Matinloc Resort

The fastest and the most comfortable way to get to Matinloc Resort is to fly to El Nido airport via Air Swift. Travel time is an hour and a half, compared to the 12 hours of flying to Puerto Princesa and going by road to El Nido. From the airport, the resort is an hour and a half away (combination of private land and boat transfers). The coast guards are strict with the boat schedules as there’s an open sea part on the way to the island.

As you approach the island, you will see the beachfront suites and tree houses facing the ocean and the pristine beach. The forest houses can also be seen from afar with limestone cliffs as their background.

The suites have modern, country-style decorations and are so spacious. All have private balconies or terraces. They also have villas with separate whirlpool tubs. 
There's a bar facing the pool, and a restaurant with sea views, outdoor pools, and a private beach. 

The closest tourist destination is the Matinloc shrine and is part of El Nido Tour C. The resort also offers kayak and jetski rentals. 

If you don’t like large crowds, and would like to rejuvenate your senses, you’ll definitely enjoy this quiet place.

Boat and land transfers to and from El Nido town are free, as long as you set a schedule in advance, as they will need to get approval from the coast guards every time you need to leave and enter the island.

To check rates and availability, visit: 

Matinloc Resort

Until our next trip. 😎

Dibuluan Beach Club

While the rest of country experience mild to moderate rain showers and some chances of thunderstorm, most travelers, like me, can’t resist being on one same spot for so long.

And, while the rest of the other travelers lurk themselves inside the main resort and hotel premises, some will be in constant communication with the boat men, to check if there are trips to other islands.

Luckily, the coast guard approved our trip to Dibuluan Island, as long as we go there using a speed boat. So, the trip begins. 😎

That’s me (above) with the calmness of the sea - the calm before the storm.

It was a short boat ride from the main island to Dibuluan Beach Club. As expected, because of the weather condition, nobody else was there but the boat men and the resort staff, and yours truly. 🤘🏻

Despite the drizzle, I still managed to play around, ride the kayak, and enjoyed the sand.

With the island’s proximity to the open areas of South China sea, wind surfing is the main highlight of activities. Sad thing that the coast guard did not allow such during our stay because of the possible danger brought about by the strong winds.

When the rain started to pour hard, I had to stay in one of their cottages and waited for the next boat men to arrive. It was indeed a fun way to get wet - not by the sea, but by the rain. 💦

Times like these make me want to cuddle with the sun. 

Until our next trip.

😎

Lagen Island Resort

If you’re looking for a quick, exclusive break, planning to escape from the metro’s daily traffic stress and wanting to avoid large and busy crowds, it’s probably time to reward yourself with a relaxing, quiet beach getaway. Check out the luxurious hotel resorts of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp in El Nido and Taytay, Palawan.

El Nido Resorts

They have four island resorts that offer the best experiences for beach and nature lovers: Apulit; Miniloc; Pangulasian and Lagen.

The latter is my favorite among the four island resorts. Click the link below to check rates and availability:

Lagen Island Resort 

The lagoon is more promising at night. It is perfect for a round of beer or wine and your favorite chips and crackers.

The Island resort has a forest setting with a calm, shallow lagoon, where you can swim, play or just stare at the amazing flora and fauna in the island. Kayaks and paddleboards are also available if you want to explore the lagoon further. They also have speedboats if you wish to hop through the neighboring islands. Dibuluan Beach Club is an island close to Lagen which I will feature on my next blog entry. 

To maximize your quiet time, you can simply watch and listen to a diverse variety of birds and mammals. They are everywhere within the resort. Just sit back and enjoy your favorite mix of cocktails or fruit shakes. 

They also have a large pool right across the spacious restaurant.

Book the water cottage to get a better view of the lagoon and ocean. Other room options are available on their site depending on your needs.

To get there: 

The fastest way is via AirSwift. Although others may take the PPS route, the 8-hr land travel from Puerto Princesa airport is not ideal for a quick getaway.

AirSwift is located at Manila Domestic Airport Terminal 4. They offer daily flights from Manila to El Nido, Palawan. Travel time is approximately 55 minutes using ATR aircraft and will land straight to LIO airport.

There’s a 10 to 15-minute club car ride to the El Nido Resorts Jetty Lounge followed by a 40 to 50-minute boat ride to Lagen Island depending on tide and weather conditions.

Below is the island map that I grabbed from the resort’s website:

If you’re up for adventure and has more time to explore the beauty of El Nido, check out their island tours. You may check my other blog entries for that, but for a quick, relaxing, private “beach and forest” getaway, this is a must-try.

Until our next trip. 😎

Welcome to the Eastern Side of Rizal

What comes to your mind when someone utters “Let’s go to the province of Rizal.”? Some would think of the hometown of the national hero, while some would refer to the mountainous area of Montalban, that can be seen from some parts of Marikina and Quezon City.

For someone who grew up in the City of Antipolo, the province of Rizal (for me) is the home of the famous Daranak Falls in Tanay.

From the metro, you may reach Tanay via public and private transportation. Shuttle services are available at SM Megamall and Star Mall (Mandaluyong). Some jeepney terminals may be seen across Shangri-La Plaza mall in the Greenfield District. Via private transportation, take Ortigas Ave until you reach the Hamaka monument in Antipolo, then turn right to follow the provincial road. Road to the left will take you to the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Paz Y Buenviaje.

Few of my favorite spots within 10 km radius from Tanay town proper are the following:

1. Windmills in Pililia

These giant fans (similar to Ilocos) contribute to the energy sources in nearby towns.

Below is my travel buddy, Duke the Juke Skywalker. 🚖

These windmills line up just across the provincial roads to the eastern side of Laguna. 

2. Regina Rica National Shrine

Several devotees gather around even on weekdays. There are several sign boards going to the shrine, so once you’re in Tanay, you will never get lost.

I traveled with my family and my 2 yr-old pomeranian, Micmic. 🐶

3. Daranak and Batlag Falls

It was raining hard when we got there so our photos were either blurred or with several watermarks.

It was a good experience to be bathed with fresh water once in a while.

4. Jala Jala Sunflower Farm

The farm is not as big as the Cordillera Sunflower Farm, but you can choose your angle to get nice photos of these beautiful flowers.

They also sell sunflowers pots. 🌻🌻🌻

5. Momarco Nature Resort

There are several nature resorts in Tanay, but this one in Aldea, caught my eyes.

We will revisit the place next month, so watch out for more photos. 😎

There are more tourist destinations in Tanay. The San Ildefonso Church is one of the oldest

churches in Rizal and deserves a visit. The Bulawan Floating Restaurant and Lorenzo’s Grill are my favorite stop overs for a gastronomic boost. Other nature resorts are the Bakasyunan (Bali-inspired resort) and the Martessem Resort, which also offers day tours.

On your way back to the metro, you may also stop by the churches of Baras and Morong, Rizal. They are also old-school churches that deserve a visit.

When you reach Antipolo, visit the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Cathedral, and add the Hinulugang Taktak Falls to your itinerary.

From Antipolo, take Ortigas Avenue Extension, until you reach the EDSA Shrine. 😎

Until our next trip. 😎

Laiya Road Trip

I have been checking out pet-friendly resorts within 100km radius (by land) for the last 3

months, and Sabangan Resort in Laiya, Batangas is our first stop.

Laiya is 3-4 hours by land via STAR Toll way.

Via private vehicle

Take the South Luzon Express Way (SLEX).
Take the Star Tollway at the end of SLEX.
Take the San Jose-Ibaan Exit.
Turn left at the intersection with a sign pointing to Rosario (Key landmarks: Ibaan Municipal Hall).
Turn right at the fork road pointing to San Juan.
Drive straight along the road to Rosario Town Proper (past Jollibee and South Star Drug) to reach San Juan Town Proper.
Upon entering San Juan Town Proper, drive towards the San Juan Municipal Hall and turn right immediately to head to the main road of Laiya.
Drive along this road to reach the resort.

See map below:

Via public transportation

Take ALPS Bus from the following terminals: EDSA Nepa Q-Mart, Araneta Center Cubao, Alabang Grand Terminal.
Earliest trip is at 3:00 AM and the last trip departs at 5:00 PM.
In San Juan (in front of the Municipal Hall), take a Laiya-bound or Hugom-bound jeepney (last trip is at 5:00 PM).

To check rates and availability, visit: https://www.sabangan.com.

Micmic (my 2-yr. old pomeranian) has been enjoying traveling by land, and this makes me want to explore more places that we can reach by car.

This is his first beach experience and I love how he enjoys the sand and the sea water.

Sabangan Beach Resort offers full board meals by the beach. They allow pets on most rooms and can roam around the resort as long as they are on leash.

We stayed in a bamboo bungalow room.

Rate is 10,000 per night for 3 adult guests and a pet.

We only stayed over night due to limited time, but enjoyed the sea breeze and the fresh Batangas air.

Until our next road trip. 😎

The Parisian Experience

I have always wanted to visit the Parisian Hotel in Macao or Vegas eversince they were built. The idea of having to see an iconic replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, within a crowd full of casino bright lights and colorful architectural structures and interiors, makes it feels like you are in a world where everything is perfectly built and designed.

Touchdown: MFM

It was a short weekend trip, so I had to choose the less expensive and shorter travel time.

What’s up, Eiffel tower?

What’s new, Cotai strip?

It has been a week, but its beauty still awes me.

The hotel interiors, the view from our room, the amenities, the restaurants, shops and casinos, the staff, and hotel location all deserve a double thumps up.

How to get there: 

By air: Choose MFM as destination.

From MFM: Hotel shuttle services are free. Follow the arrows. You will never get lost.

How to get around:

Buses are near the hotel connections within Cotai strip for only 6 MOP per way. Taxis are also available.

Hotel Rate: Book in advance to get the best rate. 14 days in advance is ideal and will cost you less than a 5-star hotel in MNL.

Other places of interest:

St Paul Ruins, Macau Tower, Senado Square

Other hotels with casino and shopping centers:

Venetian, City of Dreams, Studio City, Four Seasons, etc.

Must try: Macao Tower 360 Buffet. It offers international gastronomic dishes on a rotating platform with a 360 degrees view of Macao from the 60th floor.

Macao tower also has fabulous convention centers and offers extreme adventures, from Skywalk to Bungy Jumping.

What’s more important is I get to travel and learn new things with the love of my life, and I get to meet some friends and shared several good conversations over a sumptuous meal. 

Until our next trip. 😎

Dinadiawan Weekend

Have you ever heard of the place, Dinadiawan? How about Dipaculao? If yes, good for you. If not, you’re not alone. 😆 But what’s special about the place? Glamping. And yes, you heard it right. 

Though this is not my first glamping adventure, the experience is comparable to Blue Water Sumilon Glamping in Cebu. The only differences are the price, amenities and travel time. It is very much cheaper here, and there’s no need to book a flight. All you need is a travel arranger who will bring you to this beautiful town in the province of Aurora. The pricey overnight glamping on the latter, on the other hand, has great amenities and better restaurants. 

Below is a photo of me and my babe inside the glamorous tent.

If you are up to a relaxing weekend getaway, with a little twist of new experience, then this is the place to be.

The beach is creamy white and powdery. 😎

We spent the whole day by the beach, by the tent and by the nipa huts playing uno stack. The night was spent with friends over bottles of beer and chips.

On our way home, we had some stop over in Baler, another famous landmark in Aurora province.

The 7-8 hours on the road (one way) is worth all the muscle pain.

This is a must-try weekend road trip.

Until our next trip. 😎