Amorita is a Place of BIG Love

We arrived on the island of Bohol on Thursday morning, eager to spend the weekend at Amorita Resort on Panglao Island. After a hectic October, this vacation proved to be the R&R our family needed to reconnect with one another and benefit from the quiet away from our busy lives in Manila. 
For our family of seven, stress-free vacations don’t come very often. We haven’t quite left the stage of parenting little children, so I am normally on edge and preoccupied with organizing all the kids. However, Amorita Resort cared for our family on such a personal level from the moment we arrived, that I felt the liberty to exhale and actually enjoy myself. 

Now I understand why they got 2016 Traveller’s Choice by Trip Advisor!

From the warm, and attentive personnel, to the thoughtful and organically designed sprawling outdoor and luxurious indoor spaces, Amorita Resort charmed us all over. 

We were escorted to our two-bedroom suite by Winston, who oriented us on the features of the rooms. The suite was delightfully modern without compromising inviting or cozy. 

On the dining room table sat a note from the manager welcoming our family. 

Every night we received personal notes from Noel, the manager, whom we noticed paid careful attention to each resort guest. On the first day we arrived, he chatted with every visitor during lunch. 

Even the housekeepers wrote us a note after they made up the rooms and sculpted animals with towels for the benefit of our kids, who were pleasantly surprised by the swans, elephants, and dogs they saw on our beds. 

Amorita is also very private which our family valued very much. I wasn’t worried when our kids were left swimming in the pool or when they roamed around the resort. Our suite was easily accessible from the ground floor and the amenities were situated near enough to it so that the kids felt very confident finding their own way around. 

The beach area is shared with other resorts and open to the public but it still felt rather secluded since there weren’t too many people wandering to the end of the beach where Amorita is situated. Most of the visitors to the beach at this time of the year are foreigners, too, who tend to keep to themselves so you don’t feel bothered at all. 

We left our three boys playing on the beach without us around at one point because Edric and I had to attend to the girls. But we asked the security personnel to keep an eye out for them while they lingered for thirty minutes longer and eventually made their way back to us. They were perfectly fine.

The kids spent most of their days at the beach or swimming in the pool. When they weren’t in the water, they kept themselves entertained. With the exception of Catalina, who needed a little more supervision, no one really required my help too much. I was in bed by 7PM, unwinding in front of the television, something I don’t really get to do, or taking my time in the spacious master’s bathroom (which was larger than most hotel rooms)! 

We ate the majority of our meals at Saffron Restaurant. I especially liked the drama of the high, cantilevered ceiling. 

Saffron is part of a building that also houses the tapas bar and function room which both have a spectacular view of the water. 

The resort also arranged for our tours. We rented a driver and van for our family visit to see the Tarsier, Lomboc River Ride, Chocolate Hills and the Bee Farm. 

Our only disappointment was that the dolphins were a no-show during the morning when we took a bangka out to see them, but that was a minor thing. According to the boat man it’s uncommon for the dolphins not to exhibit themselves.

At present, the older side of the resort, where the original reception area used to be is under renovation and will be ready to receive guests by January. Some of the villas are targeted to be done by December. 

In the meantime, the new wing is fully operational and available to guests, as well as the spa, gym, pool, diving facilities, lounge areas, restaurants and function room(s). 

Amorita Resort’s exceptional quality is its ability to make guests feel special and important. From courteous and accommodating staff, a very hands-on General Manager who reaches out to guests and mingles with them, to thoughtful details like bamboo speakers for your phone, touch lamps, Buri bags and slippers to take to the beach, milk & cookies for the kids at night or sweet desserts to end the evening, Amorita is a “little darling” of a place that gives BIG LOVE to its visitors. We left it with our hearts full, and we are already nostalgic!