, and Alon Café and Bar Lounge.
They also offer services like complimentary wireless internet, laundry, foreign currency exchange, airline and tour desk, valet parking, fax and printing, and more. The resort is 100% smoke-free.
Check-in Process
It was 4:30 in the afternoon when we arrived at the resort. We were immediately greeted by the staff who immediately helped with our luggage. I didn’t need to show my reservation form and just mentioned my name to the front desk staff who in return, asked for all of our identification cards.
The checking-in process was swift and in no time, we were briefed on the amenities as well as the breakfast time and other details. We were given glasses of their in-house lemongrass iced tea that our son really enjoyed.
Our bags were transferred by a staff inside our room and for the first night, we were billeted in a Superior Room.
Superior Room and Deluxe Room
The spacious 26-sqm. room is equipped with two double beds with a cute message made from leaves. It spelled a Boholano phrase, “Maayong Pag-abot” which translates to “A Warm Welcome” in English. There’s also a starfish plushie that Akira immediately hugged upon seeing.
A mini bar with a fridge and coffee-making facilities can be seen as soon as you enter the room. A wardrobe with an in-room safe, native woven beach bag, bathrobes, and flip-flops were also present.
The en suite toilet and bath were huge and the water pressure from the shower was strong. I also loved the bathroom amenities that were eco-friendly and plastic-free.
A workstation with a desk and ergonomic chair can be found on one end while a lounge chair underneath the TV can be found on the other.
The overall vibe of the room was cozy especially when the sheer and blackout curtains were shut.
The next day, we transferred to a Deluxe Room, which pumped up our stay. The amenities and facilities were almost the same but the difference was that we got to have a great view of Alona Beach from the balcony, it was definitely a game-changer.
Alon Restaurant
All our breakfast meals were spent at Alon Restaurant, the in-house restaurant of Best Western PLUS The Ivywall Resort – Panglao. I love the wooden accents and carvings, which were also echoed all throughout the hotel. The fixtures were stylish, elegant, and well-made.
The buffet-style breakfast featured Asian favorites while still focusing on Filipino brekkie fares.
Akira specifically loved the salad station where he had so much olives, assorted nuts, cheeses, and shredded corn. He also tried the ube champorado one time and liked it.
Christian and I loved their buffet staples of danggit, dilis, and fried bacon strips. I also looked forward to the dim sum station daily, where I enjoyed the steamed meatballs and chicken feet.
The menudo and Korean fried chicken were also remarkable. Overall, the buffet spread was worth waking up for even if we, as a family, have a tendency to oversleep.
Swimming Pools
Every day, right after breakfast, we’d hit the beach for a quick dip and the lifeguards at the resort would lend Akira a kiddie swim vest then we'd go to the pool in the afternoon.
I love how the adult and kiddie pools were separated by a concrete bridge. We were never worried that Akira would cross over ‘coz it’s generally two pools that were seamlessly parted by the steps.
The adult pool extends to the front of the resort for an infinite pool experience. A pool bar was also there to serve drinks and snacks.
The kiddie pool was the best though as it was interactive and the children, and even adults, enjoyed it.
The pirate-themed pool, as Akira pointed out, had sprinklers, fountains, a pretend bow of the ship, water cannons, and a bucket that gets filled with water and then splashes down. Akira made so many friends here and it’s always hard to get the kids out of it.
In late afternoons, Akira would take a nap while Christian and I would have coffee and snacks on the balcony. I would never get tired of the gorgeous view of Alona Beach while sipping my nth cup of coffee.
At night, we would usually hang out on our balcony and check out the goings-on at the bars and outdoor restaurants. The vibe was not as overwhelming as Boracay but rather a chill night out with family or friends.
People would be surprised upon learning that we spent five full days in Alona Beach and did no tours at all. It may sound weird but having a staycation while on a vacation is possible. Best Western PLUS The Ivywall Resort – Panglao was our home for five days in Bohol and it's one of our best staycations to date.
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