A Much-Needed Staycation at Watergate Hotel Butuan | DEE MAYANG

A Much-Needed Staycation at Watergate Hotel Butuan

Alam mo 'yung feeling na parang pagod na pagod ka na kahit nasa bahay ka lang? Yung tipong kahit naka-work from home setup ka, parang hindi ka makarelax kasi nga... hello, bahay na naging opisina! Ganern. So when the opportunity came up to book a quick staycation with my husband, hindi na kami nagdalawang-isip. We needed this break, kahit one day lang!

Booking the Staycation – Thanks Agoda!

We actually booked our stay at Watergate Hotel Butuan through the Agoda app about a month ago. Nakita ko kasi na may mga deals and discounts, and I’m the type of person who loves saving while still getting value. ‘Yung deluxe room na nakuha namin, it was around ₱3,700+ na lang after all the applied discounts—not bad! Sulit na for a decent hotel stay sa city.

Watergate Hotel is actually one of the most known hotels here in Butuan, and it’s very accessible pa. Kaya talagang perfect for a quick city staycation na hindi hassle.

The Arrival – Sakto sa Oras, Sakto ang Weather

We arrived right on schedule, and guess what? Ang sarap ng weather. It was raining lightly—alam mo ‘yung drizzle lang, enough to make the air cool but not enough to ruin your plans. It wasn’t too hot either, which was a blessing kasi ang init lately, di ba?

Supposedly, ang plan talaga was to get a room with two single beds. Dapat kasi sasama ‘yung pamangkin kong si Miles. But last minute, hindi siya nakasama dahil may practice sila with the team. By the way, our Mobile Legends team is called Brisk Esports—go team! 😂

Date Mode with the Hubby – First Stop: Fulcrum Coffee

So ayun, na-turn into couple mode ang trip na ‘to. Since Miles couldn’t make it, it became a spontaneous quality time moment with my husband. First stop? Fulcrum Coffee!

It’s located just near Watergate Hotel. Ang cozy ng vibe, and the coffee? Chef’s kiss! We ordered our usual—drinks fix plus something to munch on. We took our sweet time enjoying the ambiance and chatting, wala lang... nakakamiss pala ‘yung ganito. When you’re always working, sometimes you forget how relaxing just sitting down and talking can be.

Power Nap Muna Bago Mag-swimming

After Fulcrum Coffee, we went back to the hotel para mag-check in na. The room was clean, well-maintained, and relaxing talaga. Standard amenities, comfy bed, and good lighting—lahat check sa list ko.

Plan talaga namin was to go straight to the pool, but there were a lot of people at that time. Siguro dahil holiday, marami ring guests. Kaya instead of pushing through, we decided to take a nap muna. Alam mo ‘yung 2-hour nap na sobrang sulit? Ganun! Nakaka-refresh.

Evening Dip – Night Swimming Vibes

By around 7 PM, we finally headed down to the pool. And grabe, ang ganda ng view! Hindi siya ganun kalaki compared sa ibang hotel pools like sa Hotel Oazis, pero may charm siya, promise. Ang daming lights around the pool area that made everything feel so calm and elegant.

Hindi man kami naka-day swim, the night vibes gave a different kind of relaxation. May mood na parang gusto mong mag-reflect or mag-date lang ng tahimik. We just swam around, nagkulitan konti, then nag-relax sa poolside. Simple joys pero super sulit.

Street Food Hunt – The Second Plan

After swimming, syempre gutom ulit! 😅 Part two ng plan namin was to go on a street food hunt. Alam mo ‘yung typical Butuan street food? Balut, kwek-kwek, isaw, fishball—lahat gusto namin!

Pero ayun, sad reacts only kasi most of them were closed na, gabi na kasi, so understandable. But that didn’t stop us. We explored the city pa rin until we found Shell Café in front of Guingona Park. They had a small food area inside and we ended up ordering chicken wings from Wing Master. Spicy and crunchy—the way we like it! Perfect pang satisfy ng cravings.

Nag-chikahan lang kami habang kumakain. We talked about random things, laughed about ML games, and just soaked in the moment. That’s what I love about small getaways—it brings you back to the present.

Back at the Hotel – Ending the Day Right

We headed back to the hotel around 9:30 PM, feeling content and full. Pagbalik namin, nag-shower lang, tapos we spent the rest of the night just relaxing in bed. No work, no distractions, just the two of us enjoying the peace.

Walang grand agenda, no big plans, but it was just what we needed.

BUT! Work parin pala at 1AM both of us stayed awake 'til 5AM... HAHAHA

Reflections – Why Mini Staycations Matter

Honestly, this quick staycation reminded me of the importance of taking breaks. As someone who works online, I rarely leave the house. My home is my office. And while it’s practical and comfortable most days, it can also be draining.

You wake up, open your laptop, work the whole day, eat, work again, then sleep—paulit-ulit. That’s why stepping out, even for just one day, can do wonders for your mental health. It resets your mind. Kahit hindi malayo, kahit hindi magastos, as long as you get to breathe and rest outside your usual environment, it's already a win.

Watergate Hotel Butuan – Final Thoughts

Watergate Hotel might not be the newest or most luxurious hotel in Butuan, pero it has something na other places can’t easily give: comfort, convenience, and a local vibe that feels just right. Lalo na kung goal mo lang is to unwind and recharge, it's a great option.

The staff were accommodating, the place was clean, and everything felt safe and secure. Plus, may pool pa and it's near good cafés and restaurants. Fulcrum Coffee was a gem and even our last-minute wing cravings were satisfied thanks to Shell Café.

Would We Come Back?

Definitely, yes! Especially for quick breaks like this. Siguro next time, kasama na si Miles or maybe the rest of our Brisk Esports fam. Or maybe just us again, who knows?

What’s clear to me now is this: mini escapes are not just luxuries—they're necessities.

Tips If You’re Planning a Staycation in Butuan:
✔ Book early on Agoda or any travel app to avail discounts.
✔ Plan your activities pero be flexible—go with the flow!
✔ Bring extra cash and smaller bills (lalo na if may street food cravings ka!)
✔ Choose a hotel near cafes and public places for convenience
✔ Don’t skip on night swimming—iba talaga ang vibe!
✔ Unplug from work. Seriously. Close your notifications and enjoy the moment.

Final Thoughts

This staycation, kahit isang araw lang, gave me that fresh perspective and joy na matagal ko nang hindi nararamdaman. Work will always be there, and responsibilities will keep coming, but moments like this—quiet, simple, and shared with someone you love—are the ones that fill your heart the most.

To anyone feeling drained or stuck: take a break. Kahit one night lang, kahit within the city lang. You deserve it. ❤️

Have you tried staying at Watergate Hotel or had your own mini city staycation? Share your stories with me—I’d love to hear them!

Until the next adventure,
Dee Mayang