Unforgettable long weekend in Bolinao
If it’s hard to start a
blog, it might be that the topic is not an interesting one, or in my case, it’s
hard to tell the things I wanted to say when I am lost for words. It should not have been the case, since I
sensed that it’s just another long weekend(longer weekend for us here in
Angeles because of a local holiday), and it’s just another trip to the beach. I think I am still having a hangover even 2
days after we got back home and having the laptop for myself all the time.
The destination this time
was Bolinao. To think that it was just
another beach was probably an understatement, and a mistake on my part. I guess I have to condition myself that we
need to travel far to experience the best beach destinations. The uncomfortable long travel was transformed
into awe as we stepped inside Punta Riviera
and got a glimpse of its facilities, and surroundings. Depending on each and everyone’s preference,
the place has its pros and cons, too.
But with the kids as company, I have to say Punta Riviera would be a good choice to stay, sans
the food and some lodging issues. Just
bring lots of money though, as Punta Riviera
is somewhat categorized as “big-budget” friendly resort along Bolinao.
The beachfront is shallow
until about a hundred meters and more during low tide, perfect for kids and
young people like me who are a little bit afraid of the waves. If you are into surfing and/or tackling West
Philippine Sea’s awesome waves, Punta Riviera
is not the place for you, you need to go farther unto Patar. Your kid/s (if you happen to have even just
one) will surely enjoy the beachfront, though.
Even the infinity pool is a great place to swim even at night, with its
lukewarm water allowing our daughter to enjoy night swimming. Hunger and tiredness were probably the reasons
that convinced her to stop at 8 in the evening and continue swimming the next day.
The adventure did not stop
at the infinity pool and the beach.
There was kayaking at the river beside the resort, a pool table and a
badminton table, a videoke machine beside the bar which has the river and beach
view, a Jacuzzi, lots of benches near the pool for some solitude, and even
limited cable channels in your rooms. There
are even attractions like the 400 year old St. James Cathedral, the Bolinao
Lighthouse, and various caves in Patar, the Bolinao Falls
aside from some rock formations on the beaches.
Due to time constraints, we only got to visit the lighthouse, Cindy’s
cave and a quick trip to the town proper to see the cathedral and taste some
binaguey, but still those experiences were enough to make our trip an
unforgettable one.
We’ve read some bad
reviews prior to our trip so we brought food just in case. The bad reviews were, actually bad, considering
the sumptuous meal served to us. The
food was a little expensive and the breakfast was almost the same as your
average meal, but some on the menu was quite a feast for us. I have never tasted fish as fresh and tasty
as the ones served. Now, where did I saw
that bad food review? It was total opposite
of what were served to us. Still with
kids around, we had to bring comfort foods for them in case they turned their
heads away from the menu. You just have to pay
the corresponding corkage fee.
The staffs were very
accommodating. Even though we opted to
change room because we are not comfortable over our reserved room, they
assisted us every time. We even had our
toilet bowl fixed as soon as possible.
We were assisted when we asked for a barbecue grill (of course we also
have to pay extra for that). We were
provided with most of the things we asked immediately, and they were smiling
every time if we’re out of earshot of their customary greetings. Even the guards were friendly and
accommodating in some ways. Except for
some problems in our room which were fixed immediately, our stay at Punta Riviera were
satisfactory.
Bolinao, I would say, is
one of the best destinations I have been to so far. Even though I read some different review from
other travelers, it’s the personal experience that counts the most. I could only say this much about our stay in
Bolinao. I will just let the pictures
speak for itself.
