By Abigail Javellana
Vitalis Villas is a beautiful Santorini-inspired resort managed by Artstream Hospitality Management Group Inc. It’s Greek-style villas are perched on a mountain cliff, overlooking the beautiful sea and Santiago cove.
We love the resort because of it’s romantic vibe, fine sand, cobalt blue waters, beautiful warm sunset, yummy food, and beachfront location.
Vitalis Villas
Sabangan, Santiago, Ilocos Sur
Facebook: VitalisVillas
Website: www.vitalisresort.com
Telephone: +63 2 3733333
Here’s a photo essay series of our 3-day/2-night experience at Vitalis Villas…
How to Get There
Before, it would take us 12 hours to reach Ilocos. But now, with the NLEX and SCTEX, we took roughly 7 hours to reach our destination with multiple stopovers.
Directions (from website):
Vitalis Villas is 10-minutes away from Manila North Drive, 30-minutes away from Candon City, and 45-minutes from Vigan City.
From San Fernando Airport San Fernando City,
Head north on Airport Rd for 950m,
Turn right toward Pennsylvania Ave for 400m,
Take the 1st right onto Pennsylvania Ave for 290m,
Take the 1st left onto Mabini St for 1.5km,
Turn right onto Ancheta St for 300m,
Turn left onto MacArthur Hwy for 49.9km,
Continue onto National Hwy for 19.6km,
Continue onto Manila North Rd for 20.3km,
Turn left toward Sabangan Bridge for 1.3km,
Finally, Turn left onto Sabangan Bridge for 81m,
Santiago Cove will be on the right
Tip: We used the Waze app all the way to the resort! 🙂
Toll Expenses (Manila – Santiago, Ilocos Sur)
NLEX: Php 215 = Php 430 (2-way)
SCTEX (Dau to Tarlac) Php 104 : Php 208 (2-way)
Gas Breakdown (Fortuner): Php 2500 (2-way) = Php 5000
When we arrived at Vitalis Resort, we can see the 900m stretch of white sand and shoreline.
The Infinity Pool looks amazing! It’s a refreshing site after a long drive.
The best place to hang out is by the pool.
The gang couldn’t help but chill and have drinks.
Across Vitalis Villas is the Vitalis Resort and Spa, where you have access to their fine white sandy beaches and clear waters.
Tip: Ride the free shuttle going to the other resort.
The waters are pretty calm and safe for children to swim.
The fine sand of Santiago Cove.
They have water sports and activities like jet ski, paddle boats, kayak, banana boat, and beach volleyball. 🙂
We also had the opportunity to sample many of their dishes, and these are what we liked…
Vitalis Villa Menu
For breakfast, we loved the Vigan longganisa, tapa, and waffles with butterscotch syrup.
Vigan longganisa is a traditional sausage famous for it’s flavorful, garlicky, and tangy taste. Best paired with their Sukang Iloko (local vinegar).
Pinoy comfort food like their saucy tapa (similar to Rufos).
And crispy waffles drizzled with yummy butterscotch syrup and honey.
Take advantage of reserving the table beside the pool for lunch time. 🙂
For appetizer, we had the Salmon Gravlax. The salmon is cured with salt, sugar and dill. Don’t expect it to taste like smoked salmon though.
Their rum ribs had a pretty big serving (Php 1,200)!
They also have a selection of Greek cuisines. We liked the pizza and Greek hummus with pita wedges.
The pizza is hand-kneaded and cooked using wood fire ovens.
Vegetarians would love the Katuray Pizza. The pizza is topped with katuray, tomato, goat cheese, anchovy, and pecorino cheese. It has a very slight bitter taste that isn’t that noticeable.
Katuray also known as a vegetable of the hummingbird tree. The native Southeast Asian plant is used in vegetable dishes such as Ilokano pinakbet.
We liked the sinful all-meat bagnet pizza topped with the famous Ilokano bagnet, pepperoni, bacon, ham, salami, Italian sausage, and mozzarella.
Ready, Boodle, Fight!
A fun Pinoy boodle fight with a mix of Ilocano favorites on a bed of aligue (crab fat) rice. Chicken adobo, inihaw na bangus, hilabos na hipon, inihaw na porkchop, laing, green mango salad, and minatamis na saging…all complimenting each other perfectly! (Php 1,950)
We recommend you take advantage of their freshly caught seafood like Tuna, Tanigue, and Sea Urchins from the West Philippine Sea.
Order the fresh Kilawin Tanigue (Spanish Mackerel). Kinilaw is raw fish marinated in vinegar. Spanish Mackerel mixed with vinegar, onions, garlic, ginger, calamansi (Philippine lemon) juice, salt, and pepper. It’s commonly eaten as an appetizer or pulutan. (Php 175)
Also, try the Lechon Belly stuffed with karimbuaya.
The dish is prepared using Karimbuaya a cactus like plant, the leaves are thinly sliced, seasoned with garlic, pepper, and salt then rubbed onto the pork belly.
The skin is perfectly crisp, with the dish having this zesty-tangy-garlicky-spicy smell.
The resort becomes lovely at night when all the lights are turned on.
The resort hosts three types of Villas. The rooms are mostly covered in white with a hint of blue.
Wouldn’t it be nice to dream about Santorini?
We like that the rooms are full of sockets near the resting area for charging. 🙂
The 1-Bedroom Villa good for 2 persons including full board meals.
The 1-Bedroom Vitalis Villa (Published Rates: Php 11,450; Super Peak Rates: Php 12,950).
Two-Bedroom Villa good for 4 persons including full board meals (Published Rates: Php 18,900; Super Peak Rates: Php 21,400).
Two-Bedroom Villa with private pool access good for 4 persons including full board meals (Published Rates: Php 20,900; Super Peak Rates: Php 23,400).
Only two villas have access to the private pool…
*Additional occupants are charged Php 1,975 with full board meals and resort activities, and Php 2,750 with full board meals, resort activities, and Vigan Day Tour.
*Children 12 years old and below are free of charge.
All rooms have a kitchen equipped with microwave oven, coffee and tea station, refrigerator, and stove…
…with a spacious shower area and a state-of-the-art toilet with advanced features.
Twin-sized sofa good for one more person to sleep on. 🙂
Also, all rooms have a nice veranda to enjoy the ocean view.
The resort is already finishing the mini-chapel and hall for special occasions.
Apart from checking out the beach, you can check out Vitalis Villas’ very own mini zoo and zip line.
We loved the Zipline from Vitalis Villas to the Vitalis Resort. The view was amazing from up there! (P350)
One of its many attractions is the mini zoo that hosts a few animals, including zebras, camels, donkeys and Shetland ponies.
Tip: The zoo is free for checked-in guests.
The kids enjoyed the ride on Fabio, a miniature Shetland pony.
The ride was very safe with Fabio being graceful, and the staff was very attentive.
Tip: You can take the free half-day Vigan City Tour, complimentary with your stay.
At the end of the our day was a majestic warm sunset that lasts until 6:30 in the afternoon. 🙂
Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Vitalis Villas. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and they have a good selection of dishes, fine calm beaches, and many activities for everyone to enjoy.
We’d definitely come back again to experience our local version of Santorini!
Vitalis Villas
Sabangan, Santiago, Ilocos Sur
Facebook: VitalisVillas
Website: www.vitalisresort.com
Telephone: +63 2 3733333
Live an Awesome Life,
Abi, Boom, and Sean of Our Awesome Planet Team
Disclosure: Our experience was courtesy of Vitalis Villas. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.
P.S. This would be a nice spot for a honeymoon. 🙂
No such thing as Greek Hummus.
correct!
Wow, I have to visit this once in my life time. Everything in blue and white, Rooms are aw-some. and the food really yummy.
is the fee for the activities (kayak etc) included if you’re checked-in in the villa?
Also, will they provide extra mattresses for the additional guests, what’s the maximum for 2-bedroom villa?
Where can we park safely our car while we were booked at your resort?
how and where can i book for reservations?
is vitalis villa and vitalis resort and spa different?
How to book a room and how much/night??
Hello can we have a quick visit to the place for like an hour or 2? and how much would it be (entrance fee)?thank you
Is there any entrance to get in there….
It’s private, so you need to have a booking or you’ll be a guest of an owner.
Hi,
I appreciated your blog. I like your blog and it’s very useful blog.
Thank You for sharing us
Magkano po ang entrance fee ma’am?
Wala namang entrance I think, but it is a private place.
Hello,
informative blog and the very useful blog you have mentioned the blog so well.
many thanks for sharing us
Hi its not true na children 12 years old and below is free of charge. We booked 2br for 4 person. We have additional 3 adult so were 7 adults already. And then we have 2 kids 4 years old and 6 years old. They only allow maximum 8person in 2 br villa. We are required to upgrade for 3br villa just because of an excess 4 years old child. From 18k+ per night. We have to pay 30k per night.
I was xpecting this place to have access in beaches.. but only limited 2 pool..villas hav there own jacuzi but my god. Edges are sharp snd slippery tile flooring w/c is dangerous 2 childrens and seniors and even us..the place is only nice in pictures bt not in reality…disappointed..not value for money