In my second visit to the beautiful Bohol province, my friend and I were blessed to have stayed at one of the finest resorts in Panglao Island. Be Grand Resort truly lived up to its name – exquisite and modern, superior and elegant with just the right amount of laid-back charm.
Enjoying this view on a weekend! Here.🤗 #BEGrand #BEGrandResort #BEBohol #PonderingPaodaolei #themermaidwanders
‘BE Grand Resort sets in 2.9 hectares of land in the sun-drenched beach of Panglao Island, Bohol – home to the famous Chocolate Hills and one of the smallest primates, the Philippine Tarsier. The resort is just 40 minutes away from Tagbilaran Airport anf 35 minutes away from the city’s shopping and commercial district.’
Our Arrival
Our early arrival in Tagbilaran Airport didn’t hinder a nice welcome from this resort. After deplaning, we were greeted by Be Grand Resort’s staff with a welcome sign. We quickly saw it upon exiting the busy arrival hall. The shuttle was spacious, air-conditioned van. We were the only guests at that time.
The official check-in time was not until 2 PM. But it was a good thing that our room was already available during our arrival. After being warmly welcomed by the management, we were allowed to proceed to our room afterwards.Two of the resorts lovely managers met us and accompanied us for breakfast. After leaving our bags at the reception, we proceeded to the Food Hall and had a quick chat over a full meal.
Our Room
We were given a room with Two Queen Beds. The first thing I did was to sit down on the bed to check how soft it was. I wasn’t wrong because the beds were truly comfortable. The beds were soft, the pillows were large and plump while the comforter smelled really nice.
I remember my friend complaining how I should not yet ruin the sheets as we still need to take some shots. Haha! I laughed and asked for a sincere apology afterwards.
Our bathroom had a separate shower room and bath tub complete with complimentary toiletries. My friend and I had our own bathrobes and bedroom slippers too! There was a mini-fridge, free bottled water, coffee and tea. A welcome note from the hotel also added a more personal touch.
We had a few hours rest before we had our lunch again. After lunch, one of the resort managers, Ms. Karen, toured us around the resort premises. We were shown the other room categories, resort amenities and facilities as well as other dining venues.Accommodations
Guests of Be Grand Resort can choose staying between The Resort and The Villas. The Resort rooms are more apt for large groups while residing in The Villas are perfect for more private family or group affairs.
The Villas
Amenities
The resort has a huge gym filled with the latest equipment for the fitness buff while the swimming pools are the highlight of the resort. Guests can also relax after a long day of activities at the spa. If already tired doing water activities, children of all ages can go into the game room and have some fun.
There is a also a boutique shop filled with necessary items in case you might have forgotten to bring something. I even bought a lifebuoy during our stay. Other stuff on sale were swimwear, footwear and local souvenir items.
Gym
Game Room
Swimming Pool
It’s a beautiful day! Hello from Be Grand Resort, Panglao Island, Bohol! 😁 #BEGrand #BEGrandResort #BEBohol #PonderingPaodaolei #TheMermaidWanders
Dining Options
What is vacation without good food? Be Grand Resort made sure that guests will not run out of choices. Currently, there are five restaurants were guests can dine but each is different from the other.
Food Hall
The Food Hall is where buffet breakfast is being served and where most main meals are offered. Buffet Breakfast starts from 6 AM to 10 PM. It is located just beneath the reception floor, facing the main pool. There are indoor and outdoor tables too.
I liked the interior of the Food Hall as it reminded me of posh restaurants in downtown Makati.
Bridge
The Bridge offers mostly snacks and heavy meals as well. Dining is truly relaxing here as it has a wide view of the swimming area and the other side of the resort. I liked it here as it was in an open area. There was a romantic touch to it, specially at night. It was like dining on board a yacht.
The Boathouse
The Boathouse is a lovely semi-private restaurant built in the middle of The Villas. Guests from these accommodation can exclusively dine at The Boathouse while other guests can make prior reservations too. Guests can enjoy dishes created with farm-to-table fare.
This lovely dining facility can also be used as an events place perfect for intimate cocktail parties or intimate personal events.
Some of the dishes served during our dinnerClockwise from top:
Asian Stir Fried Beef w/ Mushrooms, Deep Fried Fish Fillet w/ Tartar Sauce,
Buttered Seasonal Vegetables, Home-style Fried Chicken w/ Sweet Chili Sauce
The Monkey Bar
Al-fresco dining on the waterfront serving light snacks and cool refreshments.Lune
The Lune is located at the rooftop of the main building housing the many resort rooms. It’s only downfall is it can’t be used when it rains, though there are some covered areas. You would have to wear warm clothing for protection during and windier colder nights. Nevertheless, this is the place for those wanting to have some peace and quiet. The bar exudes a romantic ambience, specially at night.
Resort Grounds
I was totally impressed with the resort grounds upon seeing it first hand. It was spacious and serene, manicured and lovely. I can say that the grounds’ layout have been well-planned. The resort’s aesthetics can delight even the most picky of guests.
The resort does not have a direct beach access but its many pools more than made up for it. I enjoyed swimming in the large pool. There was a pool for children, for adults and one exclusive for the resort’s diving classes. The pools near the villas are exclusive only for guests staying there. Alona Beach is just below ten minutes away by trike. We arranged to be picked up at the resort but we discovered that it was also within walking distance from the property. Maybe we can reach the beach after twenty to thirty minutes if we tried it.
The resort greatly recommends water activities. Activities like kayaking and snorkeling can be done right at the beach since the waters are said to be a marine sanctuary.
A stay in this resort will leave you breathless, awed and grateful. It not having an actual beach is compensated by the large complex, five-star amenities and activities offered. The resort is still young at less than two years. There are plans of expansion (i.e. convention center) which could make it a prime events destination. But as early as now, I am giving it an almost perfect grade. I hope to visit again someday.
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