And it’s time to plan those beach trips with your family and friends! Everybody knows why it’s good to plan this early, but if in case you don’t:
- To take advantage of those early bird promos for airfares, if you want to go somewhere far from Metro Manila (e.g. Boracay, Cebu);
- Of course you gotta reserve as early as possible because it’s peak season for beach resorts in the months of March-May, so you've got a lot of competition in reserving; and
- You’ll have something to look forward to while you’re stressed at work or even in school! :D
It’s just a car ride away from Manila where you can find lots of resorts with still beautiful beaches. Last year, I went to three different resorts in Batangas: Balai Isabel, La Luz and Stilts. I haven’t told you about our Stilts daytrip, so here goes:
May 2012, my barkada and I went to our first beach trip ever at Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort. It was roughly a 3-hour ride from Alabang (left at around 6am and got there at 9am), but when you’re with your friends, you won’t feel like it was a long trip.
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| Sab, Eunice and the sleeping Lorenzo |
Someone recommended this resort to us and after seeing the pictures on their Facebook and website, we were convinced (and excited) to go there!
Upon entering, it looked like a ranch because of the vast lands before you get to the parking and front desk.
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| Before entering the secret garden of Stilts :> |
From there, we had to walk a bit. And when we got to the beach...
Blue and beautiful... BLU-TIFUL! Haha!
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| Them boats for snorkeling :) |
Very open and spacious. It's actually perfect for big events like weddings or team building seminars for orgs or companies. When we were there, there was actually a scheduled event.
There's a lot to see and do in Stilts!
Mini playground: For the kids to play or where kids at heart like us can hang out.
Inspirational quotes on trees: A nice read while strolling along the sand.
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| More quotes in the cottage area. |
Lovely flowers: Adding color to your beach experience.
SOBRANG GANDA lang talaga, okay! Haha
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| Duyan :) |
Swimming Pool: When you just feel like swimming in chlorine.
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| Enjoying the pool before setting out sea! (Photo by Klar) |
We played with Trixy's underwater camera before going out for snorkeling! Employees told us that they were going to close the pool at around 11:30am, so we went here first.
Snorkeling: Take the time to enjoy the beautiful corals underwater :D
Cottages: Rooms by the sea.
Sand and Seashore: Playing dirty then getting wet and wild :))
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| Snorkeling! (Photo by Lianne) |
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| Beautiful corals (Photo by Trixy) |
The kuya's who went there with us were very friendly.
I had a hard time snorkeling. It was my first time, actually. I struggled to swim and snorkel with the life vest on but if I removed it, I might have drowned haha but I would love to do it again after seeing the photos my friend took of the corals :D after a while at sea, I felt kinda dizzy, though.
Other than snorkeling, you can also go out kayaking... In the waters, of course, unlike these two: (haha!)
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| (Photo from Lianne) |
Cottages: Rooms by the sea.
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| I think I even saw someone dive out of the cottage :)) |
Wouldn't it be nice to wake up at the sound of the splashing seawater? This is one thing I loved about the resort. We only planned a day trip so we didn't get a chance to spend the night in one of these lovely cottages. Check out the rates here!
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| "So awesome. Right?" |
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| Making sandcastles. |
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| Our mermaid friend. (Photo by Klar) |
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| That hut by the shore we claimed ours. |
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| The exploration team. Just looking around, hoping to see.. oysters? |
Clean Bathrooms and Shower: A MUST, anywhere we go!
It's all just wooden walls and doors, and a cemented floor, but it's clean, and that's all that matters.
Delicious and Refreshing Food: Enjoy halo-halo and mais con yelo, among others, on a hot summer day!
We also ordered fish and pizza for lunch and it was really good!
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We really had a nice time at Stilts! It's a very beautiful resort! After reminiscing like this, I wish I can go there again. Maybe someday. For now, I wanna visit other beach resorts in the Philippines!
So, where are you planning to go this summer? :D
If you haven't decided where to go this summer, why don't you go to Stilts?
