Club Balai Isabel Resort: 12 Things You Can Do on Your Overnight Stay (Talisay Batangas)

A few weeks ago, my friends and I had a spontaneous overnight getaway to Club Balai Isabel Resort.  Club Balai Isabel Resort is a top-notch resort in Talisay, Batangas.  It is only 2 hours away from Manila.

Front Desk

All guests are required to drop by the Front Desk.  This is where you can get your keys, deposit your valuables and book your spa service or other activities.

Club Balai Isabel is a big compound so it has a variety of accommodations to offer.  It is estimated that their maximum capacity is around 800 people.  You can choose from so many types of rooms as well as villas and cottages that are recommended for groups.

I really appreciate that everything is well-maintained.  At night, all the trees are lighted so you can roam around leisurely.

This is our 2-storey room with 3 queen beds, 2 twin beds and 1 single bed on the first floor.  We also have a TV dresser and a cabinet.  The rest rooms both on the first and second level are very clean.  They provided a complete stash of  toiletries: lemongrass soap, shampoo with condition, toothbrush and toilet paper.  Clean towels are also provided. 

We had complimentary water and coffee.  There's a mini fridge under the kitchen counter and an electric kettle.

There's a private veranda overseeing the landscape by the Terazza Cafe.

12 Things You Can Do on Your Overnight Stay
After settling in on your cozy accomodation, here are my suggestions on what you can do on your overnight stay.

12. Take a picnic

 
11. Take a stroll

Club Balai Isabel has a beautiful landscape.  There's also a butterfly sanctuary.

My favorite relaxation place is Tagong Gubat.  The place is very serene.

Coming from the city, the environment it offers is calm at peace and in tune with nature.

Taking a stroll here will surely bring you a soothing feeling.

10. Try the obstacle course

Photo Credits to www.thedailyposh.net

If you're with a big group, you can challenge each other with the obstacle courses.

9. Rent a bike

Bike Rental (300 php/hour)  Photo Taken by Aylin of thedailyposh.net

There are many bikes to choose from.  There's even a double bike.

8. Go for a swim

Club Balai Isabel has 3 swimming pools.  This is the largest one. 

The second largest is closer to the Terazza Cafe and the lake.

7. Day dream by the lake

Although it's a lake, they placed some sand so it feels like a beach front.

Indeed, one of the strongest points of Club Balai Isabel is its Taal Lake View.

Take time to chill here. 

If weather permits, you could also catch the sunset.

This is my first time to see Taal Lake from Batangas... I usually see it from Tagaytay.
 
6. Pray

Inside Balai Club Isabel is the Spousal of Mary and Joseph Chapel.  Many Catholic weddings have taken place here.

Every Sunday at 9 am, there is a mass.

5. Play Ball

Club Balai Isabel has a Basketball Court and a Tennis Court.  They also have Billiards and Darts.

4. Avail of their spa service (600 php/hour)
You can book a massage service to take place on your room or on their spa near the Butterfly Sanctuary.  If you want a hard pressure, I highly recommend Alice.  I was satisfied with her service.


3. Kayak by the lake

Double Seater Kayak (300 php/hour)

2. Speed through the lake with a Jetski

Jetski (2,000 php/30 minutes)

1. Ride the banana boat or speed boat

Banana Boat (150 php/head)

 

This sums up our Travel Tripster suggestions which you can do during your overnight stay whether you're in Club Balai Isabel for a family or friends outing, seminar, wedding or corporate events.  Enjoy!

New Activity: Conquer Club Balai Isabel's Aquapark  

(click to go to separate article)

Bonus: Eat
Have some Bulalo(475 php) at Terraza Cafe (see extensive feature here)! 
 

Club Balai Isabel Resort
Hotel Address	Talisay-Tanuan Road (infront of Banga Elemetary School), Batangas City, Philippines
Contact	(632) 897-0229	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Jeep, Tricycle
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
N/A	N/A (refer to www.balaiisabel.com for info)		N/A
General Amenities	•3 Swimming Pools •2 Obstacle Courses	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Eurotel Baguio Map
Location	★★★
Room Comfort	★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★

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Grande Island Resort: Top 6 Recommended Water Activities to Do (Subic SBMA Zambales)

So I've shared my top 6 recommended land activities.  Now, for the more exciting part is my top 6 recommended water activities to do at Grande Island Resort.

1. Go Swim

 

You can swim at the Beach until 5pm.  The water is pristine clean.  The sand is a bit stony on the first part but go further towards the rocky edge part where the sand is fine and soft.  I was very happy with their Beach because it was so isolated and private.  The sea water is very salty so you'll easily float away.  Bring goggles if you want to enjoy seeing what's underneath.

For those who have kids like the Korean guests we saw, you can opt for their large Pool which is open even at night.

2. Test Your Teamwork Balance with Banana Boat

Grande Island Resort offers a 5-Seater Banana Boat at the rate of 230 php per round.  Since I'm usually a solitary wanderer, it was my first time to ride a banana boat and boy am I glad to finally try it.  It was tons of fun!  It was fun to ride and bounce around.

photo credits to www.momsworldofartsandhappiness.com

 And, falling from the Banana Boat into the deep blue sea is just as sensational so everyone in the team probably intentionally attempted to make us fall off =p.

Falling Off

Not to worry though since the boatman will jump to the rescue and assist you back to the Banana Boat in every fall.  Just relax,  float away, be patient and enjoy the cool sea water.

3. Go Under the Sea with Helmet Diving

Speedboat to the Helmet Diving Station

Helmet Diving Station

For 1,000 php per head, Grande Island Resort offers a 20-minute Helmet Diving.  We were all enthusiastic first-timers but we all found it easy to do with the effective orientation and assistance by the staff.

Upon reaching the Helmet Diving Station, we were given adequate instructions: a. Underwater sign languages for communication and safety measures b. Ways to equalize the pressure by swallowing, chewing and blowing our nose.  c. How our helmets (36 kilos) can be carried on our shoulders at the seabed (around 1 kilo).

I've tried Snorkeling and fish feeding at Puerto Princesa before but walking underwater with the sand on your feet and be part of the calm and vast under the sea world is a whole new experience.

Some of the fishes were familiar to me as they were the same as the once I saw in Palawan. But, there were lots of new once too like Leopard scaled ones.  Underwater, I was able to see how schools of small fishes based themselves on the ciral reefs.  They were all sorts of starfishes.  I was able to grab and touch a rough and stone-like starfish and a purple smooth one.  By feeding the fishes with bread, we were literally surrounded by fishes that it felt like we were swimming with them.  I was able to hold a stone with a live coral with baby fishes swimming in them.  That was amazing! 

4. Go Turbo on the Jet Ski

photo credits to thepromdiboyadventures.blogspot.com

What made my Grande Island Resort experience epic was the Jet Ski Rental.  We rented their Masalugi (1200 cc) for 30 minutes at the rate of 2,500 php.  My friends took turns riding it.  Since it was my first time, I had a staff rode with me at the back for assistance. 

5. Try Kayaking 

photo credits to thepromdiboyadventures.blogspot.com

Rent a kayak and paddle away.  I've learned that paddling on a calm sea is easier while stronger waves delivers a more rewarding work out on the muscle.

6. Sail Away On a Speed Boat

For 2,500 php, you can sail away in a speedy way via speed boat.  To save time to go back the Subic Terminal, we rode the Speed Boat and had a super fun and windy ride.  I've learned that a calm sea offers a less splashy ride.

These are our Travel Tripsters recommended water activities because these are the only ones we've tried.  There's more water activities to try at Grande Island Resort like Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.

Grande Island Resort
Address	Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Budget Per Person	150-2,000	Grande Island Resort Map
Payment Options	Cash
Operating Hours	Monday to Sunday: (even holidays) 9 am-10 pm
Reservation Required	No (Encouraged)
Contact	(632) 584-4359 | (632) 463-7868 | (6347) 252-2883 |  (63927) 7240999 | (63919) 366-9999 | reservation@grandeislandresort.com | info@grandeislandresort.com

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