The Next Best Thing to an Island Adventure

On November 25, my friends and I would embark on our long-awaited trip to Islas de Gigantes to break the monotony of city life, as well as to get much needed tans. As fate would have it, Typhoon Marce seemed to have the same idea.  Our stay in the city had gotten extended as a result. And what do you do when you’ve travelled all the way to Iloilo City, only to be landlocked by a typhoon? You enjoy the luxury your hotel has to offer of course!

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo did not disappoint. Located in the heart of the city’s business park, this Megaworld development is an oasis in the midst of the bustling business district, perfect for a staycation, for entertaining clients, business partners and guests or just a break without going too far.

We arrived just after lunch and we were expertly attended to by well-trained staff and ushered to our rooms. Having been budget travelers for most of our twenties, the luxuries of a proper hotel was more than welcome to me and my friends. That first afternoon, we enjoyed lounging around the room, binge watching our favorite TV shows while it pours outside.  Just make sure you do not have any trust issues with your roommate, the shower’s modern design allows for whoever is in the bedroom to pull up the shade hiding the shower from view from inside the room. That made for really funny pranks while my roomie was taking a bath. She’s still talking to me, don’t worry (mostly because I didn’t actually pull up the shade. LOL). One thing I noticed though was the lack of bidet in the toilet, which was unusual for such a hotel. That didn’t mean that the bathrooms were any less stylish.

When the rain finally stopped, we decided to make the most of what was left of our day and head up to the pool. We got there just in time for sunset and the view was spectacular. We spent our time there either eating and drinking cocktails from the pool bar, or else soaking in the pool.

They eventually asked us to vacate the pool because it looked like another thunderstorm was coming and the pool closed early for safety reasons.

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By that time, we’ve had our fill of the pool and when the sun had finally set, we decided to head out for dinner in a dampa sort of place nearby that the hotel had suggested. That was the closest we ever got to the ocean that day and it was pleasant. They arranged for our cab ride and we were off to stuff ourselves with seafood. The food was good and the hotel was surprisingly easy to locate on our way back. Unfortunately, I enjoyed the food and ate too much so I was pretty much out for the night. My friends went out and because there was nothing I liked in the large selection of cable channels available, I busted out my trusty USB with my favorite movies and hooked it up to the TV.

My friends had an eventful night that I unfortunately missed out on, but hey, I maximized the use of the fluffy down pillows on my bed, so I’m not complaining! The next morning, I was up and about, ready for breakfast.  The selection was pretty good, with options for Filipino and foreign cuisines. I would say that the bacon was the best thing about that morning. Unlimited supply of the crispiest fried pork belly with eggs the way you like it is definitely the right way to start the day. Like most hotels, the breakfast buffet is gets busy so the earlier you go, the better.

Aside from the pool area, there are other amenities as well like the gym. I’m not the type to exercise on a vacation, but we decided to check the gym out anyway.

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After we’ve all had our fill, we decided to squeeze in a quick trip to Guimaras before our flight that evening. After all, it was the first time the sun came out that whole trip. It took most of the afternoon and we were confident we’d still make it to our flight because of the proximity of Richmond to the airport. After checking out, the staff accommodated our request to leave our bags with them while having dinner at one of the various restaurants fronting the hotel. We had our relaxed last meal in Iloilo in From Farm To Table at Megaworld Blvd. and just went straight to the airport right after.

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This trip, though full of surprises, was definitely one for the books. It wasn’t our usual escapade, but it did serve its purpose—to break the monotony of work life.  After all, the next best thing to an island adventure is glorious staycation.

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo is located at Megaworld Boulevard corner Enterprise Road, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines