Aziza, a paradise in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines - Aziza, so we are told, is associated with a nature deity. Well, that connection will be extending itself to mean the luxurious new hotel in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan called Aziza Paradise Hotel.

If we go by what Aziza Paradise Hotel owner and general manager Benedict Lee Dy Tecklo, the hotel wants to reflect what Palawan is all about: nature. The references are rife and ripe with nature- and Palawan-inspired architecture and designs within Aziza. The exotic flora of the island covers both ceiling and walls, while the famous Underground River became the inspiration for Voda Bar’s design and layout.

Dy Tecklo relates that the entire hotel itself has become instantly appealing to travelers both near and far. Since their soft opening in July 2013, Aziza Paradise Hotel quickly became a hot topic. To this day, he is amused and encouraged by the way things turned out.

“We originally envisioned this hotel to have 89 rooms only,” he begins. “However, upon closer inspection, we realized that there is a three-meter elevation difference at the back of the property. We deemed it wiser to rearrange things, so we now have 125 rooms with four villas in this 27,770 square-meter property. Each of the villas has its own private pool.”

One cannot miss that piece de resistance of a swimming pool. At 375 square meters, the pool shows off an entirely new personality at night with its colored lights and dancing fountains. There is a Viz Pool Bar and its selection of beverages, cocktails, and liquors to complete the experience.

Meanwhile, the rooms are divided into Pool View and Non-Pool View rooms.  The Pool View rooms are classified into deluxe room, family room, presidential/honeymoon suite, and family suite (two rooms). The Non-Pool View rooms are configured into superior premier/twin, deluxe room, family room, and villa. The latter includes two rooms, a private pool, a grill/barbecue area, a kitchen, a driver, and a butler. A private chef can also be requested if one is so inclined. The rest of the room types come with hot and cold shower, television sets, and coffee- and tea-making facilities, among others.

Dy Tecklo recommends more fun Aziza Paradise Hotel facilities during the course of one’s stay. Should one ever ignore the need to feed? Good thing there is the delightful in-house Demeter Diner, so named, fitting enough, after the Greek goddess of harvest. Demeter Diner serves up a bumper crop of traditional and regional Filipino dishes, authentic Chinese cuisine, and international fusion cuisine. Demeter Diner offers themed buffets on Friday nights: barbecue, Filipino dishes, Italian cuisine, and Mexican cooking.

If a little more laidback is the order of the day, then Aziza has Kahve Brew. Its hot and cold beverage selections, from hot lattes to frozen frappes, and tempting cakes and pastries are just the perfect ingredients to a relaxing time. And yes, there is free Wi-Fi access (the Internet is at 6Mbps) within the hotel.

For the night owls (meaning, humans and not Palawan’s feathered friends), they already know that Aziza’s Voda Bar is the most happening place in the city. For its Chill Out Nights, Monday to Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., there is a live DJ every night, dropping the latest party music, as well as stand-up comedians and acoustic sets. The place is huge, so there is much legroom for dancing and partying.

The general manager says that aside from relaxation and recreation, Aziza is also tipped to become the go-to venue for conventions, conferences, meetings, weddings, and other gatherings. “Our convention center can accommodate as much as 2,000 at a given time and 1,200 for a round-table set-up. The entire center is collapsible to three smaller rooms, which is great for mini seminars and intimate events.” These three areas are called Le Plautus, La Terza, and Las Opez. One cannot help noticing the venue’s massive 3x5 meter LED screen for high-definition audio-visual presentations.

“While Aziza is enough reason for guests to stay in, we also encourage them to appreciate the beauty of Palawan as well. Should guests choose, we will arrange special activities for them, such as island-hopping and other tourist destinations,” he adds.

Island-hopping, he says, is the most popular activity in Palawan, particularly to weekend travelers who want to experience more than just dry land. Cowrie Island is a perfect spot to visit: the island is less than 10 minutes away from the Honda Bay dock, and provides visitors with enough sun, sea, and sand to satisfy their trip.

Dy Tecklo declares that more is in store in 2014, with Conquer Your Fear activities already in the pipeline. “Soon, there will be wall-climbing facilities inside the hotel. Who says the fun only begins outside?” he quips. “We also take security seriously in the hotel, which is why we are the only one in Palawan to have installed 79 CCTV cameras.”

At the end of the day, he states, Aziza Paradise Hotel is here to showcase the best of Filipino hospitality and global competitiveness, stressing that the warmth and dedication of their staff is matched by their expertise in the field of guest satisfaction. We have experienced all these things first-hand, and are happy to declare that Aziza promises to be the paradise in Palawan one is dreaming of.

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Aziza Paradise Hotel is located at BM Road, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. For more information, call (+63) 048-4342405, (+63) 917-5801198 or (+63) 998-9833220; e-mail at aziza.palawanmktg@gmail.com or aziza.palawan@gmail.com; or log on to www.azizaparadise.ph or www.facebook.com/AzizaParadiseHotel.