Luxury and Nature Intertwine at Amorita Resort Bohol
Amorita Resort in Panglao, Bohol is one of the most talked about luxury resorts here in the Philippines. I often see colorful pictures of this place in magazines or travel blogs, but since I don’t travel to Bohol quite often as compared to Boracay, I wasn’t sure if I would be able visit it at all. So when I was invited to attend the recent Air Asia Santan Launch in Amorita Resort itself (Read: Air Asia Santan Offers Gourmet Meals in the Sky), I grabbed the opportunity and was left in awe of this majestic resort.
Amorita Resort is a tranquil seaside retreat perched atop a limestone cliff on the southern edge of Bohol’s Panglao Island. Tourists and locals usually flock to Panglao because of its unspoiled beauty featuring limestones, shimmering blue waters, pristine white sand, and lush tracts of greenery. While there are numerous resorts that have opened along the popular Alona Beach, the area still retains its natural allure, which is probably a throwback of Boracay as it was 10 to 15 years ago. The magazine photos did not lie, because Amorita Resort is even more impressive in person.
We were picked up from the Tagbilaran Airport after our early morning flight courtesy of Air Asia. The ride from Manila to Bohol took one hour and thirty minutes and the shuttle ride to Panglao another thirty minutes. Amorita Resort is managed by the boutique hotel group One-Of Collection, which is also in charge of Momo Beach Club in Panglao, and two other resorts in Dumaguete and Palawan.
Amorita Resort integrates key elements of the surrounding environment to create a distinct island ambience and organic modern aesthetic. Luxury intertwines with nature as guests enjoy all the amenities and services the resort has to offer. Amorita actually means “little darling” and this boutique resort has that sophisticated charm that makes it one of the best hideaways in Bohol. It was recently awarded by Conde Nast Johansens Excellence Awards 2017 as Best in Service, while also being a regular Traveller’s Choice Awardee for Trip Advisor.
The resort has two infinity pools with stunning cliff-side views of the Bohol sea, one in front of the lobby and another near Saffron restaurant. The Cliff Deck has lounge chairs to enjoy spectacular sunset views over Alona Beach, which is just a stone’s throw away from the resort.
We checked in to our Junior Suite which can be found on the garden floor. My roommate for the trip was Yedy of Yedylicious.com, one of my fellow KTG food bloggers who joined the activity. The Junior Suite has 40 square meters of comfortable space. The interiors are minimalist but with a combination of different textures.
The suite comes with either 1 king bed or 2 double beds. I love the wooden and cement fixtures blending together with the lush greenery and natural surroundings. The design looks Asian-inspired with a wooden divider seperating the beds and bathroom. You can definitely spend idle days here and come out with a refreshed and renewed spirit.
Aside from the flat-screen cable TV and Loudbasstard sound amplifier, the room also provides a hair dryer, in-room safe, and complimentary WiFi. Rainfall shower and eco-friendly bath amenities like organic soap and shampoo are also part of its charming setting.
We were welcomed with a delicious set of fresh fruit juices and canapes inside our room which is just part of their complimentary mini bar. They also have turndown service and chocolates that will make your night even sweeter. I love all these little extras that really make vacations more enjoyable.
The Junior Suites that are located on the ground floor have their own mini patio and garden entrance seperate from the main door. This makes it very accesible going to the restaurant and beach, plus it offers a tranquil view of the garden. The suites on the higher floors, on the other hand, have a day bed and veranda.
For those that want more space, the One Bedroom Suite could be a better option. This luxurious suite has a generous 80 square meters with 1 king bed and a spacious bathroom with bath tub. It also has 2 day beds at its elegant living room which double as extra beds for 2 additional guests, plus a dining area to enjoy room service meals. Aside from the complimentary minibar, you can also find a Nespresso machine for those quick coffee fixes. A private balcony overlooks the resort’s lush tropical landscape.
But the best places to stay at Amorita Resort are their luxurious villas. The Garden Villa comes with a huge 120 square meters which includes a king-sized bed and all the amenities and creature comforts you can find in the other suites.
You can spend time relaxing inside the gorgeous marble bathroom, but the highlight of the Garden Villa is its own plunge pool and patio in the garden area. Now this is what a luxury vacation should be. Guests can wake up in the morning and head straight to the pool even before breakfast.
They also offer the Ocean Villa which is similar to the Garden Villa but with its plunge pool and patio overlooking the breathtaking Bohol Sea.
Amorita Resort offers a couple of dining options that will make any foodie happy. Saffron Restaurant is their all-day dining cafe inspired by the seasons and specialties in Bohol. It offers a thoughtful reinterpretation of Boholano heritage cuisine, alongside a wide range of Continental and Filipino favorites.
Saffron’s al fresco dining areas faces one of the resort’s picturesque infinity pools. This is also where breakfast buffet is served for guests, which starts at 6:00am and ends at 10:00am.
They have a delicious selection of cheeses, hams, breads, and pastries together with breakfast staples such as bacon, eggs, and garlic rice.
A la carte options are also available for lunch and dinner featuring local and Asian dishes.
The dinner buffet at Saffron restaurant is highly recommended, especially after a tiring and adventurous afternoon. One of my favorite items was the Twice Cooked Pork Belly with its meaty and flavorful pork.
There are many other savory dishes at the dinner buffet including Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls, Vegetable Tempura, Chicken Pandan, Beef Bulgogi, and Gambas.
The restaurant even offers my favorite dessert, Chocolate Mousse! My foodie friends know how fond I am of this sweet treat and I always finish a lot of them, even before I am done with my main courses. Saffron also has an excellent selection of wines, signature cocktails, and gourmet beverages to pair with their buffets.
Guests and families can spend the entire day at Amorita Resort and never run out of fun activities. Children can enjoy spending time at the playground or have a round of foozball in the play area. Sea Explorers, their in-house PADI dive center, offers open-water and advanced diving certification courses, as well as dive tours to licensed scuba-divers. Amorita Resort’s Sea Tree Spa offers an exclusive range of treatments from authentic Filipino massage therapies to rejuvenating Asian healing rituals. Complimentary Yoga sessions are also offered at 7:00am every Tuesday and Saturday, while guests can also use the gym with treadmill, stationary bikes, cross trainer and weights.
The cliffside resort’s best feature is probably its proximity to Alona Beach, which can be accessed with just a few steps down the pathway. This public beach is where most of the locals and tourists gather for water sports and activities like kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding. These activities are complimentary for Amorita Resort guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
For those who want a little more privacy, they can go to Amorita Resort’s own Secret Beach which is hidden away from the public eye. This private beach cove lets guests enjoy the waters of Bohol in a more serene and calm environment. Guests can also snorkel at the resort’s own marine sanctuary just a few meters away from the beach, which is also a great place for underwater photography. Otherwise, a side trip to Momo Beach House, Amorita’s chill sister beach resort, is also an option.
If you are looking for a little more excitement and energy, head over to Tomar Tapas x Bar located just above Saffron Restaurant. It offers classic tapas, paellas and pintxos that has been a staple of Spanish cuisine and gives it both a local and modern touch.
During one of our nights at Amorita Resort, we drank and dined at Tomar Tapas x Bar and enjoyed their selection of tapas. Some of the favorites were the Chorizo a la Vino (P250) which is cooked in wine, and the Patatas Bravas (P150), a bestseller with its deep fried potato and spicy tomato aioli.
The Paella Negra (P650) was a crowd pleaser with its shrimp, calamari, scallop and aioli topped on a mean-looking paella plate. We also tried the Paella Valenciana (P680) which is a more familiar type of paella with chicken, pork, tenderloin, chorizo, bilbao, sofrito and saffron.
Other delectable items included the Gambas (P220) with its garlic sauteed prawns with paprika and olive oil. The Chopitos (P150) were also a big hit with its batter fried baby squid, and the churros was also a great item to have on the dinner table with its chocolate sauce.
But the best way to spend the evening at Tomar is with rounds and rounds of cocktails and their carefully curated wine and whiskey selections from around the globe. We had a fabulous time drinking Sangria amidst the lovely ambiance of the resort.
I would like to thank Philipines Air Asia and Amorita Resort for organizing and providing this memorable experience in Bohol. It seemed like two nights were not enough, and I am already planning a return trip sometime soon so I can enjoy staying at their luxurious Garden Villa. So if you are thinking of going to Bohol, Amorita Resort should definitely be on the top of your travel list.
Amorita Resort
1 Ester A. Lim Drive, Barangay Tawala, Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol
If there’s one place you would not expect to find gourmet cuisine, it’s probably when you’re thousands of feet up in the air inside a pressurised cabin. Airplane travel usually comes with bland and uninspiring meals that are not what you might call Instagram-worthy food. But Air Asia is changing the way we eat and travel because you will find a delightful lineup of Asean flavours to choose form with their newest Santan in-flight menu.
The Hungry Kat was invited to the launch of Air Asia’s newest Santan in-flight menu and catalogue over at the breathtaking Amorita Resort in Panglao, Bohol. It was a chance for me to try these hot gourmet meals that Air Asia is offering to all its guests at very affordable prices. What’s a better way of experiencing it than during a real Air Asia flight to Tagbilaran, Bohol last July 12, 2017 where members of the media gathered to witness the unveiling of a new signature item that is now available on all Air Asia flights, the Chicken Lasagne. Of course, being able to visit a world-class location like Amorita Resort definitely makes traveling much more enjoyable.
Air Asia flies to Bohol three times daily as part of their partnership with the Provincial Government of Bohol to promote it as a premiere tourist destination not just for local travelers, but for the entire ASEAN region as well. (Read about Behold...Bohol here). We checked in for our early morning flight to Tagbilaran at the NAIA terminal 4. This is just my second time to fly on Air Asia, having flown to Davao earlier this year, but this was the first time for me to have one of their hot in-flight meals. The best selling Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice is a Hainanese Chicken Rice with roast chicken and Uncle Chin’s secret chilli, ginger and garlic sauce. I couldn’t believe that this was airplane food because it was so good! The quality is similar to what I had at Singapore hawkers or food courts and for only P150, it is really such a great deal. No need to pay for overpriced meals or cup noodles because Air Asia lets everyone enjoy their gourmet meals in the sky at affordable prices.
AirAsia unveiled its latest in-flight offerings featuring the best of Asean flavours, savory snacks, healthy food selections, beverages, and special merchandise at a press event held in Bohol in partnership with Amorita Resort (Read: Luxury and Nature Intertwine at Amorita Resort Bohol). The guests took part in a small food tasting event with the gorgeous waters of Panglao Island in the backdrop. How can anyone beat an event like that?
Air Asia Philippines’ Head of Ancillary Karlo Sanchez opened the activities during the Santan in-flight menu and catalogue launch. “We are delighted to offer variety and only the best meals from across the Asean region including our very own Filipino Adobo. These hotmeals are available on all AirAsia flights across our extensive network in the whole of Asean, extending as far as India, China, Australia, Japan and United States,” he said.
Air Asia has been voted as the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for nine straight years. They also recently won the World's Leading Inflight Service title at the World Travel Awards Grand Finals in December 2016, and was also honoured with the Catering Innovation of the Year award by Onboard Hospitality. “Gourmet experience onboard doesn’t have to be expensive, and as an added value for our guests, we are keeping our pricing at affordable levels and at the same time maintaining the high quality and flavour of all our meals,” Sanchez added.
Air Asia offers a wide variety of meal options to suit all of their onboard guests. For those that are only looking for a light snack, they can get the Vegetarian Sandwich (P150) or the Chicken Deluxe Sandwich (P130). These provide quick but satisfying meals that you can enjoy while reading the papers or finishing some work during the flight.
The lovely cabin crew of Air Asia then rolled out their in-flight all-day dining Santan menu feauturing the best of Asean flavors. These are cuisines and tastes that we know so well so it’s very easy to fall in love with these affordable gourmet meals. I was able to try all these different dishes myself and they were all wonderful!
Santan is known as coconut milk or “gata,” an ingredient that is very familiar to the Filipino cuisine and palate. This liquid that comes from grated coconut flesh is widely used in various cooking styles in Southeast Asia because of its rich flavor and even offers health benefits. Air Asia uses Santan as one of the core ingredients of its delicious meals served onboard their flights.
The newest member of the Air Asia Santan menu is the Chicken Lasagne. This flavorful pasta dish is a tantalizing blend of classic creamy cheese and chicken with assorted vegetables combining for a refreshing taste. The Santan gives it a creamier texture and an outstanding taste. I happily finished my entire Chicken Lasagne and it was a generous serving, enough to satisfy my ferocious appetite.
I also like how they also included a side of vegetables to make it an even healthier meal. These are not the soggy bland vegetables I often encounter during my flights and travels.
Among the other featured signature dishes of Air Asia’s Santan menu is the Thai Green Curry with Rice, an aromatic chicken curry infused with authentic Thai spices then served with fragrant white rice. This is a restaurant-quality curry and I am really surprised at how Air Asia is changing the game when it comes to offering gourmet-level dishes to the average traveler.
The Spicy Beef Bulgogi with Japchae is a popular Korean dish that is available for your in-flight meal with Air Asia. Thin glass noodles are seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil then combined with beef bulgogi and served with aromatic rice. Korean drama lovers would be pleased to have this spicy dish on their tables while watching the latest episodes on their mobiles.
Another Southeast Asian favorite is Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak from Malaysia. This is treated as a national dish with rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves. It is then served with chicken rendang, fried anchovies, crunchy ground nuts, and hard-boiled egg with Pak Nasser’s chilli sambal sauce. This is definitely a complete meal to power up oneself for the day’s activities.
Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice remains to be the most popular item on the Santan menu but guests can also have the Philippine’s very own Chicken Adobo for those who prefer Filipino food. All these hot gourmet meals are priced at only P150 each. Combo meals with a choice of drinks are priced at P180 which guests can also pre-book online to ensure their availability. I only used to see appetizing cuisine whenever I travel business class, but now everybody has a chance to savour restaurant quality meals with these affordable sets.
Desserts and sweets are also part of the Santan in-flight menu to end your meals on a happy note. Guests can order the Red Velvet Cake (P120) or have a bite of their Chocolate Meringue (P100) and Chocolate Chip Cookies (P90). These are great items to have when traveling with children so that they have something to nibble on during long flights.
Aside from the gastronomic options available onboard Air Asia, guests can also while away the time by doing a little shopping with the Santan in-flight catalogue. There are so many cute and handy items you can purchase like a pair of Sunnies sunglasses to wear at the beach or a travel protection set if you forgot to bring your sunblock.
Other essential travel items are also available like dry bags, tumblers, ballpens, and even charging cables for those last-minute shopping needs. These items are priced reasonably unlike other airlines where it is so difficult to purchase anything from their in-flight catalogues. The family can also bring home souvenirs from their flight like the adorable AirAsia Bear Gift Set (P750) or the Air Asia Red Cap (P349) and Air Asia Polo Shirt (P630).
Air Asia continues to redefine the way people travel by raising the bar and giving everyone the chance to fly at affordable rates. We were served the Chicken Lasagne on our flight back to Manila and it was again a delightful and satisfying meal. But before that, our group had two whole days to enjoy the sandy beaches of Panglao and the fantastic amenities of Amorita Resort and its sister tourist spot, Momo Beach House. More on that on my next blog.
Get a complimentary bottle of wine and sweets if you book an Ocean Villa at #AmoritaResort. You also have a chic private pool and a spacious bed. Perfect for honeymooners, really. #AmoritaResort #littledarling #loveamorita (at Amorita Resort)
The elegant Junior Suite of #AmoritaResort Book this room at the International Travel Festival in Ayala Center Cebu this coming July 14-16. Discounts are up to 40%. #LittleDarling #loveamorita #itf (at Amorita Resort)
Luxurious villas, vast pool areas, sumptuous dining, elegant rooms, fascinating landscapes, and the one of a kind customer service helped @amoritaresortbohol to land at the top of Conde Nast Johansens selections #AmoritaResort #LittleDarling #LoveAmorita (at Amorita Resort)
