Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel

We purchased pizza to share with friends in the billiards room, after seeing people eat there the night before and we were told to take our pizza and go back to our rooms and not in a very nice manner and we paid 300 PHP to use the facilities that was wasted because we couldn’t use :(

What an epic place to stay! The grounds are very large with a regal luxurious feeling all around. I got the background that it is owned by the Marcos family and was used to entertain in the 70's and 80's. Breakfast is a nice buffet and generous to guests as well. The casino has since relocated but the history on the property gave me perspective about the country. Highly recommended stay for families or travelers with an interest in Philippines history.

Everything was good including the services..... The only problem we noticed inside the room is the smell of mold & mildew, we wish at least there is an air freshener, Bath towels are really worn out or shall i say shabby towels & there's no hand or face towel at all.

Significant negative: basic room interior is like a budget hotel. The toilets for both the basic and deluxe rooms and aged, poorly kept, dark and requires urgent attention! Fort Ilocandia gives the impression of a once-grand hotel that has unfortunately seen better days with photos of the Marcos’s welcoming international dignitaries in the 1980-es. The initial entry is impressive, with a grand lobby and three chandeliers creating an air of old-world grandeur. However, as you walk further inside, the very dark, poorly lit corridor leading to the concierge desk feels quite depressing. The concierge staff were reasonably efficient, but our stay was marred by major issues with our room, which I’ll outline below. The main building’s large check-in area features charming old floor tiles and a lounge that doubles as the breakfast area. Our original room, 365, was the basic room and a poor lodgings. The room is located in a separate building—a pleasant walk through a beautifully landscaped outdoor area designed with a strong Spanish influence, centered around a courtyard with a working fountain. First Room (365): We were initially assigned Room 365 but had to request a transfer due to multiple issues: •Mould on the showerhead. • The veranda door would not shut properly. • The metal fixture for the bath/shower diverter was broken. • Towels were ragged, frayed, and looked more suitable as cleaning rags. Second Room (555): We were moved to Room 555 which was a deluxe on the first floor, which was a noticeable improvement: • Wooden floors and a cleaner, slightly fresher feel. • Minimal wall decor—just one painting—and no headboards on the beds. • A pleasant view of the inner courtyard filled with flowers. However, the bathroom still lacked basic amenities: • No hanging hooks behind the door. • No soap tray. • No provided toiletries beyond basic soap. • The towels remained rough and worn, though we requested and received newer ones. • The bathtub was lower than usual (easier to get in and out of) but the tiles and fittings were visibly aged and in need of renovation. Breakfast was reasonable but inconsistent: Juices were artificial (“fake” juices) and infused water was available. About five hot dishes were offered: beef, garlic chicken, hotdogs, broccoli, rice, and noodles.There was an egg station; the vegetarian omelette was average, with chunks of cheese rather than grated cheese mixed in.The beef was good, the chicken was dry, hotdogs were poor quality, broccoli was limp, and the noodles and rice were average.Limited fruits at the salad table: just underripe yellow papaya and ripe watermelon along with a few salad components. A small dessert section featured banana cake, jelly, and sago cake. Facilities: A free 30-minute massage in a massage chair was a nice bonus. The gym was disappointing, with a strong smell, outdated appearance, and poorly maintained equipment. The pool was large (likely around 50 meters) and the beach had grey sand with reasonable swimming conditions, but it’s not the picturesque tropical beach you might expect in northeast Luzon. Fort Ilocandia still retains glimpses of its former grandeur but desperately needs maintenance and updates. While the landscaping and setting have charm, the room conditions, facilities, and service standards fall well short of what you would expect from a top resort.

The place is old. The room has strange smell, smells like mold that gave me an allergy. But the staff are nice and courteous.

Rooms are large but a bit weathered. Can use some upgrades. They don’t give you hand towels. You have to ask for them. Air conditioner in room is noisy. Sink was leaking. Reported it but it was not addressed. Grounds are nice. Pool is large. Beach area was dirty. They need to keep it clean. They need more trash bins around the property.

It still carries the elegance of its former glory.

Overall great experience! Plenty of amenities around the resort such as archery, golf driving range, atv 4x4, billiards, gym etc. The room was cleanly and the staff was very much accommodating. Would highly recommend FIR

All the staff we encountered were fantastic and dealt with my requests promptly. However the hotel rooms (standard room) are in desperate need of renovation/updates. Our room had lots of damp and we asked to be moved which they did. The pool is clean and the landscape around the hotel is beautiful to walk around. The cafe/restaurant menu was limited and most of the food we wanted to order was unavailable, so we had dinner in an outside restaurant. They also didn’t have any wine which is disappointing for a hotel. It was only on our last night they had some wine. The hotel offers onsite activities at an extra cost and I would recommend doing the 4x4 experience.

NO HOT WATER in Bathroom. Dinner served on cracked and chipped delph....not impressed...at nighttime outside in the dark with no lighting for pathways I ost room card whilst settling my young son out trekking along beach walk, PHP 500 debit.....after paying for 2.5 persons for 2 nights was not impressed by such pettiness.....Food menu poor .