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

This place is a great getaway by the ocean. Shuttle service to get you to the water less than 2 min…read moreaway. Breakfast is top tier. Service is exceptional and will go above and beyond. Nice beds that were clean. Even had a bowling alley that the family loved. Super peaceful and would go again!

Love the exclusivity of the place, clean beach, excellent service from their staff (very polite and…read morehelpful). Food and drinks inside are reasonably priced. Big plus that they serve alcohol by the beach. Only issue I have against the place is that we were only getting LTE speeds on our (SMART) devices. Our AirBNB who uses Globe Wi-Fi only had internet at night (in time for the evening news). I would suggest that you bring snacks/drinks before going here as there are no convenience stores (and Petrol stations) near by. They have an excellent (free) gym, billiards, bowling, basketball, badminton and padel courts - bring proper shoes as its annoying to play on running shoes!

I first stumbled upon this place while I was searching around the Internet, looking for resorts in…read moreLaiya, Batangas. When I saw photos of the place, I instantly loved it and proceeded to book a room for two. The place is quite pricey compared to the other resorts in the area but upon arriving there, I knew why. The resort is very spacious, the cabanas or rooms are spaced quite far from each other, thus giving a lot of privacy to guests. When I went there with my boyfriend, the resort was actually fully booked but it didn't feel like it. The sand was white and the water was clean. It was hard to believe that this place was only 2-3 hours away from Manila.

What a gorgeous beach! While the sand isn't as fine as flour, it's definitely white and doesn't…read morehave too many shells that'll poke your feet as you run. Normally pretty white sand doesn't go with pretty underwater sights, but here I was pleasantly surprised to find corals and colorful fish only a short distance from shore! If you're not the type to snorkel, there are rentable kayaks available at a fairly reasonable price. The rooms are little cottages, either made of bamboo or built like a standard house with aircon. My family stayed in the former and thanks to the sea breeze, it was pleasantly cool during the night. No need to get the more expensive airconditioned room! It's nearly 3000 pesos more. But if you're just going on a day trip, you can rent one of the cabanas on the beach. They have mattresses for midday naps and curtains so no one will see the weird faces you make while asleep. The beachfront itself is beautiful, dotted with lots of coconut trees and smaller trees whose names are unknown to me but look like giant bonsais. The latter's branches are great for climbing and sitting on. Some trees have hammocks strung between them so you can sway with the wind and listen to the waves while daydreaming away that hour between eating and swimming again. Only issue I have with Virgin Beach is you can't bring in your own food. As an added snag, the already kinda expensive fees don't include food; you still have to pay for what you order at their restaurant separately. Overall, this a wonderful resort! My family's been here twice and each time was exactly the vacation we needed.

I got my Open Diver certificate in just a weekend at Anilao Beach Club! You can rent the equipment…read morethere and there are SO many diving sites you can choose from! We stayed in one of the cottages too which felt a bit like glamping. So fun! I went in March and the water wasn't too clear but I could still see some amazing fish and spotted a turtle too! Definitely the best first diving experience I could have wished for! After the dive, one of the people who worked there climbed up a palm tree for us (so impressive) and cut some fresh coconuts for us! They also have great Filipino food that I tried. I was obsessed with the tuna sisig! And the fresh mango juice ;)

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

Somebody in our batch suggested Anawangin for our batch outing. We were asked to contribute about…read more500php each, that's to cover the transportation, the boat ride, the overnight stay and whatever's left would be money for food. Of course we were encouraged to bring snacks and whatnot because when you get to the island, you won't be able to buy anymore since there are no tindahans, there wasn't even a cellphone signal. It was one of the best and cheapest trips I've been to. At that time Anawangin wasn't full of people and it wasn't offered as a promo on the group buy sites. It gave me the chance to actually sleep in a tent, cook my own food, gather around a bonfire and live a full day without the comfort of technology. The view was spectacular, and the experience was awesome. It'd really give you a chance to bond with the group and appreciate the simple things.

One of the great unexplored past times in Manila is camping. Sure, the metropolis is smoggy and…read morecongested, but there are really nice forests and beaches just 3 or 4 hours away from the city. A weekend escape from the trudge of modernity is always a great way to relax and unwind, and trailblazers are always finding new places to pitch a tent. Over the past decade, Anawangin Cove has become one of the most popular camping spots close to Manila. Only a 5 hour drive away, the cove is surrounded by hills with an interesting feature: pine trees. While they aren't quite the Temperate variety, the back end of the beach is littered with pencil pines. The rustling of the needles creates a very soft white noise, and the place remains peaceful even with the presence of a large amount of campers. The beach is great too; wide enough for a good game of frisbee or beach football. We stayed here overnight and even barbequed our own steaks, and we couldn't help but notice eyes leering at us with envy. Fortunately, they were only envious campers and not smarter-than-your-average-bears.