Resort Review: Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort (Oslob, Cebu)

Date of Stay: November 7-9, 2014

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: ********

Condition and Cleanliness: *********

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: ********

Food and Beverage: ********

Other Amenities: ********

Value for Money: ********

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort

The 5-star  Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort, the only resort on the island, is a peaceful, quiet and stress-free retreat which has direct access to the island’s coral reef.   Its seclusion is one its major strength and everything you could ever want on a tropical island getaway, the island has it - serene white sand beaches; a small, tranquil lagoon and a breathtaking, simply astonishing ocean view. 

Sumilon Island

Its 27 spacious, tastefully and comfortably decorated airconditioned single/double accommodations includes de luxe,  premier de luxe and one and two-bedroom villas with private pool.  All have high ceilings and impressive interiors with 2 very comfortable queen-size beds with many fluffy pillows, big private bathrooms with hot/cold shower and a skylighted ceiling, cable TV with DVD player, work desk, in-room safety deposit box, minibar and a private veranda with lounge chairs. 

De Luxe Room

Sitting area and writing desk

Wooden sliding louver doors leading to the bathroom

Wi-fi is available in our rooms and public areas (pavilion, the pools, some parts of the beach and the lounge areas along the coastline).  Lounge areas, with seats and hammocks, are located along the seaside and wooden stairs lead guests to a pocket beach. Its friendly, courteous and efficiently pro-active staff are noted for their hospitality and their earnest desire to fulfill every request. You can go around the resort using an electric tram.

The electric tram

The 1 and 2-bedroom villas feature, aside from the aforementioned de luxe room amenities, a sitting area, a dipping pool and a free-standing bathtub (also a feature in Panglao Bluewater Resort) for the 2-bedroom villa.

2-Bedroom Villa

Interior of 2-Bedroom Villa

Dipping pool at 1-Bedroom Villa

The quiet and lovely, octagonal Island Pavilion restaurant offers buffet breakfasts (assorted breads with orange marmalade, strawberry jam and butter spreads; orange or four seasons juice; fresh milk; hot chocolate, coffee, hash brown potatoes, crispy bacon, omelet, tocino, noodles, etc.), light refreshments and a la carte lunch and dinners with traditional Filipino  and international dishes such as chili crab; grilled squid; adobo rice; lechon kawali; pork adobo; gambas; thin crust, oven-baked pizzas; pasta, etc.. 

Pavilion Restaurant

Clambake and barbecue dinner buffets, with grilled steaks, fresh squid, fish, and seafood skewers with fresh scallops from Bohol and occasional lobsters, are also served, with bonfires, along the the island's signature shifting white sandbar.

Beside the pavilion is an inviting outdoor infinity swimming pool, overlooking Oslob, with a breathtaking view of the beach.  Beside it is a bar.

Infinity swimming pool

Poolside bar

Nicely laid out hiking trails (open 6 AM – 4 PM), through lush forests, are also available for treks to Yamashita's Cave, the lighthouse, a cliff, the Spanish-era baluarte (watchtower, a 10-min. trek from the restaurant) and Our Lady of Fatima grotto.

Hiking around the island

Come evening, you can refresh their tired bodies with an outdoor massage at the resort’s Anuma Spa.

Anuma Spa

The resort also offers 3 glamping tents. Glamping is short for “glamorous camping.” It basically means going camping while trying to make yourself feel that you’re not camping.  The tent has all the other features of a regular room such as 2 single beds, carpeted floor, cabinets, lamps, electric fans and a cooler filled with assorted drinks (beer, soda, juice) and chips, all for free.  The campsite is located near the beach and the natural lagoon and a bathroom and shower room is close by.

A furnished glamping tent

Kayaking and paddleboating at the natural lagoon

The resort also has a children’s playground, library, dive shop (Aquamania Dive Shop), game room and a souvenir shop.   They also offer, airport transfers, 24-hour room service, , kayaking, fish feeding and fishing at the lagoon, Hobie Cat sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing, paddle boating and scuba diving.  In the evening, you can join fishermen as they catch krill to feed the butanding the next day.

Aquamania Dive Shop

This highly recommendable resort, an excellent escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the chaos and stresses of the mind and body, is truly a good place for reflection, prayer, rest, relaxation and romance.

Sumilon Bluewater Island Resort: Brgy. Bancogon, Sumilon Island, Oslob, 6025 Cebu.  Tel: (032) 382-0008 and (032) 318-9098. Mobile numbers: (0917) 631-7514 and (0917) 631-7512.  Email: info.sumilon@bluewater.com.ph.

Cebu City booking office: CRM Bldg., Escario cor. Molave Sts., Lahug, 6000 Cebu City. Tel:  (032) 412-2436. Mobile numbers (0917) 631-7508 and (0998) 962-8263. E-mail: sales.sumilon@bluewater.co.ph.

Manila Office: Rm. 1120, Cityland/Herrera Towers, 98 Herrera cor. Valero St. Salcedo Village, Makati City. Tel: (632) 817-5751 and (632) 887-1348. Fax: (632) 893-5391.  E-mail: sumilon@bluewater.com.ph. Website: www.bluewatersumilon.com.ph.

How to Get There: Oslob is a 3-hour drive from Cebu City.  From Oslob, make a 10-min. land trip to Bancogon Pavilion, where the private ferry port going to  Sumilon Bluewater Island is located. 20-min. For those coming in from Dumaguete City (Negros Occidental), make a land trip to Tampi port, then ride a fast craft going to Oslob on Cebu Island. 

The free 2-way transfers between the the pavilion and Sumilon Island are scheduled at 1.5 hr. intervals with the first trip at 7 AM and the last at 4:30 PM.

Bancogon Pavilion

Bancogon Wharf