Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel: Value for Money Accomodation in Subic Zambales

Because work continuous even for the summer, many of us from Metro Manila try to squeeze in a quick summer escapade to nearby beach areas.  If you have Subic Zambales in mind then Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel might just be the accommodation you are looking for.

Located at Waterfront Road in Subic Bay, going to the beach is as easy as crossing the street.  It is also near most restaurants and bars.

Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel has a beautiful and well-air-conditioned lobby.  You can enjoy lounging in this area where the free WiFi is strongest.

The hotel is bigger than it looks from the facade.  There are rooms near the lobby and extended to the pool area totaling 53 rooms in total.

While, most rooms like ours will require passing by the outdoor pool.  Not a problem for us though as the WiFi reaches even this area and even our rooms.  The staffs are very courteous and more than willing to accommodate your requests.

Family Room (With Breakfast)

Our room is very clean and spacious at 65 sqm with 3 Queen-Sized Bed.  The price is more than reasonable at below 1 thousand pesos (20 USD) per person even with an additional charge for extra bedding.  There's a cable TV and fridge.

The room has more than adequate outlets for recharging.  There's a safety deposit box inside the cabinet.

There's even an cozy loft area.  Although I personally prefer the lobby area which is more classy.
There's a window for a natural light source but no view.

Toiletries and a bottled water is free for each guest.

There's a a shower with heater and bath tub but no bubble bath soap so bring your own.  Toilet has no bidet.

The hallways to our rooms offers a good pool view.  However, because of the intense heat, you cannot stand staying there during day time. 

Pool Area

The pool area is surrounded by the hotel building with some greeneries that works as a semi-shield against the direct rays of the sun.  The pool is very cool and clean.

The pool is open from 8 am to 10 pm which life guard being visibly present.

Swimming attire is encouraged but not to worry if you don't have one because they have some for sale.

Breakfast Buffet

I'm told that if they have many guests, the complimentary breakfast comes in the form of breakfast buffet served at Nicco's Restaurant.

Breakfast is served as early as 6:30 am up to 10 am.

Since Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel is the sister company of Subic Pearl Hotel and Terrace Hotel, the breakfast selection for all three are basically the same. 

So here's my breakfast plate.  Food is so-so they have tocino, hash brow, corned beef, scrambled eggs, fruits and refillable coffee.

Overall, we Travel Tripsters would recommend Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel for your value for money kind of accommodation when you want to stay in Subic Zambales.
 

Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel
Hotel Address	Lot MC-9 Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Subic, Zambales, Philippines
Contact	(6347) 252-2765	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	No
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Family Room with Breakfast	• Good For 6 Persons • 3 Queen-size bed • Hot/cold water / bathtub / shower • 24 hrs. cable TV / In-house movie channels • Air-conditioned • Safety deposit box • Free Wifi • Mini ref. • With free buffet breakfast		Around 6,000 php
General Amenities	•Pool	Parking	Yes (Very Limited)
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Seorabeol Grand Leisure Hotel Map
Location	★★★★
Room Comfort	★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★★

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Grande Island Resort: Ferry Ride and Overnight Beach Resort Accomodation (Subic SBMA Zambales)

We arrived at the Grande Island Resort ticketing office located at Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, at around 9 am. 

We were late.  We were advised to be at the ferry terminal 30 minutes before the schedule so its a good thing the ferry hasn't left.

We registered here. They had brochures here which indicated the land and water activities and the corresponding rates.

 This is also where the ferry schedule is posted.  Ferry Schedule as follows:

• To Grande Island
• 7 am
• 9 am
• 1 pm
• To Subic Terminal
• 12 pm
• 9:30 pm

Ferry Transfer

Our ferry departed at around 9:15 am.

We passed by the SBMA port where lots of containers are stacked.

The staffs at the ferry were very friendly and accommodating.  We were encouraged to explore the ferry with their assistance.  I was able to steer the ferry too.

It was a good day to ride the ferry.  It was a cool day but the sea is calm.

It wasn't long before we could glance Grande Island Resort from afar which got us all excited.

We arrived at around 9:40 am.  As soon as we got there, we were greeted and escorted to our cart. 

We were taken to their Registration Hut to register for our Check-in.  Standard Check-in time is 2:30 pm and Check-out time is 11:30 am.

Kuya Ver served us our welcome drinks.

The hut is very big.

This is the registration desk.

This is a map of the island.  I've been told that Grande Island Resort is established in 2004 and is continuously being developed.

Chalet Rooms

We were then toured around the facilities and taken to our rooms.    I give them plus points for using eco-friendly solar heaters.  As you can see, there are solar panels for every house.  They also adopt the electronic key card system so it was easy to go in and out.

I was awed by the rooms.  I've read mixed feedbacks about the place so I didn't expect much but I must say it was spectacular!  It has two double sized beds and one extra double-sized bed.  All beds have two pairs of pillows and soft fiber-filled duvets.  I loved tucking in those as it provides comforting warmth against the cold.  We had our split-type aircon in 30 degrees because it is so cold.  My companions couldn't help but dose off upon laying down.  

It has a bedside table and study desk with multiple electric 220 AC outlets. We really appreciate them putting power outlets near the beds so you can work on your laptop or charge your gadgets while laying down.

 It also had a tv (3 channels:GMA, HBO and Cartoon Network), refrigerator, phone, electric kettle, complimentary coffee and bottled water. 

I was very impressed with the rest room as it was elegant and clean with two types of hot (solar) and cold (potable) shower:  raindrop and hand-held nozzle shower.  The water supply is very good!  What I like about the room is that the room itself including the rest room is the easy to dry flooring: clay tiles for our bed room and black marble for the bathroom.  Coming in wet from the beach or the pool, it was unavoidable to wet the floor.  Yet, every time we come back, I've noticed that they are once again dry.

There were also more than adequate towels, paper napkin, shampoo, conditioner and soaps provided. There's also a hair dryer.

Each room also has a veranda with a dinning area.  I suggest you get one of the 60 beach-front Chalet Rooms so you can get a good sea view and enjoy some sea air.  Unfortunately, all the 60 beach-front Chalet Rooms were occupied during our stay, so we occupied one of 20 back-part Chalet Rooms.

How to Go to Grande Island Resort Ticketing Office

Public Transport

• NLEX: Exit at San Fernando then turn right and drive towards Bataan.  After passing through the towns of Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao in Pampanga and Dinalupihan in Bataan, make a right turn towards Olongapo and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Enter the Tipo Expressway and proceed to Rizal Highway. Turn into Burgos Street (all the corners of Subic Bay Yacht Club) and then right on Sampson Road.  Go towards Waterfront Road where the Grande Terminal is located. The terminal is almost across the SBMA Administration Building.
• NLEX via SC-Tex: Exits of the NLEX and proceed to the SCTEx Clark Logistics Toll Plaza. After crossing the bridge, follow the loop of the ramp towards Subic. Follow the road directional signage going to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). Once inside the SBFZ, go to Rizal Highway, turn into Burgos Street (at the corner of Subic Bay Yacht Club) then right on Sampson Road and go towards Waterfront Road where the Grande Island Terminal is located.

Private Vehicle

• Bus (Victory Liner and Saulong Transit) + Taxi
• Get off the bus at Olongapo City
• Grab a taxi cab and ask the driver to bring you directly to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and to the Grande Island Terminal at Waterfront Road.

Grande Island Resort
Hotel Address	Structure 684, Waterfront Road, Freeport Zone, Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines
Contact	(632) 584-4359 | (632) 463-7868 | (6347) 252-2883 |  (63927) 7240999 | (63919) 366-9999 | reservation@grandeislandresort.com | info@grandeislandresort.com	Reservation Required	Yes
Payment Options	Cash	Public Transport	Bus, Taxi
Room Types	Room Amenities		Price
Chalet Room	Good For 2 Persons  31.7 square meters 2 Queen-sized beds Split type air-conditioning with individual control Electronic key card control system 220 AC universal outlets Solar heated shower  Hair Dryer Cable TV Refrigerator Dining Area Electric Kettle  Executive writing desk Welcome Drink Ferry Transfer Bottle Water Coffee Free breakfast		5,500 php   (+1,800 ph for extra person /  +500 php fo child 4-7 years old)
General Amenities	Beach Pool with shower area	Parking	Yes
Travel Tripsters Hotel Review Rating		Grande Island Resort Map
Location	★★★
Room Comfort	★★★★★
Cleanliness	★★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★

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Magaul Bird Park at J.E.S.T Camp: Aerial Amazement with Winged Wonders Bird Show and More in Subic

A few weeks ago, I visited J.E.S.T Camp with my friends Roch and Justin.  After more more than a decade, I'm quite surprised with the development of the Subic Area.  The last time I went there was with the family in a hiking adventure with Aetas to Boton Falls so I guess that was really ancient.  I'm ecstatic to see what's in store for us J.E.S.T Camp.

J.E.S.T Camp is an adventure park that offers activities like the Aerial Adventure (Tree Top Obstacle Course), Goliath Swing (Swing Over A Cliff), Wildlife Walk About (Jungle Trek) and Wall Climbing and Rapelling.   There's also the Jungle Surivival Demo show every 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30pm and 4:00pm.   J.E.S.T Camp also offers team building packages just inquire.

The newest attraction at J.E.S.T Camp is the Magaul Bird Park.  It is also paired with the Macaw Market where you can buy dolls and shirts for souvenirs.  And, a Bird Shop where you can buy birds.  It also has the Winged Wonders Bird Show.

So here's thee map of the Magaul Bird Park. 

Here are all the park activities, shows and schedules and their rates.

Magaul Bird Park (Day Tour 200 php)

Blue and Gold Macaw

They have a vast variety of birds.  I saw coloful macaw (Blue and Gold Macaw, Green Winged Macaw and Scarlet Macaw), lories (Red and Blue Lory, Violet-Necked Lory, Black-Capped Lory and Chattering Lory) and lorikeets (Rainbow Lorikeet).  There were also toucans (White-Throated Tucans) and hornbillls (Palawan Hornbill, Rufous Hornbill, Luzon Hornbill and Mindanao Writhed Hornbill).

There are also pigeons (Pouter Pigeon, Fantail Pigeon, Rock Pigeon), Eagles (Honey Buzzard Eagle, Philippine Hawk Eagle), Brahminy Kite and Philippine Eagle owls.

Peahen (Pavo Cristatus)

In the Flightless Section, there' the Peahen, Pheasants (Silver Pheasant, Golden Pheasant and Common Pheasant), Ostrich...

and the Hen.  Magual Bird Park has adequate signs so you always know where you're going and there's lot of informational boards to educate you about the origin, habitat, diet, rarity level and even fun facts about the birds.

Bird Sanctuary

My favorite part is the Bird Sanctuary which had a set up like a natural paradise and birds are flying freely.  You can go close to them and even feed them.


Cuckoo Chitchat

In the Cuckoo Chitchat, you can talk, feed and take photos (50 php) with your choice of birds.   Just take note of the feeding time schedule:

• Parrot 10:30am and 2:30pm
• Bird of Prey 4:00pm 
• Hornbill 11:00am and 3:00pm

Butterfly Sanctuary and Insectarium

There's also the butterfly sanctuary where you can see and touch butterflies and the insectarium where you can learn a lot about insects and more.

Bird Discovery

The bird discovery is an air-conditioned interactive learning hall.  Through lots of their activities, you can learn more about birds.

Winged Wonders Bird Show (250 php)

Every 11:00 am and 3:00pm, they have the Winged Wonders Bird Show at the Amphitheater.  For the opening of the Winged Wonders Bird Show, the General Manager Ms. Katrina Kay Lacap welcomed us and Subic Bay Chairman Roberto V. Garcia gave his congratulatory speech.  In case you're wondering, the park is named after Magaul, the bird in the Filipino creation myth who pecked the bamboo where Malakas and Maganda came from.

The bird show was really an aerial amazement!  Birds where flying across the audience towards the guides back and forth.

Aside from just a display of bird flight skills, we were also being educated about the birds.

I've also been amazed with how Eagles flapped their wings...

There was a fun relay of birds as the audience cheered for their chosen participant.  The birds were couched by Mr. Jordan Bustamante, the Operation Manager of Magaul and the other staff for the Blue and Gold Macaw.

Audience are being called to participate too.

I couldn't help but smile with gladness during the show finale.  There were over hundreds of birds on or above the stage.  There flightless ran while the other birds flew over the skies and some lands on the stage grounds.

The show is approximately 20-30 minutes.  At the end of the show, you can also take a photo of the birds up close.

Aerial Adventure (200 php)

In the Aerial Adventure, you will walk along monkey vines, crawl through barrels and cross rope bridges.  Kids can also play at the Spider Web.

Goliath Swing (200 php)

My Friend Justin Having Fun at the Goliath Swing

My favorite is probably the Goliath Swing.  You will be taken up really high so then release so you can swing offer the cliff in a fast velocity.

Magaul Maze Quest

Magaul Maze Quest

The Magaul Maze Quest is a giant maze where you have to find the 5 stations where Magaul is.

Low Elements

Before leaving J.E.S.T Camp, make sure you stop by the Low Elements and take a breath with this stunning view of Subic Bay Port.

Overall, we Travel Tripsters suggest J.E.S.T Camp and Magaul Bird Park as an addition to your Subic itinerary!

J.E.S.T Camp
Address	JEST Camp, Upper Mau, Cubi-Triboa, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, Olongapo, Philippines
Budget Per Person	250 php to 1,000 php	J.E.S.T Camp Map
Payment Options	Cash
Operating Hours	Monday to Sunday: (except for the December 24 and 31) 8:30 am- 5 pm
Reservation Required	No (Encouraged)
Contact	(6347) 252-1489 |  (632) 218-9023 (manila) |   (63917) 904-8777

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