It was mentioned on my previous blog posts about my husband and I's tour around Siquijor Island which is also known as the Island of Fire that I will be writing a separate blog about the place where we stayed and so today, let me start with sharing with you how we ended up here and what our review will be for the room which we had been given to. Also, this will include our impressions on the facilities and the other services of the resort.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY IN SIQUIJOR

Me started asking myself where are we going to stay while in Siquijor? Unlike the rest of other provinces that we had visited before, we were not able to really prepare for this trip. No plans of a place to stay and not a single research has been done. This came into a realization only when we were both sitting in the bench provided by the barge which took us from Dumaguete to Siquijor.

If you are not familiar with what barge is about, let me give you an idea. It is actually a flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight, typically on canals and rivers, either under its own power or towed by another. Most of the ships or water vehicles moving towards Siquijor are barge ships because there aren't much passengers but there are goods and cars, trucks and other vehicles which are going to and from Siquijor coming from the different islands surrounding it but majority is from Dumaguete.

Going back, my husband and I started searching for the most affordable place to stay. We then found some in the internet however contacting the hotels was quite hard specially that the hotels seem to have outdated contact information on their websites and their Facebook pages. Don't you just hate it when hotels don't have updated sites to check on?

At the Norwegian Dream Beach Resort's beach shore.

Well, in fairness we were able to contact one but the lady who had answered the phone wasn't really courteous enough and that she sounded like bugged by our call so we that was crossed out of the list of options. And also that resort doesn't allow one night stay, they require at least two nights. Oh well, life is really tough for backpackers like us. We just let it be and we had this mind that we can just cross the bridge once we get there.

At around quarter to five, the Siquijor Port was already visible from where we were sitting. We immediately went towards the front area of the barge and waited for it to be pulled down. We arrived safe and sound and we were both amazed by how clean the waters are and there's also a wide white sand beach just right at the side of the port!

CHEAPEST MOTORCYCLE FOR RENT

At the port, there were locals offering motorcycles for rent and it was just coincident that we were planning to tour around Siquijor with a motorcycle. So we hurriedly inquired and both of us were really astonished!

Surprisingly, their motorcycles are good for 24 hours rent. That costs only 350 Philippine pesos and I can't believe it! When we were in El Nido Palawan a year ago, we got our motorcycle for 500 pesos and that was just a discounted price since we were referred by our hotel staff. That was only good for 6am to 6pm but this one was good for 24 hours!

Three things about the Siquijor motorcycle for rent:

••• CONVENIENT

Convenient in the sense that these guys have their motorcycles parked in the port entrance and that you'll easily get your motorcycles by the time you reach the island.

You'll get to use it as soon as possible plus these guys offering are also giving us a wide range of options. From scooters, to automatic, to semi automatic and even those big bikes they have them all!

There's no other place that we had gone to which offers this kind of service!

••• AFFORDABLE

Affordable because for 350 pesos, we were able to get our motorcycle right there and then! Compared to El Nido's 600 (without discount) and Albay's 1200 prices, this one is the cheapest and the most affordable one for me. I don't know if there are other places out there which has the same pricing but for me, this is so far the best offer.

••• RECOMMENDABLE

Yes, they are definitely recommendable and I wasn't paid for this so I can brag about how brilliant this idea of putting their motorcycle right in front of the port where the tourists and visitors of the island can just choose and pick what they wanted.

In fact when we were roaming around the island, most of the tourist specially the foreign ones have their own motorcycle. So that basically means that they have been recommended by their friends or other travelers too!

Siquijor is a small island and so traveling or touring around the island is pretty easy.

NO TIME LEFT FOR SEARCHING A HOTEL

After we secured a motorcycle, we went straight to the gasoline station to fill up the tank since the bike doesn't have enough gas yet.

While the tank has been filled, the first thing in mind was to find a place to stay but then it was getting dark and what we have in mind was the sunset. So we passed by this area where there were vendors and food stalls and that the port was also visible from there.

It was a calm sunset, I had the chance to take a time lapse but since the sun was covered by thick clouds, the sunset was not that very stunning compared to the other sunsets we had witnessed but it was still pretty.

It was already dark, after sunset that we had realized that we still don't have any place to stay. We then searched on google maps for the nearest place. We got three options:

○○○RECOMMENDED BY LOCALS○○○

The guys at the port recommended checking the hotels near the port. We passed by this area and found a few hotels but then the street lights look creepy and that we felt a bit odd while in that area however we moved further to check out the others but then we found ourselves in a cemetery and we don't want to be staying near that area so we turned and went straight ahead without looking back.

○○○VILLA MARMARINE○○○

We found Villa Marmarine on google maps and it has pretty images so we went in and asked the front desk. It was a lovely resort and we both thought we can stay here. At the area where the restaurant was located, there's a bungalow where the tables are placed and romantic candle lights are also placed in the floors which had added nice ambiance of the place.

When we inquired for their room rates, the front desk told us that they don't have air conditioned rooms anymore, only fan ones. We were a bit sad hearing it since we really want to have a good sleep and having just a fan might not be able to give us good sleep at all.

However, the front desk lady still offered to show us the room and that was so good of her. That room was spacious, it has a native theme. There's table and chairs in case guests would like to eat inside. There's a sliding door infront of the bed so if one likes to see the beach shore, it can just be opened. There was also mosquito net covering the bed.

I want to take a photo of it but I can't since we didn't push on getting that room. The rate was a bit high and it only has a fan. My heart sank.

○○○THE NORWEGIAN DREAM BEACH RESORT○○○

The lady from Villa Marmarine recommended we check the other resort just very near to their area, she told us to go check Norwegian Dream. So we went there and shocked as it was very quiet and dark!

It looked like they don't have any guests at all. The security guard approached us and showed us the front desk. The lady personnel was still having dinner by the time we got there so we have to wait a bit at their receiving area. We got entertained by the books and some dragon statues. However, these stuffs looked like they were not cleaned up for a few weeks. I can sense dusts in them.

Finally, the lady offered us Php 1700 for their air conditioned room. We have to give in since it was past seven in the evening and we can't afford to let the night set in without a place to stay.

••• THE ROOM

Hubby sitting in the bed.

Native themed-room just like that one from Villa Marmarine. The ceiling's a bit low but we realized there's a second floor which was the reason of the low ceiling. It was actually nice except that I felt it was not been used for quite some time. The bed is spacious, the bedding has been newly changed and there were two towels prepared for us. A television was also available and the AC has made the room cooler now. We checked the comfort room and they do have hot and cold shower whic I really like.

There were soaps and shampoos provided too however we didn't use the shampoo. Then we checked the fridge provided. There were stuffs inside like beers and drinks as well as water. We ended up drinking four bottles of soft drinks and juices.

It was quite obvious that this room can accommodate more than two persons. The bed can accommodate two. So we moved on and check what's upstairs.

••• THE UPPER ROOM

Narrow wooden stairs. We slowly climb to the upper room and surprised that this can accommodate around four people. There were two separate beds and a space between them that another bed can still occupy.

The upper room has a fan.

On the corner, there was another space for another bed with its own lights. It was so small but I guess it was just used as a storage area or perhaps can be used as a room too! It's really surprising that this attic-like area can be made into a room and that if some other people might have taken this room, five or more people can share the rate amount. But for our case, we have to pay the full amount!

••• THE BEACH AND OTHER ENVIRONMENT

Unfortunately, both my husband and I were not able to wake up early so we got no coverage of the sunrise from the beach. It was very sad but we got to move on and have to enjoy the rest of the day.

At the beach shore coconut trees.

Yacht parked at the beach shore.

Before we could start the day exploring Siquijor, we checked out the entire resort. Last night we were not able to really get to check the entire place because it was already dark and this resort doesn't seem to have enough lighting or perhaps they were cutting their electrical usage.

A white yacht welcomed us from outside our room. I believe the owner uses this when he is around. This was just parked in the side and it looked like it has not been used for quite some time. But hopefully it is still functioning though.

A friendly sleepy dog also was at the beach. The coconut trees are really pleasing to see. Their leaves are healthy and they are tall like soldiers lining up in the shore side. I love to see tall coconut trees in a beach.

There are cottages also available. They look spacious and I guess the resort is also open for walk ins and those who would like to use the cottage.

However, there are lots of grown grasses around so I believe this resort have not done any maintenance of its environment. It was a not-so-good sight for guests.

After taking photos of everything that we can see in this resort, both my husband and I concluded that we were indeed the only guests in the resort. Perhaps they were not even expecting any guests at all!

 

CONCLUSION : NORWEGIAN DREAM BEACH RESORT IS 2/5 STARS

It was unfortunate that we really didn't feel like it was the best option for us but we would still want to take it as a good experience and as something to learn from.

Overall, both my husband and I have to really learn to plan everything before going into a certain resort or hotel.

Sleepy head.

 

Thank you guys for reading this blog. If you have not read it the rest of our Siquijor Tour, check the link below:

>> A Tour at Siquijor's Circumferential Road First Half <<
>> Second Phase of Our Tour at Siquijor's Circumferential Road <<
>> The Enchanted Century Old Balete Tree <<

 

 

Take care!

Copyright 2016 Jean Beltran-Figues All rights reserved.