Playa Tropical Resort Hotel in Ilocos Norte

Playa Tropical is a Balinese-inspired resort hotel located in Baranggay Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is about 35 minutes away from the Laoag Airport and allows you to rest in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

I think I first read about Playa Tropical Resort Hotel in a magazine for mothers. I then surfed to their website to get more information and in early 2009, I sent them e-mail to inquire about reserving a room.

All of my queries via e-mail and via cellphone were answered quite promptly. From transfer arrangements, to room details, to Sunday mass schedules, Ms. Toni Carag was very helpful and efficient in replying to my questions. Before we actually got to the resort, I was thinking whether I had made the right choice. I did not know anyone who has personally stayed in the place (which is the usual case with the resorts that my family visits), had read some strong rants about a another resort in Currimao, Ilocos from a well-established blogger, and I was thinking that the amount that I was paying for a 4D/3N package (for 3 adults, my 7 year old daughter stays for free) was I think the most reasonable I had paid for any of our annual vacations in the last 14 years.

Arriving at the Playa Tropical Resort Hotel in Ilocos Norte on April 23, Thursday evening, my worries and doubts disappeared. I knew right there and then that we were going to have a nice, quiet vacation. Toni and her staff were very warm, friendly, and efficient; the transfers went well; the food was alright and the Premier Room that we booked was the right size, even if it was a bit cramped with my son's extra bed.

What can one do at Playa Tropical? Well, you can rest, relax, and enjoy the food (although we will have more to say on this in the coming days). Kids and parents can enjoy playing together either in the Game Room (where you have billiards, darts, fooz ball but too bad that the air hockey does not work anymore) or in Yno's playground although Yno's is basically for kids aged 8 and below. You will surely enjoy the resort's very nice and warm infinity pool although it is best not to stay on Sundays when people drive over to the resort and just swim and picnic there. The pool will be packed with kids! The beach (which is not private but very close by) has dark grey sand that is not very fine. It's a bit too public for me (with jeeps, dogs, and chickens too!) but still my kids had fun digging in the sand and playing water balloons. Personally, the pool is your best bet compared to the beach.

Parents can get a massage or some other spa treatments at Room 101 since the Solana Spa is not yet quite done. The kids (and us parents too) also enjoyed feeding the super hungry fish in the pond where the garden huts are, where we would enjoy our breakfasts and lunches overlooking the pool and the sea.

There are big casas (houses) by the way that can accommodate as many as eight people. We checked out one of the Casas (named Fuego, Tierra, Viento, Agua, etc. after the different elements). These are perfect for big families and groups although the up and down structure, with the steep stairs will necessitate watching your small kids and toddlers very closely. The casas also have their own private pool that isn't very big but alright.

All in all, we enjoyed our stay at Playa Tropical Resort Hotel in Ilocos Norte. We'd recommend it to families who are looking for a nice, quiet place to stay at very reasonable rates. There are areas that can be improved still (more on these in future write-ups) but none of these are serious enough to keep you from enjoying your vacation there.

To Ms. Toni and her staff (we remember Harlene, Corrine, and Edward), thank you for all your help (even with arranging our Ilocos Norte tour) during our stay there. We enjoyed ourselves, while the kids enjoyed your resort the most. In fact, while we were touring Ilocos Norte, the kids would often ask: "When are we going to go back to the hotel?"

To check out the official webpage of Playa Tropical in Ilocos Norte, please visit www.playatropical.com.ph You may also reach them by phone at (077) 676 1001 or at +63 917 570 0223.

For other details regarding our Ilocos Norte trip and our Playa Tropical Resort Hotel Vacation, please check out Ilocos Norte Trip in the coming weeks. Thanks!