PANGLAO, Bohol -- After the success of the Best Western Ivywall in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, another property from the same group has sprung up in another vacation paradise, this time in the Visayas.

The Best Western Plus Panglao The Ivywall Resort has the distinctive hallmarks of a high-end hotel resort. The newly opened four-star hotel is the only one in Bohol affiliated with an international brand.

Dataland Inc., the group behind the Best Western Ivywall hotels, is clearly bullish about tourism in the Visayas. After their hotel in Puerto Princesa, Dataland has built a deserving follow-up with this Panglao resort. Careful planning ensured that the resort is 100% compliant with all the environmental laws of the island with regards to water, electricity, easement clearance from the ocean. The resort even has its own water treatment facility making it fully sustainable.

Like its Puerto Princesa sibling, the hotel is a short drive from the modern Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Dataland is optimistic about the influx of vacationers from more routes coming to enjoy the local beaches and attractions.

In contrast to the Palawan hotel, the Best Western Plus the Ivywall Resort is built on a wide and sprawling area, with an access road from the main Panglao circumferential road. The sea breeze from Alona Beach flowing through welcomes guests into the hotel’s open airy lobby.

The hotel features amenities like a gym, a spa, three function rooms, and a children’s play area. Of note is the massive swimming pool with a bar and a special water section for kids. The back portion of the hotel opens up to the beach.

The resort’s 80 premium rooms are spacious and feature Boholano woven mat art above its beds. We recommend getting rooms that overlook the beach as sipping a favorite drink on the balcony is one of the best ways to breathe in this beach paradise. The premium rooms on ground floor have direct access to the pool.

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The resort features two main restaurants. Alon is the all-day dining outlet. The breakfast buffet is served on the open-air ground floor while the upper section is an air-conditioned lounge where one can go for a cup of coffee or after-hours libations.

When the sun goes down, Alon invites the island’s popular music acts to jam with diners. For a more romantic evening, step out into Teraza, the hotel’s view deck bar, to savor tapas against the backdrop of the Panglao sunset.

The restaurants serve Filipino tropical cuisine by renowned chef Sau Del Rosario. Flavors from the Visayas are showcased in the menu like the Chicken Halang Halang, with strong flavors of lemongrass and ginger.

There is an international section for guests from out of town. The servings are quite generous and can be good for two people. The Kimchi Beef Bowl, for instance, is properly spicy and is sure to please Korean guests.