Sweet Nothings | Food, Travel, & Lifestyle Blog

Showing posts with label resorts. Show all posts

After having some food and refreshments at the media preview of the Halloween at Wild Wadi, we went to the changing rooms and left our things at the lockers. And then our Wild Wadi adventure began! :D

Wild Wadi offers 30 rides and attractions for all the family. It is themed around the tale of Juha, a known character from the Arabian folklore, and his adventure in an island with rivers and rapids.

JUMEIRAH SCEIRAH

This was what Mark chose to ride first. But before we got to the two tandem slides, we first had to climb the 32-meter tower!

Mark with Jumeirah Sceirah at the far end :D

Climbing up the tower already made my knees wobbly, so I wasn't really up to try the ride. But my fear of heights were somehow eased when I saw this spectacular view of the entire waterpark...

...and got a closer view of the majestic Burj Al Arab.

Burj Al Arab

Mark and I, together with Cherry, were privileged to be part of an exclusive media preview of Halloween in Wild Wadi Waterpark last weekend. We got our watches and wrist bands at the ticketing booth at the entrance the moment we arrived at Wild Wadi.

Mark and I were at our house one Tuesday afternoon when he suddenly felt the urge to hit the beach. Being someone who always wants to plan things, I initially wanted to beg off, but since I also didn't want to get into an argument with Mark (and I was also excited to hit the beach), I just gave in. :p

We were choosing between Subic and Batangas, but because we've been to Subic countless of times already, we both agreed on the latter. After searching the net for some resorts, we booked and paid online and then found ourselves all set to head to Eagle Point Resort in Batangas the day after.

Date of visit: April 2-3, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

After visiting Regina RICA, we went on a 15-minute drive on the main road and about 5 to 10-minute drive into the mountain side until we reached Daranak Falls.

We all were excited as this would be our first time to swim into fresh water. We pulled in into the parking lot and the lush greens surrounding the place added up to the excitement. After paying for the entrance fee and picnic shed, we walked onto the bridge leading to the falls right after the entrance.

Date of visit: March 28, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

It was just an ordinary day when Mark suddenly thought of heading out for another adventure. My dad, who's fond of asking our whereabouts from time to time (yeah he's sweet like that :D), did his morning routine of asking what we (Mark and I) plan to do for the day, so I told him that Mark wanted to visit JE Camp in Tanay, Rizal. I guess my dad was also up for an adventure that time that he thought of going there too with the whole family.

And so there, after breakfast, we found ourselves all packed up and set for a family bonding. :D We arrived at JE Camp in Tanay, Rizal, after around an hour-long drive from our house.

Date of visit: March 24, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

Mark accompanied me to my cake deliveries in Manila one Sunday morning. We didn't have any plans for the day so we immediately drove back home after. It was a hot Sunday and we were already on our way home, when Mark suddenly thought of heading straight to Tagaytay. But because it was already past lunch time and considering the traffic that we'd have to brave, I just had to burst his bubble and discourage the idea. :p

I guess the summer heat flamed up Mark's urge for a weekend getaway that he again thought of another idea. He thought that it was a perfect time for an afternoon dip at Club Manila East in Taytay, Rizal. And because it's just near Antipolo, I gave his idea a chance. :)

Date of visit: March 23, 2014

Read full story HERE :)

Okay, so it's already June but I'm still not done with my summer posts. Will you guys forgive me and allow me to just squeeze in this one? :D

A few days after our day tour at Cristina Villas, we again got to enjoy another summer fun, at the beach, but this time without my mom and my older brother. Last April 20, Gia, Jaoey, and I were tagged along by my dad for their company outing at Ocean View Resort in Subic.

Although I've been to Subic a lot of times already, it was my first time to be with my family so I still got excited. Jaoey was the most excited because it was his first time again (after almost 7 years I think) to hit the beach. We left the house early and got to the resort after almost a 3-hour drive. We were provided with breakfast while waiting for our room to be setup.

Almost a week after our family fun at Altaroca, our family once again enjoyed some summer fun last Wednesday, April 17, but this time without my dad. My dad wasn't able to join us because of work. It was just actually my mom's aerobics group's summer outing, and families were allowed to be tagged along. :)

Mom's aero group's summer outing was cancelled a day before, but since we were all set, with Mark and Jeff already at our house because they were also coming along, and with Jaoey very much excited for it, we still pushed through.

After having breakfast at home, we headed to Cristina Villas. There were already a number of cars parked at the resort, and since we're not fans of crowded places, we were hesitant at first. My mom, together with Jaoey, Chino, and Mark checked the place out and got back with a go signal for us to unload our things.

Had some family fun over at Altaroca Mountain Resort here in Antipolo last Monday, August 8. Daddy was on leave from work so it was a perfect time for some summer fun. Her sisters were also free that time so we invited them over. My cousin, Aya, and Mark were also tagged along. :)

The resort is just a few minute drive away from our house. We had our breakfast at home and got to the resort around 9am. Since the owner of the resort is my daddy's friend, checking in was a breeze. The resort was big enough, with 3 pools (a kiddie pool, a lap pool, and a pool lounge), a few huts, some tree house, a cafe and bar, and a hotel with function rooms and a grand ballroom.

Got to spend another Holy Week vacation with Mark and his family. There was only one place that Mark's mom insisted that we go to and that was Subic. Maybe she forgot that it was also where we had our Holy Week last 2010. :p

Mark and I were both busy with work so we didn't get the chance to prepare for the trip. We just searched over the net and eyed on Camayan Beach Resort, but didn't actually get a reservation. :p We went off from Mark's house at 4pm and arrived in Subic after around 2 hours.

At Dinalupian, Bataan..on our way to Subic...

Mark and I after a 2-hour ride :p

When we arrived at the resort, we weren't really surprised that it was already fully-booked. Good thing the resort offers walk-in guests who just wants to swim at their beach so we just decided to get back the next day. We just went back to the free port zone to have our dinner. After dinner we searched for a hotel around the zone, which unfortunately, were all fully-booked. We just decided to stay were we stayed when we were in Subic last 2010, and were lucky enough to get a room for 5. :)

Aside from the gym and spa, and the resort's relaxing ambience, Valentino Resort and Spa also has their own restaurant.

The rest of the group already had their share of the dining experience at the resort's restaurant over lunch, but Mark and I just had to skip having lunch with them since we brought our own food. :)

Come dinner time, Marwin suggested that we go out since they already had their lunch at Valentino's restaurant. Unfortunately, aside from a kambingan, there wasn't any restaurant nearby, so we just went back to the resort's restaurant.

While waiting for our food. Galit galit? :p

Mark was on a diet and was prepping up for a competition, so he just ordered their grilled chicken. Mark and I were both expecting a char-grilled chicken, but the chicken looked like it was fried. I guess it was grilled using a turbo broiler. The dish had a generous serving of chicken breast and it also came with a garlic mashed potato and sautéed bean sprouts. Mark enjoyed his dish and was captured by the taste of the mashed potato that he ordered another serving for take out. :)

Grilled Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potato and Sautéed Bean Sprouts

I was on a meal plan that time and was only allowed to take in vegetables for dinner, plus whey protein, so I just settled for their chopseuy. Another generous serving, the dish also had some kikiam and pork slices in it which I just had to set aside. :p I was also very keen in setting aside the sauce because I was actually allowed to have only raw veggies, or steamed/boiled at the least. :p

Chopseuy

I wasn't able to jot down the price but as far as I remember, Mark and I only paid less than Php 500 for our dinner (which included 4 bottled waters).

Our accommodation includes free breakfast, American and Filipino breakfast were the ones I remembered, which also come with a choice of coffee, hot chocolate, or juice.

Mark had coffee while I chose to have the hot chocolate. I guess it was a bad choice for me. The hot chocolate was just, uhmm, too sweet. It actually tasted like chocolate syrup (like the ones used in pancakes) placed in hot water.

Hot Chocolate

Everyone who ordered coffee was raving about how good it was, so when one of the servers gladly obliged when Marwin had his cup refilled and asked who else wanted a refill, I immediately asked Mark to get a refill for me. :p

My meal plan doesn't really allow me to have liquids other than water or fresh orange juice, but since I already deviated from my meal plan by having hot chocolate and coffee, I thought that I might as well indulge in Valentino's Filipino breakfast! :p The Filipino breakfast comes with a choice of tapang taal, daing na bangus, tocino, or longganisa; plus scrambled or sunny-side-up egg and steamed or fried rice.

Filipino Breakfast: Tapang Taal, Fried Rice, and Sunny-Side-Up Egg

Mark and I both chose the tapang taal. The tapa wasn't like the ones that I got used to but it was just delicious! It actually looked and tasted like the Filipino version of Beef Steak, or Bistek Tagalog as what we all know of. Although I was really enjoying the dish, my stomach just didn't want to take in that much food, so I was able to finish only half of my plate. The other half was devoured by Mark.

Filipino Breakfast: Tapang Taal, Fried Rice, and Scrambled Egg

He must have been very hungry that time that he got another order of the Tapang Taal meal, making him finish a total of 2 and a half meals!

All of us had a good dining experience at Valentino. Aside from the good food, their customer service is also commendable. There was this one staff who never failed to greet us each time we were in the restaurant. Most of them were also very accommodating especially with our (mine and Mark's) requests and numerous questions regarding their menu. :p

With food that are both palate- and budget-friendly partnered with good customer service, I guess I can just forget about the glitches in the resort's accommodation and that middle-aged lady. :p Over-all, I can say that I enjoyed my stay at Valentino. :)

VALENTINO RESORT AND SPA

Barangay Pinagtung-ulan,
San Jose, Batangas

Most of my close friends in the office had already ventured into different businesses, offices, and even other countries; and so our monthly get together (for the ones left in the country) have been our way of catching up. We usually have monthly dinners, but for our March get together, we planned of having a summer getaway.

We conducted a survey and I was overly excited when Eagle Point initially got the most number of votes. I've been wanting to go to the beach and out of town resorts with only swimming pools do not really get me as excited because there are a lot of them here in Antipolo, one of which is just a few walks away from our house.

So imagine how the excitement turned into dismay when a re-vote happened and almost everyone settled for the next choice which was Valentino Resort and Spa. I was supposed to back out, I even told Joie not to consider me joining anymore, but then again I didn't want to be the kontrabida so I just decided to set aside being a brat. :p

We met over at Makati and then started on our trip after everyone got to have their breakfast. We got to the resort after almost a 2-hour ride. Special thanks to Joie for taking care of all the reservations.

We arrived earlier than the check-in time so I was anticipating that we would have to roam around the place first. It was Joie and Je who were communicating with the receptionists, but I already knew that we were already allowed to check into our rooms because of this middle-aged lady who kept on saying how she gave us some favor and allowed us to have an early check in. Mark felt happy with the favor so he asked me to give the lady a box of egg rolls as a sign of gratitude. I actually got pissed and really didn't want to hand the rolls to her, but Mark insisted and even got mad at me for being selfish, but had he heard how the lady kept on insinuating that favor (which none of us really asked for, in fact we were all willing to wait for the check in time) I think he wouldn't have given anything to that lady. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who got pissed, Je also got irritated. Mark, see? We should have just given all of the rolls to our driver! :p

With Gretz and Me-anne on board a golf car from the reception area to our rooms :)

Their deluxe rooms are cozy. It was clean, had a decent bed with basic toiletries and clean towels,

a clean bathroom,

a good working aircon, a desk and a couch,

a small TV with a not so good reception, and a small walk-in closet.

It really wasn't that impressive, but at a Php 2600 rate per night with free breakfast for 2, I think I just got what I paid for. :)

After having a quick lunch in our room, Mark and I roamed around the resort. What I liked about our room is that in front of it is this gorgeous pool.

It has a jacuzzi at the corner an an infinity pool surrounded by lush greens.

At the side of the pool were small cabanas which guests can use for free.

Aside from the deluxe rooms, they also have bigger rooms which looked like houses in a village.

Multi-purpose hall

Also surrounding the whole resort were lush greens and colorful flowers.

An indoor gym and spa are also available at the resort, which unfortunately we weren't able to try.

Restaurant

A few walks from our room were a bigger pool and a kiddie pool.

They also have a small playground which the kids and the kids at heart will surely enjoy.

Although there was no beach and the room wasn't glamorous, and although this wrist band (that we had to wear all throughout our stay) was a bit uncomfortable,