my sister and I at the White Island in Camiguin

This post is another “way-overdue-cuz-I’ve-been-so-effin-busy” type of thing and I feel sooo bad for not having the time to update my blog. But it’s better late than never right? I’m feeling the summer heat already and it’s time to be reminded of how much fun you can do under the sun. Last year, I spent some quality time with my dear sister who’s from the UK. Whenever she goes home, she’s always dying to go beachbummin’ because apparently, bright sunny days in the UK are quite rare. We went down South and explored the beautiful island of Camiguin. Did you know that this place was actually formed through volcanic eruptions? So yes, there are a number of dormant volcanoes in this island. Aside from the wonderful white beach, I will never forget the tourist sites we visited such as the sunken cemetery, the ruins of Gui-ob church, soda pool and cold spring, Katibawasan falls, and the clam shell sanctuary. We also had a chance to go snorkeling at the Mantigue island’s fish sanctuary (heaven for my sister!). Camiguin is a perfect combination of R&R with educational tours that will surely excite history nerds like me and my sister. Kudos to my reliable travel agent who recommended our resort (thanks Michelle!). We stayed at the “Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin”. Here’s my review.

FACILITIES/ROOM: Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin (quite a handful to say though) may sound “so typical”, but when we got there, it’s way beyond just typical… and their website did it justice. Hehe. We stayed at a deluxe cottage of cluster A which is right next to the spa, the pool and very near the restaurant. Deluxe cottages are designed to look like nipa huts with a modern twist. What I love about their cottages is that it gives you that rustic feel without compromising comfort and style. Our aircon cottage has two (2) double beds, a small living area, cable tv, a spacious bathroom, your very own lanai and an overall double-height ceiling that gives you that spacious feel. It can accommodate up to 4 persons.

Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin cottages

 RESTAURANT: Resorts in Camiguin are so far apart from each other so hopping from one resto to another (Boracay style) is quite rare. But that’s ok! Bahay Bakasyunan boasts of a beautifully designed restaurant by the beach. And yes, dining under a tree amidst the solitude and awe-inspiring sunset is possible. Their menu has both Filipino and international dishes that cater to your cravings, and best of all, they’re not that expensive. Breakfast is served buffet style and even though the choices are limited, it’s good enough to keep your morning mood happy. There’s also free Wi-Fi access.

BEACHFRONT: Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin (as with all other resorts) is by the beach BUT there is no sandy shoreline to walk on. Visitors travel to White Island and Mantigue Island to enjoy a perpetual stretch of white sand bars. See the “must-try” activities below!

HOW TO GET THERE: Oh my, we will never forget how difficult it was to get there! My sister and I didn’t realize that it could actually take almost half a day to travel to Camiguin. First you take the plane (Cebu Pacific) bound for Cagayan de Oro. When we got in Cagayan de Oro, their official airconditioned van fetched us. We travelled for almost 2 hours going to Balingoan port. At the port, we took a Ro-Ro heading to Benoni port for almost an hour. At the Benoni port, another airconditioned van fetched us going to Bahay Bakasyunan resort and it took 20 minutes. When we got there, we were so effin’ tired! Haha. But it’s ok because the trip was all worth it.

PRICE: Our whole package for 2 pax with airfare, 4D/3N accommodation and 2-day eco-adventure tour is at Php 45,176.00. Here are the inclusions.

* Room Accommodations / 1 Deluxe room nearest to the pool, Spa, Jacuzzi and Restaurant
* Daily Breakfast set
* RTT/CDO Airport – Balingoan Port – CDO Airport
* RT Ferry Ticket / Balingoan Port – Benoni Port – Balingoan Port
* RTT/ Benoni Port – Resort – Benoni Port (aircon van)
* 2 Day Eco-Adventure tour (aircon van)
* Pump boat hire to White Island and Mantigue Island
* Entrance fees
* Shed Rental
* Complimentary Mineral water for the tour
* Complimentary Massage at the Spa
* Welcome Drinks

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Nice cottage. Great tour itinerary and good food. It was so much fun. If only Camiguin wasn’t so difficult to reach. Maybe it makes it more special because the more effort you put in, the more chances you’ll be surprised. A must-see for all you beach and adventure lovers!

MUST-TRY: Here is the list of activities we did. It’s highly recommended to book a tour because it’s so much easier to have your own driver who will take you around. Besides, there’s not much to do in the resort alone so you really need to go out and visit the sites. We enjoyed our trip with our driver slash tour guide because he was very helpful, accommodating and polite.

Day 1 (ARRIVAL)
* Pick up guest at CDO airport and proceed to Balingoan Port via aircon van (travel time: 2 hours)
* Take Ferry (ro-ro) ride from Balingoan Port – Benoni Port (travel time : 1 hour)
* Pick up guest at Benoni Port & Proceed to Resort (travel time: 20 minutes)
* Check in
* Lunch at Oceanside Bar & Grill Restaurant (pax account)
Day 2 (FIRST HALF OF ECO-ADVENTURE TOUR)
06:00 am Wake-up call
06:30 Breakfast @ Oceanside Bar & Grill Restaurant (inclusive in the package)
07:00 Ready for white island trip
07:15 Depart Bahay-Bakasyunan and proceed to Agohay (entry point to White Island)
07:30 ETA/Agohay (take motorized pump boat to white island)
07:45 ETA/Arrival to White Island (Swimming, Snorkeling, Sun Bathing and Picture taking)
11:00 Depart White Island and Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin
11:30 Lunch at Oceanside Bar and Grill Restaurant (pax account)
01:00 Get ready and proceed to the following
* Katibawasan falls (Swimming, picture taking)
* Old Vulcan / Walkway / Station of the Cross (Trekking and picture taking)
* Old church ruins / Gui-ob church (Sight seeing and picture taking)
* Ardent Hot Spring (swimming)

at Mantigue Island with our driver slash tour guide!

the view from our balcony

My boyfriend and I have been here twice already. Here’s our review.

FACILITIES/ROOM: The first time we went, my travel agent booked us in a deluxe room. It was huge for a couple as it had 1 queen-sized bed and 1 double bed, a small living  area, dresser and a lounge balcony. My bf particularly liked the bathroom because of the generous space, while I liked the bed as the sheets were clean and the thread count was not bad at all. We both liked the privacy it gives, although it would have been better if the balcony had a nicer view. The room had cable tv, however, we were hoping it were an LCD tv rather than the usual boob tube. The next room we got when we went back was a premier sea view room. It was surprisingly smaller as it had a 4-poster king-sized bed, a day bed on the floor (japanese style) which was in front of the tv, a smaller dresser and balcony. The difference, however, was the balcony had a view of the Boracay beach. I think this is just right for a couple. What we won’t forget in this room was the “heart-shaped kissing swan towels” on the bed. It was sooo romantic but cheezy at the same time, we couldn’t help but take pictures with it. I think it’s a nice touch, though. Haha. The hotel has a small swimming pool in the middle, which we never even tried, hehe.

RESTAURANT: Buffet breakfast happens on the ground floor by the beach front. For both visits, we could say that the breakfast menu didn’t change much. Breakfast is important to us, so it would have been a plus if Boracay Mandarin extended the food choices and made it more exciting for the guests. Very limited choices like Filipino rice meals, Chinese food and typical breads. I particularly didn’t like the juices as they were obviously just powdered drinks…I was expecting freshly squeezed juices. The brewed coffee, however, was not bad.

BEACHFRONT: Boracay Mandarin has the best beachfront during non-Habagat season (ie. November) as the resort enjoys long sand bars which will be perfect for those who like skimboarding (like me!). We also liked the sun lounge area with orange umbrellas as we both like hanging out by the beach…quietly. There’s a security guard by the lounge area so it felt safer for us to leave our things on the lounge beds while we enjoy swimming.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Nice room, nice beachfront, lousy breakfast food. Transfers to and fro the airport is a breeze as Mandarin has its own tranfer services. It’s in the middle of the action so you can choose to walk to station 1 to station 3 easily.

MUST-TRY: Boracay Mandarin has its own SPA! That sounds heaven for women like me who enjoy pampering themselves. I really don’t like the by-the-beach masseuse as they are not that good (painful massage) so I suggest you go to the professional spa, instead.

Will we come back to the same hotel? Probably not… if we do come back to Boracay anytime soon, we might just try the Astoria, Seawind, Two Seasons Hotel or Discovery.

the kissing swan towels hehehe

watching the sunset. (his right foot, my left foot)

Although my bf said NO about me joining an out-of-town surf trip, I still went ahead because I just had to try it (and I am just so stubborn, haha).

The calltime was at 6AM at the parking lot. The trip going to Quezon took only about 2 hours because the driver passed through Antipolo, ergo, no toll gates and no traffic. It was a leisurely drive going to the surf camp as the other surfers in the van chatted the whole time. I was just very quiet though as I listened to my ipod and enjoyed the scene outside my window (distracting myself while getting a little worried about him being quite upset, hehe).

We got to the surf camp very quickly and much to my surprise, it was not the usual La Union surf camp wherein you see a whole stretch of resorts. It was NOT commercialized at all…and I loved it. The surf camp was a private nook and the locals just recently constructed little cottages and a restroom to accommodate surfers who have been frequenting the place. After dressing up, we all got our own surf boards and walked all the way to the beach break. We also passed through a river which gave us more time to do our paddling warm up.

The waves were awesome…and huge! Haha. Coach teased me about being too brave and makulit because after a few tries with his assistance, I began catching my own wave and riding on my own! I was so ecstatic! The other students (which were all boys) followed suit. It was so much fun because we owned the whole beach break…nobody else was there except for PSA students. I had to suffer a few wipeouts though because the waves became bigger and wilder towards the afternoon! It was so hard to paddle out and go against the current so sometimes, your energy depreciates just when you need to catch a big wave and ride it, hehe. I will never forget my biggest and most painful wipeout when I fell on the right side and scratched myself in the shallow rocky part of the beach! Ouch. That explains my after-surf bruises (and he hated that, haha).

One whole day was enough for me because it was sooooo tiring. After our sumptuous lunch, we were given time for siesta. That was a good thing because the morning session was exhausting. After the afternoon session, we had some snacks, laughed and chatted about the whole experience and that was it! The drive back was very peaceful though… cuz everyone slept.

I recommend this activity to everyone…even for kids. I would definitely teach my own someday (well, if he allows it hehe). I personally like it because it’s also my time off from my hectic corporate world. It works out my whole body and it trains me to focus well, persevere and brave the odds, haha. The feeling is unexplainable when you get to ride the waves…like you’re one with nature. Sigh. I should do it again soon (*wink). We’ve got a deal, right luv? (lol)

woohoo!

In my long list of To Do’s before I die…learning how to surf the waves is one of my targets. Did I mention that I looove the beach and watersports? Oh yeah, my blog’s all about that. Haha. I never thought that I could do it one random Saturday morning, not to mention that it’s only 15 minutes away from my home. Club Manila East is a nearby resort located in Manila East Road Taytay catering to the water babies of Rizal, Pasig and Metro Manila. Best of all, PSA (or the Phil Surfing Academy) has put up surfing classes there for everyone to enjoy. Now how’s that possible? Well, it’s the wave pool, baby…

I decided to get stoked 2 hours before the scheduled class at 10AM-12nn. My mom was excited for me, can you imagine? So I ate breakfast, packed my stuff, wore my bathing suit, board shorts, rash guard and drove to Club Manila East quick. I met coach E-jay and 4 other classmates (or surfmates, naks). He briefed us about the parts of a surf board, surfing etiquette, the proper ways of doing the surf stance and all the safety rules. The fee is Php 1,500 and that includes your surf board rental, entrance fee to the resort, use of the wave pool and training with the coaches. The wave pool’s also open to other guests so they put dividers (via rope) to separate the swimmers from the surf students.

I also learned that I have “goofy foot”, meaning I use my right foot forward when I do my surf stance. The usual stance is left foot forward…hahaha.

After the briefing and practicing our stance on the floor, it was time to hit the wave pool. And boy was I nervous! From the shore, you have to ride the board on your belly, paddle out, turn around and wait for your coach to catch a wave, push you out..and then you hear UP! UP! I was like, what? I have to stand now? Ok…I tried to remember how to do my stance in split second, but for my first and second rounds..I got wiped out! It wasn’t the best feeling in the world because I scratched my knee for falling on the shallow part of the wave pool…ouch. I grabbed my surfboard and tried for the third effin’ time. I was telling myself, I’ll get the hang of this! Breathe!

I’m standing! Haha!

The third try was bliss, indeed. I was able to stand and maintain my balance. The best part was my coach yelling, nice one Jules! Ooohhh wow, I couldn’t believe I was moving with the waves…I was ecstatic! It made my day… The next few tries were okay too. I got to learn my mistakes and how to improve on my stance. The latter part was focused on how to catch a wave on your own and paddle out without the coach pushing you forward. It was exhausting but it was so much fun. I must hit the beach waves soon!

PSA and its coaches do organize surf trips for beginners and pros alike. I am so excited to be able to join them soon. I know it will be different on the beach but heck, at least I tried it on the wave pool the safest way. I really recommend this to career women like me who would like to change the usual working out in the gym routine. It’s a good workout for your legs, shoulders, arms and abs. Seriously, I had muscle pains the day after… but it felt good. It’s also great for kids and parents for a fun outdoor bonding activity…also for couples who need to get off their asses and get a little competitive. Hahaha.

Two thumbs up! You guys should try it before hitting the beach waves…

Visit http://surfingacademy.multiply.com

we survived Coron!

To say that our trip to Coron was adventurous is an understatement. It was a whole new beachcapade for my friends and I as we were used to just bumming around and chillaxin’. We were lucky enough to book a 4-day vacation during the holy week. Holy week in the Philippines is the time to revisit our Roman Catholic roots and pay our respects for our religious traditions. An example of which is through penitence (or “penitensya”). It’s also the usual time when working people file for vacation leaves to make most of the holidays. We chose Coron as our destination simply because it hasn’t been too commercialized. We just did not know that we were up for an unforgettable back-breaking leg-swelling adventure.

One of my officemates recommended Coron Village Lodge. We availed of their tour package for a group of six because it was safer for us to have someone arrange all our activities, since none of us had gone there before.

Coron Village Lodge at night

FACILITIES: Most (if not all) accommodations in Coron are located in the town proper. Coron’s geographical make up is mostly mountains of limestone, therefore, beachfront hotels with sandy shorelines are non-existent. These sandy shorelines have been kept for day trips only to preserve their beauty. It makes a lot of sense because banca rental services have become one of the main sources of income of the fishermen. Coron Village Lodge used to be an old house for the Fernandez family. Ms. Rebecca Fernandez (the owner) was very kind to tell me about its history. When Coron was not yet popular, very few people started asking her caretaker to accommodate them in their rooms. She started allowing people to stay, and even served meals for a minimum cost. People started to know about Coron, the airport in Busuanga became bigger and airline companies started booking more flights. The rest is history! Ms. Bec renovated her ancestral home, which also used to be a mini-factory for her crafts. Now they have around 20 rooms, 1 indoor resto and 2 outdoor (garden) dining areas.

The rooms are basic. They have air conditioning, clean shower and toilet, plus towels are provided. We were lucky to have our own nook in front of our rooms. So choose rooms 11 and 12 if you want to chill in your own garden too. Oh! I cannot forget the biggest key chain of my life! A 12-inch wooden statue! Well, it’s supposed to prevent guests from bringing and losing keys…heck, we still brought them anyway. Hahaha. I felt like I won the immunity idol of SURVIVOR!

RESTAURANT: I will not argue about the food because it’s really good. They serve authentic Filipino dishes…although the choices are limited. The price is somewhat average. Viands to share cost around 80 to 200 pesos. If you’re on a package tour, all meals are included. Our boys enjoyed the unlimited rice so much. But your food will be served as if you’re in your house…not buffet style.

on top of Mt. Tapyas!

Banol Beach

BEACHFRONT: Nada! Like I said, it’s in the town proper. You have to ride the tricycle to reach the wharf, then ride your banca to go to different islands, lakes and reefs. It’s only a 10-min ride to the wharf anyway. The roads are cemented too so no painful bumpy ride here. A tricycle can fit 7 people!

PRICE: Our 4 day / 3 night package cost Php 6,400 each for 6 pax. Our PAL Express ticket RT MNL/Busuanga is 5,400 pesos. Cebu Pac offers cheaper flights around Php 3,500. I will never ride PAL not-so-Express ever again… they were delayed twice! I suggest you take Cebu Pacific. Book early!

trekking Barracuda Lake

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Like I said to Ms. Bec, she was the most accommodating of all, except for her STAFF (you won’t miss her, she’s the petite lady in her 60s who smiles a lot). She admitted that her staff is new so she has to train them more. Be sure you pack a lot of patience because some waitresses can be snooty, hehehe. Or maybe it’s the culture? But I loooove Coron so I will go back for sure!

HOW TO GET THERE: MNL/Busuanga via Cebu Pacific or PAL Express. Van from Busuanga airport to your hotel/lodge in Coron town (45-min trip).

snorkeling at the gun boat

MUST-TRY: You have to go to ALL DESTINATIONS as much as possible. Here’s a list of what you can visit there (ok…breathe!): Cayangan Lake , Lake Barracuda , Twin Lagoon, Caliwantay Beach, Siete Pecados (coral reefs),  Banol Beach, Makinit Hot spring. 786 steps of Mt. Tapyas for a wonderful sunrise and a panoramic view of the town and the islands (guaranteed 2-month  workout and penitence in one!). Calomboyan Island , Coral Garden , WW II Gunboat for snorkeling. Calauit Animal Sanctuary.

You have to ask beforehand if the WAVES are safe enough to sail in. Coron’s waves tend to be erratic…and it becomes dangerous to take the banca in the open sea as waves can reach sky high even on a perfectly sunny day. So ask about the wind direction! We actually missed two islands because we had to sail back as it was dangerous to push through. It’s exciting though! Haha.

Do tour the TOWN PROPER. It’s an interesting trip for the walkaholics, like me. You get to appreciate the unique charm of Coron…how people live there…and wonder how the hell they entertain themselves everyday! Good photo ops too! I also love visiting the sari-sari stores. They still have old candies, chips and softdrinks which I used to have years ago. Sparkle and Cheers anyone?

Things you should not forget to bring: AQUA SHOES (you will trek the stoney lakes and hills, giant sea urchins are scary to step on too!), SNORKELING GEAR (if you want to buy. but you can rent for 150 pesos a day at Unico Hijo store), VEST (a must for the non-swimmers), CASH (no ATMs there, but you can send yourself some cash via Western Union located near the market), lots of water (you will sweat a lot!) and UNDERWATER CAMERA (you can’t miss taking shots of the fishies and the sunken ships).

guardian of the sea

the huge room

This is long overdue. I’ve been to this place long before I ever created this beach blog. But I still remember my experiences in this place. Negros Oriental (Dauit) is not a popular go-to vacay beachcapade destination, but it sure has its own charm.

FACILITIES Bahura Beach Resort and Spa never sounded appealing to me. It sounded like I was going to a nearby garbage chute. But lo and behold, it’s a beautiful place in Dauit. Although, it does not have its own beachfront, the facilities are awesome. They have sprawling swimming pools with lots of water features. Non-beach lovers will enjoy this place for some R and R. I love the fact that its massive lot can accommodate a lot of activities. Plus, it’s a popular wedding reception for the upscale market in Dauit. Our room was GIGANTIC….The bathroom was so big, you can literally do cartwheels inside it. The bed was huge too…and we had our own private patio. Great room service.

RESTAURANT Big resto, good food. I particularly enjoyed its breakfast buffet. I felt like I was going to die the next day. Waiters and chefs are attentive to your needs. If you want your eggs done in special ways, they can do it for you.

BEACHFRONT Again, it’s not a beachfront resort. The beach is a mere 10-min walk away. However, the sand is not that nice (black sand, not my type). People do rent bancas to go to the APO ISLAND, which is a totally different beach place to talk about. Woohoo!

PRICE I got here because of my previous job as a media practitioner (aka tv host slash producer) hahaha..so it was free! It was sponsored by Toyota Motors Phils. I actually miss thos free perks, anyway, I’m back in the corporate world, and I’m still hunting for more beaches!

HAPPINESS FACTOR Happy! I will go back if and only if I do decide to visit Apo Island again.

HOW TO GET THERE Cebu Pacific plane MNL to Dumaguete…or Cebu to Dumaguete via Ro-ro or Supercat.

MUST-TRY Massage! I’m a sucker for massages. I tried theirs and I slept like a baby!

Check out http://www.bahura.com/

the huge bathroom (that's half of it)

docking in Apo Island

with teammates at the Apo Island

Amorita's infinity pool

It was a week of beachcapade with my siblings. Our itinerary was tiring as we tried to go to 2 beaches in one go. Manila to Bantayan Island to Cebu City to Panglao-Bohol to Cebu City and back to Manila. Whew! No wonder why our parents never bothered to join us. Since I already posted a review on Budyong beach resort in Bantayan Island, I’ll just focus on Amorita Resort in Panglao, Bohol.

Bohol is one of the major islands in Visayas region, Philippines. It’s only 2 hours away from Cebu City via the Supercat (a nice ferry from the same company of Super Ferry).

FACILITIES: We stayed at a deluxe room which is good for a maximum of 4 pax occupying 2 queen-sized beds. Amorita is the only resort on top of a cliff. It has a private access to the beach downstairs (only 16 steps, don’t worry). Since it’s on top of a cliff, it affords you a panoramic view of the sea. I so loooove its infinity pool…very relaxing. The resto is near the infinity pool amidst the breathtaking view especially during sunrise and sunset. It also has a mini game area for Foozball and game boards for everyone to use. Best part is its high speed Wi-fi access, so just find your favorite spot, plop your laptop and you’re good to go. Right now, they are also constructing a designer spa (Mandala Spa) near the deluxe rooms. Couples should try getting the private villas to have your own mini dip pool, an outdoor shower and some romantic privacy. They also have their own Dive Shop and Intro Dive Pool for those who want to try scuba diving.

RESTAURANT: Breakfast buffet is inclusive in your accommodation. Not too many choices but they’re tasty. If you’re on a budget, I suggest you try the many restos along the beach because Amorita meals are more expensive and served a la hotel. The farther you walk from Amorita, the cheaper it gets!

BEACHFRONT: Fine white sand, but not as powdery as Boracay’s. I just don’t like the sea grass that abounds around 10 meters off the shore. Clear waters…not too crowded. A lot of Europeans.

PRICE: Our 4 day / 3 night package for 4 pax inclusive of buffet breakfast and Countryside Tour cost us 40,000+ pesos total. Plus add around 3,800 pesos per pax for roundtrip airfare Manila to Tagbilaran via Cebu Pacific.

Visit  http://www.amoritaresort.com/

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Great staff, great facilities, great service! It’s one of those semi-luxury trips that you have to save up for. But if you want to enjoy Panglao as a group without spending this much, try Alona Tropical resort or Alona White Beach resort. If you want romance, privacy, serenity and adventure, Amorita is the best.

HOW TO GET THERE: MNL/Tagbilaran via Cebu Pacific (1 hour). Transfers from airport to Amorita is included.

MUST-TRY: It’s non-sense to go to Panglao (Bohol) if you don’t try the Countryside tour (with private van and tour guide). They will take you to the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier encounter, Loboc river cruise, and more. Ask anyone in the beach to introduce you to a licensed tour guide to arrange a trip (best to go right after breakfast so you can have lunch at the Loboc river cruise).

You should also rent a banca to go to Balicasag Island for a day of snorkeling! It’s a sanctuary for lots of fishies. Bring some bread for fish feeding! You may also have your lunch right there…locals offer “paluto” meaning you choose from their fresh catch and wait for them to cook for you, plus rice and drinks (very cheap!). After Balicasag Island, head to Virgin Island for the best sandbar and photo ops. Dolphin watching is possible depending on the season.

the smallest primate in the world!

the chocolate hills..they turn brown during summer

Virgin Island (sandbar heaven)

We recently stayed for a few days in Two Seasons hotel Boracay to attend a beach wedding. I must say that I was quite impressed with its facilities and friendly service.

FACILITIES: We stayed at the Family Suite with veranda amidst a nice pool view. There are 3 queen-sized beds. 2 beds are outside with their own TV, and the other bed is inside the master’s bedroom with own cable TV too. The whole room has 1 side floor to ceiling windows with Roman shades and a nice view of the infinity pool below. There’s a dining area, a huge bathroom with 2 sinks, a separate toilet , rain shower, big closets, lots of hangers, blow dryer, lots of towels and toiletries. I love how the room’s designed…very cozy…mix of browns, gold, native and wenge finish furniture.

RESTAURANT: Two Seasons resort has a beachfront resto, a bar, and a deck bar/restaurant. Unfortunately, the buffet breakfast was not so good. There was very little variety. So we opted to hop to other better restos in the island.

BEACHFRONT: Still the same pristine white beach of Boracay. Since it’s located in Station 1, it is not that crowded!

PRICE: The Family Suite may range from 12,000 to 16,500 pesos per night depending on the season. It can house 6 to 8 guests.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: Yes, happy! I love the room..actually, I spent most of my time there to rest and chill. It had a nice panoramic view so it did not feel like I was just inside a room. I just cannot nod on the food though. So I suggest you eat outside, more bang for your buck. But I must say that the service is excellent. Great staff!

HOW TO GET THERE: MNL/Caticlan via Cebu Pacific, PAL Express or Seair. 1 hour max. Then ferry boat from Caticlan to Boracay Island. Tricycle or official transfer via your own hotel.

MUST-TRY: Massage either inside the room or beachfront! Best to go to Boracay during the summer season (March, April, May).

This is by far the best beach I have ever been in the Philippines. The blog space cannot accommodate all the photos I took there! Marine life here is highly preserved and cared for. If you are the type who wants to get upclose and personal with the fishies, and you enjoy lots of island hopping, exciting ocean activities and utmost VIP treatment…and budget is not an issue…then this is the best beach for you! El Nido is a group of islands off the coast of Palawan mainland, Philippines.

FACILITIES: There are 2 world-class resorts in EL NIDO: Lagen island and Miniloc island. The only difference is that Lagen has the bigger facilities, restos and area…mostly cemented walking areas. While Miniloc is the more private and rustic resort (huts, cabanas etc.). Miniloc has the best beachfront for scuba diving and fish feeding. While Lagen is the more expensive one because of its facililities and swimming pool area. We stayed in Miniloc island, and we don’t regret at all! Our cottage in Miniloc resort is tropical-themed, but the features are hotel-like (beds, sheets, shower, towels, etc.). They also have their own Spa for that relaxing massage after a day of kayaking and windsurfing.

RESTAURANT: The restos serve a la carte and hearty buffet meals everyday. Very good food!!! International meals and a wide aray of desserts will delight you. Your package in accommodation comes with buffet meals either in the resort or in the many island restos you’ll go to. It feels like you’re going to 5 different beaches in 1 trip!

BEACH: In the package, you will have your own coordinator who will suggest your itinerary for your trip. You will just choose among a long list of activities to enjoy. For our trip, we did the following: -Kayaking in small and big lagoons, fish feeding, bottom fishing, island hopping in Entalula island, Pangulasian island lunch and sunset viewing, Snake island, Lagen island breakfast, spelunking in the Cudugnon caves with lots of bats, windsurfing in Entalula island, hobbiecat sailing, sunset cruise, snorkeling in the big lagoon and infront of Miniloc reef, Intro scuba diving, suntanning, massage, island buffet lunches..u name it! You will be brought to and fro by your own private speedboat…

PRICE: I forgot the exact price but our 5D/4N stay was around 40,000 pesos per person. It’s worth the price! Contact your reliable travel agent for this as El Nido resorts rely on reservations made by agencies. Or else, the price will be more expensive (published rate). Visit http://www.elnidoresorts.com/

HAPPINESS FACTOR: 200% I love it! Must go back…maybe with someone special! Truly world-class!

HOW TO GET THERE: There’s only 1 airline flying straight to El Nido islands in Palawan. Island Transvoyager chartered plane. Their airport is also within the domestic airport of Manila, but they do have a separate receiving area with lounge. You will get to the rustic and tropical-themed El Nido airport in 1 hour and 20 mins.

MUST-TRY: Swim with the huge Jack fishies just in front of Miniloc resort. Get a big bread from your buffet breakfast, sit in the water holding area stairs, and see hundreds of fishies eat your bread from your hand in 3 seconds!!! Lagen island does not have this perk!

This is what we call “the next Boracay”, without the crowd! It’s my sandbar heaven! We stayed at Budyong Beach Resort. Even though we read bad reviews in other websites, I still feel that this resort offers the best beachfront, one of the cheapest in accommodation rates and very accessible to the nearby restos and quaint market.

FACILITIES: Budyong beach resort is very basic. Rooms are in cottages or “huts” located in a sprawling beach lot with lots of palm trees and other foliage. They do have a small resto, but the food isn’t good (and expensive too). They have roomy cottages with big bathrooms (no heater, sorry). Rooms have aircon, balconies with either 2 double beds or 2 single beds, 1 queen with single and so on. Choose cottage numbers 10 and 11 for the best sandbar and ocean views, only steps away from the shoreline! Do bring your own pillows because they only have around 1 or 2 pillows per bed.

RESTAURANT: Like I said, there is a resto but the food is lousy and expensive. However, nearby restos such as Hard Kock Cafe, buffets and market bbq’s are mere 5-min walk away. There is also a cheap burger station nearby.

BEACHFRONT: Powdery white sand and heavenly sandbars in the afternoon! Great for boogie boarding!!! Clean clean clean!!! It’s the best rustic island getaway!

PRICE: Budyong beach cottage 10 or 11 is at 1,300 pesos per night. Can accommodate 2 to 4 pax. Extra bed is at 150 pesos per night.

HAPPINESS FACTOR: 90% It would have been great if the staff of Budyong is more attentive. But it’s ok. I looooove the beach here! Must go back!

HOW TO GET THERE: Manila to Cebu via plane (Cebu Pacific offers the cheapest); Cebu airport to Hagnaya port (north of Cebu) via rent-a-van or bus (3 hours). Hagnaya port to Sta. Fe Bantayan Island via ro-ro (ferry boat) at 145 pesos per pax (1 hour). Tricycle or pedicab ride from the port to Budyong beach resort (15 mins). Call 032-4385700 look for Vicky.

MUST-TRY: Tour around the town of Bantayan to see the oldest church in Visayas! Ask around. Also, talk to a fisherman to just cook meals for your group. 1,000 pesos for lunch/dinner can afford you a caserole of rice for the whole gang, with inihaw fish, shrimps, bbq pork, softdrinks etc. Can feed 7 people! PLUS, hire a boat (banca) to bring you to VIRGIN ISLAND and have your picnic lunch right there!