ASIDE from warm, hospitable and hardworking people, our country’s beaches are its next best assets. With thousands of kilometers of coastline, mostly still pristine and unspoiled, you’d wonder why most tourists flock to the single most crowded resort island in the country just for powdery white sand. Yes, their sand is powdery, probably some of the finest in the world. But after feeling the sand with your toes one would tend to ask…and then what?
I’ve been to Boracay and Bohol and, for me, there is no question as to where I’d love to come back to yearly and where one trip is more than enough. Bohol has so much more than beautiful stretches of coastline, and as I found out during our short trip, Bohol as a destination is as complete as it gets.
The Bellevue Resort Bohol
My first impression of the resort was that it was elegantly designed and appointed. The furnishing, finishing and the overall feel of the resort was that of something organic, that it belonged to the island. This is no easy feat, considering that the resort boasts of 155 rooms and suites. Upon entering the foyer, instead of a counter that serves as a reception area for guests to check-in, which is commonly found in most hotels and resorts, guests entering the Bellevue Resort are greeted by a view of the sea just beyond the central garden and infinity pool. It’s as if they are saying: “enjoy the view first, let us worry about the other details.” After a warm welcome from their staff, complete with a dance troupe, we were whisked to Marea, one of their dining outlets.
Marea
Marea is Bellevue Resort’s al-fresco dining outlet. For our lunch, we were served a sampling of Bohol’s specialties, such as Chicken Halang-halang and Oxtail Balbacua. While the dishes were superb, the views from Marea makes focusing on your plate that much harder. Aside from local dishes, the desserts available would please anyone’s sweet tooth. Marea doesn’t just stop at local fare, of course, it also serves an array of international dishes, from steaks to seafood, which we got a glimpse of and got to try for dinner. Just above Marea is Cena, a great al-fresco space that can hold private dining functions with some of the best views the resort has to offer.
Around Bellevue Resort
After our welcome lunch, we were greeted by the resort’s management and toured around some of the facilities. While Bohol boasts of numerous sights and activities for tourists, Bellevue Resort can easily be a destination on its own. There are a myriad of activities for those who’d rather stay at the resort and fully enjoy what it has to offer. While some resort guests like visiting the sights, quite a few, myself included, would rather relax and maximize their resort stay. Bellevue Resort seemingly has everything for the whole family. Aqua and beach sports and swimming in the resort pool is just the start. If you’d like to see the underwater gems of Bohol, a snorkeling or diving trip to Balicasag Island can also be arranged. Kids of all ages can enjoy games and online gaming and game consoles at the Playroom. Parents can unwind after a day’s frolicking at Azurea Spa. Flujo Bar serves the best cocktails if you prefer unwinding with a drink.
After the brief tour, we were then properly checked-in and led to our rooms. Personally, I like spending holidays just relaxing and the room is where I like spending the most time. Bellevue Resort’s rooms not only provide space with stunning views, they do it in utmost luxury, too. I would’ve loved to just stay there for a few days and not go out but there is just too much to do, see and taste in too little a time.
Dinner at the garden
After snorkeling off Balicasag Island just before sunset, we headed back for dinner. As we were headingto our rooms to freshen up, we saw the garden dinner setup at the garden area. Under a clear night’s sky, there couldn’t be a better place to enjoy some more of Marea and Bellevue’s culinary creations. For dinner, aside from some more Boholano and Filipino dishes, we got to try Cena’s international fusion dishes. We had Prawns with Polenta, Steak, Baked Salmon, Seared Tuna Tataki and a few more specialties. After a long day of travel by air, land and sea, a wonderful meal capped off our day. With my room and bed seemingly calling my name, an early bedtime was in order.
Around Bohol
Day Two started with breakfast at Lamian World Cuisine. The buffet had everything you could possibly want. Fresh fruits, Continental, Asian and Filipino breakfast favorites are all served. After the hearty meal, we were off to Bohol’s most popular spots, including The Sandugo memorial, Baclayon Church, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Loboc River, Chocolate Hills and more. We even had merienda at the Bee Farm, after some souvenir shopping. It was quite a long day and, true to Bellevue’s commitment to providing its guests the best experience possible, we were well taken cared of and well fed during the long day of touring around. Our tour guide Kuya Boyet provided the information and laughs during the tour and was the perfect person to share everything that Bohol is and has. The Loboc River cruise was the highlight for me. The emerald green waters, surrounded by lush coconut-covered hills and mountains, is how I picture the perfect tropical scene would look like. Loboc definitely surpassed my expectations and the good food and lively music onboard The Village’s floating restaurant completed that wonderful lunch.
Dinner by the beach
Our second and final evening at Bellevue was an opportunity to enjoy seaside dining. Dinner by the beach was lovely, with some more local favorites being served alongside the resort’s signature drinks. I personally enjoyed the Nilarang na Pagi most, stingray cooked in coconut milk. There was a fire crackling just behind our table to complete the ambiance and with a karaoke setup for those who are talented or have had too much to drink, we really couldn’t have asked for a better evening out under the stars.
Short and sweet
Our short but sweet trip to Bellevue Resort Bohol left me wanting to come back for more. Bohol, I feel, is one of the best destinations for the family. And, as our short meeting with Gov. Edgar M. Chatto has proven, sustainable development and careful infrastructure planning benefits everyone involved, from the business sector, to the locals, to the environment. A personal observation I also had was that after visiting numerous tourist spots, I can’t seem to remember seeing the good governor’s name or face anywhere. It was such a welcome relief from how things are elsewhere in the country. It seems that in Bohol, actions speak much louder than tarps.
Three days are never enough to visit a place as interesting and enchanting as Bohol. I plan to be back soon, hopefully with family and friends so they, too, can experience what the Bellevue Resort and the whole province of Bohol has to offer.
