Spot Stays: This Cozy Inn in Panglao Has Spaces for Wall Climbing, Yoga + More

Citadel Alona Inn
Lot 4480-A Purok 7, Barangay Tawala, Panglao, Bohol
Rates start at P1,150

At a Glance
Rooms: Simple but comfortable, clean and homey
Food and drinks: Your stay comes with a starter breakfast of oatmeal, boiled egg, and a hot beverage. You can sample authentic Mexican food at the in-house taqueria, Dos Locos, from Thursday to Monday.
Staff: Warm and sincere, offering practical advice on maximizing your trip
Why you should stay: You’ll be hard-pressed to find other centrally-located, affordable accommodations in Alona Beach.

(SPOT.ph) There are many things to do within Panglao Island. You can go island-hopping in Balicasag and the Virgin Islands, cliff diving and snorkeling in Molave Cove, spelunking at Hinaganan Cave, or scuba diving in the beautiful marine sanctuary.

Beyond Panglao, you can paddleboard by day or glide down the Loboc River by night, take some panoramic selfies with the Chocolate Hills as a backdrop, marvel at the intricate details of the Baclayon Church, and hike to one or two of the many waterfalls in Bohol, like Camugao and Can-umantad.

You can also spend your days and nights exploring all that the one-kilometer stretch of Alona Beach's white sands can offer: swimming, sunbathing, getting a massage by the sea, and pub crawling. But beware, prices—especially on the beachfront—can skyrocket, so scrimp whenever you can. For example, you will likely spend most of your stay swimming, sunbathing, and, generally, exploring the outdoors. You'll require a cozy, clean room with a comfortable bed. That's what you'll find at Citadel Alona Inn.

Rooms at Citadel Alona Inn

If Citadel Alona Inn feels like staying over at a friend's house, that's because the structure was initially planned to be a vacation home. The owners later realized there was a shortage of affordable accommodations in the area when it was built in 2005 and decided to fill this need.

In June 2019, Omi Chaluyan took over from her mom, Ping. While growing up in chilly Baguio, Omi's family ran a transient house near Teacher's Camp, and she and her sisters would earn extra money by helping out: "I enjoyed interacting with our guests," recalled Omi in an exchange with SPOT.ph.

After living in Chicago, Illinois, for a decade, Omi, accompanied by her Mexican-American husband Jimmy and their twin boys, left to return to the Philippines and fulfill a childhood dream. But she continues working remotely in IT while raising their young family and being an innkeeper. During the pandemic, the couple took the opportunity to renovate and improve the property by upgrading facilities.

There are eight guest rooms in the 1,000-square-meter property, most on the second floor. There are two shared bathrooms (separate toilet and shower) for men and women on each floor. There are three back rooms (approximately seven square meters each), three front rooms (about nine square meters each), and two family rooms (14 square meters each).

The back room is good for two and has a double bed; the front room is good for two with a queen-sized bed, and the family room has two single beds and a pull-out bed and can accommodate up to five. Each room has a vanity, chair, wardrobe, air-conditioning, and fan. The rooms on the second floor have exclusive access to the terrace, each with a unique view of the lush garden.

In the long term, Omi wants to move toward sustainability of the property by harnessing solar energy (they have made a conscious choice not to use fuel-guzzling generators) and being more conscientious in using resources like water and electricity for operations—all to contribute to making less impact on the environment.

The in-house taqueria was borne out of their craving for authentic Mexican food, which starts with homemade corn and flour tortillas. Jimmy spent many cooking sessions experimenting and, by trial and error, with Omi as the willing "taste tester," finally made authentic Mexican food with available ingredients and conditions in Panglao.

What to Do at Citadel Alona Inn and Nearby Tourist Spots

The inn is airy, and you can lounge in the sizable garden. If you're staying on the second floor, you can hang out on the exclusive terrace for guests.

You can reheat food or cook meals at the fully-equipped and spacious shared kitchen.

Omi, an avid wall climber, had a climbing wall set up in the garden. It can be booked for lead climbing (P350 including rope and shoe rental, with belay) or bouldering (P250 including shoe rental). Boxing and yoga classes are held in a covered area of the garden.

About 200 meters away are some stores and Thai massage places. The white sands of Alona Beach are approximately 500 meters (or about a seven-minute stroll) away.

Where to Eat in Alona Beach

Dos Locos, the in-house taqueria, is open from Thursday to Monday, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jimmy, whose father hails from San Luis Potosi in central Mexico, grinds the corn himself and—with help from staff—hand rolls each tortilla (no hard shells here!). You can choose from various taco (two pieces per order, P175) filling options: carnitas, guajillo chicken, Mexican chorizo, or banana heart carnitas. They also serve taquitos (three pieces per order, P300), tostadas (2 pieces per order, P250), quesadilla (P250), and enchilada dinner (P350). Birria tacos (2 pieces per order, P300) are available on the first weekend of every month. Walk-in diners can sit at one of the tables on the driveway, while in-house guests can eat at the veranda area.

Right across the inn and up to 500 meters away, there are many international dining choices from a wide range of cuisine, including Italian (Toto e Peppino, Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast, and A Tavola) and Thai food (WOnDER LAND Sayaw Thai Food). Approximately 200 meters from the inn are local food: Our Deli Bread for carbo-loading, Chicken in a Box for fried or grilled chicken, and more than a few bulalohan places.

Citadel Alona Inn is at Lot 4480-A, Fonacier Circumferential Road, Purok 7, Barangay Tawala, Panglao, Bohol. Rates start at P1,150.

Also read:
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