I say chill trip because now that I’m in my 30s, I have outgrown the running-to-see-everything vibe and treat every vacation as slow-moving days to recuperate and uproot myself from the hustle and bustle of my city and career life.
It was not my first time in Bohol (if my memory serves me well), but it was my first time in Panglao Island. Nestled in the heart of the Visayas region, Bohol is one of those places you’d definitely want to visit–it is about an hour or so away from Manila via air travel and the center of the island is just a mere 15-20 minutes away from the airport.
If you are looking for the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, and other attractions in Bohol, this is not it. Our trip made sense of the quiet and peaceful atmosphere in Panglao Island–discovering new restaurants to try and other places to visit and shop; and just indulge in the different atmosphere away from the city.
Solea Coast Resort Panglao’s Lobby and Pool (c) Shainne Hostalero
We stayed at the Solea Coast Resort Panglao, 1.8km away from Alona Beach, it has picturesque interiors, contemporary rooms, children-friendly pools, and beautiful sunrise and sunset views. The hotel also has a restaurant conveniently located in the lobby making it accessible and perfect in case you do not want to go out and just want to stay in. They also offer a buffet breakfast and ala carte options for lunch and dinner.
Solea Coast Resort Panglao Roof Deck (c) Shainne Hostalero
View from our room
Since we arrived in Bohol way too early for our hotel check-in, we opted to visit the famous Bee Farm. It was about 20 to 30 minutes away from our hotel via TukTuk (ride fee ranges from P100 to P200).
Bohol Bee Farm
As per the staff, they are no longer keeping and/or taking care of bees on the farm since the pandemic happened. The property has been converted to be a fully functional events place, and hotel, and sells other Bohol delicacies and other products. Everyone is free to roam around the farm and enjoy its tranquility and shop for various products as pasalubong. I was still able to purchase pure honey.
As a legit tita, it is my happiness to just roam around without too much pressure on where to go next and really enjoy my time doing about nothing and getting bored–as what I perceive my vacations to be. During a regular day, everything is on a calendar and I function with a full to-do list. I don’t even have that time to be bored and make my mind float to some other things; so I make sure that every vacation is a time to reset and just about enjoying good food, good company, and peaceful experiences with my choice of title in hand.
Restaurants to try
TikTok is indeed a useful source of information, especially on what restaurants to try. On our first night, we tried Mist located just about 5 to 10 minutes away from Solea Coast Resort in Danao, Panglao. What a very Instagrammable place Mist is! Their food was good, too, with huge servings, even good for sharing, at a very competitive price point.
Mist Bohol (c) Shainne Hostalero
I am a fan of burgers, especially brick oven-cooked ones. This, by far, is one of those burgers that I could say I will order again. The fries and the sauce are great, too. You’d enjoy eating it because Mist’s interiors and other fixtures are fascinating.
Their iced coffee is great as well! There are many options to choose from–whether you are a vegetarian, a picky eater, or an adventurous foodie, Mist is recommendable. Make sure that you come in a bit early. They open as early as 9:00 AM until night. If you are planning to try them for dinner, make sure to arrive between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM to make sure that you can choose seats. Once 6:00 PM-7:00 PM strikes, there is already a build-up of people lining up to take their seats. Waiting could be quite long depending on the volume of people.
Entrance to Mist Bohol
Mist at night (c) Shainne Hostalero
Our second day is a bit more chill out. We headed to Alona Beach and we were happy that it was not too crowded even on a weekend. The stretch of Alona Beach reminded me a lot of Boracay with all the restaurants and activities that one can try.
Alona Beach
We were blessed with nice weather–not too sunny, but not too gloomy as well–perhaps because it was December. We walked end-to-end of the beach to see what it has to offer. There were many diving resorts and a far more party-centric vibe along the beach (probably more at night). Nothing shabby, really. Eating by the beach will make you look forward to going. However, take your time choosing a resto, make sure to see the menu and see how the customer service is.
Henann Resort, Alona Beach
Since it was also our last day, for dinner, we also tried Mosa, a restaurant similar to Mist (they have the same owner/s as our TukTuk driver had shared), located at the Panglao Island Circumferential Rd, Danao, Panglao, Island. Not too many people unlike Mist, but it is as attractive as the resto.
Mosa Restaurant, Panglao Island, Bohol (c) Shainne Hostalero
This croissant burger is indeed special. I didn’t realize that a beef patty would be good in combination with a croissant. As usual, burgers are worth trying for! Their food presentations are very attractive and they make you want to order more.
Mango Shake at MOSA
They may not be as high as Mist, but their interiors are a winner, too! I love that they also utilized re-used wooden palettes for their tables and chairs, and have nicely decorated the whole place with sustainable materials. You should come in before the sun sets so you can enjoy more the warm colors of the restaurant and stay until it is dark for you to witness how glowing the place is during the night.
Quiet & Peaceful
My introverted self was able to recharge during the trip away from my extroverted career. A walk to the beach to cap off the night was rewarding and while it was ideal to do this daily, city life could be crawling out from me hehe.
Solea Coast Resort Beach side at night
The cold weather of December was indeed inviting! It might be a good time to drink whilst on the beach, but since I have many allergic reactions to alcohol (bummer!), that won’t do. Panglao Island is one of those peaceful beaches I have visited (probably next to Bulabog Beach in Boaracy and Talipanan Beach in Oriental Mindoro). Definitely worth the time!
Shainne Hostalero 