Our last “out-of-town” trip before summer officially ends was at the Thunderbird Resort in Binangonan Rizal. Thunderbird Resort is a luxury hotel and resort perched on a valley along Sierra Madre. The resort is surrounded with lush greenery and offers stylish rooms with views of a nearby lake and the Manila skyline. Thunderbird Resort also has an international casino and restaurants and is situated right next to an 18-hole golf course.

Alright, those were the words from the Thunderbird Resort official website. My personal take on the resort is that it’s a pretty good place for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. The resort is  a quick 35 minute drive from Ortigas Center. For us, since we live just below Antipolo, it was a quick 25 minute drive from our house.

Anyway, we booked a Deluxe Room which has a king size bed. The room is complete with amenities including a bath tub, all the toiletries you need, shower area, mini bar, LCD TV, a sofa, study table and a small veranda over-looking the golf course and the resort’s swimming pool.

For our dining needs, we had late lunch at the Koi Restaurant and dinner at the resort’s Cabana restaurant just beside the swimming pool. Nothing fancy about the food they served. Just about enough to fill your hungry stomach after a few hours of dipping into the pool or at the small Jacuzzi pool.

Overall, Thunderbird Resort offers a nice and quiet place to unwind for an overnight stay. The resort staff were all courteous and accomodating. If you’re looking for a quaint place to spend the weekend, Thunderbird Resort in Binangonan Rizal is a pretty good option. An overnight stay at the resort will cost around Php 5,500+ for a Deluxe Room.

We just spent an overnight at the Lighthouse Marina Resort located inside the SBMA. The Lighthouse Marina Resort is a three-floor, 34-room boutique hotel with its very own lighthouse as one of its attractions. The hotel is very modern, from the restos, to the different rooms and accomodations, the swimming pool and all the other amenities in the resort.

We booked the Aqua Spa suite which is around 37-43 square meters. The suite is complete with amenities that will surely give you a pleasurable stay. It has a large king-size bed which should fit a family of four with two kids. If that’s not enough, there’s also a sofa bed.

The bathroom is very spacious and has bath tub with jacuzzi.

iPhone/iPod  dock/speaker

And a massage lazy boy/chair.

Overall, for the price that we have to pay for the Aqua Spa Suite, it was all worth the amenities that it offers. In fact, the suite is so good that it might prompt you not to leave the room anymore. But of course, you wouldn’t want to do that because you’ll miss what the resort still has to offer.

If you’re looking for a nice resort to spend the night or a couple of nights in Subic Bay, you might want to check out Lighthouse Marina Resort.

Here are some more pictures of the resort.

Last weekend, we went to Canyon Cove in Nasugbu, Batangas for an overnight stay. We booked our accomodations via a discounted offer from Ensogo Philippines. In case, you’re not aware Ensogo is one of the major deal sites in the Philippines offering one of the best deals in almost everything. From dining, travel packages, and services. Name it, and more often than not, Ensogo has the best deals for you. (Note: I’m not paid to promote Ensogo. I was just pleased with this transaction and the fact that I paid only half the price of the regular rates in Canyon Cove, convinced me, that Ensogo is the real deal.)

We booked Deluxe Rooms in Canyon Cove. For the several times that we’ve spent the night here, it was the first time that we were assigned to the east wing of the resort. I think the rooms here are quite new. In fact, there are still workers lurking around the vicinity. But that was not a problem to us. The room was spacious enough and has a huge King size bed plus a day bed besides the windows. The other rooms we got has two double size beds and one day bed. For the two rooms, I paid only Php 5,000. On regular rates it would probably cost me around 10K plus. So, it was a great deal indeed.

Incidentally, the package didn’t come with a buffet breakfast. Canyon Cove charges Php 300 per person for their breakfast buffet. The food was nothing extra-ordinary. You get a couple of breakfast viand, garlic rice and bread, fruits and desert for puddings, plus of course – bottomless coffee.

Overall, it was a good stay. Kudos to Canyon Cove management for still maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of their resort. The beach was still very nice and the pools remain o be one of its main attractions.

Again, thanks to Ensogo for the very nice deal!

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It was our last trip for summer  2011 and where could it possibly happen? Of course in our place in Batangas – Laiya, San Juan Batangas. It was our first time to book a cottage in La Luz Beach Resort which lies at the farthest point of the coast of Laiya. Going there, you’ll pass by Acuatico, Balay Laiya, Blue Coral and all the other resorts in Laiya. The road to La Luz is kind of rough since they are currently improving the roads.

La Luz Beach Resort is not really a new resort. In fact, it could probably be among the first resorts in Laiya. You can easily notice this since the cottages are already showing signs of age. But don’t get me wrong, the cottages are still livable and looks pretty decent. Props to the owner for maintaining the cleanliness of La Luz’ accomodations.

Food offerings of La Luz Beach Resort are not that great in terms of quality but in terms of quantity, you will definitely appreciate it. What’s good about this resort is the fact that its staff and crew are very accomodating and helpful. Again, congrats to the owners for employing such nice personnel.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at  La Luz Beach Resort. The rate is affordable and you’ll get a nice access to the Laiya beach. For more information, visit the La Luz Beach Resort Official Site.

Zoocobia Fun Zoo is located inside Paradise Ranch which near Clark Expo in Clark, Pampanga. We didn’t had a hard time finding the place since we’ve already visited Paradise Ranch before. Zoocobia is located just after the entrance of Paradise Ranch so you will easily find it.

Zoocobia Fun Zoo is around 3 hectares of property converted into fun zoo with a little bit of adventure stroll for kids. It’s really a big zoo compared to Paradizoo or Avilon Zoo. In fact, there were very few attractions at Zoocobia.  These attractions include Birds of Prey, Birds of Paradise, some ranch animals and nothing more.

Aside from the attractions there are some activities that you can do while inside Zoocobia. You can try the Zooc or gravity car, the rather not so exciting garden maze, and pony-back riding. There is also three giant slides which your kids will surely enjoy.

Ticket prices for Zoocobia is Php 274 for both adults or kids. Before you stop and think that the price is pretty steep, the tickets however includes the entrance fee to Paradise Ranch. Even if you don’t want to visit Paradise Ranch, you will still need to pay the said entrance fee.

I guess this is being done to promote both theme parks. So, if If you have time, I’ll also visit Paradise Ranch.

More information, including map to Paradise Ranch and Zoocobia Fun Zoo can be found HERE.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar which is located in Bagac, Bataan is unique heritage resort. Unique, because the resort features old houses and structures dating as far back as the 19th century which were restored to become a museum of sort located in your typical resort.

So instead of the usual hotel rooms and cottages, at Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar, you can stay on old houses which were renovated inside to become your temporary abode during your stay in the resort. There’s also a cluster of rooms which are housed on a building with the facade of an old Escolta building.

Other attractions in the resort include, an old University of the Philippines building, old houses from Pampanga, a huge plaza like area, Cafe inside an old house, museums, swimming pool, hilot center or spa and more.

For more information about room rates, accomodations, packages and more, please visit La Casas Filipinas de Acuzar website. Click HERE.

How to get to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar:

1. Take NLEX – SCTEX and exit at Dinalupihan.

2. Turn right towards Mariveles. (You’ll pass by the town of Hermosa)

3. Turn right towards Bagac (on the first major intersection)

4. Follow the signs leading to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.

Travel time is 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Manila. Check out more photos below.

I’ve never so many things inspired by Santa Claus. Casa Santa practically has everything that you’d look for with the dear old Santa in/on it. Several Santa figures such as this one with Santa on a stair…

Santa Claus on a parachute

Santa Claus on a rocking chair reading “How the Grinch Stole Christmas?”

A Thai Santa Claus

A Scottish Santa Clause

and of course our very own Santa Claus in Barong Tagalog

A Hippie Shakin’ Santa

and Hip Hop Santa Claus

More Santa stuff in the gallery below.

Entrance fee to Casa Santa is P130/pax. To get to Casa Santa, simply turn left from the main Antipolo junction, then go straight ahead. You’d see signages pointing you to Casa Santa/Jardin de Miramar.

Watch the video after the jump…

If you’re on your way to Tagaytay, you’d probably seen a sign-post that says “This way to Chateau Hestia.”  If you follow the sign and take that route, you’ll end up at this quaint garden restaurant called, well Chateau Hestia.

Here’s what I found from Chateau Hestia’s official website:

In Chateau Hestia, we just do not give you a restaurant but we also give you a feeling that you are in your own home. In this half a hectare property surrounded with lush greens, you can enjoy and entertain your own guests with our authentic European cuisine in a country-style but elegant setting.

Johannes Zehethofer, a native of Vienna, Austria, brings to the Filipinos this unique European experience. It started with his travels all-over the world, his fondness to entertain his friends, his love for wine and good food — the result was a love affair!

If you go there, be sure to order this Salad:

And the Margherita Pizza.

While waiting for your food, you’d be served with this breads together with an eggplant paste for dip. You’ll love it.

The staff and owner of the restaurant are both friendly and accomodating, you’d feel right at home.

Here are more details about Chateau Hestia Garden Restaurant:

Purok 5, Brgy. Bukal, Silang, Cavite, Philippines 4118 (near Tagaytay City)
Contact us at 0929-711-32-89
or e-mail us at info@chateauhestia.com

Taken using the iPhone 4′s video camera, edited using iMovie iPhone 4 app. Full write-up and more photos to follow soon.