Must Check in Dipolog and Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte

Bored waiting for my flight back to Manila so might as well use it storytelling…

Once upon a time… Geez lame! Crap that because I’m still pretty nostalgic on my quickie with Dipolog City. Stayed here for 3 days now and yet there is too little time for leisure. Well after all, I came here for business.

As a budget solo backpacker, I find this place really, really interesting and worth coming back for more. It’s laid back yet teeming with life powered by nature, people, and culture.

Hotels

Dipolog and its nearby city, Dapitan (just 15 mins away) has a lot of budget hotels, inns, and suites to entertain travelers of all sorts.

Mibang Hotel is on my checklist for its pool and food. It is just 12-minute ride from the airport and less half an hour from the port.  It is also affordable.

D’Hotel with their ‘We make people happy’ battlecry really live up to it. In fact D’Hotel is awarded as the No. 1 Hotel in Dipolog City by Trip Advisor for its excellence. Great ambience, service, and food maybe were their tickets in winning the traveler’s heart.

Royal Farm Resort, Gulayon Dipolog City

Royal Farm is a good option if you are up for budget rooms with free swimming pools.  Room rates start at 700-3000 pesos. This is surely a love for kids because they have a clean, wide kiddie pool. Food here is very affordable too though you have to be patient waiting for it as it takes a million years to be served.  

Food & Recreation

If are you are craving for pizza and want to lavish a bit, diss out the usual pizza chains and try UrChoice Bistro Café Restaurant.  They have the best pepperoni pizza that goes best with wine. Ahhh, I can’t resist the cheese sending heaven to my mouth. Don’t miss their buffalo wings and steak boasting imported herbs and spices as well. The owner, a foreigner, is very accommodating and attends to customer first hand. Thanks for bringing Italy in Dapitan man!

Dipolog City Boulevard

Sound Central KTV Lounge, Dipolog City

Now if your appetite demands for street foods, I guess there no other place to go but the Boulevard. The place for loners and lovers and joggers, and eaters (haha), and anyone. Here you can find balut, isaw, betamax, etc, that you can devour while watching the dancing light from homes across the shore. Cafés also abound here. Best of two worlds I would say. Because a few meters away from the mouthwatering grills are coffee shops and restaurants. It’s very cool to jog here to fill your lungs with fresh sea air. And if you are lucky, you can join Zumba sessions to burn the calories of the sumptuous meal you had.

For groups on a budget who want a room for themselves to rip their vocal chords and drink like hell, I would suggest Sound Central KTV Lounge. At 450php in two hours you can have a big place to rock on and get wasted. It is just very close to the Boulevard. Okay here’s what you really want to know. They have thousands to choose from on the songbook (though not really all of the song I fancy is there) and screaming sound system. 

Oopsie! I hope to end here but the most awaited announcement on airports has just been said: “Guest of____ we regret to inform that your flight has been delayed….”

What the!

Others

Best to Enjoy by Day

Fifteen minutes away from Diplog is Dapitan where the Phil National Hero was exiled. Oh! history rant detected. Anyway, for a day visit, a historical tour to Rizal Heritage Site must be on the checklist just like any History classes. Hehe.. It is just cool to catch a glimpse of the past in a confused present…

If Bohol has their river cruise, Dapitan has cruise boating too. Allowing guests to enjoy not only foods that wakes hypertension but the pristine water and breathtaking splendor of the island while the fresh breeze brushed your face.

For island hoppers, skip not Buay Island trips. You will surely be amazed of the corals and the sea life in general. Go snorkeling! Go diving!

Night or day Dakak Beach Resort has made it to tourister’s list since a long time ago.

Best at Night

Gloria de Dapitan is not a strange place in Dapitan. It’s actually one of its main attractions. Fun and spooky rides at Fantasy Land is a love by children and children at heart alike. If you are into art and enjoys theatre presentations Gloria de Dapitan has it as well.

Finally, if you are a coffeeholic like me, then you might also fancy visiting the hub for Italy’s best Coffee, Lavazza!


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