IT'S one short ride away to the City of Smiles from Davao — Bacolod City. What comes to mind?
Sugarcanes, the Ruins, and the food! Talk about chicken inasal, batchoy, cansi, KBL and the array of cakes and kakanins the place has to offer. It will be one (or another) memorable food trip!
Where to stay? Make Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod your nest for the days you’re in town.
Why? Let me list it down for you.
Utilitarian chic! This Park Inn hotel in Bacolod is the current baby of the hotel chain in the country. It opened in July 2021, with 150 rooms in three categories that sport a more classic approach to interior design — wood details and an accent wall in a deep tone of green that complements the whites in the room. Minimalism is its goal with the rooms having the modern essentials every business and leisure traveler needs.
Start your food journey here. There are four in-house restaurants and bars. Arima, the all-day dining restaurant, is a good kickoff point for your food tour in Bacolod. I’m not talking about the buffet breakfast, which offers a delicious and filling fare, but let me point out items on the a la carte menu that you must try. The Arima Salad with kadyos as one of the ingredients, Kare-kare with crispy pork belly and the sugar-free dessert of Tablea Chocolate Tart are items that can transport you to food heaven.
Just like in the other Park Inn hotels, the Lobby Lounge and Dash, share the same dining space, where guests can order snacks or food to go. Quite convenient, these features. The 4th food outlet, which deserves its own entry, is next.
Sunset, cocktails, cool dip and Negrense folklore — all these in one niche in the hotel. The Marapara Pool Bar is a relaxing spot to cool down after a day of exploring the city. The pool offers a cool respite from the Bacolod heat and an ideal spot to catch the setting sun. A preferred cocktail (Gin Tonic is mine) is the perfect accessory at Golden Hour.
The pool’s backdrop is a mural of a Negrense folklore —Tale of Marapara, from which the outlet borrows its name, is also the tale of the “tubo” or sugarcane. Also depicted in the artwork are five endangered species of Negros Island: the Visayan warty pig, the Visayan spotted deer, Walden’s hornbill, the Negros bleeding-heart pigeon, and the Visayan hornbill.
Art Cove: serving food for the soul. While the poolside celebrates art, so does the Art Cove situated in the lobby. The open area by the lobby serves as the designated in-house art gallery that holds regular exhibits featuring the works of local and visiting artists.
Kick off your sightseeing of Bacolod with a short walk. If shopping is on the list, the SM Mall is linked to the hotel. Most brands of local delicacies have an outlet in the mall which makes feasting on it or taking it home for pasalubong very convenient. The connection also makes it convenient for delegates attending events at the SMX Convention Center.
Discover Bacolod. Stepping beyond the hotel premises, a short walk away are a couple of must-do’s: enjoy Chicken Inasal at Manokan Country, visit the 19th-century built San Sebastian Cathedral and take a stroll around the picturesque Bacolod Public Plaza.
For exploration farther than a kilometer, consider renting a car to maximize the number of places to visit and eat in. Another plus feature of Park Inn is its close proximity to the Bacolod BREDCO Seaport, the jump-off point to other destinations via sea crafts.
When you’re planning to visit Bacolod any time soon, stay at the heart of the city. Stay at Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod. It has all the ingredients of the perfect vacation — and staycation, whichever works for you.
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