Blue Ocean Bohol Beachfront Resort

Time's up! It's going home time, so time to describe where I stayed during this trip, that you have been reading for the past five or six of my blog stories. And this is the Blue Ocean Bohol Beachfront Resort!

My best find in all of Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol. My criteria this time was not luxury and/or trivial amenities (it does not even have a restaurant), but, a resort that's 'really' on the white sand beach and a room with a real view of the sand and the sea, that faces and catches the actual breeze from there!

I will readily tell you, there is actually no other such resort in the entire strip of Alona Beach.

Of course anyone can contest everything I said above (especially all other resorts on the strip heheh). But just casually looking at this resort from the water's edge, you will readily understand what I mean.

When I say this resort was my best find, it does not automatically mean this will be good for everyone going to Alona Beach. Look at the picture again. THAT is the whole resort - no pool, no function areas, no restaurant. Just 4 rooms each on ground and second levels and that attic which (I think) is a suite.

That said, please read on and see pictures below if this resort is for you!

The "two ways" to the resort is a bit tricky. Something that I might consider for an upcoming 'amazing race' style adventure game! What the public generally knows is different from what the resort staff do!

If you asked the resort to fetch you from the airport (I did), you will be driven to an area behind (above) the resort [which is another resort], where you walk down some concrete steps, and voila, Blue Ocean!

The route enters a narrow desolate road that taxi drivers don't know. It is not even on googlemaps yet!

Then the vehicle reaches a dead-end with a cleared unpaved open space that is the "parking area".

Everything you see in that photo is part of a budget-friendly resort with huts made of native materials.

Out of the car, I looked to where we came from - the narrow road where the red arrow comes from.

Yes you guessed it, at this point I was apprehensive as to what on earth have I gotten my self into! As you can see, there's nothing online about Blue Ocean Bohol Resort that has semblance to these, right?

But about 8 or 10 steps from where the vehicle stopped, this was what I saw..,

The house at left is the resort (yes, Blue Ocean Bohol) viewed from a higher ground behind it! At right and the stairs going down is not that of Blue Ocean hehe.., it is of their neighbor, a rest house, that as of this visit, was unoccupied - kakamatay lang daw ng owner. Du! But yes, the public may pass there!

The real way to Blue Ocean is after the green bamboo fence!

Here here, as the driver led me down to the resort proper via their own concrete stairway.

It was only at this point that I started breathing normally hahaha. I silently screamed "haaay salamat"!

That little hut with a water dispenser and refrigerator? Ah, that's the "front office" which is also the bar which is also where breakfast is cooked. Nothing fancy, just one homely, almost rustic reception area.

Across that bar/counter/reception desk is this well maintained grassy "front yard" of the resort.

Where I stood to take that photo are two round monobloc tables that serves as the dining/snack area.

And the beach is already right there. I of course immediately stepped unto it, and saw this..,

Isn't she lovely?! And as I mentioned earlier, that's the totality of Blue Ocean Bohol Beachfront Resort! Reminiscent of the big old western-style farm (beach) vacation houses of the influential and affluent!

I also said earlier, all 9 rooms face this beach and the sea - so no room without a wonderful view. The way up to second floor is a stairs at that right edge of the building - that first room up there was mine.

Come let us go there!

Entering the room, this was what greeted me - a spacious 'nothing fancy' kind of accommodation.

French windows to maximize the views, heavy-wood furniture, with AC and one cute electric desk fan!

I smiled realizing that that table on the side, acting as if it were a 'dresser' or a work desk, is actually a full and real dining table - with a matching long bench! And, I learned all rooms have the same "table"! I wonder until now, how they brought those heavy tables to all the rooms, especially the attic. Bug-ata!

Even that innocent-looking footrest by the bed is so heavy I wasn't able to lift it any bit!

The bed, oh the bed! A double or a queen? It's also made of the same heavy wood with soft mattress.

But it kind of looks small in pictures, because of that "sofa" thing on the side which is almost as wide!

From the bed, this is how the simple, no-frills "front" of the room looks like..,

I really liked looking at that table, and I was giggly joking in my mind, saying "isa kang impostor, dining table ka, pang-banquet ka, why are you in my room" heheh! It is actually about the size of a single bed!

Oh, that "aparador" is also made of the same heavy wood, and obviously crafted by local artisans.

Some folks may call it crude, but I like how the carvings were designed and executed - the olden way.

The room thus becomes a merry mix of the old and natural, with touches of modernistic necessities

The total effect or feel in this room was/is "barriotic" - that I truly liked. Parang bakasyon sa probinsya!

Even the bathroom was (for me) clean and neat, with all the basic things I needed (plus more)..,

Why do I say "plus more"? Well, on an island with an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, with the rare coldest of which could only be a 23 (early morning), who needs that heater? I definitely won't!

And look, they do have toilet/bath amenities, though not the fancy 'specialized' things..,

Ah, whether the packaging is printed with the resort's logo or not, they serve the same purpose, right?

Oh, while I said this resort does not even have a restaurant, they do whip up the free breakfast!

They can bring it up to your room (if only for the big table to have a use haha), but I liked having it right on that grassy garden, front of the counter where the manang cooks it. A garden breakfast! Ayaw mo?

Look at the pic above again, and even this one below. The shadows are created by sunlight!

I always say I'm not really a fan of breakfasts, right? But that "tocilog" and all other breakfasts I had in this resorts were truly satisfying. I liked them because of the ambience - a garden breakfast, 'al fresco' with a fantastic breezy early-morning view of the white sandy beach and the blue sea. Sosy ang arrive!

My favorite place in this room was not even my bed, but the sofa-like thing that is almost like a bed!

It's such a comfortable nook. Just the right place to "tambay" and do everything I needed to do online.

Of course, the best thing about this resort, was/is the views to the sea and the beach!

That, by the way, I could clearly see without stepping out to the veranda. That shot was from my bed!

Such a nice place. But let's talk more about finding Blue Ocean Bohol, since it is not really easy.

Aside from the way I arrived at this resort as described above, you can take public transportation that will usually get you to the end of Alona Beach Road(at the beach). From there you will need to walk on the sandy path to the right. Not easy of you have heavy luggage - that's still about 300 meters of sand.

Have you tried dragging luggage with wheels on the sand? It's the same as biking on the sand!

If you hired a car on your own (not with the resort), tell the driver to bring you to "Domos Native Guest House". Not many of them will know that, but at least it's on google map, so you both know what road to take. You'll end up as in the 3rd and 4th photos above, so just go down the stairs that's easy to see.

Alright, as I said, Blue Ocean Bohol was my best find. That said... MacArthur!

Meaning: I Shall Return!