Ask me an ideal weekend travel destination and I’ll tell you
a rolling list of luxury resorts and spa I have always dreamed of going to.
If Forbes magazine would allow it, I have my Top 5 Best Resorts here in the
Philippines which I believe deserve their feature: the Aman Resorts (Amanpulo), Palawan;
Bellarocca Island Resort, Marinduque; Balesin Island Resort, Quezon; El Nido
Resorts, Palawan; and Buri Spa and Resort in Batangas. This list goes in
random.
My mind dramatically gets lost lusting for the comfort and leisure
that these resorts offer. And if that’s a sin, I don’t want to be absolved.
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| Start daydreaming! |
Vacationing to such places enliven our outlook of
what a good life is. The lush views, activities, and services justify our
sabbatical from the busy life of the city.
We need not go to the place to know how magnificent it is. Pictures alone can do the explanation. But when the idea of relaxation and fun hits us in the eye, we start wanting it, and we keep wanting more. Santorini, Greece? Maldives? French Polynesia?
We need not go to the place to know how magnificent it is. Pictures alone can do the explanation. But when the idea of relaxation and fun hits us in the eye, we start wanting it, and we keep wanting more. Santorini, Greece? Maldives? French Polynesia?
The word luxury however is sometimes tricky. The price we
need to pay increases as our desires for luxury inflates.
Our family has become a savvy beach frequenter since after we
began visiting to long-drive resorts in 2010, mostly within Leyte and Samar.
We are an extended type of family so traveling would usually
be made up of 15 to 20 persons, that is 15 adults and 5 children below 12 years
old. Having that in mind, we always have to make sure we get the most practical
deal possible in every resort we book in. Because of course, we still want to
experience luxury with expenses cut down in fractions.
We recently visited Caluwayan
Palm Island Resort in Marabut, Samar. It is an eco-tourism oriented resort
that is in the pacific coastline. It belongs to the province of
Western Samar in the Visayas region of the Philippines. And it is surrounded by
towering rock islands, coves, and coral gardens.
I don’t want to bore your time so I’ll talk about how to get
to Caluwayan, how to book, what amenities to avail and other relevant details
which I know you’ll be interested of knowing in my next blog.
From Tacloban City, we arrived in Caluwayan a few minutes
past noon time. We booked online 2 weeks before our check in date so we saved
an amount of time looking for availabilities. It was only a 1 night/ 2 day
staycation so we had our activities set ahead of time as well.
The resort can easily be recognized from along the road. Upon
arrival, a big signage under a wooden anchored thatch greeted us at the gate.
Parking areas are available for private vehicles on the left and right side of
the resort from the gate.
Now this one’s a usual resort photo, taking a picture in
front of a big signage cleaved into travertine rocks.
We checked in 1 Family Room that accommodated 7
adults (including me) and 5 children. It has 2 king size bed upholstered in white, with comforters, with wooden headboards and a side table.
There's also an extra bed, a wooden breakfast table for two, a flat screen TV with remote control, DVD players with remote control and 2 movie DVDs, a small walk-in closet, complimentary air condition, modern bath tub and shower facilities, 2 lavatories, electronic card lock and glass slide doors that accommodates us an ample view of the infinity pool, calm blue waters and the surrounding rock islands.
There's also an extra bed, a wooden breakfast table for two, a flat screen TV with remote control, DVD players with remote control and 2 movie DVDs, a small walk-in closet, complimentary air condition, modern bath tub and shower facilities, 2 lavatories, electronic card lock and glass slide doors that accommodates us an ample view of the infinity pool, calm blue waters and the surrounding rock islands.
The family room is found in the first floor of the Caluwayan
Hotel near the seaside. A private veranda extends from the room, with
chaise loungers and a table, which I highly recommend from any other rooms.
The structure of the hotel room in this photo almost looked like the Thíra of Santorini, Greece.
This part at the side of the infinity pool was calling me. It's another sublime spot for quiet book reading, spa massage, yoga, and what-else-would-you-do with your Walter Mitty self.
There's also a part in the resort where cottages are located near the towering rock mountains. Quieted, and in a way, to a point of deafening silence. But sure if you want to take in some quiet moments with few, and seriously fewer distractions, this place is for you.
For now let me give you a sneak peek of the expansive activities that will afford you panoramic views of the rock islands and caves in Marabut, Samar.
Photo Credits:
1st photo is found on classy (hyphen) daydreamer (at) tumblr (dot) com
all other photos are copyright Syril Tañala, pensnpaper-syriltanala.blogspot.com
