Azure Urban Resort - The Paris Hilton Beach Club

YOU MUST READ THIS post first before booking an overnight stay at the most raved about urban beach club in the metro. I stayed at Azure Urban Resort (also known as the Paris Hilton Beach Club) with my friends because of an invite and an encouraging deal. Now, I felt the need to spill out an honest review, so you won't join the others who book just because the place is currently the talk-of-the-town. 

During my quick research, I found out that it was in 2014 when Paris Hilton inaugurated the Paris Beach Club, her first real estate project in the Philippines. It then became the main attraction of the Azure Urban Resort Residences. This beach-themed community houses a man-made beach with fine sand and simulated beach waves.

(source: http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/52547-paris-hilton-back-in-ph-launches-paris-beach-club)

Looking at the pictures, it is indeed a nice place. A quick getaway that won't get you broke, but still offer a first-class experience.

But how's my real Azure experience?  

I will divide this review into different sub-topics, so it will be easier for you to assess if the place is really worth it or not. Let's start!

BOOKING and RATES

It's either you know someone who owns a unit (which will make booking a breeze and cheap) or be extra diligent in searching for good offers over the internet (you can find them on Facebook). It just so happen that we know someone who can give us a good deal, so we booked right away. 

The cost of an overnight stay will depend on the number of head (per pax), the date (weekends require additional fees) and the view (beach view is more expensive than the city view). The room rates range from 2500 to 4500 per night. 

Booking is done thru agents, so the conditions may vary. Some will require you to provide an initial payment before they block your dates. You just have to be careful in dealing with strangers so you won't get scammed.

ACCESSIBILITY

It is located at SLEX West Service road Bicutan, Parañaque City. Less hassle for those with private cars of course, but they will be required to pay 200 php for the parking fee (per night of stay), unless they'll be booking with a unit owner who has a parking slot inside---that'll be for free. 

For those who will be commuting, you need to drop-off at Pasay Rotonda and ride a jeepney with the signage: SM Bicutan. It is just right across the mall. 

POLICIES and PROCEDURES

The standard check-in time is 12 nn to 10 am. Your agent will pick you up at the entrance and you need to surrender your ID at the lobby to be issued with a visitor's pass. 

The pool area is open from 7am to 7pm only. We paid 20 php (per head) for a wristband which will serve as an access pass for the entire day. The access is valid for the day only, so if you wish to swim again on the second day, you need to secure a confirmation message from your agent or the unit owner, and of course pay another twenty pesos.

AMMENITIES

A standard room has the following: air-condition unit, Queen-size bed, sofa bed, dining area, television with cable (or TV plus), internet router, cooking stove, microwave, refrigerator, kitchen and dining utensils, toilet and bathroom. You can cook, bring bottled beverages inside (no corkage fees) and use the internet (some may charge 100 php per head).

They have a White Sand Beach with playground (which is perfect for kids), Big Wave pool, Beach Volleyball court, roof decks, a bar and a restaurant.

COMMENTS:

THUMBS UP because:

• We got our rooms for a pretty good deal 
• Our agent was really accommodating
• We got a free parking slot
• We enjoyed free and unlimited wi-fi access
• Our rooms were clean and comfy

THUMBS DOWN because:

• We only enjoyed the pools for an hour or two
• The area was super crowded
• The line at the concierge was too long (it'll pissed you off)
• Those staff at the lobby, as well as the security personnel, were not accommodating (they don't even smile)
• The pools were heavily chlorinated
• The lap pool can't be accessed by guests
• The elevators were a mess
• The shower areas and wash rooms weren't enough to accommodate large number of people
• We were restricted to visit other rooms (limited to an hour only)

I guess our stay won't be great if not for each other's company. But I've got simple tips here so you can prevent a not-so-happy staycation at Azure:

1. Book on WEEKDAYS. It is less crowded and you can fully enjoy the view and the facilities. Elevators won't be clogged too!

2. Look for a GOOD AGENT. He/She will make your stay easier, more comfortable and affordable. 

3. Arrive ON TIME. Maybe a little earlier than your check-in time, because there will be some papers to be signed first before you can settle inside your room.

4. Wake up EARLY. If you wish to swim in the morning of your second day, be ready to fall in-line at least 30 minutes before 7 am, so you'll be the first to hit the waters!

5. Bring your OWN FOOD. You can prepare your meals and that'll be way cheaper than dining at the cafeteria/restaurant. 

6. Wear appropriate SWIMMING ATTIRE. They are a bit strict on this. No cotton shirts or shorts please, so you won't get kicked out of the pool!

Will I go back there? Maybe not. But it's good to experience the place tho, especially if you are a busy person who can only afford a quick overnight getaway. More so, this place is perfect for those who would love to relax and enjoy fine white sand for a really cheap price. 

By the way, if you are planning to book at Azure, you may contact me and I'll refer you to our very accommodating agent :) 

I'll be happy to answer your questions, just leave them on the comment section below. Thanks for reading!


It is SUMMER TIME indeed!

Camp N (Nuvali Eco Park)

THE SUN WAS SCORCHING HOT! We reached the place at around 1:00 pm via a Nuvali coaster. The fare was 20 php per person and the ride lasted for 10 to 15 minutes only---welcome to CAMP N! 

                  

The camp opened last April 16, 2016. By the looks of the site, it seems that earthlings haven’t exploited the place yet, haha! So we are among the first human beings to try the amenities and be challenged. What are we waiting for? Let’s get it on!

AT THE ENTRANCE, you'll see a vicinity map which will guide you on the locations of their amenities.

The vast area boasts different amenities that will test both your physical endurance and brave soul. So if you’re a daredevil or simply a thrill-seeker, the place will cater to your dauntless cravings. As for our case, we need something that would make our trip to Nuvali somewhat worthy, so we immediately embraced the challenges, not knowing that most are death-defying! yay! Well, the three things that I’m eyeing in this encounter are the following:

1. Nerve-racking challenges
2. Value for money
3. Accessibility

So as you go along this post, I’ll let you savor my insights regarding those three criteria to help you decide if the place is worthy to be visited soon :)

FIRST THINGS FIRST!

Oops! Before anything else, please be informed of the following: (You might get overjoyed with the stuff that you’ll be seeing later, for sure, but you must first know the rules)

Wear the proper attire

All of my friends are wearing shoes, while I'm wearing an open-toed footwear---great, brilliant me *sarcasm intended* Make sure that you'll come in complete gear: sporty clothes and rubber shoes are recommended. (refer to the photo below for complete list of requirements and guidelines)

TAKE NOTE of the following! 

Bring your own water and food

The food shop is still closed, I don't know when it will be fully-functional. So for you not to starve, it is advisable that you bring snacks with you, or just arrive there an hour after taking a sumptuous meal.  


Prepare your budget

The amenities can be a bit pricey, especially for students, so you must prepare 500 php to 1500 php, depending on the packages you want to try. Take note: A single ticket is good for single use only, no take two's! The cheapest 'challenge' can be tried at 60 php, the most expensive one is at 1000 php, plus the entrance fee of 80 php. 

COMPLETE PRICE LIST of the individual amenities and the packages

IS EVERYTHING SET? You can now check-out what's inside CAMP N! 


My guy friends availed Package F: Zip & Jump (450 php + 80 php entrance) and since the zipline long is not available that time, they replaced it with zipline short plus climbing wall for free, good deal huh? :) While for us girls, we just tried the zipline short (150 php + 80 php entrance).

The TICKETS

And then off we go!...OH WAIT! by the way, we signed a waiver upon choosing the activities and before paying :) 


The climbing wall activity was a bit difficult because of the obstacle, my friends can't even make it halfway, hoho! 


The rappel wall challenge looks like the other rappelling activities I engaged with in past. 


The free fall dare is the scariest in my opinion. It may look simple but the feeling of climbing up the tower will add-up to the fear, which will eventually be magnified by standing at the edge and allowing yourself to fall from 65 feet above the ground. 


The zipline short is just more or less a 30-second ride around the area where the tower is rooted. But the crazy twist here is this: It is actually a roller coaster zipline! yes, with loops that will slam your body in the air! 

THE ADVENTURE TOWER houses the climbing wall, rappel wall, free fall and zipline (long and short) activities.

It took us roughly 3 1/2 hours to complete the challenges, of course with hesitations in between, haha! But at least it was all worth it. I even have plans to return and try the challenges I missed, and I'll make sure to come in complete gear. 

My guy friends :) And there's Mr. J  of course (second from the left) They are all my high school classmates / buddies.

PREPPIN-UP! See, I'm wearing sandals, yikes!

THUMBS-UP! Me with my friend, JC...ready to rock-on!

YES WE ARE SMILING...but actually, my knees are shaking -_-

I'M ON TOP! Every step was nerve-racking *sigh*

Perfect for the brave souls and even for those who just want to conquer their fears. Moreover, reasonable prices for all the amenities, plus, all of their gears (harness, ropes and helmets) are in excellent condition. It is also very accessible, you just need to know how to get to Nuvali Eco Park (Read my blog post thru this link: A DAY IN NUVALI). Lastly, I think they have one of the kindest staffs / crews, very accommodating, you'll feel safe and secured. 


Here are some of the activities that we haven't tried, but also looks exciting:

OBSTACLE COURSE

OBSTACLE COURSE

AERIAL WALK

I encourage everyone to visit the place with your family and friends! Don't forget to have fun!


I hope you enjoyed this post! Comment your insights below :) 


The daredevil (ahaha!), 

A Day in Nuvali

"NUVALI is a haven where man and nature co-exists." 

Well this is according to Nuvali's official site, but I can assure that it is true. Last May 15, 2016, together with my high school buddies, our nature-tripping plans finally became a reality. I have heard about the place from a friend (which is overly talked about in social media) but never intently visited their website. So in short, I only expect to see a lake, trees everywhere and food stores.

NUVALI ECO PARK

Guided by nothing but our whims to reach the place, we found ourselves in Alabang. We went to Festival mall because they have UV express vans there that are bound to Sta. Rosa, Laguna (the location of the park) only to find out that we need to wait until 10:30 am (we arrived there at around 8am). So we immediately set our feet back on track and walk our way to Starmall Alabang. At the mall's terminal, we found a van with a signboard: PASEO / NUVALI LAGUNA. Thank God! We hurriedly fit ourselves inside and paid 50 php. 

So how to get to NUVALI: At Starmall Alabang terminal station, ride a van with a signboard: Paseo / Nuvali / Sta. Rosa Laguna and pay 50 pesos :)

It was a 30 to 45-minute ride and the driver will drop you off in front of Nuvali's entrance (you just need to cross the street). There's no entrance fee! You'll find a lot of food stores inside and they also have a mini bazaar (which I think opens at night) in the middle of the food hub. 

A nice view of the lake

I think that's where the sanctuary is located... but we failed to explore that area of the park.

We were lost on what to do. We don't have any idea, honestly (That's why you need to really take time to read write-ups, articles and blogs---like this one!). But since we haven't taken our breakfast yet, we looked for  a good place where we can eat. We settled with Reyes Barbecue. 

YUP, we ordered java rice only. 

AND THIS, according to their menu, is good for eight people. OH COME ON! For 1,600 pesos?!

I honestly didn't loved the food there. Like yeah, they aren't bad at all, but the servings are too small and the price pf what we've ordered was definitely unreasonable. It's better to just storm inside 7-11 and grab some noodles and rice meals instead! hahaha! Anyway, so we continued walking, while thinking about the activities that we can do inside the park. 

KOI fishes! You can actually feed them :)

PERFECT for a museum tho. This one is really beyond creative.

OH THERE'S A TREE! *amazing race-like running skills* Whew! shade at last!

TRYING to remain in-style though I'm sweating like an open faucet inside -_-

It was a pretty huge place. But because it was very hot that day, oh no, that term is not appropriate...EXTREMELY HOT! (more realistic) we are starting to get so tired after a walking a few meters. And so we looked for the mall, SOLENAD. 

HOW'S IT ABLE to balance itself? Physics huh? :)

A PARK INSIDE the mall, perfect for family bonding :)

As our body temperatures returned to normal, we started planning. ALAS! while searching on Google, I found a site that mentioned something about CAMP N. It offers challenges like wall climbing, rappelling and a chance to experience the roller coaster zip line. Without any hesitations, we went straight to the mall's terminal station and looked for a coaster that could take us to Camp N. 

How to get to CAMP N: From Solenad (A mall inside Nuvali), ride a Nuvali coaster. Fare is at 20 php only.

After 15 minutes, we reached the entrance of Camp N . And spent the entire afternoon (up to 4:30 pm) inside the camp, screaming at the top of our lungs! We paid gazillions just to scare the hell out of our souls. But it was fun! A must-try!

YEAH! Welcome to Camp N! A place for the brave souls!

Errr..mam, you can't use the facilities because you're not in proper attire. I was like: OMG -_-, alright *strike a pose* KIDDING!

We went back to Solenad Mall to eat, but then finally decided to visit Paseo (food / shopping hub) and dine at Mang Inasal :) TIP: Get the number of the van / coaster driver so he can just pick you up after your adventure at Camp N.

It was a tiring yet memorable experience indeed! But what we failed to try are the following activities:

• LAKE ACTIVITIES (Water-taxi ride for 30php/head round trip, Fish feeding for 15php/bag of feeds)
• BIKING (rent a bike for 60php/hour, a valid ID is required)
• BIRD WATCHING (inside the Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, no entrance fee!)

Operating hours is DAILY, from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm

Make sure to bring your family and friends along! Have a closer bonding with nature and shake the stress off of your sleeves! 

So much for this amazing one-day adventure, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did enjoyed the experience! 

Wanderlust satisfied once again, yay!

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La Trinidad's Strawberry Farm: Filled with Love

IT WAS ALREADY 8 o'clock in the morning when we headed to La Trinidad's Strawberry Farm. My third and last day in Baguio was one of the most memorable---it was filled with love. 

Love for someone you don't even know...

A woman approached me and offered a bag full of lettuce for only 50 php (it was so cheap!) Of course I gave in and told her that I will get one after picking strawberries. Before we part ways, she quickly uttered: "Salamat ganda, I love you! Mag-enjoy kayo sa pamimitas" (Thank you pretty, I love you! Enjoy picking strawberries). Of course that overwhelmed me (the compliment) so I replied: Salamat po! I love you din po! (Thank you! I love you too!) With that, I realized something... what if everyone of us has this kind of attitude? What if the words I LOVE YOU won't be exclusive for couples alone, but shall be used intensively by everybody? I guess we can have a better world---filled with love. I felt the sincerity of this woman as she touched my arms and hugged me after saying those words...and so I grabbed the opportunity to have a picture taken with her :)

A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN indeed...am referring to her, not me! :)

Love for the simple things...

I appreciated how simple things are inside the farm. Everything seems to be growing, working and living in the simplest way possible. I can't help but be awed on how wonderful life can be inside a very simple environment. The farmers need not have the grandest of things to be at peace here, because just by looking and taking care of their crops, they seem to be relieved with all the pain in a day's work. I, too, was uplifted just by looking at the sprouting vegetables and tall sunflowers ^_^.

BABY LETTUCE symbolizes new beginnings

THESE SUNFLOWERS stood tall and proud

Love for work...

Working in the field requires a lot of sacrifices and a long thread of patience. I saw how dedicated the farmers are in maintaining the quality of their crops, and how they patiently waited until the strawberries reach their maturity. It is not an easy task.  It only shows that even the work is so difficult and tiring, the fruit of every hardwork will always be sweet. 

Picking strawberries is quite difficult at first (though it wasn't my first time anymore), but as you move along the plots, you'll learn the technique in selecting and picking the best strawberries. 

READY for strawberry picking!

IT WAS HARDER than I thought (-_-)

I EVEN MANAGED to strike a pose after filling my basket half-full :)

If you want to escape your stressful daily routine, don't go to amusement parks or shopping malls, you'll only stress yourself more afterwards. Go for an out-of-town trip, seek a place close to nature---you'll find peace and serenity. 

La Trinidad's Strawberry Farm is a must-see for everyone. If you've been there once, or even a few times already, don't hesitate to visit the place again---because you'll experience a new thing each time you visit, for sure. 

It really feels good to be out of the city and live a simple life once in a while---it makes me feel more contented with life ^_^.

If you are planning to visit this place, just ride a cab from Baguio City; It's more or less a 30-minute drive, fare is at 100 - 130 php. Strawberry picking, on the other hand, can be enjoyed for only 400 php,  for single or group picking. 

I'm sorry if this post became a collection of my sentiments, but I hope you absorbed my good thoughts. I don't really travel just to take great photos, but to totally devote myself in collecting positive thoughts which I can bring home with me ^_^.


Will become a strawberry farmer in the future,

Top 5 Street Food you shouldn’t miss in Baguio

WHO DOESN’T LOVE STREET FOODS? I always crave for these cheap but mouth-watering treats for they always remind me of the good times I had back when I was still a student. Dozens and dozens of siomai, scramble, taho (soya with syrup), isaw (chicken intestines), and kwek-kwek (quail’s egg) helped me survive my frugal days in high school and college.

WHEN I VISITED Baguio last Holy week, I was so ecstatic to see a lot of street food sold in almost every corner of the city. Just like the first time when I visited the City of Pines ^_^ Now, here is my list of the TOP 5 street food that you should try and never miss out in Baguio.

1. MANGGA WITH BAGOONG (Unripe mango with shrimp paste)

Yes, you can find it anywhere in the Philippines, so what’s so special about the mangga with bagoong here in Baguio? The slices of unripe mango are thinner (making it easier to chew), the plastic used (thicker and easier to grasp) and the bagoong---they use pure shrimp, no extenders, and it’s not too salty. It costs only 20 php per pack. You can easily find the vendors inside the Burnham Park, Wright Park and Botanical Garden.

2. STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

Their famous strawberry-flavored ice cream is really one-of-a-kind. A single serving of this cold dessert costs 15 – 20 php, depending on the location of the vendor selling it. The ice cream really contains real bits of strawberry. I bought my first cone inside the Burnham Park (15 php), while the second one is in La Trinidad’s Strawberry Farm (20 php). Is there a difference? YES! The one that I’ve tasted at the strawberry farm is creamier and contains more bits of strawberries, really worth the price!

3. STRAWBERRY TAHO (soya with strawberry syrup)

People here can’t just get enough of this heart-shaped fruit! Taho is one of my favorite morning treat, but I can also indulge on it any time of the day. I bought a cup at the Mines View Park for only 25 php. The syrup is very sweet but it complimented the hot soya. I just hope they will include bits of strawberries too (maybe in the future).

4 & 5. GRILLED CORN and DRIED PUSIT (squid)

Nothing so unusual about them, only with the serving size ^_^ Still loving the fact that the vendors ensure that their customers will get the most out of their money. These on-stick delights will pacify your growling stomach after walking through the Mines View Park. Sold at 20 – 35 php only.

So next time you'll visit Baguio, don’t forget to try them all ^_^, because your trip won’t be complete without them for sure.

Anything you would like to add on this list? Feel free to comment them below! Thank you for reading!

Your ultimate food buddy,