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.

A HIDDEN GEM! A must go retreat for family, big groups, honeymooners, quick getaway, etc! Only less…read morethan 3 hour drive from Manila. The road going towards the resort is so narrow. You would not think this didn't go anywhere! We actually tried booking through Airbnb but they only limit it to sixteen people; or I think Airbnb's requirement. The representative told us to communicate through Facebook instead as we needed a big group reservations for 30 as their description on Airbnb stated they can accommodate up to 30 people! Easy reservations with them via phone and the best place to go so far since visiting the main island! The resort has their own farm of fruits and veggies so everything is fresh and depends on the season; they can only make certain meals during the season. Food is pretty decent. We reserved the villa for our stay called - 'Sta. Teresita Villa' where it has its own private infinity pool. The villa has its own kitchen, two and half bathrooms and two bedrooms. It has great views! It was so awesome! We all didn't want to leave!! We also rented additional rooms that had outdoor jacuzzi's. You can order set meals for 5 or 10 or ala carte. Just to let you know, if you are used to American portions, you may have to order more than average. They have fresh buko drinks, too. They plan to add a zip lines in the resort. I can't wait! Tips to remember: - Weather is still very warm here so don't over dress. OK, I mean HOT and humid! - Bring bug spray especially during rainy season. Bugs are huge here!! Bring slippers! - pools have overhead covers so even if rained on, you can still swim. Bring waterproof camera bags. - No wifi except in the lobby. Free wifi. 3G goes on and off within the resort so good luck! No use coming here if you are working! - It's easy to use Waze to get here but leaving, make sure to start the Waze while using the wifi in the lobby or it won't turn on till a few km's out! Remember how you got there. - They do accept credit cards. - Bring snacks or drinks as their snack bar is limited. - Make sure to explore the resort, their crops and their pet snakes! - They do have a few blackouts. - Wake up before sunset to check out the lake and mountain views! Bring your good cameras! Also, love the weather in the morning! For my 650th review, I am dedicating it to Noni's Resort! Staff were very accommodating and super friendly for our big group! Prices were pretty good for our staff and what was offered. I will definitely recommend anyone to check them out and stay for a quick weekend getaway! You won't regret it! [69/100]

Only four because of the room that my fam., had is just far down to the shore.., and you have to…read morewait for the inhouse mini shuttle bus, plus the massage therapist is not available when i asked for a full body massage that im craving after a long drive...to get there other than that not a big deal we still enjoyed the beautiful and amazing fuego! so fulfilled.

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!

Entering the room, the shower door was broken and the bathroom tiles were cracked. Took a shower…read moreanyways hoping to keep the floor dry but it got wet. The phone in the room doesn't work. Can only reach the desk via Viber, whatever that is. Walked to the desk to have the door fixed and some fresh towels. The shower door was fixed after an hr but no towels. Back to the desk and asked again for towels - still waiting. Overpriced, poor and slow service.

Im giving the resort, as a whole, a 3 star review mainly because of the staff and how wonderful…read morethey were. Last year, my family and I stayed at the neighboring villas and townhomes and fell in love with the beach and the sunsets. Unfortunately, we weren't able to use the resorts amenities, so this year, I decided to try the resort and see what we were missing. I've read some of the reviews before booking and I can't say I wasn't discouraged by some of them, but I decided to book an overnight stay anyways. Yes, the resort is "dated" and could use a facelift, but it truly wasn't all that bad. The room we stayed in was good. It seemed clean. The bathroom was in order. The air conditioner was blasting when we came in the room. It had the amenities that were needed for an overnight stay so we were satisfied for the price that was paid. I've read others comments and how (I feel) they had unrealistic expectations, like they were going to be staying at some diamond star hotel. Well, this isn't the place. Another review was complaining about how the wifi didn't reach the rooms. Well, again, it's not an internet cafe so don't expect to get a signal while you're there and just use your data. The staff were all very friendly and accommodating. They helped us when we needed help and answered any requests that we had. The bartenders and the wait staff were all very nice as well, just as, if not nicer, if you were to stay at a more luxurious resort. They were all very informative, for example letting us know that there's a part of the resort where there's "ihawan" and fire dancing for your entertainment, which we witnessed while sipping on some delicious cocktails. I would've given an additional star if the activities were less expensive, I'll say that. If you're planning on doing water sports and/or activities, make sure you have some extra funds because they are not cheap. My cheap self decided to just bask in the sand and enjoy the waters, which are so clear and the sands are finer than other beaches in Batanggas. All in all, I'd come back again given the opportunity. I also heard you can look for promos where the prices are even more affordable so I'll definitely be on the lookout for those.

Because long beach trips are impossible with families with infants, we just settled for a day at…read morethe waterpark with some of our friends last weekend. We had our (una at) huling hirit sa tag-init at WaterCamp Resort in Kawit, Cavite. The place was okay, it was a big waterpark (I like saying that word because it reminds me of the movie Grown Ups) with adult and kiddie pools with slides, and a wave pool. The shower rooms were clean and relatively well-maintained considering there are a lot of people coming there. Guests can choose to stay in tables or cabanas according to their budget and there are several areas for grilling, so families can definitely bring their baon, or order from the restaurant inside (which I wasn't able to try, unfortunately). I liked that the place is very family-friendly; it's ok to swim in t-shirt and shorts (as long as there's no metal) and they're very strict about prohibiting alcoholic drinks in the vicinity. I had a slight issue about breastfeeding my four-month old baby in the cabana, but I'm pretty much used to nursing in public by now. The entrance fee was reasonable (240 for adults, 210 for kids) for the place is big with lots of amenities. My daughter had the BEST time swimming there. She just swam and swam until she was too tired and fell asleep. She was so happy that I think an hour drive going to the place is absolutely worth it.

If you've got the money for it, believe me when I say it's a bucket-list, once (if you're lucky,…read morepotentially more) in a lifetime experience. Located just outside of Palawan in the Cuyo Archipelago is an island called Pamalican, or Amanpulo. Only accessible from a propeller plane from Acquino International Airport, you're looking at an almost 2 hour flight before landing, where you'll be welcomed 'home' and given a leis and a tour of the island and its amenities-- at my stay that included a spa, 3 restaurants (The lagoon Club, Main Clubhouse, and Beach Club). The tour ended at the Casita where we'd be staying for the remainder of the trip. Once you get into your room, you'll be greeted with a box of sweets, some mixed nuts, and dried fruit, alongside amazingly sweet welcome fruit juices. I absolutely love the mango juice they gave me. From the room, if you get a beach casita you will also have access to your own personal and mostly private walk to the absolute pristine crystal clear water beach with soft white sand. I feel obligated to warn you that sunscreen exists. Never forget your sunscreen, because you will want to stay out on the beach or in the water for hours. For those on 'business' trips: the islands have their own LTE/5G towers with service from Globe, so you'll never be out of service. Wi-Fi in the casitas ranged from around 80-120Mbps on each of my devices, however I have heard around the island (mainly the main clubhouse) the wifi does suffer a little bit. To get around the island, you'll be given clubcars, which max out at a speed I can only assume is around 10kmh--which at some points may feel slow, but if there's any more than 4 casitas in use at any time, you'll understand the benefits of keeping the carts slow :P One aspect of the trip that stood out to me was how far and how friendly the service on the island was. Everyone greeted us with a smile and waved, almost to the point of it being creepy, but I easily got used to it. Restaurants: The Lagoon Club: I put this one first solely because it was the one that stood out the most to me. They serve both pizza and Japanese cuisine. And don't get me wrong, there was nothing on the island I ate that wouldn't immediately rival the likes of Michelin starred chefs, but the Lagoon club goes beyond just good. I just had to try their 4 kinds of wagyu - KOBE, Hida, Ohmi, and Ozaki. Absolutely amazing experience. Clubhouse: the Clubhouse serves a mix of Asian foods and mainly Filipino dishes. I really love their longganisa. However, this restaurant suffers a little bit because of the location of the restaurant - it's fairly centrally located, which means bugs. Lots of bugs. At one point I was actually covered in a good number of beetles - and I honestly don't blame the staff - as they did handle the situation pretty well making sure none of the bugs got on the food, or on the table, or the guests. Definitely just a part of nature. That being said, the food at the clubhouse is one of the restaurants that is included in some of the packages that include breakfast and dinner. The above lagoon club is considered a premium restaurant, and thus is not included in the cost of booking. Beach club: this restaurant is also included with your breakfast/dinner plan, and is my favorite restaurant on the island that comes at no cost (other than upgrade options-fresh fish, premium meats, etc). They serve Mediterranean style foods. What stood out to me at this restaurant is the bread and variety of oils and butter and spices they provide. Absolutely delicious.

We had the best time of our life staying at Amanpulo Resort. We know it wont be the last. We had…read morethe most serene, private, wonderful experience on the white purest of sands and bluest clearest waters ever. Thank you Amanpulo, we will be back!!

Beach is clean, mostly pebbles and coral so it's hard to walk barefoot on…read more Cabins are ok. Air conditioning works well, huge bathroom. Place is supposed to be "no smoking" but the people next door were smoking on the porch. Food: terrible. They could do better with what they charge. Road to the resort: terrible. We were so worried we'd get a flat tire. No TV (which is not a problem) and wifi connection was poor.

Two things I absolutely love about La Luz. First, the big rock that's perfect for both silly,…read moreimpromptu photoshoots, and thrill seeking if you dare to jump off of it! Second, it's an amazing beach to go snorkeling. The corals are teeming with colorful fish, even clownfish, which are honestly so rare at beaches with a high volume of people. This would be a great place to teach kids the joys of snorkeling since there's a lot to see. Oh god, this is the place when I wanted to go swimming around sunset with my dad, and he said no because it would probably be too dark to see anything...then when he comes back he yells at everybody, "I SAW A TURTLE!!!" Hashtag ForeverBitter. Just be sure to bring beach shoes though, as the shore is full of pebbles. Harsh on bare feet, but very generous towards your shell collection if you've got one; there are lots of gems lying in plain sight, literally right under your nose! Forget about building sandcastles here, you'll be too busy collecting shells. Or avoiding jellyfish. As a ten or eleven year old, I totally freaked out during high tide when jellyfish washed up on the beach. At least it happens during the hottest part of the day when nobody's really in the water anyway. Moving on to the rooms. My family of five (or four and a half at the time since my brother was just a toddler) plus a ninong, ninang, and their daughter who's practically a second sister to me stayed in this pretty cool room which was actually 2 floors. It was my first time to see and sleep in a loft area, so I had fun! Haha. As I remember, the bathroom was decent, although it's hard having only one for big groups sleeping over. I'd suggest maybe adding another one for those types of rooms. Sad to say that recently when my family went on a day trip here to snorkel, by taking a boat from another resort, the beachfront was crowded with rowdy, sketchy looking people. Hopefully during off season there'll be less of those unpleasant characters and enjoying the beauty and adventure of La Luz will still be possible.

They literally were trying to charge us for a lost towel that probably the housekeeping didn't…read moreexchange for when they cleaned the room. We were there negotiating for about an hour explaining our side and ask for the videos around the resort supporting our claim but they said it they are not working, which is not our fault. So they end up apologizing to us for their mistake. One thin bath towel will cost us around 18$/900 pesos. The rooms were old and much needed Reno for the resort and they charge premium for a night.

Towels are shitty, same towels given that use in the pool and beach…read more Rooms are outdated, the lights are dark, we had to request for light bulbs for the ceiling fan. Lack of hand and face towels. Hotel guests have to pay for a beach umbrella? - ridiculous! This would have been a complimentary. We're not allowed to have 2 towels for a beach or pool day! The staff was asked for a beach chair and seems don't wanna give us one! WTH?! No elevators/lift... be sure your website says so. Breakfast buffet that was included in the booking sucks! It's cheap- corned beef, viena sausage. Not a lot of fruit selections (only water melon, cantaloup & papaya, I asked for mangos, twice in consecutive breakfasts in our 3 days of stay, said they are out! No one cares and takes note of it. No liquid coffee creamer. A local fresh milk Alaska brand or Magnolia would have been heaven! Highly NOT recommended