Hotel Review: The Irresistible Charm of Grandpa's Inn in Vigan

It wasn’t until we went to Vigan City that I got so charmed by a hotel.

Ilocos Sur was our last stop for our Ilocos trip—a 4D3N escapade with a compact DIY itinerary designed to visit all the major spots and attractions of this Northern province. After a rigorous tour in Paoay and Batac, we went straight to Vigan and braved the 3-hour travel time, hoping we could get there just in time for a lights show supposedly carried out in the city park. When we got there, it was raining and the park was devoid of people.

We hadn’t arranged our Vigan accommodation prior to coming there, so we asked the tricycle driver to take us around while we check out the hotels near Calle Crisologo. After a few fully-booked and too-expensive ones, we stumbled upon Grandpa’s Inn at the far end of Bonifacio Street.

A heritage-house-turned-hotel, Grandpa’s Inn has a charming, quaint façade that instantly invites. While others exude a slightly spooky air—like the one we stayed in in Laoag—this one particularly did not; instead it seems to call you out to check out its insides. We hopped off the trike and told manong to wait as we inquire about the room availability and prices. One look into the price list and one glance at the reception and I knew we were staying for the night.



Interiors and Ambience

I have a special fondness towards collecting keepsakes from special moments of my life—trophies, utensils, pieces of paper, candy wrappers that remind me of a precious day, cards, notes—so when I saw how full of knickknacks Grandpa’s Inn was, I couldn’t help but smile and feel a bit of connection. Old typewriters and sewing machines … who knows? Maybe used by the grandmas and great grandmas who used to live here? Alarm clocks, telephones, musical instruments. Ornate bells and spoons from all over the world. Each object seems to tell a story, and I wondered what it was for each of them.

The reception was decorated with lamps and urns and paintings that would make you stare for minutes. On the far right, the stairs leading to the second level. Beside the creaky wooden staircase is a space where an old piano, violins, trumpets and horns were displayed, along with vintage bikes, plates and other novelties.

Guests would be entranced by the detail and intricacy of it all. The staircase leads to the second floor, in which a pair of chairs beside a window greeted us—a perfect spot to scout what’s happening down the street. The second-floor common hall had a complete sala set, with mahogany furniture and a center table—this spot also had the strongest wifi signal.

Grandpa's Inn was so nostalgic and homey, that if we only had more than one day left for our trip, I would've chosen just to be lazy all day long and stay in. 


The Room

I have nothing bad to say about the room (Standard Airconditioned, PhP1,780 or PhP890/head) we were billeted into at Grandpa’s Inn. I’ve read that each room is uniquely designed, and ours had these 2 comfortable single beds flanking a bedside table designed like a sewing machine. Brick walls, elaborate lamps, and a metal ornate “closet” completed the ambience. Above the door was a flat screen cable TV, situated so that you could watch shows as you wait for sleep to come.

The bathroom was really nice, unlike the ones from Laoag and Pagudpud. The water supply was strong. Soaps and shampoo were provided, along with other toiletries. The rain shower was working fantastic.



Dining

The owners of Grandpa’s Inn also run three restaurants conveniently located within and near the hotel itself. Kusina Felicitas is the more “formal” (but still casual) choice—with a menu composed mostly of local dishes, meant for family-style consumption. Uno Grille offers sizzling and grilled dishes; Café Uno is the place to run to when you’re craving for pasta, cakes, and coffee.


The room fee includes free breakfast provided by Kusina Felicitas; you get to choose among its Filipino breakfast options (ulam, garlic rice, fried egg, side vegetables, coffee, juice). Since you’re in Ilocos, I would suggest going for the longganisa sets, but if you’re not a fan of this, there are other options for you.


It was in this hotel where I got to try some of the best food during my entire Ilocos trip. In fact, I would say the Grandpa’s Inn restaurants, collectively, is my top 2 restaurant (Kapuluan Vista Resort being #1).

For a full review of the dishes I’ve tried from the 3 restaurants, check out this post.



Location, Facilities and Service

Grandpa’s Inn is conveniently located a short walk away from Calle Crisologo—so travelers who are planning to start their tours early or those who want to take photos of the heritage street at night will be incredibly happy.

A souvenir shop is just right across the street (also owned by Grandpa’s Inn), where tourists can purchase pasalubong like shirts, handmade bags, slippers, linen and ... the omnipresent key chain! LOL!

Service is generally friendly, the staff highly trained. You would always catch one or two people at reception ready to hear your questions or requests. Even the restaurant staff is efficient—the ladies especially could manage to gossip and attend to guests at the same time, haha!


The Verdict

Comfort is perhaps the ultimate factor we look for when it comes to choosing a place to stay in. Sometimes, because of budget constraints, we have to make choices and either pay extra or settle with distasteful experiences, but I found that in Grandpa’s Inn, there was no need for that. This hotel is the product when comfort, value for money, great customer experience, good food, and beauty all come together.

Personally I don’t need fancy trimmings—after all, I would only be spending a couple of hours sleeping in my room and the rest of the day out sightseeing—but at Grandpa’s Inn everything felt too fancy for its price. It felt like being in a posh hotel amidst a humble city, and the nice intricate touches add depth to the whole experience. Grandpa’s Inn was well worth the price—a home away from home indeed. I highly recommend it and I would definitely come back.



~*~
Grandpa's Inn - Vigan City
#1 Bonifacio St. cor. Quirino Blvd., Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
+6377.722.2118; fax: +6377.632.0987
+63917.580.2118
reservation@grandpas-inn.com
Rooms and Rates: click here
Other services: Catering, city tours, massage, laundry, rent-a-car


Have you been to Grandpa's Inn? How was your experience?

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2 comments :

  1. We love Grandpa's Inn! We stayed there about 3 years ago and we really enjoyed it. The rooms with kalesa beds are really cool. The hotel is said to be haunted though haha. Did you try some of the more exotic dishes at Uno Grille like ant larvae and fish roe? Next time we go back to Vigan, we're definitely staying there again. :)

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  2. Oo nga ang ganda ganda nya diba nakakainis haha! Ako wala naman nafeel na nakakatakot. LOL. I was not able to try the exotic food! Sayang!

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