We wanted to check out travel business opportunities in Panglao, Bohol and to expand Boracay Stations operation there by getting bohol resort partners. I haven’t been to Bohol and so how to get there was the first thing I had to check how. I learned that you have to go to Tagbilaran first.

We were staying at Imperial Palace Hotel for two nights before going to Bohol, we used to stay at Lancaster but we wanted to try something closer to the airport.

A segway story…A group of young American travellers missed their flight.

Morning of April 21, after having breakfast, we headed to NAIA Terminal 3, and took a Cebu Pacific plane to Tagbilaran, fare was about P 2,600 per pax. We were the last to line for boarding, and Cebu pacific staff shouted out if there was more for Tagbilaran. She went out of the her counter and moved the barrier (the one with the metal standee and belt that separates lines between each other) and closed it behind us and told us, if others try to line up next to you, please tell them its already closed. Just a few minutes after, a group of Americans came to line up. Cebu Pacific staff said, they can’t be accommodated anymore as they must board at least 40 minutes from flight schedule. They negotiated to be allowed and even said, they were already there earlier, but we knew they were not. The head of their group called someone on his cellphone, maybe their travel agency, and tried to talk with the boarding staff, but to no avail. They were told to re book for the next day.

Actually, when we were getting in the gate, we saw some of them who missed the flight, just sitting outside, probably waiting for the rest of the group and they all came to the counter together. Lesson 1: come early enough at the airport, give lead time for lining up at the security checks and boarding. Lesson 2: if you have someone who arrives ahead, instruct the person to line up and inform the boarding staff that you are a group and others are following, so the staff can do something to accommodate, if it’s still possible.

Back to how to go to Panglao Bohol..

We arrived at Tagbilaran after a 1 hour Cebu Pacific Air  flight or so, btw, plane was on time, very good. When i got out of the airport, JR, the Van rental i contacted was already there waiting. He took us to his van and we started cruising Tagbilaran nice progressive city place with fastfoods and active commercial movements. He said it will take 30 minutes to get to Panglao, its actually another island, but connected via a bridge, so there was no need to take a boat ride, unlike Boracay. It’s a nice ride with a view of rice fields and the ocean. P 500 for Airport pick to hotel.

When we got to Panglao, we say one resort gate after another, I noticed Eskaya and Bohol Beach Club, and some others. JR has a laminated list of Resort and pricing, as well as photos of places of interests to visit in Bohol. Since we didn’t have a place to stay yet we looked at Bohol Divers. The place is nice, with a swimming pool and by the beach. We looked at the rooms, its spacious but it wasn’t what we wanted. We decided to stay at Bohol Beach club.

The place is really nice, it’s resort itself is really spacious and has a long white sand beach. We got a Villa with two beds and a view of the beach. Here is a bit of review of the Bohol Beach Club. The place is great, its quiet, the ambience is very relaxing. They had several pools and a nice long white beach to enjoy. Our room was spacious, the toilet space is just fine, but the taste of water in the faucet is funny. It even says something like it’s not fit for drinking. Well, i drink bottled, but the sign can be kind of bothering, like is it that dirty. Then our room has a good view of the ocean, but the thing is, the window glass was not clear, it’s a jealousy, the only way to see the view is to pull it down, but the air-conditioning cool will come out, there is a screen that blocks the view. It’s a USD 150 dollar a night room and you get no view, unless you go out of the room.

We walked along the beach just before sun set, feeling the breeze and hearing the waves. We were a bit tired of travelling and so we decided to go back to the room, and freshen up. Enjoyed the hot bath and laid in bed for a while before dinner.

From our room, its a nice pathway with flowers and simple landscapes, we passed a hall with a couple of pool tables i think. Then we got to the Dining Hall where they served Buffet. Few meters from it is the bar and the pool. About 30 minutes further is another hall being set for a group guest party.

We started getting food, when we felt that its kind of hot in the hall, so we asked if we could eat in the Cabana which was in between the Private Party and the Bar. We could really use some quiet to be able to talk and enjoy the romantic ambiance of being in a nice beach coz we’ve just came from the very busy Makati Imperial Palace Hotel where we could hear cars honking from our hotel room. But while we were in the middle of dinner, the private party guests who i think were either Taiwanese or Koreans started their dinner with Karaoke singing at the tune i couldn’t sort of bear. I am not a singer myself but it was really difficult to enjoy dinner with the kind of music they were creating. Plus we could also hear the music from the Bar. So we were like…urgghhh….this is really painful. Honestly, we ended up not finishing our dinner. We made sure we informed the management about it the following day when we checked out. We actually reserved two rooms and was bent on moving to the Executive Suite to try that but changed our mind.

Bohol Beach Club

PROS: Resort is very Spacious, Ambiance is very good, Nice and Quiet in most areas, Rooms are spacious too. Staff are friendly. Beautiful white long beach. Family friendly.

CONS: You are left with no choice but to have dinner at the resort because it’s a ride away to go the Alona Beach where you can have more choices. Location for Private parties is too near the Dining Hall and the Bar, karaoke can be distracting to guests who want to enjoy quiet. Can’t see the view from room windows because of the glass not being see through.

Would I stay there again? Yes. But will eat out if there is a private party near the dining hall.

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