Back in high school, a good friend of mine told me that things have a way of working themselves out. It somehow stuck to me and it happened this September when I headed to Vigan for an Ilocos tour. I had initially planned trip to Buscalan for the weekend of September 15 but the trip was cancelled a week before. I really needed a time away from my usual routine. It had been months since I was on a trip and my wanderlust was creeping in. So when Metro Vigan Fiesta Garden Hotel invited bloggers I was excited to be part of it! Booked my ticket online at Partas (thanks to Biyaheroes) and I was good to go.

So let’s be honest. All you want is to lie down on a soft bed when you’ve just spent 12 hours on the bus from Cubao. We arrived in Vigan a little past four in the morning so I was tired and sleepy. Our bus dropped us off right in front of Metro Vigan Fiesta Hotel along the National Highway. The first thing that caught my eye as I alighted the bus was the beautiful carved door in front of me. Intricate carvings of Filipino traditions adorn the main door.

As we entered, the hotel gave that Filipino homey vibe. Sketches of Spanish Filipinas on the pillows will welcome you in the lobby as you put your bags down and get your room key. The whole hotel was quiet as we rang the reception bell. We headed straight to the room to get some shut-eye before our scheduled breakfast. My eye immediately caught the double bed waiting for me. I looked around our deluxe room and noticed the LCD TV mounted on the wall, two glasses beside a water heater, a mini fridge, and our cabinet with big mirrors as its doors. The mirrors cam handy when checking out our #OOTD before heading out for our tours. Two sockets were just beside my bed so I plugged my devices and headed to dreamland even for two hours.

We had our breakfast past 8 in the morning and met my fellow travel bloggers. We were then given a tour to see more of the hotel. It had 53 rooms in its two-storey building. Each room had this intricate carved door made by in Paete, Laguna. I enjoyed spotting the lechon, palo sebo, tinikling, and other fiesta traditions as we roamed around the halls. The bright yellow walls will add sunshine to your day! Their Executive Suite will make you feel like you’re living in your own space: a wooden bathroom interior with a bath, a king-sized bed with padded headboard, a dining table to entertain guests, and a sofa set when you just want to hang around with friends.

Door to Executive Suite

It was raining non-stop so the group decided to head to the plaza to grab some authentic Vigan empanada. Later that night we headed to the AMICI VIP Lounge to enjoy a hearty serving of Ilocos bagnet while getting to know more about each other. Trips become more memorable when you have the right bunch of people to enjoy the moments. The VIP Lounge turns into a videoke room for the Filipinos favorite past time! Enjoy a night of bonding, eating, and singing.

Tito Tony Meloto and Clementine Turgeon during Tito Tony's talk on GK Enchanted Farm's beginnings

Philo Chua explaining how cocoa turns into chocolate