Saud Beach Resort and Hotel is one of those resorts located at Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. And it is strategically built along the fine beach of Pagudpud. It can be a jump-off point to other scenic views, creeks, lagoons, falls, caves and other attractions. It was named as one of the ten best beaches in Asia by Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun newspaper of Australia by its veteran travel writer and photographer John Borthwick.

All rooms in the Resort are air-conditioned and fully furnished with uniquely-designed bamboo and rattan furniture and fixtures. They also have a refrigerator and cable television. Some rooms have a veranda overlooking the famous Saud cove. All bathrooms have hot and cold shower facilities. Selected suite rooms also have a bathtub. Services include laundry and pressing, a 24-hour standby generator, 24-hour security, and foreign exchange. They have a dining area where you can order food.

Pagudpud is 548 km from Manila and 75 km from Laoag City. Take the North Expressway at Balintawak and get off at Dau exit. Head for the coastal road. You will pass by Angeles City, Tarlac, Urdaneta, Pozzorubio, and Rosario. Proceed further north, past San Fernando (La Union), Vigan (Ilocos Sur), and Laoag (Ilocos Norte). Take the road towards Cagayan to reach Pagudpud. It is the fifth town from Laoag City.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse towers 386 feet on a hill and is the tallest in the country. It was built in 1892 by the Spanish government to guide the galleon ships. It is 550 kilometers away from Manila or about 12 hours by land but only a few minutes away from the famous white sand beaches of Pagudpud. The lighthouse has a spiral staircase and 82 steps leading to the tower. The secluded and lonely location is a feature that all lighthouses share.

Today, the guiding light was replaced by a new technology. Solar panels provide energy to illuminate the light which is turned on automatically by a light-sensitive device. Some says that there are three white lights flash every five seconds. The original lens was damaged by an earthquake in 1990, but several rotating mechanisms are intact. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse is the most visited in the country.

The long hours of travel from Manila to Ilocos was not as tiring as you would imagine. The road to Ilocos was paved. Thanks to the late former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who came from that province (No wonder Ilocanos loved him). However, the road may seem endless especially when you are traveling alone or when your companions sleep throughout your journey.

Laoag - capital of Ilocos Norte. At the midst of its city proper, you can already see a number of key attractions:

1. Sinking Bell Tower - It sunk due to its weight. You will see that its entrance is already half-buried

2. Cathedral of St. William - It is a big church and with a big yard area

3. Plaza Complex - There you shall see the Abolition of Tobacco Monopoly Monument, Ilocos Norte Capitol and the Ilocandia Museum

4. La Paz and Suba Sand Dunes – Just outside the city, you can eye these favorite movie settings for local and foreign films

Garlic can also be seen sold here abundantly. You can see tobacco fields along the highway. Do not forget to pass by Batac where you shall see the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum. Be the judge whether it is the real body of Mr. Ferdinand Marcos which lay in the Mausoleum.

There’s also Paoay, where Malacañang of the North is situated. Witness the grandeur of the Palace overlooking the Lake Paoay . It was Marcos’ summer residence. Another famous attraction here is the Paoay Church , known for its mixed Spanish and oriental architecture.

Sarrat, Dingrass, San Nicolas, Balarra (which has a leaning tower) and Badoc house old churches. The Juan Luna Shrine, originally the home of the famous painter, is at Badoc.

On the way up north is the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, a pretty quaint structure atop a hill. Then just off the main road is the Bangui Windmills. It used to generate electricity for a huge span of area. It was an impressive site with the ocean as its backdrop.

Riding farther up north is Pagudpud. Its white sand beaches can rival that of Boracay. A resort you can try to check into is the Saud Beach Resort and Hotel. Experience the splash of big waves and the crisp wind on your face. However, be careful and take note of the deep ocean floor. Swimming here is not for amateurs. You may also get the chance to buy from the locals newly caught fishes early in the morning and see the bancas line up the shores as the fishermen alight with their catch.

Then, a few more minutes and you can already reach the Patapat Viaduct, sitting at the edge of a seaside cliff.

Situated at the heart of Vigan City specifically at Mena Crisologo and Gen. Luna Streets, is the ancestral house of the Crisologos, the Cordillera Inn. Owned and managed by Carmeling Crisologo, a former Governor of Ilocos Sur, Cordillera Inn is sometimes referred to by others as Crisologo Inn.

Out of our many destinations in Ilocos, we decided to spend our first day and night at Vigan City. Cordillera Inn was our first choice to rest our tired bodies due to our long travel. I found out about this Inn in the internet and we decided to book early to avoid hassles and hoping that they will give us discounts or freebies and they did.

Our room was simple but the simplicity blended perfectly with the old house. It was located in the second floor. There were some old but interesting paintings in this inn. We had our breakfast and lunch at the ground floor where the dining area was located. We ate longanisa and fried egg for breakfast while “Bagnet” and “Pakbet” were served for lunch. We had our dinner in a nearby restaurant.

I will not forget one of the employees of this Inn because she was very kind and accommodating. She answered all our questions about the different places to visit in Vigan and even in our next destination, Laoag City. She told us that there was souvenir shop where we can have our pictures taken wearing Spanish clothes; the Pagburnayan where traditional burnay jars of different designs, shapes, and sizes are made; the Baluarte, which is a mini zoo owned by former Governor Luis Chavit Singson; and the Father Burgos Museum that contains memorabilia of Father Burgos, to name a few. And to top it off she even offered to buy us “Bagnet” and told us that we can pick it up on our way back home.

Cordillera Inn is also an excellent spot to shop for souvenir items. Once you get out of this inn you can see the souvenir shops that line-up the Crisologo Street and you need no transportation because all of these shops are within walking distance. Feel the relaxed atmosphere and be transported back during the Spanish times here at Cordillera Inn.

Vigan, the capital city of Ilocos Sur, is the best place to reminisce the Spanish era. With the Spanish architectural design of the houses, hotels, shops, and restaurants, this place should indeed belong to the UNESCO World Heritage List. You should check in at a hotel along the Crisologo Street, where you can enjoy the view of the heritage village and enjoy strolling on the cobblestone walkways. Try Cordillera Inn –friendly staff and comfy rooms and pleasant hotel atmosphere in and out.

Places to visit are:

1. Syquia Mansion (Belongs to former president Elpidio Quirino)
2. Cirsologo Museum
3. Burgos Museum (Originally the home of Father Jose Burgos of Gomburza)
4. Quema House
5. Cathedral of Saint Paul
6. Archbishop Palace (with a museum of priceless colonial art)
7. Pagburnayan (Jar-Making) Factory
8. Plaza Burgos - has stalls serving Ilocos known Empanadas, Bibingka and Kalamay.
9. Baluarte – a mini zoo owned by Gov. Luis Chavit Singson.

The glorious way to visit these sites is to ride a calesa. It will take you to where you want to go and what a charming way to tour the town.

If you’re into Visita Iglesias during the Holy Week, Ilocos Sur boasts of old churches in Sta. Lucia, Candon, Narvacan, Bantay, San Vicente, Magsingal and Sinait. There are sandy beaches and caves, too. Sinait is also known for good quality garlic. The famous Tirad Pass is in Gregorio Del Pilar town.

A 10-minute drive from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Baluarte is the private zoo of the former governor Chavit Singson, which he willingly openned to the public. It was built along rolling terrains, hills and mountain sides, giving the place the most natural look it can possibly have for its animals. It has a number of domestic animals like monkeys, chickens, large lizards (bayawak) and rare bird species which can only be found there. This is the only zoo in the Philippines with a large number of white deers. Plus, entrance and use of its facilities are for free.
As you enter this enclosed paradise, allow the monkeys, orangutans and the birds to welcome you. These animals are just at the entrance. Be awestruck by their tricks and jolly disposition. You can freely interact with them. A few steps away is a wide field where ostriches, camels and deers walk freely. Remember not to tease the ostriches for they would surely run after you..., literally. Horses gallop in their own big fenced field. Baluarte offers a free mini horse ride called "tiburin". Cages are lined up in one area where several other animals reside.
Four times daily, a live animal show is held where educational topics and survival instincts of animals are taught to viewers. There is also a haven reserved for the different species of butterflies. At the landscaped butterfly garden, it is peaceful to gaze at how these winged insects flutter around you. All these are still for free.
There are even picnic areas here where you can bring your own food. Comfort rooms are also available. You can see the big house built on a hilltop that was said to have a mesmerizing view of Vigan City all the way to the South China Sea. This was used to be a resthouse of Singson.
This place is indeed a sanctuary not only for animals but also for people who want to unwind and have a close encounter with the different species. You can also consider this a park where you can leisurely stroll around the grassy hills, then stop and smell the flowers...