Greeted by the iconic red bricks of fort Ilocandia, it felt like time stopped around this area. With the exception of the foreign language signs, everything looked exactly like it did on my first visit decades ago. So even if it took us 12 hours to drive here from Metro Manila, seeing it again and reliving all those memories made everything worth it.
Table of Contents
The Exterior
The most iconic thing about Fort Ilocandia is its red bricks. They aren’t the thin, fake looking tiles of many modern structures today. If one takes a closer look, they are the real deal – bricks that are very thick and large enough to go deep into walls and posts.
Decades after it was created, it is easy to see that the builders did not skimp on the materials. Practically everything that is not wrapped in dark wood or thick marble is covered in brick. And since this is a huge hotel, they literally used tons of the stuff for its construction.
There are actually two ways to approach Fort Ilocandia after going through the main gate. The typical one is to stop under the covered area where the hotel staff greets guests and helps them with their luggage.
Entrance
Another way is a slightly further access road that is composed more of cobblestones instead of smooth cement. And while there are no hotel staff members this far out, guests are greeted by the life-sized statue of an old Spanish Knight mounted on a horse.
[Just like the rest of the hotel, the detail on this statue is quite amazing.]
When it comes to picture taking, there are quite a lot of places to choose from at Fort Ilocandia. The grounds at the back of the hotel have a multitude of trees, including large Pines to make you feel like you are in Baguio.
Some of the more romantic spots for pictures include any of the bridges dotting the grounds. Then there is the second-floor walkway. And finally, the biggest draw continues to be the fountain a few meters beyond the rear lobby exit. Simple as it is, the fountain is one of those things every guest needs to photograph because it is part of what defines Fort Ilocandia.
[My biggest frustration 6 years ago was that my mobile phone didn’t do justice to the fountain.]
Fort Ilocandia can be quite romantic and I’ve heard some select it as the backdrop for marriage proposals. With water trickling down the fountain, the soft lights on, and a cool breeze blowing, I can understand why popping the question here can be much more memorable than anywhere else.
[The best part of proposing here is that couples can keep coming back to relive the moment.]
The Lobby
This is probably one of the bigger hotel lobbies I have ever encountered, and is easily the biggest this far North. But unlike hotels that need to use white walls to provide the illusion of size and grandeur, Fort Ilocandia accomplishes this through sheer size.
Lobby
At the center of the lobby is a small waiting area composed of small tables and chairs. At the center of the whole lobby is a stage that is just big enough to hold a small group of entertainers. The first time I was here, I believe there was a string quartet playing classical music.
Thanks to the red bricks, the dark wood, and the flooring, the light of the lobby is best described as muted. The light from a few strategically placed chandeliers help to provide a cozy atmosphere, something which is in stark contrast to the blazing light of the sun outside.
A few steps from the chandeliers at each end of the lobby lie two large staircases that provide access to the second floors housing additional restaurants and the casino.
The Standard Room
The Standard Room at Fort Ilocandia is easily one of the biggest I have stayed in. There is quite a bit of floor space that luggage is unable to fit in the already large cabinets can be accommodated and still have enough space to walk around.
Room
[Makes me wonder how big the Ambassador Suite is; you might be able to park an SUV in there.]
Both the ceiling and walls of the room we got were painted in white, which had the effect of making it bright. The brown trimming found at the area where the ceiling and walls join provides a nice touch as it helps define the shape of the room.
Our Standard Room came with two beds – a Queen-sized and Single-sized ones. And while one of them was big, the space between them was large enough for people to walk through without having to twist sideways.
Room
The floor is composed of tiles with a slightly darker beige color. And since there is no carpet, this should be good news to people suffering from allergies as there aren’t any fibers to contend with.
With the exception of the table tops, most of the furniture is composed of wood, with one of the more eye-catching ones being the lamps sitting on the night tables. With the spine made of wood and the shade made of some cloth material, they stood out.
Hidden Refrigerator
Each room comes equipped with a personal refrigerator that is tastefully hidden behind a small cabinet. There is also closet large enough to literally fit an entire family. A pair of robes can be found hanging on hangers, making any walks through the air-conditioned hallways after a swim a bit more pleasant.
The personal safe found inside the closet is large enough to store wallets, car keys, or even a dSLR camera when everyone is out swimming.
If the red brick wasn’t unique enough, each room at Fort Ilocandia has doors that open to the huge grounds. Both the first and second floor rooms have these doors.
Cabinet
For those residing on the ground floor, the doors open up to a well-manicured lawn. Those close to the pool can come and go this way, bypassing the cool corridors altogether.
For the rooms on the second floor, the doors open up to their own small balconies. During the –ber months, the doors can be left open to allow cool fresh air and the soft sound of the countryside to come in.
If you happen to be a late sleeper, you never have to worry about sunlight waking you up in the mornings as the heavy curtains can be drawn cut down the light and provide privacy.
The Standard Bathroom
Space-wise, the bathroom is quite roomy and is large enough to hold a bunch of highly excitable children on a family outing.
One of the more striking things about it are the floor-to-ceiling marble covering the walls. Tap on them and the sound is solid, not hollow or tinny. Run fingers over them and the surface is flat and smooth, not bumpy due to ill-fitting slabs.
Bathroom
[It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen bathrooms like this.]
Everything is color-coordinated with the walls. This means that the sink, toilet, bathtub, and even shower curtain were all done in beige.
The mirror takes up almost a whole side and the light above provides good illumination. The sink, being just as wide as the wall, sits waist-high underneath the mirror.
Interestingly, the bathroom comes supplied with hair driers so guests attending formal affairs don’t need to carry their own.
I noticed the bathroom didn’t come equipped with a tabo, or dipper, so guests who consider it convenient might want to pack one for their trip.
Finally, wet swimming attire can be dried on the retractable clothesline that is stretched over the bathtub. An exhaust fan is switched on with the bathroom lights, so any damp smells can be sucked out.
The Rates
Being a Five-star hotel means that Fort Ilocandia doesn’t come cheap. With the most inexpensive room coming in at PhP 7,000 per night and the most expensive one at PhP 38,000, it can be more costly than some fine hotels in Metropolitan Manila.
Front Desk
Fortunately, Fort Ilocandia provides special deals. In our case, my wife and I were able to get a Standard Room for a net rate of only PhP 4,300 per night. This included free Wi-Fi, free use of the facilities, a free buffet breakfast for two, and a couple of complimentary drinks.
[Our stay today was cheaper than six years ago!]
However, when the place is fully booked, is hosting a convention, has a large wedding, or is visited during peak season, prices can be expected to rise as much as 20 percent.
Fortunately, the hotel takes all major credit cards. And for local and international tourists who prefer paying cash, there are a couple of Automated Teller Machines, or ATMs, in the lobby.
The Food
There are 5 restaurants to choose from at Fort Ilocandia, something we didn’t realize during our stay 6 six ago. Not knowing this, we ended up in having dinner at the Red 8 Asian Restaurant. And while the food was alright, it was a tad bit expensive for our taste.
Restaurant Dining Area
[Fortunately, they took cards.]
Realizing our mistake when we were checking out, we made it a point to look at the other four restaurants for our current stay. This time around, we opted to have dinner at Café Ilocandia where local and international dishes were served.
Since it was my wife’s birthday, we had to order Pancit for long life. We also made sure to include an order of Bagnet, which is considered to the Ilocano version of Manila’s Lechon Kawali. Both were tasty and set us back PhP 600.
Food
And since Fort Ilocandia provided us with two complementary drinks, we decided to take them with this birthday dinner. Just in case you’re wondering, the complementary drinks can be availed at any restaurant, including the Palms Bar.
[It may help to note that smoking is permitted inside the Palms Bar.]
For our free breakfast, we returned to Café Ilocandia for the buffet. Food included Longganiza, Corned Beef, Scrambled Eggs, and rice. There was also bread that could be toasted on a rolling oven, similar to what modern pizza restaurants have.
The free drinks at the buffet were composed of Orange Juice and bottled Ice Tea. Desert had watermelon and other fruits on a separate table, while vegetarians had a salad bar to look forward to.
The Amenities
Driving Range
Compared to other hotels this far North of Metro Manila, Fort Ilocandia has quite a number of amenities to offer guests. Some may even go as far as describe it to be one of the most comprehensive for any hotel.
Adults can play several rounds of golf at the Fort Ilocandia Golf & Country Club at Paoay, which is ten minutes away. Or they can opt to hit a few buckets at the driving range, which is less than five minutes’ walk from the rooms. For those not interested in walking under the burning sun, the Pagcor-sanctioned Casino Filipino is open to adults willing to try their luck at the tables or machines.
Beach
Teenagers can rent out All-terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, or go horseback riding along paths on the seventy-seven hectare property. They can also play volleyball or get a tan on the gray-sanded beach facing the South China Sea.
Those interested in other sports can do laps in the Olympic-sized swimming pool. Then there are facilities for archery, shooting, paintball shooting, basketball, tennis, kayaking, and pedal boating. Families can even rent a full-blown 4×4 jeep to explore the sand dunes from the ground or go hot air ballooning and look at them from the sky.
Bird
Young children, and those young at heart, have the Mini-Zoo to look forward to. During my last stay, it was located behind the fountain. Today, the Mini-Zoo sits in its own tiny island, complete with a bridge and gate.
Bird
The place has a small collection of birds, such as an ostrich, an eagle, a hawk, a turkey, geese, chickens, and pigeons. Reptiles are represented by a snake, a turtle, and a pair of crocodiles. There was also a cage with a few monkeys in them.
[Speaking of chickens, there was a pair digging a hole by a tree inside the Ostrich pen.]
If you are there with kids, make they are always accompanied by adults because they might stick their hands and fingers in the cages. And while that may not be much of a problem with the pigeons, it may be a totally different story with the crocodiles. Guests can also go fishing by, I assume, casting their lines in the water around the Mini-Zoo.
The Staff
Just as I remembered from all my visits, the staff was very pleasant to deal with. After providing us with their regular list of room rates, one of the ladies behind the front desk informed us of their promotional rates.
Like the office staff, everybody from the security guards to the bellhops were polite and smiled warmly when encountering guests.
The Parking
Parking Area for Buses
With 77 hectares of land, parking is the least of Fort Ilocandia’s worries. In fact, the area is so big, buses and cars have their own designated parking areas. And when I say their own, these spots aren’t beside each other.
So if you’ll be coming in a compact car, Sport Utility Vehicle, sports car, or tourist bus, don’t worry about it because you will never run out of slots, even if the hotel is fully booked.
Final Thoughts
Fort Ilocandia continues to be the place to stay at when visiting Laoag. It is one of the places I always consider when traveling this far North.
Garden
[I don’t remember how many times I’ve stayed here over the years.]
The great thing about this place is that it never seems to change, which is a very, very good thing. While all hotels can be expected to continually upgrade their structures, many end up losing the original spirit of what made them great in the first place.
Not so with Fort Ilocandia. As far as I am concerned, it still looks as good today as it did when I first visited decades ago. Sure, it may have changed ownership since then, but I am happy to see that the new management didn’t tamper with the exceptional things that made it great.
Must Do’s
- Bring a camera.
- An 18-200mm lens should do the trick.
- Put on a bit of sunblock if you plan on walking around the huge grounds.
Must Don’ts
- Do not annoy the animals.
- Do not leave children unattended in the Mini-Zoo.
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