Upon reaching the place, the resort personnel kindly asked us to ride their shuttle which transported us down the resort. It was like a 10-second short ride one could easily accomplish by walking. But still, we appreciated the gesture of courtesy. As we got there way earlier than our check-in time, we invaded two of their parasols along with our bags and all to kill time. While at it, we also took tons of pictures to immortalize the beauty around us.

just some of the many relaxing parasols that line the beachfront

the beach is more beautiful than what this photo shows…

see?

I told you!

After a quick survey, I found out they have two infinity pools and the beach is long with clear water. The sand is not white but more of beige in color which gets a little gray as you get near the water.

one of the two infinity pools

At first I thought swimming was impossible because I read from reviews online the beach was rocky and had corals lying all over. Yes, it’s true but if you will swim near the shore, you’ll find the sea floor tolerable with your bare feet and if you will swim in the deeper part of the beach, you’ll encounter no problem at all. For comfort and protection, though, wearing acqua shoes is recommended. They have acqua shoes for rent in the resort at P100 per two hours. Or you may opt to bring your own.

As for some of my officemates and I, we swam in the deeper part of the beach and had a fun time snorkeling and just appreciating the beauty and coolness of Batangas sea. Yes, no acqua shoes needed.

Palm Beach Resort was very quiet during our visit we thought we were the only group there. We would find out later at the dining pavilion during lunch time that there were three (or was it four?) more groups aside from us. Despite the number, we didn’t feel the place was crowded or anything. And I think that’s a plus point.

Our group of 15 persons was billeted for an overnight stay at the resort’s Casa Alexandra (P21,600). It’s a 3-storey house with four bedrooms. The first floor serves as a sort of supplies room while the second and third floors house two bedrooms each. Casa Alexandra is good for a maximum of 16 persons. We were only 15 so it was very suitable for our group. Casa Alexandra is spacious and cozy. Each room has double beds, air-con, fridge, TV with cable and toilet and bath.

Casa Alexandra up close

the balcony of Casa Alexandra

From what I saw, the other accommodations (casitas, suites, etc.) were also okay. The scene got better during the night because there were lights under the trees and around the plants which made the place romantic and lively.

Our package already included food. I think we were charged P1,400 per head. We had four meals: lunch, pm snack, dinner and breakfast. Our boss even treated us for an additional meal of lunch the next day at P525 per head. It was all buffet and the food selection was decent. I think the most important thing of all is that our food were served warm and fresh every time.

just to give you an idea of what we ate at Palm Beach

the dining pavilion

While we liked the food at Virgin Beach Resort better, we still enjoyed eating at the dining pavilion because of the free wifi. Also, please note that there’s no Globe signal at the resort, just Smart.

We left the place at past 1 p.m. on Tuesday and we were not charged for the extended check-out time. Thank you, Ms. Letlet! My boss just left them a nice tip for it because she liked the place a lot and appreciated the good and friendly service.

with some of my officemates

If there’d be a chance to go back to Palm Beach Resort in the future, I’d definitely grab it! Great place plus good service is always a good combination for me.

Palm Beach Resort
Brgy. Hugom
San Juan, Batangas
(Landmark: just after La Luz Beach Resort)

Phone: (+632) 850-9544, (+632) 836-8956
Email: palmbeach.hugom@gmail.com
Website: http://lafrondosa.com

We were greeted by pine tress and lush greenery upon entering the gate. As we drove ahead, we saw several tastefully-made houses complete with manicured lawns and beautiful garden landscapes. It was like we were transported to a foreign place. If it’s Switzerland they’re trying to imitate here, then it seems they’re doing a great job.

My SIL was lucky enough to have a friend who let us use their condo unit at Grand Quartier 1 for an overnight stay. I heard that some 24 rooms or so are for rent as part of the hotel program while the rest of the units are used exclusively by their owners (my SIL’s friend included).

Rates start at P6,000 per night for two persons which includes a buffet breakfast and use of the amenities. Expensive by my standards, but if you can afford it, go and take your family there and you won’t regret it. There’s no view of the Taal Lake but the lush greenery and the serenity of the place is sure to make you feel relax and rejuvenated.

There’s not much to do except for taking a dip in the pool area, checking out the Christmas village (very child-friendly), and taking short or long walks to smell the pine trees (there are thousands of them scattered all over the place!) and explore the cool surroundings. The stand-alone houses are already a sight to behold, and so are the towers.

The pool area is a short drive away from the towers so we had to use our car to go there. What greeted us was two average-sized pools (one for adults and one for children), a hall with tables and chairs ready for use, two T&B rooms (for his and for her) and a shower area for those who are swimming in the pool.

If ever you get hungry and you didn’t bring enough food, there’s a convenience store called Finds inside the complex. It’s walking distance from the towers. Prices are quite cheaper than 7-Eleven’s and we appreciated it. Haha. You can also ask the receptionist for food delivery numbers should you feel like eating delivery food. We had a filling Chinese dinner courtesy of our fave Chowking that night.

The Christmas store near the gate is a must for stop-over. We went there just before we left the place. Here, you can take photos or sit in one of the tables for a cup of coffee and a muffin. There’s a small cafe here that serves them and more.

There’s also an Alpine village coming soon which will house shops. The design of the place is really Swiss-looking with wood carvings, windmills and all. I want to go back to this place if only to check this one out.

I recommend Cross Winds Swiss Luxury Resort for families, couples and just about anyone who would like to experience serenity and rejuvenation even just for a weekend. It’s a great escape from the hustles and bustles of the city. The view is fantastic and you’ll love just being there. It’s like a home away from home. We had a great and fun time here and I bet you will enjoy it here, too.

Cross Winds Swiss Luxury Resort
Tagaytay-Calamba Road
Brgy. Iruhin, Tagaytay City

(+632) 856-9601
reservations@crosswindsresortsuites.com

Upon arrival, I took a quick survey of the place and realized immediately it wasn’t the best Batangas resort I’ve seen. Virgin Beach Resort is 10x better. But, and that’s a big BUT there, the place has its own charm. The main lobby, for instance, is huge and displays mostly Filipino ornaments and handicrafts.

Yes, the place looks old and rustic but is still very functional. And we felt the warmth of the staff during our visit as they were very eager to please. I thought that spelled the difference!

We arranged for some packed meals for our breakfast (at an additional cost) which were served to us as soon as we arrived in the place at past 8am. For our buffet lunch, they set up tables under the trees and that was where we ate. The food they served to us were all good but nothing exceptional.

Our day tour includes buffet lunch and the use of their cottages, the swimming pool and the beach. They were quite strict at the pool area. Proper swimsuits are required. If you’re wearing t-shirt, only white-colored ones are allowed. There were also life guards stationed nearby so we were assured of our safety.

the pool area

the beach front

We hit the beach and then the pool right after. The beach was long and the water was clear. It had gray sand underneath while the shore had off-white sand. Weird. Haha. There were bamboo rafts floating around which can be rented so you could have your lunch there but we didn’t avail of any.

our group

Matabungkay Beach Hotel’s welcome streamer for our group

Matabungkay Beach Hotel is one of the few private resorts in the long Matabungkay beach strip. While Laiya is the more popular beach strip nowadays, I still saw a lot of people going to Matabungkay especially big groups. During our visit, we saw a big group of senior citizens staying in one of the covered halls.

All in all, we enjoyed our day tour at Matabungkay Beach Hotel. If I remembered correctly, we just paid P500 per head.

Matabungkay Beach Hotel
Brgy. Matabungkay
Lian, Batangas

(+632) 752-52-52
(+632) 819-30-80

Note: This post was supposed to be posted in April 2012 when the event took place. But it’s better late than never. If you’re already planning your summer vacation in the Philippines in 2013 or beyond, this might be of help.

Our office outing last weekend was held at the charming Virgin Beach Resort (VBR) in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. I was so looking forward to this. It’s only my second summer adventure this year, after all. I definitely want more, and if I could, I would. But this isn’t about my strong desire to have as much summer adventures this year, it’s about this beach resort in Laiya touted to be one of the best in the area. I think it deserves the title as we truly enjoyed our overnight stay there!


beach front

Going to Virgin Beach Resort is easy. Easier if you have a service vehicle, of course. Drive through SLEX, then Star Tollway and take an exit at Ibaan. Then you drive straight again, passing through the towns of Ibaan, Rosario and finally, San Juan, all the way to the long stretch of beaches called Laiya. Soon you will find a Y road. Take the left side and that’s it, you now reach Virgin Beach Resort. The left side of the Y road is theirs alone. You won’t be confused because they have signs all over. Travel time is approximately 3 hours from Manila, quite long but bearable.

Did you know that Virgin Beach Resort is the location shoot for the Star Cinema film Here Comes the Bride starring Eugene Domingo and Angelica Panganiban? If you loved their nice accommodations in the said movie, fret not because you could also experience staying there with your family and friends this summer, or perhaps, any time of the year as I heard the beach resort is open all-year round.

Our Virgin Beach Resort experience started in the morning of April 28th when we arrived at the beach resort and sat back at one of their dining parasols fronting the beach. Checking in wouldn’t start until 11:00 a.m., so we just busied ourselves with picture-taking and taking in the beautiful beach view. By the time we were allowed to check into our rooms (two bamboo cabanas that could accommodate six people each, P5,500 per cabana), we didn’t waste any more time and started swimming immediately.

The beach at Virgin Beach Resort is very long and wide. The sand is white but not Panglao white and the sand’s texture is fine but not Boracay fine, if you know what I mean. I liked that the sea bed was fine, too, no rocks to hurt your feet as you walk under the water. The water is very clean, and though some trash appear every now and then brought onto the shore by the sea waves, there are beach personnel that cleans them out regularly.

the shoreline

No doubt the beach and the vastness of the property are the strongest points of Virgin Beach Resort. This beach property in Laiya is enormous that even though there are many guests booked on the same day, you won’t feel that the place is crowded at all! Seriously.

We saw several jelly fish floating around the waters in the afternoon, but they were not bad enough to keep us from swimming. Some of us got stung (luckily I was not one of them!), but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the cool waters. The next morning, the jelly fish were nowhere to be found. The lifeguard said they stay in the deeper part of the ocean in the mornings. Haha.

You are only allowed to bring in food at Virgin Beach Resort if you’re just having a day tour there and provided you’re renting out one of the dining parasols. For overnight accommodations like ours, you are to avail of their food package priced at P1,400 per head. That includes one lunch, one dinner and one breakfast. If it’s peak season, expect a buffet setup but if it’s low season, you will be served set meals instead.

a glimpse of the buffet meals we had while at VBR

As for the accommodations, there are several to choose from: casitas (with air-con), bamboo cabanas (with fan), and parasols (open-air canopied bamboo beds). Prices start at P3,000 and that’s already good for three persons.

Our two bamboo cabanas had two double beds and two extra mattresses each. Good for six people, as expected. Our rooms had fans instead of air-cons. They also had private comfort rooms. Blankets, towels and toiletries were well-provided. There were electric fans to cool us and small wardrobes to secure our things. Inside the wardrobes were small drawers and money vaults for more protection. I liked that our rooms were clean and cool enough for a night’s stay.

some of the casitas you can check into

The surroundings at Virgin Beach resort is as rural and quiet as you would want it to be. There are trees everywhere as well as flowering plants. Don’t expect a good landscape or a garden-like attraction as they are non-existent. But the place is orderly and clean enough to sustain your interest and enjoy your stay.

night view

sunrise at VBR

The service here is top-notch. The service staff would give you a greeting or a smile whenever you bump into them. Even the wait staff at the restaurant are friendly and eager to please. For that alone, I wouldn’t mind going back to this place.

our group posing at the reception area shortly after arrival

yours truly standing by the beach resort signage

Image Source: Some photos were taken by my officemate GR.

Virgin Beach Resort
Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

Makati Office Numbers:
(+632) 759-2020
(+632) 759-2828
(+632) 815-2584
(+632) 815-2587

If you have a Cebu Pacific Credit Card from Citibank, you are more blessed because you just have to spend using your card and earn points to gain free miles. Exchange your accumulated points and exchange them for e-vouchers. Fly for free with Cebu Pacific and Citibank!

You can choose to have just a day tour or do overnight swimming in the place. For day tour, it’s P200 per head and for overnight swimming, the price goes a little higher at P250. If you’re into some R and R, it’s wise to get a room for an overnight stay. Prices starts at P3,000 for a twin-sharing room.

According to the lifeguard we talked with, Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort had some major renovations last year to better serve its growing clientele. We visited on Black Saturday (at around 2:00 p.m.) and the place was jam-packed with people that we weren’t able to get a cottage (P750 for mini that can seat 8-10 people and P1,000 for mega that can accommodate 10-12 people or more).

view of the pool

If you wish to get a cottage for the food you’re bringing (yes, they do allow food inside!) , I suggest you show up earlier than we did. Don’t worry about the parking because they have lots of spaces for your vehicles inside and outside the hotel premises.

Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort is a complete summer getaway place. It has a nice, big hotel with decent rooms, lounge area, souvenir shop, restaurant, swimming pool and beach. I also spotted a basketball court and some well-decorated, open spaces perfect for picture-taking.

Oh, and the kids will surely love those huge animal statues (monkeys, crocodiles and marine turtles) scattered around the pool area!

While I didn’t like the beach there with its gray sand and brown-colored water, expect to have lots of fun on the swimming pool with slides. The deepest part is at 5 ft. and there’s a separate kiddie swimming pool for toddlers near the shower area (which was surprisingly neat and had a strong water flow!).

view of the beach

I am definitely going back to this place because of the factors I mentioned above. And also, because it’s very near our Naic home (like five-minutes away!).

Tanza Oasis Hotel and Resort
KM 41 A. Soriano Highway
Brgy. Capipisa
Tanza, Cavite

Cavite Sales Office
+63-46-6862548

Manila Sales Office
+63-2-5243876
+63-2-7080704

http://www.tanzaoasis.com

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Happy flying!

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Click Photo to View iWebPhoto.com

For the latest travel promos, airline seat sales and more, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds. In doing the latter, new posts on this blog will be delivered directly to your mailbox in real time.