MANILA, Philippines - We are always excited to see, try, and experience resorts around the Philippines, if only to see for ourselves how much the country has to offer and to further prove that there really is much to offer. Take the case of Crimson Resort & Spa in Mactan, Cebu. It may be one of many resorts in the country but it offers unique experiences not expressed in other destinations.
Why? The minute we stepped inside this six-hectare resort, we immediately felt at home. No adjustments, no need to feel attuned to new things. In fact, the relaxed atmosphere of Crimson was enough to make us claim this as another home but with better, way better, facilities and features.
How could we not love it when our villa, one of 40 within the resort complex, has its own private plunge pool? That is just the starter, as it turned out. Crimson’s room types are Deluxe, Deluxe Garden, Beach Casita, Private Pool Villa, Beachfront Private Pool Villa, and the exclusive Oceanfront Villa, which provides an unhindered view of the ocean.
These 115-square-meter villas feature open plan living rooms with pullout sofa sleepers, spacious bathrooms with sunk-in tubs and separate rain shower, and four-poster canopy, king-size beds. Pretty neat and classy accommodations for people who want to enjoy the most out of their vacation.
As we continued to explore and stroll around Crimson, the attention to detail was unmistakable. Elements of wood, stone, and woven natural Filipino fibers lend a feeling of familiarity, probably a subconscious nod to Filipino homes.
The same pleasant feeling is evident among the Crimson’s staff. As what Crimson Mactan resident manager Kristofer Quadros says, guest engagement is something they really take to heart.
“I think that’s what makes us distinct from the other resorts. We go out of our way to engage with our guests, whether it be for small talk or for assistance,” Quadros says.
We ourselves were witnesses to this guest engagement in Crimson’s food and beverage outlets. The servers were all very pleasant, and very self-assured in dealing with guests of all kinds. The food offerings and choices are appetizing, in fact too appetizing that we had a hard time choosing. But that’s a good problem, and we have no complaints.
For our buffet lunch and dinner, it was at Saffron Café. For more cross-cultural culinary wizardry, there was Tempo. For a more relaxing, sporty atmosphere where we could play pool or darts, it had to be at Score.
“We are coming up with Azure,” Quadros announces. “It will be fully operational in October. That is our new pride and joy. It will be our restaurant and beach bar, a talking point for all of Mactan and Cebu City. There we will be serving a lot of grills, salads, sandwiches. We promise a delightful experience once it opens its doors.”
For those whose appetites rely on water sports and activities, Crimson has them in abundance. The list includes an infinity pool that seems to slide into the ocean, CrimZone for kids, jetskiing and waterskiing, sunset sailing, and other must-do’s that can be arranged with the staff. Crimson’s Fitness Center is just the right place for guests who prefer to exercise indoors, although they are most welcome to do their running around the premises.
We also got to experience Crimson’s award-winning AUM Spa. Now, the rather unusual name stands for “Authentic, Unique, Meaningful,” words used to describe their treatments. These are also descriptions that very well justify themselves during the treatments in the well-appointed, elegant, and comfortable rooms. These therapies are so soothing and extraordinary that one simply has to give AUM Spa a try. We did come out of our therapy feeling like newborn people. Yes, it is that feeling. No wonder AUM Spa earned for itself a place in Agoda.com’s list of most outstanding hotel spas in the world.
“Truth is, Crimson has been the recipient of so many awards recently that we have lost count,” Quadros quips. “I have never won that many awards in my career. I do, however, owe it to our aggressive stance on strategies, revenues, and marketing.”
“We want to be true to our brand touch points. We are identified as young, alluring, entertaining, engaging, contemporary. We want to bring it all together. It’s about engaging guests, creating experiences. The wow factor in whatever we do. We take activities seriously, and get the basics right.”
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Crimson Resort & Spa is located at Seascapes Resort Town, Mactan Island, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. For more information, visit its website at www.crimson.com, call (+63) 32-401-9999 or e-mail at info.mactan@crimsonhotel.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres