A tiring day running around Ilocos Norte deserves a good night’s rest; and for our third night around north Luzon, we were treated to a grand stay at the sprawling Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center.

After hearing the hotel’s name, I thought we were gonna be lodged on some generic looking building on a busy street corner somewhere in the middle of the city. Boy was I wrong.
First off, the convention center was huge! It spans a whole street block, I think maybe more. It boasts of 4 suites, 96 standard rooms, 24 dormitory rooms, an auditorium that can accommodate a thousand people, a huge swimming pool, a non-sectarian chapel for wedding needs, a café and a restaurant.

Second, it is not located in the middle of the city but somewhere at the edge of town where it’s nice and quiet; in fact it sits right across the famous Paoay Sand Dunes!

We arrived at the hotel late in the night, and I just can’t resist hanging out at the poolside before calling it a day. I took out my laptop, cameras and notes and did my daily blog updates from the comfort of the lounge chairs around the pool. Although I was pretty far from the lobby, I still got some wi-fi signals. Too bad the pool lights were already turned off, I was rarin’ for a swim.
Past midnight, I was ready for bed. The room we were given was clean and cozy. White walls with minimum decors, clean comfort room, warm night lights and two comfy beds covered with the locally made Ilocos blankets.
The next morning revealed how beautiful Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center really is. Its modern Spanish villa architecture fits the Ilocos motif of old Spanish houses; clay tile roof, clean white walls and huge windows.
The chapel, located at the well landscaped grounds at the back of the hotel is beautiful in the morning light. A long reflecting pool sits in the midst of manicured greens and checkered pebble lawn. The cluster of buildings gives an appearance of a complete Spanish-styled hacienda.
Everyone was having a grand time just hanging out at the pool atrium, and most was seriously considering taking a dip before going. Alas, boarding time was announced much too soon, much to everyone’s disappointment.

    Ilocos Norte Hotel and Convention Center
    Barangay 41, Balacad, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

    Phone: (77) 670-8817
    Email: reservations@ilocosnortehotel.com

    Room Rates: Click Here
    GPS Coordinates: 18.134203,120.534742 | Click to view location on Google Maps

       LAKBAY NORTE IS AN ANNUAL MEDIA FAMILIARIZATION TOUR AROUND NORTH LUZON 
       ORGANIZED BY NORTH PHILIPPINES VISITORS BUREAU