Stayhill Resort is staycation central

Stayhill Resort is located along Isa Drive in Papago. (Mark Rabago)

From exclusively catering to tourists, Stayhill Resort has transformed itself into Saipan’s very own staycation central.

Owner Junho Park said the 13-room establishment along Isa Drive in Papago opened a couple of years ago as a bed & breakfast for Korean and Chinese tourists.

The business model was that tourists would stay 2-3 days, taking advantage of Stayhill Resort’s picturesque mountain-side view and private pool. They also have a massage room where tourists can get a relaxing rubdown after an hours-long trip from Korea or China or an exhausting day trip to Managaha Island and a shopping spree at DFS Galleria in Garapan.

Aside from serving as a B&B for tourists, Stayhill Resort was also being used as a waiting lounge for tourists who were about to leave for their home countries, as it’s relatively close to the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.

That all went down the drain when the CNMI stopped welcoming tourists in the first quarter of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged not only world economies, but also the tourist industry.

The 13-room establishment offers private pool parties on weekdays. (Mark Rabago)

That’s when Park decided to pivot to the local market and opened Stayhill Resort last August for staycations at a budget-friendly rate. From a homey B&B and lounge, it’s now open for birthdays, anniversaries, debuts, and just about any celebration every day of the week,

Currently, Stayhill Resort has a weekday (Monday-Thursday) promotion where $300 will allow customers to host their own private pool party for 30 people. It comes inclusive of free use of the swimming pool, barbecue facilities, jacuzzi, kitchen (stove, oven, refrigerators), karaoke, and, as a plus, Park is including the use of two free air-conditioned rooms.

The regular rate is $70 a night, including swimming pool access and/or barbecue party only for those staying overnight (Guests need to pay an entrance fee of $10 for adults and $8 for any minors under 18 years old). Whether weekdays or weekends, Stayhill Resort has a 2pm check in and 12pm checkout times.

Park said the transition from a B&B to a staycation resort couldn’t have been more successful as Stayhill Resort is booked on weekends for the next couple of months. “We’ve been having a lot of customers. In fact, all weekends are now booked until April,” he said.

Stayhill Resort opened a couple of years ago as a bed & breakfast for Korean and Chinese tourists. (Mark Rabago)

Stayhill Resort also has a current promotion for Tinian and Rota customers who are flying to Saipan for a vacation, medical referral, or shopping. The generous promotion is $95/day for one room and comes with a rental car, which includes insurance. It also has free pick-up at the airport and check-in time is anytime they come in (12pm is still the check-out time).

Future plans include importing a live band from South Korea once travel restrictions have been eased, according to Park.

“Please do try our accommodations at Stayhill Resort. It’ll be your home away from home. All of us can’t travel off-island this time due to COVID-19. Please do try a staycation at our establishment. It’s always breezy and in the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life,” said Park, who has made Saipan his home since coming to Saipan as a musician during the 1994 Liberation Day parade.

Reservations at Stayhill Resort require a 50% down. For more information or to make reservations, call Park at 483-9900 or 989-2902.