Ask any local from Negros Oriental or Negros Occidental and they’ll say that Sipalay, a city at the border of the latter has one of the best white-sand beaches on the entire island. This fact isn't much known, except for the Negrenses. But with the opening of the five-star hotel Manami Resort, the under-the-radar gem that is Sipalay won't be as hidden anymore. So far, it's the first and only luxury hotel in the city.
LOOK: Manami Resort in Sipalay, Negros Occidental
Manami Resort has 16 cozy villas in four different categories: the Two-Bedroom Villa, Deluxe Villas, Poolside Suites, and Oceanview Suites, so there's one that fits every budget. All the rooms pretty much have the same amenities; but the differences of each come down to the size, the views, pool access, and privacy.
For example, the Deluxe Villa is a 57-square-meter room with a king-sized bed, that can fit up to three people. Right by the foot of the bed are sliding doors that lead to a balcony with a small table and a swing for lounging, and of course, a view of the ocean to wake up to.
The only other room with an ocean view is the 50-square-meter Oceanview Suites. As for the other rooms, the Poolside Suites is a 50-square-meter room that has a pool right outside the door, while the Two-Bedroom Villa is a 173 sqm room with its own infinity pool.
What to Do
It's convenient that there are activities that you can do at Manami Resort, aside from lounging on the beach or eating at their restaurant, Lingaw. There's the state-of-the-art Linong Spa that's built on the very peak of a hilly forest.
The best part about Linong Spa, aside from the excellent masseuses, is that there's no need to play ambient sounds from a sound system as the faint crashing sounds of the waves can be heard from the air-conditioned spa rooms.
If you want something a little more active but still scenic, Manami Resort has this distinct feature and advantage of having an in-property bat cave. The entrance to the cave is right by the main lobby, and as you walk through its short path, it will lead you right to the crashing waves of the beach. From there, if it's low tide, you can easily wade back to the shore.
You can rent a kayak or snorkeling gear. The swimmable parts of the beach are mostly covered in seaweed, so it would be best to rent aqua shoes if you're not bringing your own. There's also an option to take a dip in the infinity pool, which is best if the beach currents are quite strong.
What to Do
There's really not much to do in Sipalay, except for lounging on their white sand beaches and beautiful islands. This also reflects the laid-back vibe of the city. Manami Resort has boats that can take you to Tinagong Dagat, where you can go swimming; and Campomanes Bay where you can go snorkeling and live out your Little Mermaid fantasies and see ocean life. Afterwards, the boat can take you to the mangrove trail. Manami Resort can set up a lunch picnic on the shore.
Where to Eat
The resort's restaurant, Lingaw, has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the infinity pool and the beach. As stunning as the views are in the restaurant, the Negrense cuisine-centered food is visually pleasing, too.
Out of the many Negrense dishes at Lingaw, of course, it's the kansi and inasal that are the bestsellers. They took the no-frills, no-fuss, straightforward approach when it came to their Kansi (P800): tender beef shanks cooked with jackfruit, chili peppers, and its souring agent, batuan. But it's with the inasal that they got creative: the introduction of the Boneless Chicken Inasal (P450/half chicken). Instead of the usual grilled chicken, the resort's version has a crunchy batter coating the marinated chicken. There's even no need to douse your inasal with chicken oil, a common practice when dining in Bacolod eateries like Manokan Country and Chicken House.
Aside from the resort's two famous Negrense dishes, Lingaw also has an unforgettable Kinilaw de Negros (P420). This is a raw seafood salad made with antique, local vinegar, coconut milk, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and salted egg. It's a great, light starter before you devour the Kansi and Boneless Chicken Inasal.
It's hard picking more favorites because almost all of the dishes, desserts, and drinks we've tried at Lingaw we're great. But we do have to give a special nod to their amazing Manami Cheeseburger (P480) that you need to try with their House Fries or Potato Chips; and the Chicharong Bulaklak (P380) that is air-flown from Spain, and the complimentary brownies they serve to your room.
How to Get There
Although Manami is part of Negros Occidental, the resort is closer to the Dumaguete airport than the Bacolod airport. It takes around three hours and a half if you're coming from Dumaguete; while if you're coming from Bacolod, it's 30 minutes longer. For the most part, the car ride swiftly passes through a highway, but there are unpaved parts as you approach the resort.
Manami Resort is in Barangay Cayhagan, Sipalay, Negros Occidental. Rates start at P18,000. For more information, visit Manami Resort's website.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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