A near-perfect way to spend summer

By Lito Cinco

You got it right. J Park Island Resort & Water Park, a nine-hectare and still expanding theme park in Mactan, Cebu is indeed the near perfect place to stay a day or two, or a long weekend this summer, that is, if one has the extra cash to spend as the rates both for the room and the buffet meals are on the high side.

But for the foreign market, particularly Koreans who come in droves, together with some Japanese and Caucasians and very few Filipinos for that matter, this resort is a big hit with its 557 rooms including stand alone villas, which enjoy a high occupancy rate.

When this writer and his family visited and stayed at the place for two nights, thanks to a gift certificate won in a raffle, we would find the room rates at P10,000 a night and up definitely on the steep side, the place more than 70% full and the staff were saying it was a low occupancy rate for them.

The place is complete as far as facilities are concerned, particularly its many restaurants, but only as long as one is willing to spend. In fairness though, when we had a last day lunch at The Abalone, we were pleasantly surprised that ordering ala carte and sharing is more affordable, just over a thousand bucks for three adults. But of course, we used our senior ID cards to the max.

Otherwise, the resort’s hearty buffet meals will set you back a substantial amount of money. For dinner, per person cost is P1,900 plus; for lunch, a bit lower at close to P1,600, while breakfast is at P1,200 per pax. The best thing though, breakfast was part of what one enjoys with the room and for two mornings, we gorge ourselves with the buffet breakfast that offered practically anything one can wish for to start the day right.

Freebies include welcome drinks at the lobby, very refreshing as one comes in from the sun, and a free 5R photo anywhere one wants within the resort grounds, and there are a lot of beautiful backdrops one can use to reminisce the days that one pretended to be rich, as in our case. Games at the pool and daily entertainment like fire dancers, one can also enjoy them for free.

There is also a big playroom for kids and toddlers with the yayas while the adults enjoy other activities, including a casino which failed to lure us however as we were not ready to throw away good money. A game room for adults is near the playroom unless one opts to go to the activity center outside the building just beside an outdoor playground. Near the beach , there is also a small sand lot complete with sand toys for kids, and it is shaded so no worries about being burned under the sun.

Kids and kids at heart will have a lot of choices of what pools to use from the main pool with a pool bar to the amazon river where one can flow with the man made current, or the three kiddie pools all with different attractions that only a water themed park can imagine as the photos will show. For the more daring, there are three big slides where one has to sign a waiver first before doing a first time slide. There are three different endings for each of the three slides, with one dropping straight into a big water tank at the bottom of the slide.

My daughter still has the guts to try the slides but for this writer, watching her do it was enough excitement,

A visit to Olango Island just across the resort is an alternative activity. The island has a bird sanctuary while just off the shore, one can snorkel in the clear waters. Cost is $40 to $90 per person, depending on the season of your visit.

But more than its facilities and amenities, the hotel staff for me makes a big difference. I should know as I used to run a hotel group in the past. They are very warm and friendly, greeting and smiling at all the guests they meet wherever, and ready to accommodate requests from guests. This is a big plus for this resort.

So now if you suddenly win at the lotto or the casino, or a rich relative remembered you in his last will and testament and you find yourself with surplus cash, definitely J Park Island Resort is worth a visit. Just never mind the cost.