Holiday Homes de Boracay Hotel

It's been awhile since the last time I visited my blog. I was quite busy this past months. Anyways, during my birthday, me, my boyfie and bff E went to Boracay. We really had fun and I would definitely agree that Boracay is just superb. It was my best vacation ever and even my 4 days and 3 nights stay was not enough. I'm still longing for more...hehehe. I would definitely be back and that's a promise! 

When we say Boracay, our initial impression to it, it's kinda expensive, right?! Even myself, I also have that impression. But when I asked some of my colleagues who had been to boracay, I was really shocked to learn that it's not that expensive. I have been traveling to several places so I really thought it's expensive considering how famous Boracay is but I was wrong. Aside from having a discounted room, the food and the place is not that expensive at all.


So now, I will tell you how we got our discounted room and where we stayed. We stayed at Holiday Homes de Boracay Hotel. During our stay there (peak season), we were able to save a generous amount of bucks since the room we got have a discount...yehey!!! Instead of paying for more than 2,000 phil. peso, we just got it at exactly 1,000 phil. peso/night...what a bargain right esp. it's on a peak season?! 


How we did it?! Well, we just got lucky...lol Joking aside,here's how. 1 month before our travel date, I started searching as to where to stay. My big factor is, the price should be affordable...hahaha I guess everyone is looking for that. Why the price? since we will just be using the place for sleeping and do not intent to stay in the room the whole day, so I guess for me, it's not practical to book an expensive hotel. Of course, aside from the price, we also want that the room is clean and decent. After several searching, we found a room, not that expensive 3,000 phil. peso but there are some nights which are already fullybooked and some are way way far. So at that time, I was already very tired looking for a place in the net for several days so I decided that we will just book 2 nights in boracay and 1 night in Ilo-ilo since our trip back to Cebu is via Ilo-ilo. I guess, that was the lucky part, since a friend of mine, a priest is from Ilo-ilo so I texted him if he can refer us a nice place in Ilo-ilo but an affordable price since we are also in a budget.  He then referred us to a friend of him and also a supplier of their school and an owner of a resort in Boracay. My priest friend is the one who booked us to this place. I even didn't see any pictures of this hotel since no pictures is found in the net. I just agreed since the price is indeed affordable and my priest friend inform me, they stayed in that hotel before when they went summer outing in boracay. So I guess the place is decent.

A week before our travel date, I texted the Owner Ms. Rolyn Castro and asked directions how to get to the place. She then provided me the directions and inform us to tell the tricycle driver to drop us at "E-Mall". At 1st I thought it was just a typo error since I already  knew that boracay has the famous D-Mall. But Ms. Rolyn informed me there is indeed an "E-Mall" also (same here in Cebu) and it's near the "old talipapa". But when we arrived, we all decided to just proceed to D-Mall since we still haven't got any breakfast and it's about already 8am. We told the tricycle to drop us to D-Mall and had our breakfast at Andok's.


After eating, I just texted Ms. Rolyn where we will go to reach the hotel since we are in already in D-Mall and is going near the beach area. Good thing, she was very helpful and easily replied to my text messages. After several walkings in the shoreline, we were able to reach our destination.


See below pictures on how to get to Holiday Homes de Boracay Hotel in two ways.

***1st is going the convenient way, the once Ms. Rolyn texted us way back.

from the terminal, just inform the tricycle driver to drop you off to "E-MALL"

once you are in the "E-Mall", walk straight

once you see the restaurant "ZEST BORACAY", beside it is Galleria de Boracay

after seeing the "Galleria de Boracay", turn right and walk straight.

you will see the sign board of Holiday homes de boracay
and go straight ahead. This is the entrance.

the reception area. Ms Rolyn's sister in law is very friendly and helpful.

view of the place, this is the family rooms

cottage style rooms, good for 2-3 persons.
(or more than-depends on the room)

Ave Maria Sanctuary Park, Carcar Cebu

This is already a very late post. I once visited Ave Maria Sanctuary Park way way back located in Carcar, Cebu. Honestly, I don't exactly know the exact location but as far as I know, it's in the mountain area of Carcar. Since when I came there I used a private vehicle owned by my boyfie's manager, as they own the place as well. When I visited this sanctuary, it is not yet open to the public. Usually people close to the family or friends of the owner were the ones who can visit this place but I heard it will soon be open to the public once everything is fully completed. 

From the place itself, it's a Sanctuary of different kinds of animals. They have local and imported animals being taken cared of. I took some pictures of the animals (see below) but was not able to take pictures of all of them since the place is quite big and my friend D is already tired of walking....hehehe. You really need to have much energy for you to tour/ocular the whole place, that's how big their place is. 

Hopefully this Sanctuary will be open to the public. They really have many animals being taken cared of and the place is also nice for chillin' out as it's in the mountain area and the view is really splendid. It's really overlooking and you can really feel nature's beauty.

it's like a cherry blossom in Japan

us chillin' out after a tiring ocular of the place

Groupon Deal: Lakwatsa Resto Lounge, Mandaue City

I'm so excited, just brought another deal from Groupon....heheheh. I still haven't redeem my Oyster Bay deal and now I'm again buying another one. It only shows I'm a "discount site" (groupon, ensogo and etc.) addict....lol. 

I will be using this together with my 2 cousins and their special someone. Though all of us are not familiar with the location of this Resto but I'm sure we can find this place. Just like what my cousin B told me awhile ago, "our instinct will guide us to this place"...hahaha chos! Per checking with their menu, the price is quite affordable and the place is also nice and unique since it's a theater-resto. I guess it's the 1st of it's kind or as far as I know...hahaha. I can no longer wait to redeem it (^_^)

Check out these links for a sample view of the place...

http://ngkhai.net/lakwatsa.ph/ and http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g294261-d3643051-Lakwatsa_Resto_Lounge-Cebu_Visayas.html) 

.....so what are you waiting now guyz, Do grab this offer asap as this deal will be over in the next 09:01:43.

Road trip: Going South of Cebu_TINGKO BEACH RESORT, Alcoy Cebu

....to continue our road trip experience Argao Nature Park and Obong Spring




Our last destination: Alcoy, after we decided to transfer from Obong Spring (see link above regarding my previous post), we were looking for any place we can relax and plunge in the water considering it's really very hot and we just wanted to quench our sizzling hot body....hahaha. I suggested if they would like to try Tingko Beach in Alcoy. I have been to alcoy twice already and even stay there overnight. I liked their beach as it's very clean and the water is crystal clear. Though I could not post my pictures in my previous stay there since it's way back 2008 and 2009 and at that time, digital cameras/dslr are not yet "in" at that time...hehehe. And also cameras are quite expensive at that time so I just settle taking pictures using my cellphone. So since it's taken using my cp, the pictures are quite small and not very clear, a bit "pixelated". So after telling them how nice alcoy is, everyone agreed and off we go to Tingko Beach.


When we arrived there, we did not pay anything. There is no entrance fee. The only time you are going to pay is when you will get a room or a cottage in the area. But if you will follow what we did, looked for a shady part in the area and just placed a towel or "sarong" in the sand and just hung your bag in the rock (see below pictures) then it will not cost you anything....hehehe it's free of charge. You can do what we did if you will just be there for day-use as you will really save money. But if you will be staying there for  overnight, I suggest you rent a room or bring your own tent. (no sure if there is a charge).

our bags...hehehehe 

eating "hilaw nah mangga" (green mango)
matched with super spicy bagoong (fish paste)
while relaxing in the beach

.....see below pictures of how beautiful is Tingko Beach in Alcoy.

the beach

the beach

the beach

room accommodation and I think, there is also a restaurant

cottages on top of a rock

view

beach goers singing karaoke

cottages on top of a rock

cottages on top of a rock

cottages on top of a rock

After taking a plunge (see below pictures), we paid a minimal fee of 5 or 10 pesos to used their comfort rooms to take a shower and changed with our dry clothes. Just take note, not to expect to much on their comforts rooms since it's not a classy one. It's just an ordinary CR but just enough to get you thru. 

us taking a plunge and enjoying the water

us taking a plunge and enjoying the water

The Verdict: 



Tingko Beach in Alcoy is one of the beaches I like. So if you are asking if I still want to go back to this place??? Well definitely a big YES!!! White sand, clean beach, and super nice water and you can enjoy it without spending a single penny (no entrance fee, can stay there without getting a cottage-just stay place a towel in the sand), what more can you ask for. I would really like to recommend this place if you are looking for a nice beach in the South area of Cebu and are in a tight budget as well.

Road trip: Going South of Cebu_OBONG SPRING, Dalaguete Cebu

....continuation of my previous post Road trip: Going South of Cebu


as mention in my other post, in Argao Nature Park we hurriedly went straight to the car since the rain was already pouring. So while in the car, we were discussing as to where is our next destination since during our planning last night, we did not have any specific place to visit but just agreed to have a road trip going south of Cebu and just go with the flow...hehehe meaning any place we can pass by or wherever our car can take us...lol



Our 2nd stop: Dalaguete, Ms. W suggested again if we could like to go to Obong Spring since her high school friend used to live in Dalaguete and before, every time they went to her friend's house, they would not miss going to Obong Spring so she is kinda familiar of the place and how to get there. Again, all 3 of us agreed and off to OBONG SPRING in the municipality of Dalaguete....yeeeey!!!

it's raining, aren't they?! hahaha sounds familiar???? lol

rain rain go away.....

our driver...hehehe

off to Obong Spring even if it's raining

entrance and I guess this is also the Drop-off point
if you are riding using a public transportation like Bus/Motorcycle/"habal-habal"

entrance fee...very affordable

After paying our entrance fee, we then immediately went to their spring but when we arrived, the place was jump-packed. (see below pictures) There were really so many people and the place was quite noisy as what we expected. There were people singing in the karaoke and there were kids shouting and running around. Most of the people there are families having a good time and like having a picnic. It was a nice view for us but not a place to take a plunge since it's quite crowded already. I guess I can't blame it considering the weather was so hot and everyone wants to plunge in the cold spring and hey, it was also weekend. So we all decided to transfer to another location and find somewhere not crowded and is enough to cool down our very hot body...hahaha

The Verdict: 


Obong Spring is a nice place indeed and I loved to take a plunge in their cold spring minus the people of course...heheheh. Maybe if given a chance, I loved to go back to this place but I will make sure to go there during weekdays so that the place is not crowded and I can really enjoy the place. 



Plus points: 


When we reached the entrance gate and ask the one in-charge if we can get our entrance fee back since we were not able to enjoy the spring and decided to transfer to other place due to so many people, they automatically returned our money back without any hassle unlike other places/resorts we've been to. Though the money was not quite big of an amount but the fact they were that accommodating to returned it was really a plus factor to us. (^_^)




            ...check the continuation of our road trip in my next post (^_^)