This Bohol resort is a hidden gem that's larger than life
What comes to mind when you think of Bohol? A view of the Chocolate Hills, a hike into the majestic landmasses, or a deep dive into beautiful waters? But have you ever thought of a place to stay where you can also explore the natural beauty of Bohol? Look no further, as this best-kept secret might come as a welcome surprise.
Slightly tucked away but just a few-minute drive from Bohol-Panglao Airport, BE Grand Resort offers a diverse paradise experience in its 189 guestrooms and suites, 19 luxury villas, surrounded by meandering pools, vibrant palm trees, shrubs, and bougainvillea.
Guests are welcomed in a wide lobby filled with leaf-shaped abaca sala setpieces and abaca-basket lampshades, as designed by renowned Cebu-based interior designer Kevin Cobonpue.
Media guests were treated to a stay at the two-storey Grand villa fit for four persons. There, you get a complete living room showcase—a sofa set, cable TV, a refrigerator, and even a coffee maker! Two medium-sized beds for each room, a large bathtub that can fit two people, and shower rooms with sliding doors.
Should you want to go outside, the veranda view is also naturally beautiful—two recliners, a dining set, a view of the lush greenery, and access to a long, swimming pool meant to be shared by villa residents. Guests will also not regret staying in the smaller dream villa or the main building's guestrooms.
Prominent in the resort are the many intersecting pools, which also essentially connect the other resort facilities like a dive pool (which features a see-through window for onlookers), a gym, a game room, a karaoke room, a spa, a water sports center by the sea, and even a souvenir shop.
"The layout of the property is basically connectivity from the villas down to the main pool, down to the main building, to the lobby. So we want to show a continuous flow basically for our guests," BE Grand General Manager Bryan Yves Lasala said about the resort's design.
Guests can also have their gastronomic fill at the homey and breezy ship-themed Bridge Cafe, which you can access by taking the stairs or a long curving bridge with arching lights on. You get a good 180-degree birds-eye view as you enjoy popular protein food like pizza, pasta, and chicken fried rice, with alcoholic fruit drinks on the side.
For a hearty breakfast, visit the Food Hall, which features long tables for a buffet with an Italian restaurant ambiance and an al fresco area that lets you eat while still half-soaked on water. They offer familiar Filipino food like chicken inasal, shrimp, sisig, and their signature self-service halo-halo that is sure to fit most palates.
Meanwhile, you can also visit Lune Bar for cocktails, especially on starry nights. Choose between a dome-shaped glass pavilion or a cube-shaped sala to start those alcohol-filled conversations under a moonlit sky. Drinks are inspired by the Zodiac: pick a sign and be surprised by the good drink that comes with it. You also get a breathtaking, wide view of the blue sea.
What is probably one for the books is a fine-dining experience at The Monkey Bar by Chef Jenzel Fontilla, located at the beachfront and patronized by foreigners and locals alike. It earned its moniker from the monkeys that used to stay on the beach.
Brace yourself for a freshly and meticulously prepared 22-course meal that is different for every set of guests, depending on the day's local ingredients, featuring Boholano and Filipino dishes that will leave every diner a seafood lover. Should you find them in your menu, try their Kilawin sa Pinya, Pancit Udong, Kusakos, and Dirty Salad. Every dish has its story to tell, told passionately by Chef Jenz, carefully crafted by a culinary team that are formerly farmers, carpenters, fishermen, and Boholano natives.
"Si produce ni Bohol, kaya niya makipaglaban sa international ingredients. We've tried it. People tasted it. We've heard good things about it," Fontilla says about the bar food.
The resort, in its decade of existence since 2015, has established itself as a powerhouse, garnering awards such as the Condé Nast Johansens Reader's Award in 2019 and the Best Luxury Hideaway Hotel in the World Luxury Hotel Awards, among others, in 2025.
"BE Grand Resort is not only catering to the local standards of hospitality, [but] we also observe, and we practice and implement international standards of hospitality service," Lasala said. Those awards were given as proof that BE Grand can complete and meet the standards of international brands worldwide.
BE Grand Resort stands as a premier destination at the beating semi-urbanized heart of Panglao. While relatively unknown outside Bohol, it stands like a diamond in a rough; all it takes is the refining fire of experience—and a good night’s stay—to fully appreciate the quiet beauty it holds.