Yong resort

I know we just did a blog about this resort last week but I just wanted to report on the visit we did last Sunday. It was a while since we last inspected the resort so with camera in hand and one of the staff along as a model (Elvira) we went there to poke around, take some photos and update our sales information. We did a local commute taking an ordinary bus from Olongapo to San Antonio, In Zambales. The bus ride took about 40 minutes even with its frequent stops and cost around 40 pesos. The bus stopped in front of the municipal hall where we crossed the road and got a trike, the trike was 20 pesos a person. The way we went to the resort last year is no longer accessible so now you approach the resort along the beach side. The resort itself is simple. The standard rooms are small stand alone buildings basic but they are comfortable looking. The family rooms are similar just slightly larger and an additional bed.

It is a “resort” for those more interested in the out doors. There is nothing fancy here just basic accommodation, with wonderful views and extensive sandy beach. Last year a very strong typhoon did some rearranging along the shore line of Zambales. Yong's lost a good portion of its land in the last typhoon season. The restaurant had been in the middle of the resort now it is on the edge of the lagoon.
The resort had a number of lagoon side rooms that are no longer there.

On the bright side the enlarged lagoon is very good for swimming and just playing in the waters. The Zambales coast being on the South China Sea can get good size waves. In fact this resort is about halfway between Crystal Beach Resort and Punta de Uian both resorts are well know for their surfing breaks. The lagoon gives a place to play without the waves crashing over you.

One item different about this resort is that it encourages camping and does allow people to bring in their own food. While there is a modest corkage fee the fee also provides a gas stove for cooking. When we visited there were six tents being used. If you are looking for a camping outing this is an excellent place to go. Maybe even combine it with a trip to Anawangin Cove either as a day trip or overnight.

We posted some photos in Yong Beach Resort  gallery so take a look.

Beach Time

The hot weather is here, Holy week is here and the beaches of Olongapo and Subic Bay are waiting. it a hot day today at 32 degrees c (90 degree F) and the heat index is 38c thats 100 degree F. So if you are going to be outside the beach is the place for it.

Olongapo city has been working on expanding its Half Moon Bay beach and it is great. Unlike when it reopened three years ago the beach has ample parking now.  the beach area itself is wide and very long.

The area between the beach and the road has been cleaned up and it is availalbe for those who want some natural shade.

Located on the National highway it is on the blue jeepney line from the city center.

Zambales Beaches 

The beaches in Zambales are just a a short easy drive away and some of the best in the Philippines. Our Favorits is in San Antonio which is a popular destination with many small inexpensive resorts. It is also the home of a large upscale Punta De Uian resort.

Start planning your summer now and include at least a few trips to Subic or Zambales

The other day Ocean Adventure and Camayan Beach Resort held their Partner appreciation day. This is an annual event for them where they invite their travel partners such as travel agents, educational tour operators and transportation companies. During the event they honor their top producers, ( sadly we did not meet the level, the educational tours operators are hard to beat), show off improvements and highlight the new marketing plans.

Recently Ocean Adventure has made some improvements and one of these is a new stadium for the Sea lion shows. The new stadium is much larger and provides a improved guest experience. The stadium has a pool, so now some water activities can also be added to the show. The stadium improvement was just one improvement for the sea lions, They also got a upgraded living and training areas. The guest also now have an underwater viewing port where they can watch the Sea lions underwater.

Camayan Beach Resort has three buildings now and are able to expand their group offerings. A new educational tour was announced that has an overnight with full meals, ocean adventure and beach time from 2,200 pesos per person.

Adventure beach also has some upgrades. Adventure Beach is reserved for larger groups and is away from the Camayan beach resort so the groups will not influence the hotel guest. Check out our offers on the Camayan Beach Resort page, we now have lean season discounts plus further discounts during weekdays

  we have also added some recent photos to our gallery and to our face book

As the year draws to the close and a new one opens, it is human nature do look back over the year and plan for the future.  A couple of items stand out in my mind.

The international skydivers who had come to the Philippines for the  Parachute Phun Phestival really enjoyed the tours we had arranged for them. Seahorse Tours had been acting as the ground agent  organizing the hotels and a few optional tours. Some minor problems cause some scheduling changes and the tours were moved to the first few days. They  were all very happy with the tours. On the day before the rescheduled event, it was necessary to again delay the jumps. Due to cancellation of the aircraft and  problems the event organizer encountered at the last minute, changes had to be made. Called  to assist with providing alternate activities, We responded with a rapidly organized but well planned activities. I am very proud of the efficient manner that the entire office responded. In under two hours, they organized a day outing to the Capone Islands and Anawangin Cove , had a number of bancas  on stand by, prepared information , developed a itinerary , planned a menu and prepared a banner. Two hours after the initial inquiry they presented the  activity to the group and got a confirmation on how many would go. The next morning at 5am all was in place for a day of island hopping to the Capones islands, a stop at the lighthouse, a morning snack, and a barbecue on the beach at Anawangin Cove . The day went great and all of the guest loved it.

The “ Capones, Camara and Anawangin Island Adventure”  (photos) is an day outing we have added in late 2010 and  promises to be a great package for a small number of people or larger groups. Departing from Subic Bay area it is just about a 30 minute drive to Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. There you will meet your boat for the day and enjoy a nice trip to the Capones Island group 30 minutes away. Visitors to these islands will disagree on which is the best feature. Many feel that the old Spanish Lighthouse is the highlight, others the views of the island and the South China Sea, and who could argue with the beach lovers who cite the empty stretches of beaches. The other part of the trip is the Anawangin Cove only accessible by boat or if you wish you can hike in. The hike will take a full day or more. The cove has become well know as one of the best beaches in the Philippines but due to its isolation it is not over crowded. This is a great family outing and should be a prime consideration for a company outing.

As written before in this blog, Mount Pinatubo trek still is a popular outing and well worth the time and effort.

charles

Chicken little look out !!! No the sky is not falling but the month of November might give Chicken Little some cause for concern. Sky divers from around the world will be gathering at the Subic Bay Freeport for the 1st Annual Philippines Parachuting PHun Phestival. The event will run from November 6 to 20^th with Jump dates of: Nov 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, and 19. A couple of world record attempts will be made on the 13^th. One of the record
attempts during the Phun Phestival skydiving, it is hoped to match a tandem skydiving World record for the youngest jumper - a 3 year-old has volunteered to jump with his father - proving that age is no barrier to a thirst for experience. The big attraction is skydiving, offering the perceptibly safer (for beginners) tandem-skydiving opportunity over Subic Bay International Airport. According to the organizers they have invited a host of famous names to jump with them and many have accepted the invitation.

The event is being organized locally by Adrenoline Island Adventure with logistical assistance from Seahorse Tours. Sheldon Rice, the operations manager Adrenoline Island Adventure, is a sky diving instructor with thousands of students trained. According to Rice: “The Philippines Phun Phestival is quite unlike anything else that has been organized in the country and is designed to satisfy the adrenaline junkies who would normally travel abroad to get their fix, and to entice those who do not yet know that they need a fix. This is going to be an Annual Boogie that will progressively set and break records on a yearly basis. A FreeFly Friendly, SWOOP Friendly, Boogie that offers everything that an exotic skydiving boogie has to offer. Tropical weather, beach landings, 25cent beers, great nightlife, and plenty of extras!”.

It will also satisfy the spectators. Each year the Hot Air Balloon festival is held at Clark in Angeles City, it took a few years to get growing but now it is one of the biggest events in Asia. Yes the draw for the event is the hot air balloons, but not as much as most people would think. The balloons generally fly at sunrise and sunset the best time for the hot air flights, but not the best time for people. What keeps the people interest during the day are the other flight related activities and the one with the most enthusiastic crowds is the parachuting. And now you can try it your self . For the modest sum of Php12,000 you can jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft and feel the rush as the ground approaches. You can get discounts if you bring your friends, and if there are ten of you then you jump for free.

Spectators are invited out to the Subic Bay International Airport entrance gate 3 by the beached each day that there is a jump plan. They will have an opportunity to talk with the sky divers and see close up the preparations involved jumpers will be landing at an area very close to the preparation area so spectators will be able to see it all. Many of the divers will take a short cut back to their hotels on the last jump of the day. These sunset jumps will give the jumpers the option of landing on the beach at Moonbay Marina near the Subic Park hotel

The international partner is Excotic sky adventures