Ilocos Sur's Santorini, Greece Inspired Hotel

Santiago, one of Ilocos Sur’s 32 municipalities, is a veritable treasure trove of untold natural beauty just waiting to be discovered. Located a short distance south of medieval Vigan, this tiny village shines with a wealth of natural beauty, cultural attractions, and culinary delights.

The name of this place wasn’t familiar to me until only a few weeks ago. Furthermore, my personal observations, and experiences and those made by others, I can personally say that Santiago has great potential to develop into a tourist hotspot.

Keep on reading and will tell you more about it.

Discovering Santiago Cove Hotel

Sitting across the emerald seas, Santiago Cove Hotel shines within the horizon with its aesthetically white and blue color bringing that Santorini, Greece vibe within our reach. It took us around 7 hours’ drive from Manila which is shorter from my previous trips to Ilocos, good thing the place did not disappoint. From the design to its amenities, our 2-day stay would be worth it.

Upon our early morning arrival, we were greeted by the staff, I took some welcoming drinks, had breakfast, and went straight to our room. The early morning sun gave the place a different character as the day progresses.

We can say that Santiago Cove Hotel is photogenically nice, but this is no ordinary hotel; rather, could be a memorable experience as it is homey, comfortable, and inviting.

Santiago Cove Hotel has an endearing, familiar warmth. There are fifty large rooms at the resort, all of which have been tastefully decorated to match the natural setting. Room sizes range from 25 square meters for the smallest Deluxe to 36 square meters for the largest Family Suite; all are decorated in a minimalist style with calming blue accents. Each room features a flat-screen TV, a dresser that doubles as a working area, air conditioning, and, most significantly, Wi-Fi that is reliable enough to allow one to work from paradise, should the need arise.

What we got in my stay was a twin queen size bed. My roommate, Kuya Joey picked the bed near the window, while I chose the one near the table. Room prices starts at Php 4,300 for Deluxe, this includes breakfast and can accommodate 2 pax. The rest of the rates are listed down below.

Peak Rates (with Breakfast)

Deluxe (2 persons) Php 4,300

Premium (2 Persons) Php. 6,400

Junior Suite (4 Persons) Php 8,100

Family Suite (4 Persons) Php 9,100

On our visit, a four-story annex has been built and was launched located just beside the vicinity. Sporting the Santorini-Vibe, this new building will house more rooms, a 300-seater grand ballroom, a coffee shop, rooftop bar and premiere suites overlooking the picturesque coast.

The Taste of SANTIAGO

In addition to being a popular tourist destination, the Ilocos region is renowned for its delicious and unique cuisine. Of course, Santiago contributes to that one-of-a-kind epicurean experience, since a meal in this city is an extravagant delight to be savored at your leisure.

Tiny Wave is a source of pride for Santiago Cove Hotel. Indulge in endless Korean and Japanese grilling here at this poolside restaurant. Fresh seafood, such as tuna, dorado, clams, mussels, and shrimp, are plentiful and add to the experience. I love that they are serving comfort and familiar food in this restaurant which you can have while enjoying the pool.

Nearby, guests may find Rodrigo’s Roast + Resto and Bar, an all-day eatery that serves contemporary takes on traditional Filipino and Ilocano fare. This is the finest part: Using only the finest, responsibly sourced ingredients, it showcases the distinctive flavors of Santiago. Rodrigo’s has an incredibly relaxing vibe, thanks to its coastal location and the live acoustic music it features. On our visit, we had Merienda buffet comprising of pancit, pinoy style spaghetti, palabok, dumplings and different kakanin. Ofcourse Merienda would not be complete without coffee or if you opted for something refreshing, try their halo-halo.

One of Santiago Cove’s fan favorite is the The Lechon Roast. According to Chef Consultant Chester Delos Reyes – Velas, “In Ilocos, no Lechon is as tasty without the cactus-like karimbuaya, generating its characteristic, savory taste and aroma.” The cactus is responsible for giving the meat its signature flavor and perfume.

Just a quick throwback, I’ve met Chef Chester at one of the food event held at The Penthouse in Hotel Rembrandt. Chef Chester’s extensive background in the culinary arts is bolstered by his training and knowledge gained in a number of prestigious hotels and restaurants around the world, all of which have contributed to the wide range of options available to diners in modern day Santiago.

Sharing Chef’s culinary expertise, we were also invited to a culinary journey through a degustation that took us to the ocean through our palete.

The lavish cuisine served at the Santiago Cove Hotel and Restaurant is available for each event the venue hosts. The property’s home-style, locally sourced cuisine is sure to please at any event, from destination weddings to business and government gatherings.

Activities within Santiago Cove Hotel

Your stay here at Santiago Cove Hotel, would not be complete without trying the multiple pools located at the center of the hotel. Different water sports activities can also be requested like jetski, banana boat and even watch the sunset via cruise. If you opted to do so, you can simply enjoy the cool and wavy waters of Santiago Cove.

Santorini-Inspired

One could wonder why we should choose a Santorini-inspired theme if there is already a competitor in the area with a similar one?

Dianne Tongol-Miranda, Santiago Cove Hotel and Restaurant’s Sales and Marketing Director, shares that the Local Government Unit wants “to set an image that we are the Santorini of the Philippines, not just the North.”

She claims that blue represents the pristine waters of the cove and that white represents the honesty of the people of Santiago.

As she continues to explain, “It was a risk that we’re willing to take even from the start. And looking at it now, we’re confident that it turned out well.” And it was, It may not be close from how Santorini looks like but with a little help from fellow resort owners, it may be possible that soon enough the horizon of Santiago Cove could be a sight to behold.