Anika Island Resort at Bantayan, Cebu proved to be our second home during this vacation. Let me count the reasons why.
1. After 4 hours of bus travel from the north bus terminal and an hour ferry ride, lunch at Anika was worth the travel. Portion was good for 3 persons and seafood, as expected, was fresh.
2. The original room we wanted to book was full, so they graciously gave us the ocean-view room at a good discounted price. The rooms are actually container vans turned into well-thought-of abode. We loved the resort's asian-contemporary design. Clean, comfortable and with excellent taste.
3. While we were swimming, the owner was also enjoying the sea with his family. They were using jet skis which pulled a rubber boat. The owner asked if we wanted to try. I was literally shocked, because in normal resorts, you would have to pay for extra activities. And here we were offered to ride one, and so we did! The rubber boat ride was like your banana-boat, it was fun fun fun! Now if you decide to just lounge around the beach and work on your tan, or just sport your good get-up, the sand is powdery-white - perfect for that beach-bumming experience.
4. Should you want to get out of the resort, padyak transport is just outside the resort gate. You can take padyak to go to the local market and buy danggit at half the selling price in the city.
5. You can rent a bike (30 per hour or 150 for 24 hours) and drive on your own - let the wheels take you through the town, beside fields, along mangrove parks, and up the steep slopes where you can have the perfect view of the sea. Don't forget to take a break and eat at the corner bakery - have some ensaymada and spanish bread!
5. I had an episode of abdominal pain. The owner visited me at my resort room, and two of their staff accompanied us to the district hospital. It was really far, and they didn't charge us anything! They even waited at the hospital until I was ok. I was really touched with how they took care of me, even if it wasn't their fault that I got sick in the first place. Noteworthy to mention as well -- I paid for only Php50 at the hospital. I salute government doctors who gave their lives serving the Filipino people, even if they have a choice to earn good money elsewhere.
6. Now if you ask us what else we liked best - it's the faucet right before you enter your room. You can wash away the sand before you go up the cabin, just so you don't have to be uncomfortable with all the sand on your feet and on the floor. These small details make the resort dear to our hearts.
So if you're looking for a place to stay at Bantayan, make sure you get a reservation at Anika. We felt that the owners just wanted to share the joy they experience whenever they go to the beach. Even the locals tell us that the owners are one of the nicest in the area. Thank you for making our holidays one for keeps.
Anika Island Resort - www.anikaislandresort.com
F. Roska St., Brgy. Okoy
Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island 6047
Cebu, Philippines
Telephone (+63 32) 318 2852
Mobile: (+63) 917 328 4898
(+63) 917 501 3598
(+63) 922 819 0076
