great place to unwind and friendly people…read more a lot of stores and restaurants and of private resorts around.

My college barkada introduced me to the brilliant idea of renting a beach house in Tali and staying…read morethere for the weekend. We would usually scour the internet for great houses that are rented out by the owners, and then we would leave on Saturday morning and head out to Nasugbu. What's great about these places is that they are fully-furnished, and some of them have great stuff, too! I have gone on such weekend trips to Tali exactly six times, and every time, my friends and I have rented a different villa. You know, just to keep things fun and exciting. We have stayed in really creepy and haunted places, and we have also stayed in really awesome, very well-maintained houses. I just love how we don't have to bring anything anymore, since most of the beach houses are fully equipped with great stuff that you can use for cooking. I love preparing food for my friends because I hate seeing them endlessly bingeing on crap food like chips and stale pizza, so we always pool our money, stop by a supermarket in Tagaytay and then shop for an entire weekend's worth of food and groceries. The villas in Tali are usually fitted with nice stoves and a fully-equipped kitchens, so preparing meals in a jiffy is such a breeze. You don't have to worry about food going bad either, since there is usually a fridge where you can keep stuff fresh. Most of the time, though, the best beachhouses are actually still a couple blocks away from the shore, so you would really have to walk or drive just to enjoy the beach. Moreover, there isn't really much of a "beach" to enjoy, because the shoreline is actually pretty short, just a small cove that is partially sheltered by the surrounding bay. It is also advisable to make sure that you have all your supplies and sundries before you even go inside the gated community, because going out for groceries is such a hassle. There isn't any well-stocked store for miles. This is a pretty nice place to just hang out with friends. If you don't have snazzy memberships in nearby Punta Fuego or Pico de Loro (Hamilo Coast), this is not too bad an option if you just want an idyllic weekend getaway.

Tali is a popular seaside resort community in Nasugbu, Batangas, about 2-3 hours away from Manila,…read morejust a short distance from Tagaytay. The place is a private subdivision so you need to have a homeowner with you or at least advisement from wherever you're staying. It's not totally private though! You can go online and just look for beach house accommodations, since many of the residents there already put up their own houses as B&Bs or inns for those who want to go to Tali Beach. It's a really nice place, like how you'd wish it would be if there were beach cities in Manila, hahah. Not overly developed either so it's pretty peaceful. Here, you have a whole village full of summer houses and instead of the regular playgrounds or village parks, they have a beach! However, the beach here isn't exactly fit for swimming. It's rather small, rocky, and full of corals. There's no long, wide stretch of sand where you can lie down and sleep or sunbathe. But they do have gazebos and small open spaces to hang out in with the water splashing about beside you. If you wanna go swimming, better go back to your accommodation. This is why most houses there have swimming pools already. People like to do water sports around there though, so don't be surprised to see boats and jet skis in the houses inside the village. It's also normal to spot people just casually kayaking and standup paddle boarding all around. There aren't really any organized water sports services, you just do it on your own. Of course, there's also the popular Tali cliff jump you have to try at least once! They have great, clear blue waters that you can dive safely into and then you just climb back up easily through the big polished rock boulder beside the cliff area. Just be careful not to touch the sharp rocks/corals by the side of the boulder! Only grab the ropes by the ladder area.

This family-owned resort is the perfect place for a weekend getaway with family and friends. It's…read morejust a short 1.5hr-2hrs drive away from Manila, making it very easy to get to. Awilihan can be rented for the entire day or for overnight stays. The place can comfortably accommodate 30 people (max). The rental fee is already inclusive of the use of the house (airconditioned rooms with beds, pillows and showers), the pool, sports facilities (badminton, basketball and billiards) and the use of their pool. You can opt to bring your own food or order food from them for a reasonable fee. The entire place overlooks the Taal Lake and there's always a nice cool breeze, making it the perfect relaxation spot. I have taken my family and friends here and all of them love the place so much. Once you enter, you immediately feel comfortable. The atmosphere is very relaxing and homey and it just makes you want to lounge around. Although there's no beach to swim in, their swimming pool is enticing enough to make you want to jump in one you see it. I love how the whole place is secluded... away from the traffic and the noise of the city. I always recommend this place to my friends and family because you really can't go wrong with Awilihan! It really is paradise!

Relaxing, hidden, and far away from the hustle and bustle of Manila. Despite the distance, this…read moreresort was worth the 3.5 hour drive from Metro Manila. Crystal Beach is in the town of San Narciso in the Province of Zambales. The resort features air-conditioned rooms, cottages, and beachside camping tents. They also have WiFi in the main area. There are a few bon fire pits and grilling stations for anyone to use. We opted for a day entrance just to experience the food, beach huts, and the sand. The admission fee, parking, and cost of food were very reasonable. The long journey from Manila definitely made us hungry. We decided to try out their restaurant located in the main common area. Seating was easy and we also chose the table closest to the fan for comfort. We ordered sisig, tuna salpicao, halo-halo, rice, and sinigang na hipon. The sisig has a nice mix of crunch with a citrus-pepper marinade. The tuna salpicao was tender and flavorful. The shrimp sinigang, which is a true Filipino favorite, was sour and savory. Halo-halo came last as a dessert. The bowl was filled with various sweet toppings and a generous scoop of ube ice cream. Post lunch coma started to kick-in and we decided to relax in one of the many beachside huts. Beach chairs were available along with the perfect view of the mountains and blue waters. The beach was almost empty and quiet. There are available surfboard rentals and surfing lessons for anyone seeking to ride the small waves. Showers are available near the common area. I would recommend this resort to anyone seeking a tranquil escape.

Very disappointed on this beach..first the sand of the beach is not that clean as you see on their…read morewebsite 2nd price of shake..120 pesos for melon and 100 pesos to mango!!! Any differnce? Cabin itself no restroom, lights need update, outlet for 15 person capacity have 3 electric fan!!! Food is so pricey..restroom is to far for the cabin ..not recommend this beach for my friend

I came here with a group of 10 people. We bought our tickets online to save a total of P500. The…read moreprocess was worth it since you're saving a good amount especially if you're going with a group. You don't even have to print anything, just bring your confirmation/reservation number. When you come in, you'll have to do a quick orientation just to find out the rules and regulations. They won't allow you to get life-vests without taking the orientation. We bought half day tickets and It was perfect. On to play, it was hard but super fun. I fell several times in the water, but their lifeguards are there to save you and lift you back to the inflatable. The lifeguards are awesome. They would show you how to do it to get through an obstacle. Overall, we had an amazing time. Tips: bring your own food. They said no outside food but everyone brought their carts full of food. The food places inside is horrible, they have a big menu but very little availability.

We visited during the opening day by availing 2-hour pass online. It was a strategic option to…read moretravel the night before and book an overnight stay in a nearby hotel. The duration of our pass is from 8:00am-10:00am avoiding exhaustion of summer heat. We get to go back to our hotel for quick naps and shower before lunch. MISS: Subic waters is not as clean. The shower areas and cabanas inside the resort is at the sand area, it is better to book hotels outside if prefers to stay overnight. HITS: safety measures are presented at the beginning of the session. Life vests are provided. Inflatable obstacles can be really challenging, it's best to wear action-ready swimwear. All-day pass will work for adventure seekers and athletic ones otherwise, 2-hour access is fine.

Long stretch of beach area ruined by visitors and the locals. This area has great potential of…read morebeing a prime location but people in general trash this place. Maybe it's a normal act for Filipinos to throw trash on the ground - you can witness this everywhere in the country. A habit that needs to change. One of the filthiest beach area I have ever been to, especially after a weekend. Trash on shores and local dogs walking and pooping on the beach. I walked from Blue Rock Resort to the end and the sight of trash is unbearable. A lot of expats in baloy beach. You can see old (60s) American and European men marrying or dating young 20 year old Filipinas (Merely an observation, not judging). I would NOT return to baloy beach nor recommend this place to any of fellow yelpers.

I love the Philippines. The beaches are always worth a try. Bulacan is north of Manila and there…read moreare plenty of ways to travel here

Great service!…read more Surfing was a blast, instructors make you feel like you're old friends. Beach water is rather opaque because of the rough Zambales waves, so I'd say it's more of a surfing beach rather than a swimming beach. Beach is wide, gorgeous, and clean. It reminded me how much I LOVE living in the Philippines; we're so so blessed with indulgent and rich beaches. Definitely a picturesque place. Just one word of caution to those who intend to bring pets: Crystal Beach is home to many cats and dogs. They're sweet to people, but I was on guard because I brought my cat. All in all, wonderful place!

It's safe to say that I'm a mermaid...I mean, a beach girl. And I say that with the utmost…read moreconfidence even if I'm not the best of swimmers, haha! I do love the salt water and feel at home underwater. I've gone to a lot of beaches, love beach movies, want to go to Hawaii and I also want to surf. Zambales is a great surfing area if you don't want to go as far out as Siargao or Baler. They have a number of surf spots there for beginners and advanced surfers. Crystal Beach is the perfect and safe surf spot for beginners. The waves aren't massive that it's scary when you fall and the sand is very fine. Not rocky at all or filled with corals so you don't have to worry when you wipe out. No sea life as well so no worrying about ye olde sharks. My friends and I didn't stay at the Crystal Beach Resort but that's where we learned surfing. It's P400 per walk in and it Includes a rash guard, board rental and instructor's fee. The kuya instructors were patient, nice and supportive that my friends and I didn't feel like inept fools whenever we'd wipe out. It's actually really fun! I got to stand up on my first try and for most of my tries, but oh mannn, it can get really tiring and you swallow a lot of salt water! It's definitely a workout. Pack lots of bottle water so you can immediately re-hydrate once you get off the water. The instructors are from the Quicksilver surf school and are certified so rest assured you're in good hands. :)

Because of the name, I'm guessing you'd think it's a cute little island, right? And it's just that!…read moreMy friends and I enjoyed our stay here. Deemed "Little Boracay of the North", the sand is almost white and clean, the water's clear, the sea life is pretty and everything is picturesque. You can literally walk around the island in about 30 minutes or more depending on how leisurely your walk is or if you're taking lots of photos. You get a 360 degree view of the sea and it's SO beautiful to watch the sunset! We actually went on the wrong side of the island for the sunset but thankfully didn't miss it. We had to run across the island to literally chase the sun down. The red sun shining through the trees was a beautiful site. What was missing was "Chasing the Sun" playing in the background, haha. It was funny because one of my friends yelled, "Guys, run faster! Think zombies are chasing us!". XD You can even camp there if you'd like. I'm sure the sunrise is just as fantastic as the sunset. My friends and I definitely made great memories here. :)

LOOK LEFT Pundaquit…read moreBeach is the dock-off point of travellers heading to the islands of Capones, Anawangin, and Nagsasa. We prepared less for this trip and it took us 6-hours to queue at the bus station. We took an Iba-bound bus for another 5 hours on the road. We arrived San Antonio by sunset. Quite honestly we are initially disappointed upon arriving at our accommodation. It is an extremely tiring trip and there's is a big group occupying half of the resort. They tend to be rowdy through the night. We stayed here since we refuse to camp in the islands. We got non-aircon cottages which is actually a steal for a budget of less than Php1000 per night. Meals is not a problem, they serve pretty good breakfast. Tables and chairs are also provided outside the cottages. There is also a tree house deck for relaxation. Like most backpackers inn, the rest rooms are communal but well-maintained. There is no vehicle parking in their premises but there nearby spaces available for rent. On to our second night of stay, as soon as the big group leave, it turned out as a quiet place to stay and unwind. The hotel staff also assisted us in getting a boat to Nagsasa for our Day Tour. We booked the boat for Php1200 back and forth. Tried Ohana Art Cafe for dinner. Food is just okay. We ordered the set meal for P350 per plate. For our last night in Pundaquit, we had a Filipino food feast at Canoe Beach Resort. Menu extremely affordable and surprisingly good. We had Sisig, Sinigang, Caldereta, Ensalada, Grilled Fish, and Drinks for Php1200.

Out of the other coves you can visit in Zambales, Nagsasa is my favorite. Just a few hours from…read moreManila, the campsite is not as crowded and you can go on a nice hike across the mountainous area to enjoy two waterfalls. There is also a very basic toilet and shower so you can still do your business and clean yourself up. I like that on the right side, if you're facing the cove, is an open area where you can play Frisbee or tan to your heart's content. The water is also calm and warm. Guides are available for the hike. We did this on a whim so we did not have the right attire, but we survived our in flip flops and swim shorts. It's always better to be prepared, though. If you're on a budget, buy food at the wet market before boarding the boat to the cove. You can cook in the little kitchen hut at the campsite, just remember to ask your guide nicely. You can also ask them to charge your gadgets for you for a small fee (less than P30), but that means they will take a boat back to your take-off point where there is electricity. If you run out of water, you can also ask them to get water for you. We found out that one of the waterfalls is the source of that water so if you're picky, bring plenty of bottles or a portable filter.