Aqua Felmida Resort: The White House Zambales Cottage Village Annex ( Cabangan, Zambales)

One of the advantages of the Philippines being an archipelago is that people from Metro Manila can enjoy the long stretch of beaches along the West Philippine Sea within just a few hours drive.  With the vast beach area comes numerous resort options.  Aqua Fel Mida in Cabangan Zambales is one of the latest resorts to be developed.  It is owned and managed by the same people behind the popular The White House Zambales which was developed a bit earlier - August 2018 located just beside it.  Hence, we consider it as one of the several annexes of The White House Zambales.

Aqual Fel Mida

Earlier this year, one of our office mates was retiring so we wanted to have an office outing before his retirement date which was his birthday.  Now, we feel fortunate to have had such a decision since the COVID pandemic soon hit the Philippines.  Although this resort is open and offering discounted rates, we still feel that traveling before was more convenient as there are no check points and requirements.

AQUA

The other The White House Zambales annexes are AQUA and...

RGV

RGV.  During our summer weekend visit, all annexes were occupied.  All of them are maintained by the same set of staffs who we believe are just nearby locals.


But, each resort annex offers its own unique ambiance. 

Aqua Felmida Resort looks like a mini native hut village.  

Day Tour Beachfront Cottages (DOLPHIN)

DOLPHIN

There are different types of cottage huts.  Some comes with a mini pool which didn't look appealing so we did not avail.

Modern Cottage B (MILK FISH)

MILKFISH Dining Area

All huts have a dining area, a rest room and

MILKFISH Twin Bed Room

 

and an air-conditioned bed room.  There are electrical sockets for charging in all areas.

Aqua Felmida Resort Beach Front

As with other beaches within the Zambales shoreline, the sand is a bit grayish.  The water is not clear blue but it is clean enough for swimming.

 

As a bonding activity, we avail of the videoke (1,000 php) and bonfire (500 php).   We enjoyed cooking our smores by the bonfire.  It was a first time for us so it was an awesome experience.

Overall, the service was good.  We also availed of its cooking serving.  The staffs prepared a boodle feast for us for lunch and then grilled variety for dinner. 

 

Aqua Felmida Resort
Hotel Address	Brgy. Felmida-Diaz, Cabangan, Zambales
Contact	(63923) 0819898 | (63906) 0917387 | (63923) 0862898	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Bus, Tricycle
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Modern Cottage A - (YELLOW FIN)	•1 Queen-size bed •Fully air-conditioned room •Comfort Room and Kitchen  •Free water, use of rice cooker and kettle		2,500 php (2 Pax) 2,900 php (3 pax)
Modern Cottage B -(MILK FISH)	•2 Twin size bed •Fully air-conditioned room •Comfort Room and Kitchen  •Free water, use of rice cooker and kettle (Additional Charge for the use of Gas Stove 150 - Grillings 100 charcoal not included,)		2,500 php (2 Pax) 2,900 php (3 pax)
Modern Cottage C -  (STARFISH & JELLY FISH)	•2 Queen-size beds •Fully air-conditioned room •Comfort Room and Kitchen  •Free water, use of rice cooker and kettle (Additional Charge for the use of Gas Stove 150 - Grillings 100 charcoal not included,)		2,500 php (2 Pax) 2,900 php (3 pax)
Non Aircon Cottages	•Use of Electric Fan •Comfort Room and Kitchen		6,000 php (2 Pax) 2,900 php (3 pax)
Day Tour (6AM-6PM) Beachfront Cottages (BLUE MARLIN & DOLPHIN)	•Comfort Room and Kitchen		2,500 php (10 Pax) 250 php (per pax excess up to 15 persons)
General Amenities	•Gas Stove (150/350 php) •Grilling Charcoal (100 php) •Kayak (200 php/hour) •Bonfire (500 php) •Boat ride (750 php/hour) •Karaoke up to 10pm only (1,000 for whole stay) •Cooking service 450 php (3 meals good for 3-4 pax) and 100 php (per additional dish)	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Aqua Felmida Resort Map
Location	★★★★
Room Comfort	★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★

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Sunset Bay Beach Resort: Featuring Elyu's Beautiful Sunset (San Fernando La Union Philippines)

It has been awhile since we wrote about La Union.  La Union has evolved so much and is now coined as "Elyu" by millenials.  But, there are some places that remain the same just like Sunset Bay Resort. 

Sunset Bay Resort has been awarded as Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice from 2015 to 2019.  Upon our arrival, we could already see why.  It is located just a few kilometers away from Thunderbird's Resort Poro Point.  

The resort was well-maintained with lush greens mixed with indigenous artifacts. 



There were potteries everywhere.

There were many spots to sit and relax. 

Each room also has its own patio area.

At night, the entire place is even more enchanting with all the yellow lights. 

Deluxe Room

We availed of the Deluxe Room.  This room can cater from two to four persons (with added cost).  Our stay included free WiFi access but is exclusive of breakfast.

Although the furniture and interior of the rooms looked dated, it didn't have a negative effect on the overall room comfort because the room was tidy.

It offered the basic amenities like a wall mirror, electric kettle, desk, cabinet and...

air-conditioning.  The air-conditioning required room keys for activation which was a brilliant way to conserve electricity.

The bathroom was also clean.  The shower is also equipped with heater. 


Beach

The sand isn't the best there is but the beach front was clean.  During our visit, it was not crowded too. 

You could simply spend your time sitting under the shaded trees, enjoying the sound of the waves and the soft caress of the sea breeze. 

We weren't fortunate enough to witness the full sunset.  But, the purple hue caused by the scattering phenomenon in the atmosphere was still evident. 

It left us quite a romanticized scene of our beach experience.

There were many photo and video enthusiasts who caught such a scenic moment as well. 

But, don't be intimidated by their camera setup because the place is so well-lit, we ourserlves just you our pocketable point-and-shoot camera.

The place was really photogenic. 

At night, you can chill by the bar, restaurant or enjoy a night swim at its infinity pool.

Overall, we Travel Tripsters, were surprisingly pleased with our stay at Sunset Bay Beach Resort. 

Sunset Bay Beach Resort
Hotel Address	Airport Rd, San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
Contact	(6372) 607-5907	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Bus then Tricycle
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Upper Deck Superior	• Good For 2 Persons • 1 Queen-size bed • Hot/cold water / shower • 24 hrs. cable TV / In-house movie channels • Air-conditioned • Free Wifi • Patio area		4,250 php
Upper Deck Suite	• Good For 4 Persons • 1 Masters Bedroom with Queen-size bed •  2 Single Bedrooms with Single bed •  Hot/cold water / shower • 24 hrs. cable TV / In-house movie channels • Air-conditioned • Free Wifi • Patio area		5,050 php
Poolside Suite	• Good For 4 Persons • 1 Masters Bedroom with King-size bed •  2 Single Bedrooms with Single bed •  Hot/cold water / shower • 24 hrs. cable TV / In-house movie channels • Air-conditioned • Free Wifi • Patio area		4,850 php
Deluxe	• Good For 2-4 Persons • 1 Matrimonial bed [add-ons: single bed (500 php) and pull-out bed (600 php)] • Hot/cold water / shower • 24 hrs. cable TV / In-house movie channels • Air-conditioned • Free Wifi • Patio area		2,700 php
General Amenities	•Infinity Pool •Beach Front	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Sunset Bay Beach Resort
Location	★★★★
Room Comfort	★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★★

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Bus Stop Dive Resort: 10 Reasons Why It Is the Best Choice For Diving in Batangas

Whether it's for the budget or homey hospitality, I am always in search for new places to stay that isn't too hyped.  A few weeks ago, I discovered Bus Stop Dive Resort in Anilao/Bauan Batangas.

As implied by the name, it is among the many dive resosts in Batangas.  So why here?  Let me give you 10 reasons why it is one of the best if not the best choice in Batangas.

10 Reasons Why Its the Best Choice for Diving in Batangas

10. Short Drive and Short Boat Ride

Driving to the Bus Stop Dive Resort Boat Station is only around an hour and a half drive from Metro Manila.  There is adequate parking slots to leave your car there well-guarded during your entire stay.

There boat ride is only 10 to 15 minutes long.  The waves are usually calm so you can still ride a boat even after sunset.

9. Affordable and Clean Accommodation

The accommodation is clean and very affordable.  An overnight stay stats at 500 php per head.

There are many types of rooms to choose from.  You have a terrace with sea view.  And, the bathroom is equipped with shower.

8. Freshly Cooked Homey Food

As you can see they have a clean kitchen that's open for everyone to walk into and inspect anytime.

The food is freshly cooked with fresh local ingredients bought from the town market.

Sotanghon na Mackarel, Adobong Manok, Lumpiang Ubod and Rice

Most of us are too busy to enjoy home-cooked meals.  And, some of the foreign guests are unfamiliar with our favorite home-cooked dishes.

Thus, for breakfast, lunch or dinner... Bus Stop serves dishes that will surely warm up your hearts and stomach with homey cooked dishes.

I really enjoyed these simple dishes.  It is indeed one of the plus factors of my relaxing stay at Bus Stop.

7. Calming View and Music of the Sea

There is nothing more refreshing and relaxing than looking at the clear blue sea and listening to the sounds of the waves.

I find it relieving to pace my breath with the sound of the waves.

6. Beautiful Seascapes

The sea isn't just a plain open sea.

There are many rocks and floras that create a beautiful seascape perfect for photography.

Just look at how emotional my shots are.

You can get different outputs depending on the time and mood of the day.

5. Great Nap Place

When was the last time you have a nap outside the four corners of your room?  I bet that is nothing compared to this right?

Feel the fresh sea breeze brush across you cheeks and the rest of your skin as you take your nap.

4. Get to Watch a Scenic Sunset

One of the best reasons to stay for the night is to be able to sit by the shore, maybe grab some beer and just appreciate the orange hues spreading across the greyish skies.

This is one of my favorite shots.

3. Instagram Worthy Photos

You can find a lot of Instagram worthy photos in this place.  The possibilities is limitless depending on your creativity.

2. Pet-Friendly

If you're looking for pet-friendly locations, this is one of them.

1. Direct Diving Spot

They have a direct diving spot just ashore.  Just in front of the place is already a marine sanctuary formerly known as Bus Stop.  Unlike in Anilao where you will spend on renting a boat out on top of their high and commercialized accommodation rates, here you can just rent some gears and hire a dive master and you're all set to go.  Even if you're not a diver, you can just do snorkeling ad on a fair da ysee lots of fishes in the calm and crystal clear water.

Check out my first dive and trek experience at Bus Stop Dive Resort on my next post.

Bus Stop Dive Resort
Hotel Address	Bauan San Pablo Batangas Philippines
Contact	(632) 435-3545	Reservation Required	No (Encouraged)
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Bus + Tricycle
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Varies	• Twin or Single Bed		500 php/head
General Amenities	Cottage huts	Parking	No
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Bus Stop Dive Resort
Location	★★★★
Room Comfort	★★★
Cleanliness	★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★

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