Hehe, I can't help but be poetic. For our 8D/7N Cebu-Bohol trip, we stayed in 4 different hotels/resorts. And guess which one is my favorite? If you think Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort (as if it's not yet implied), you guessed correctly.
Booking
I learned about Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort in an online forum. When I tried to search for their website, it was down temporarily so I had to asked in the forum for their email address and contact number. I sent an email first to inquire but when I got no reply, I decided to reach them through their mobile number.
The person who answered my call was very polite and accommodating. She took my name, our stay dates and my preferred room, and told me that in order to reserve the room, I need to pay 100% of the total amount. She then sent me a text message with their bank account details.
After I made the deposit, I sent a copy of the deposit slip as proof of payment to the email address that she gave me (different from the one I got from the forum which probably explains why I did not receive any reply). Then, I called them up again to verify if they have received my email and to confirm our booking.
When an earthquake struck Bohol, we were unfazed because we know that Camotes Islands were not affected. But when the super typhoon Yolanda came, I became worried because we saw in the news the a lot of areas in Northern Cebu were badly hit. I learned that Camotes is near Ormoc City, one of the most affected provinces, and I wasn't sure how much damage did the island sustain and if it's still safe to push through with our trip.
I contacted Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort to ask about the condition of the resort. I actually called them up quite a few times because I was paranoid and I keep forgetting all the questions that my husband wanted to ask (he was paranoid, too). They informed me that the resort suffered only minor damages and will be fully operational within the week. The whole island has no electricity but they assured me that they have a genset and ample supply of food and water.
Our travel dates were getting near but we're still in two minds whether to go or not. I went as far as inquiring how to cancel our reservation and refund whatever amount we can refund. Even if the resort is okay, I wasn't sure what degree of destruction will greet us in Camotes Islands. But in the end, we decided to throw caution to the wind and have our vacation as planned.
And boy, I was so glad that we did.
Going to Camotes Islands from Cebu City
The island group of Camotes is located on the northern part of Cebu and can be reached by taking a ferry from Danao Port in mainland Cebu to Consuelo Port in Camotes. From our hotel in Cebu City, we boarded a taxi to North City Terminal, where we can take a ride to Danao Port. We had two transportation options: a bus and a van. A dispatcher convinced us that taking the van is faster and more comfortable. Not sure if that's true but we decided to bank on it as we want to get to Danao Port before 10 a.m. Ferry schedules are limited, and after 10 a.m., the next ferry will depart at 2:00 p.m.
Fare is P60/person and we paid for one extra seat for our luggage. The van left the terminal at 8:00 a.m. and estimated travel time from there to Danao Port is 1.5 hours. Along the way, the driver was still picking up passengers. Good thing that he only needed 2 more to fill the van.
We arrived at Danao Port at 15 minutes before 10 a.m. and rushed to the ticket booth to buy tickets, only to find out that there's a delay in the schedule. The 10 a.m. ferry will depart at 11:30 a.m. instead. At around 11:00 a.m., we were told to board the seacraft and finally, we left for Consuelo Port as scheduled. Travel time is 2 hours.
Pick-up and Check-in
Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort provides free resort transfers to all their guests as long as they take the Jomalia Shipping Lines (kind of an x-deal I suppose). Fare is P180 (all seats were non-aircon as the aircon was not working). When we left Danao Port, I sent a text message to Mangodlong Paradise, informing them that we are on board Jomalia as well as the time of our departure.
Upon reaching Camotes Islands, we were delighted to see no visible signs of destruction in the area. Even the coconut trees were intact and you wouldn't be able to tell that a powerful storm has just passed. It's as if Yolanda didn't leave any "stormprints" here. We disembarked from the ferry and a few meters away, I saw a guy holding a board with my name. Our resort pick-up was there already. I introduced myself and he helped us load our luggage to the service van.
They were still waiting for another guest, who was supposedly on the same trip with us, but either she wasn't there or they didn't find her. Anyway, Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort is 5-10 minutes away from the port. As they drove us to the resort, we were offered a short glimpse to the life in the island: provincial, laid-back, exactly the kind of environment that you need when you want to escape from your hush and stressful daily life.
When we reach the resort, 2 glasses of mango juice were waiting for us, along with smiling front desk staff. They asked for the deposit slip (so better not forget that) and informed us that although the resort has a genset, they have 2 brownout schedules, one at 3-5 a.m. and the other at 3-5 p.m. But they said water supply is not affected by the brownouts. Then they gave us our key and ushered us to our room.
The Room
We got a standard room (P2,500/night) and they led to us one that's located a few steps away from the reception area. It's spacious enough for 2 persons, and equipped with a 32-inch cable TV, aircon, mini bar and ref, bed lights and side tables, phone and adequate closet space. I also noticed that instead of plain paint, they used wallpaper on the wall which lent a nice and classy touch to the room.
I also like how our bed was made and it was very comfortable. Aircon was working okay, although it's a little noisy. We don't have a good view outside the window (it's beside the staff's quarter), but that's okay as we know standard rooms don't offer any view at all.
The cable channels are limited, but I guess you can blame it on the remoteness of the island. The TV was missing a socket adaptor though. We asked for this but the staff didn't come back with one. Good thing our camera charger has an adaptor and that's what we used to plug the TV.
They don't have internet, Wi-Fi or LAN, in the resort but cellphone signal is strong and I was able to call back home. Sometimes, my phone receives a 3G signal but it's too weak and spotty.
The bathroom is very clean, albeit small. The shower doesn't have a heater, or maybe they just turned it off to conserve precious electricity. But they have plenty of towels and of course, toiletries.
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| Clean T&B |
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| Generic toiletries (but they smell good) |
The Resort's Amenities
While our room may look simple compared to the other rooms we've stayed in during this trip, it was Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort's facilities that really won me over. The resort was modest with only 28 rooms and cabanas, but the way it was landscaped and how these modern-looking structures was laid out to blend with nature was really beautiful.
The lobby/reception area was rather small and unassuming but when you take a look inside, especially in the infinity pool area and the beach, there you will find the paradise. I'll let these pictures do the talking.
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| Coconut trees left standing after Yolanda |
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The only thing that was damaged at the resort was this dock made of rock (hey, that rhymes). This used to be longer, based on what I've seen on pictures taken before the storm. During our first day, a back hoe was hauling rocks from the ocean.
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| There was a wedding when we were there |
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| Seaside Bar |
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| View from the Seaside Bar |
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| Not part of the resort so we couldn't go there, but it's a pretty sight |
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| The view from the resort offers an amazing sunset. Too bad, the sun was hiding behind the clouds. |
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| Lighted dock |
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| The infinity pool turns magical at night |
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The Food
We thought the foods served at their Bamboo Restaurant were good enough, but not really something that stood out. The serving size is big and very filling though, and the prices are reasonable (in the P150-P300 range).
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| Cream Dory-Salmon Fish Fillet in Turmeric Cream Sauce |
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| My hoard from the breakfast buffet |
Service
All smiles, courteous, accommodating - these describe the kind of service we received from the resort's staff.
Like what I said above, there was a wedding when we were there, and both ceremony and reception were held in the resort. I was worried because the place doesn't look big enough to accommodate the wedding guests and still be able to provide privacy and tranquility to the hotel guests.
The staff assured us all areas are still accessible to hotel guests, except of course those where the wedding will be held. Nevertheless, we chose to stay inside our room while the ceremony was going on. We ordered pizza for lunch and had it served in our room so we can eat while watching TV.
Because our room was on the opposite side where the reception was held, it was relatively peaceful despite the speakers blaring loud music outside. But I couldn't say the same for those billeted near the area of the wedding.
When we dined in the Bamboo Restaurant at the same time the program was happening, I could say it was pretty noisy. But we're okay with it and we understood that weddings are typical festive. Service at the restaurant wasn't affected, except for the limited tables and chairs because most were used in the reception.
Check-out
After Camotes Islands, our next destination was Bohol and we had to be in Cebu City Pier 1 an hour before our 2 p.m. ferry schedule to Bohol. I thought that Jomalia Shipping has a 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. trip back to Danao, which will give us ample travel time. But I was wrong and found out that our only choices were the 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. schedule. The 9:00 a.m. schedule would be too tight for us, so we opted for the 5:30 a.m, despite it being too early.
But then there's another challenge. Because they turn off the genset every 3-5 a.m., this means we needed to take a bath and pack our bags way earlier, while there's still electricity. I was planning to do it at night but fell asleep so I woke up at 1 a.m. (D woke up an hour later). Then we just went back to sleep when electricity went out.
The front desk staff had already informed the guard and the driver that we'll be checking out at 4:30 a.m. so we just had to get out of our room. It was a good thing that our room was just a few steps away from the reception area. I could imagine how hard it would be to walk in the dark if we were staying farther.
When we got to Consuelo Port, the driver assisted us in buying the tickets and even carried our bags for us. The ferry left at exactly 5:30 a.m. Inside the ferry, we chose the recliner seat so we can catch a short nap during our 2-hour trip.
The Verdict
The reason why Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort is my favorite among the hotels and resorts we've stayed in on this trip is because it's a stunning beach property that's relatively cheaper and provides great service and outstanding sceneries. I really enjoyed swimming and frolicking in their infinity pool, and taking in the expansive and unobstructed view of the sea and the sky. I was smitten by the landscape - the manicured beach, the well-kept grass and palm trees, the sand pathways - as well as the small details and minor touches that created a relaxing atmosphere in the resort. It's not a luxury resort, but it felt like one to me.
And one of my regret is that we didn't stay longer. But I promise to go back and stay at Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort again.
Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort
Web: http://mangodlongparadiseresort.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mangodlongparadisebeachresort
Email: info@mangodlongparadiseresort.com
Phone: +63 32 328 0500
+63 939 921 6835
