Hotel Review ~ Fort Ilocandia Resort (FIR)

From Paradores de Vigan we transferred to our hotel in Laoag,   Fort Ilocandia Resort (FIR) our accommodation for 2 nights as we toured Ilocos Province. 

FIR was built to house wedding guests of then President Marcos, Irene Marcos with Greggy Araneta. 

The hotel complex is huge. It is the biggest and most luxurious resort in the Ilocos Province.  It consists of 5 buildings of Spanish colonial architecture. The fact that the resort overlooks the West Philippine Sea adds to its beauty.

FIR now shows signs of aging, but it is still grand and its charm still remains.  Being there makes me visualize how majestic FIR must have been during its prime.

Activities inside FIR includes a mini zoo and adult/children pools, for an extra free guests can do ATV rides, basketball, tennis, various water activities such as fishing, jetski, kayaking and boating. There are so many things to keep you busy (sorry though as the casino is now closed).  

We booked 4 standard rooms.  During booking, I specifically requested for adjoining family room with my children, but were disappointed at check-in.  Reception was apologetic though, but the adjacent room set up made packing/unpacking, tending the kids difficult.

The rooms were nicely sized and each room with its own veranda.  Our room overlooking the garden/pool. 

 

The rooms were clean, although aging quite apparent.  
The bathroom fixtures also needs upgrading.  

My mom also complained that the hairdryer wasn't working and only one electric outlet was working.  Other than that, everything went well.  

Breakfast for our 2 days stay were buffet set up at Café Ilocandia.  Spread was just okay, but the service was very good.

Our New Year's dinner at Café Ilocandia though was great!

Sharing here some family photos, we took before leaving FIR:

For booking inquiries, you can 

Call FIR at: (+6377) 670-9001or 

Email: booking@fortilocandia.com.ph

Hotel Review ~ Paradores de Vigan

Looking for an accommodation in Historic Vigan is not easy, not because there is a lack of it, but because there are so many options to choose from.

During our first visit to Vigan, we stayed at Hotel Felicidad.
However, this time we wanted to try other hotels and ended up choosing Paradores de Vigan.  

Check the link below to read about our stay at Hotel Felicidad
>>>Hotel Felicidad Hotel Review

Paradores de Vigan is actually classified as a condotel.  Rooms range from 35 to 86 sqm in size and are classified into standard, deluxe, superior, grand superior and family suites, with separate living areas, kitchens and dining rooms.

Paradores is located less than 10 minutes walk away the busy Calle Crisologo,  which is perfect, if you want a place to relax and unwind in this historic city.  

We booked a Superior Quadruple Room.

 The room came with 2 double beds and a sofa bed, which can comfortably sleep 6 pax.

The beds are comfortable with crisp and clean linen ~ guaranteed for a good night sleep.

There is a working kitchen.  The place is perfect for families who would like to save a bit by cooking.  Coincidentally the Vigan Market is just a few blocks (500 meters) away Paradores de Vigan.

The place is spic and span.

The bonus ~ a balcony; It would have been better though if it overlooks one of Vigan's historic sites.

Our package came with plated breakfast for 4.  It was not buffet, but it was ample and filling.

Lovely stay ~ the staff were extra friendly.  We felt so at home.

Paradores de Vigan is located at the

Vivere Condominium
Gov. A Reyes Street corner Abaya Street
Vigan, Ilocos Sur 2700

For booking inquiries please visit their website directly

Paradores de Vigan

(0917) 320-0933 | (0999) 229-5430

paradoresdevigan@yahoo.com

============

Interested in Ilocos?
Check out my post of our recent Ilocos Tour here:

Day 1 ~ Vigan
Day 2 ~ Laoag
Day 3 ~ Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpod

Day 3 ~ Journey to the Edge of Ilocos

Day 3 started at 8am,  our tour guide Raymond met us at the Fort Ilocandia Resort (FIR).  Raymond has been quite helpful in ensuring we get the most of our trip in Ilocos with the limited time we have.   

If you are looking for a tour guide, this guy got us covered. You can contact him via mobile ~ 0926-2589397.

Raymond our tour guide, turned friend.

TIP: For this leg of the Ilocos Tour, don't forget to bring a jacket, especially if you are travelling on a "ber" month as it gets quite cold.

Our first stop from FIR is the rustic town of Burgos, where the Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation and the Cape Bodeajor Lighthouse are located.


Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation
The name came from the Ilocano word "puraw", which translates to "white" ~ the color of the various rock formation seen in the area. 

This windmill is part of a new batch of windmills installed in Burgos (visible to the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation attraction), the original ones are located in Bangui.

Cape Bodeajor Lighthouse 
The lighthouse was first lit in 1892 and is still in service to date (talk about 126 of history).  This lighthouse is in fact a National Historical Landmark. 

The 66ft tall lighthouse overlooks South China Sea.  

TIP: Do not hesitate to ask the resident tour guide to take your photos.  They take real good souvenir pictures.  Tipping is not necessary, but such good job deserves something.


Bangui Wind Farm
The wind farm has 20 units of 230ft high windmills which stretched along the shoreline of Bangui bay, facing West Philippine Sea.  

Our tour guide brought us to Amian Café which has a perfect view of the famed wind farm.  Food was just okay, but the view makes up for everything!

From Bangui, we headed to Patapat Viaduct. It is a concrete bridge 1.3 kilometers long connecting Ilocos Region to Cagayan Valley.  Unfortunately, it started to rain a bit so we only manage to get very few photos.  

No gloomy weather can dampen our sunshiny spirit!   

Our last stop is the Blue Lagoon ~ unfortunately the waves were rough and so the kids did not get to hostage the beach.  Sand was fine and comparable to Boracay, but not as white.  

TIP: Hannah's Beach Resort restaurant would be a nice stop over, before heading back to Laoag or Vigan. It is located right in front of the Blue Lagoon.   They have very good coffee, perfect for the cold weather.  

Our tired bodies now calls for some rests ~  Day 3 of Ilocos Tour ends here.  It would take another 2 hours to go back to FIR.

If you missed our Day 1 and Day 2 post of our Ilocos Adventure,  you may click the links below:

Day 1 ~ Vigan

Day 2 ~ Laoag

Day 2 ~ Finally reached Laoag after 5 years planning

Day 2 ~ LAOAG

Raymond our tour guide met us at the Paradores de Vigan lobby.  

Our first stop before leaving Vigan is Bantay Church and Bell Tower.  Our timing was perfect since it was a Sunday and we were just in time for mass (It was in Ilocano though, but it was okay). 

Laoag is about 2 hours away from Vigan.  

First stop was the Juan Luna Shrine. 

Next was Paoay Church

TIP: 

• They sell rosaries, chaplets, etc. inside the church.  Buy one and have it blessed.

Lunch at Herencia Café located just across Paoay Church. The restaurant like Hidden Garden in Vigan serves local Ilocano dishes.  It's specialty includes pinakbet pizza, but were were too scared to even try.  We did settle for longanisa pizza.

We ordered 2 each of Herencia's Longaniza and Hawaiian Pizza;  Sinigang na Malaga (must order) and the staple Longaniza and Poqui-Poqui.

TIPS: 

• Given the location, there could be a queue of restaurant diners especially during peak hours.  Our tour guide Raymond, suggested we get a number and pre-order our food before visiting Paoay Church.


• I have previously recommended on getting a local guide to help you in your tour. We hired Raymond who was really helpful in making the most of our trip to Ilocos Norte.  You can contact him via mobile number 0926-2589397.


• Buy your "pasalubong" cornick from one of the stores  just outside Herencia Restaurant. Three (3) medium sized packs priced at P100. Price is the same as in Vigan, but there seems to be more choices of flavors here.

From Paoay Church we went to the Marcos Museum, where the remains of Former President Marcos used to be located, until was transferred to the Libingan ng mga Bayani in 2016. 

TIP:  

• There is very little to see here. If you are time pressed, I think you may skip this one.


• Try the Ilocano local ice cream.  Try the dragon fruit flavored ice cream. There are a number of ice cream vendors in the vicinity Marcos Museum.


• Check the nearby Riverside Empanadahan; Unfortunately we were still to full from our lunch at Herencia Restaurant, there is just no space for an empanada ~ no matter how delicious.

Not to be missed is the Paoay Sand Dunes.  Don't ever think of leaving Ilocos Norte without riding Paoay's star attraction.  

Cost per 4x4 vehicle, which can accommodate 5 pax is only P2500.  You get a roughly 30 minutes 4x4 Sand Dunes extreme adventure and an unlimited Sand boarding experience.

As it was still early, we were able to squeeze in the Malacañang of the North into our itinerary.  This is were the Marcoses stay whenever they are in Ilocos.  The mansion is obviously grand, and must have been more grandiose during the Marcos reign!  Just imagine a palatial mansion overlooking the panoramic Paoay lake.

Tired from our earlier extreme sand dune adventure, we had to wrap our tour of the Malacañang of the North early to check-in at Fort Ilocandia, our home for 2 nights while in Ilocos Norte (Clink here to check out my post on Fort Ilocandia Resort).

Day 2 Complete, Day 3 targets Pagudpod ~ 

Please follow our Tour of Ilocos Norte 

If you missed our Day 1 in Ilocos ~ please follow the link below:

Day 1 - Vigan

Check also our Day 3 touring Ilocos Province ~ 

Day 3 ~ Pagudpod