Hi everyone! I just came from a quick day tour and it was really worth it! So today, I'm going to share to you a perfect quick escape from the city! But before everything else, I didn't took photos during the trip since my phone is too bulky and we just want to keep out of all the techie gadgets. I'm excited for it but at the same time, nervous because of the 'what-ifs'. What if the place wasn't that really good? What if we get lost? What if we lost budget? What if something bad happens? But thank God, everything went smoothly until we got home. Yay!
Since it's a special day, we want to make it different, something that we don't usually do. So we agreed to go out for a swim and it was really hard to look for a place where the it would be enough for the budget. Our first option was Casa Ibiza at Antipolo. I assume travel time would be 30 - 50 minutes but I've read some reviews and some weren't that good. I had a few weeks to do this research and decided to change plans one week before our day. We ended up at Bakasyunan Resort Tanay!
EXPENSE
ESTIMATED40 Php/person - Jeepney fare from Cainta Junction to Tanay Bayan. (Go down to Puregold Tanay; Same fare price for vice versa route) 15 Php/person - Tricycle fare from Tanay Bayan to Bakasyunan Resort. (Applicable to 5 people.) 25 Php/person - Tricycle fare from Bakasyunan Resort to Tanay Bayan. 2,000 Php - Cliffside room at Bakasyunan Resort. No need to pay for the entrance fee! TOTAL: 2,300 Php | ACTUAL40 Php/person - Jeepney fare from Cainta Junction to Tanay Bayan. 100 Php - Quick Siomai Lunch 160 Php - Snacks and Water as 'baon' bought at Puregold 130 Php - Tricyle going to Bakasyunan Resort2,000 Php - Cliffside room at Bakasyunan Resort. 80 Php - 1 hour rental of Billiard table 100 Php - Tricyle from Bakasyunan Resort to Bayan 560 Php - Dinner at Bansingan local restaurant 40 Php/person - Jeepney fare from Tanay Bayan to Junction. TOTAL: 3,290 Php |
NOTES
On the comparison above, we went overboard the expected expenses! So here's my tip to everyone who plans to go on a day tour, even not on this same place.
- ALWAYS BRING EXTRA CASH. You'll never know what awaits you there (or not -ATMs). To everywhere you go, having a cash on hand is really helpful.
- KNOW THE TRAVEL TIME AND EXACT LOCATION. N and I boarded the jeepney by 9 am. We've never been to Tanay so we have no idea how long it will take us to be there. Thinking it was in Rizal area, it's just a few minutes away from Antipolo. But surprisingly, we got there at Bakasyunan Resort before 12 noon. It took us more than two hours travel time! OTHER TRANSPO OPTION: There's a Tanay FX terminal at Starmall, 75 Php/person. It's more comfortable to have long ride in an air-conditioned van than a jeepney, right?
- BE FRIENDLY WITH THE LOCALS. We're lucky enough that the jeepney drivers we're approachable and gave us right directions. Tho for the tricycle drivers, we should have went to the terminal since it would be cheaper. As we went out of Puregold, tricycle drivers blocked us and told us the fare would be 200 Php! Of course, we rejected this deal. Until we agreed to pay for 130 Php. When we got to the main gate of the resort, the guard told us that it should be only 15 Php/ person (for 5 people). But since we're just two for a special ride, we have to pay for the remaining three people, costing us 75 Php. It's a bit confusing with the drivers. Some said, it's really 150 Php on a one way ride. Anyway, just go to the Tricycle terminal because they're legit and most likely, won't trick you to pay more. But from the Resort going back to the terminal, it would cost 25Php/ person. We got a good deal on this. Instead of paying 125 Php, we only paid 100 Php! We just realized this when we're having our dinner. Sorry Kuya!
- EAT AND DRINK ENOUGH. Since it was a long ride, you might think you have to eat and drink a lot to keep you energetic and hydrated. But think again, as this could make your tummy or gall bladder full, and forced to look for a restroom in the middle of the mountains. For us, it was perfect timing as we arrived at Tanay before lunch time. We had lunch from there and just bought light snacks and big water bottles as 'baon' to the resort. Just enough not to make us feel empty stomach and dehydrated. Then we checked out before dinner time as we had it at a local restaurant there called Bansingan.
- DOUBLE CHECK THE NECESSITIES. The basics for a swimming day! I forgot to bring a sunscreen or any lotion to moisturize my skin. Therefore, I ended up with tan lines from my swimwear and dry skin.
REVIEW
I definitely recommend this place as the resort has good quality of amenities with an appropriate pricing. The Cliffside room seems to be small but it's just enough to have some rest and security for our things. The resort has two swimming pools. From the Front Desk, you'll see first the infinity pool. Then when we went to our room, I saw the second one, the garden swimming pool. Since the Infinity pool was a bit crowded, we spent our time at the garden pool and there's no one else there! It's like we rented the whole pool for us. I guess this is because it's Thursday, a weekday and most people are still at work. :) On the other hand, I noticed that the our washroom has water all over the floor. In case some people have checked out from our room before us, please make sure that it would be dry and clean. And I think there should be mini bottles of lotion and shampoos. This would be really helpful for a guest like me who didn't bring much things.
All in all, everything went perfect! I also learned from this experience that I should bring my own necessities too. :) I am thinking where to swim next but for now, I just have to save money for another trip. :)
All in all, everything went perfect! I also learned from this experience that I should bring my own necessities too. :) I am thinking where to swim next but for now, I just have to save money for another trip. :)