Boracay is in itself a paradise. So, it was such a joy that we were finally able to have our offsite office teambuilding at Boracay. Everyone was just excited that of all the places we could have the teambuilding, it was in the beautiful beaches of Boracay that it was held. While we had a lot of activities to do because of the teambuilding, and in Boracay there’s also a lot of things they have for the tourists, we were able to create our very own activities too.
One of our colleagues brought Sky Lanterns with him. During our last night, we helped launch about 4-5 of those sky lanterns. It was such a great sight! I bet the other Boracay visitors thought it was one of the gimiks of Boracay hahahaha! We had like tons of people for an audience in just several minutes!
Sky Lanterns which are also called fire balloons are lanterns that go airborne. They are created from oiled rice paper & a bamboo frame. At the bottom, there’s sort of a ball of wax that you light up in order to heat the lantern and make it go airborne. Sometimes, a candle and a base for the candle is used instead of the ball of wax. Either way, it’s the flame that heats up the air inside so that the lantern can rise.
It was said to be created by the Chinese & was considered the 1st hot air balloon. Wow, who would have thought that these simple yet elegant beautiful little lanterns could have been the first ever hot air balloons!
Lantern festivals are actually held in countries like Thailand & China. Well, we, on the other hand, created our own mini lantern festival in the beautiful beaches of Boracay! 🙂
In the video below, you can see the sky lantern in action. It was such a great joy watching them rise and go airborne. Especially when I realized that it was in the dark of the night, with the beautiful beaches surrounding us, and the waters just beside us, it was really such a wonderful sight to personally see. When the lanterns are far, far away, they will look like stars in the sky but with a different color though hehehe 😛 Instead of color white, they look like small yellow stars. Well, as long as the flame is alive, the sky lantern will be airborne.
I’m glad I was part of the mini-lantern festival that we had at Boracay. Since lantern festivals don’t happen in Manila, it was great to experience first-hand what sky lanterns are & how it works. And having the mini-lantern festival in the beautiful beaches of Boracay, it turned out to be just perfect!
Plantation Bay Cebu has definitely got to be one of the best resorts in the world! For couples and families, for business or personal vacations, it’s a destination where there is something for everyone who wishes to be bathed in great beauty and atmosphere.
I was in total awe when we were walking around the resort. It’s really a paradise in its own, like escaping from the world and being dropped into a beautiful island. We went to Cebu and headed straight to Plantation Bay. I thought that we would be able to head out and tour the rest of Cebu, but once you step into Plantation Bay, you quickly realize that you won’t have enough time because Plantation Bay has just so much to offer, and admiring the beautiful beaches, the different sections of the resort, and not to mention just walking around and taking in all the beautiful scenery will take most of your time.
This is the last of a series of posts that I will write about Plantation Bay. I have shared with you our experience that Plantation Bay has to offer in terms of their delicious food and not to mention their buffets! I have also written about the spa package that we availed of at Plantation Bay. But I just have to write a separate entry about the different areas of Plantation Bay Cebu as well as the whole experience itself. It was just so beautiful, so picture perfect! I just loved it! See for yourself as you browse through the pictures.
The Plantation Bay experience really starts out even as early as the airport when we arrived, we were greeted by a staff of Plantation Bay in the arrival/baggage area. We were then escorted outside of the airport and waited for the shuttle to Plantation Bay. The ride from the airport to Plantation took around 35 minutes.
Attention to detail and the great accommodating staff was just great all throughout our stay too. Minutes after we got settled into our Spa Indulgence rooms in Mogambo Springs, we were delivered some nice cold fresh coconut juice still in the coconut shell. Not to mention a letter right on our bed, welcoming us and explaining the package that we availed. Attention to detail, Plantation Bay really strives for it.
Now aside from being able to appreciate the wonderful scenery, swim in the salt water lagoon & fresh water pools, Plantation Bay also has vast other options for its guests. We were even given a small booklet titled Hitchhiker’s guide to Plantation Bay. The activities are as follows:
Learn to Scuba Dive
Read their building signages & actually win a prize if you take their namegame quiz afterwards.
Do the Plantation Bay Duo-decathlon – swimming, rowing, biking & climbing. Challenging enough?
Go Island Hopping
Para-sail
Wall Climb
Visit a World Heritage Bird Sanctuary
Jump off their Dive Rock, located at the main swimming pool. Just make sure you can swim before you do this.
Watch a vintage movie – we actually did this! hahaha! We watched Sleepless in Seattle & I remember it was our 1st night stay at Plantation Bay.
Buy a Timex Watch – apparently Timex are made in Cebu, Mactan!
Firing Range
Experience the Giant Water Slides
Pamper yourself with their Spa – We experienced this & never regretted that we spent most of our time here. It was very relaxing & enjoyable.
Check out the secret cave in the main swimming pool.
Sing your heart out with their private karaoke rooms.
Play games – they have billiards, air hockey, foosball, board games, pinball machine & computer games in the gameroom.
Take the botanical tour
Go fishing or feed the fish
To go around the place, you can either ride the shuttle, the kalesa (yes the ones that we see in Binondo, Manila), ride a bicycle or just walk. Nick & I opted to walk as we wanted to see every part of Plantation Bay. We only took the shuttle bus when we checked in & checked out. Plantation Bay is circular in shape, and in the center there are the different portions of waters, pools, and mini beaches that you really must walk through to truly get the feeling of just how much a paradise it is. Walking through the boardwalks, the docks, feeling the sand underneath your feet, and seeing the tourists just enjoy themselves. A walk through Plantation Bay is really the only way to experience its beauty.
Plantation Bay Cebu is also well known to be one of the preferred places to wed, propose or have a romantic getaway. They actually give the best spots for guys to spring the most important question of their lives: “Will you marry me?”:
volcano-looking island in the lagoon near Dune House
the end of Galapagos Wharf (at night), it’s funny that they even mentioned to tell the guards to get lost hahahaha!
the desert island in the lagoon by Havana House
the rooftop of Leblon Hall (especially during sunset)
dangling your feet in the water from the coffee shop island-annex
triangular gazebo on Xanadu beach
And with all the many beautiful spots at Plantation Bay, it’s really just perfect for romance, rest, relaxation, or all of the above! And watching either the sunset or the sunrise is great too in many parts of Plantation Bay, in fact, the first picture you see in this post is where we decided to experience the sunset. We decided to start our scenic walk just before sunset, we arrived near the outskirts of Plantation Bay where we were able to walk out into the beach and towards their boardwalk that stretched out into the waters — then experience the beautiful atmosphere as the sun started to set.
Below shows the area where wedding receptions are held (which is where we had that memorable seafood buffet at). Just by the water side. Pretty cool!
How about arranging a romantic date at the Lover’s Rock by the Fiji Restaurant? You can just make prior arrangements with the Fiji staff and they’ll prepare one of the most romantic setting for you and your partner. As a trivia, the rock is actually 2 millions years old. Wow!
And so, by now, you probably understand why I had to write a separate post to provide you with a better look at the overall experience, give you a description of the other activities that Plantation Bay has to offer, as well as a glimpse of the many beautiful places within Plantation Bay itself. It seems, from sunrise to sunset, from the edges of the resort all the way to the front of the gates, behind every tree or beside each building, there’s really something so wonderful, romantic, and beautiful about this place.
The experience we had even just watching an old classic romantic movie, it’s always even just a bit more special in a place like this. The air is fresh, and the sounds of the waters, the beaches, and the people laughing and enjoying, you really feel the resort atmosphere all around you.
Our visit to Plantation Bay Resort & Spa was truly an unforgettable experience. To share those moments with someone special and at a place that I’ve always wanted to go visit, it’s really just so romantic. The room service, the spa, the waters, the beautiful scenery, the food, but most importantly the company. I’m so glad that Nick brought me there. I had the most wonderful vacation and I was with someone very close to my heart. There’s really nothing more perfect than that..
——————– Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Marigondon, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines 6015
(02) 505-9800
If you noticed, I’ve been blogging about the food served in Plantation Bay. There’s breakfast, seafood buffet & room service. Right now, I’m going to share with you the room package that we availed of at Plantation Bay Cebu.
There’s actually a lot of choices of rooms in Plantation Bay, you can choose to have their conventional rooms or their specialty rooms. We chose the Spa Indulgence Room, mainly because we wanted to just relax. I’ll share to you the list of rooms being offered in Plantation Bay Cebu. Guests can choose which room to avail based on their liking.
Lagoon View – Rooms that has a great view of the lagoon but are located on the 2nd floor.
Lagoon Side – Rooms closest to the lagoon plus you can get in the water in seconds.
Water’s Edge – best for couples who sought romance, located at the edge of the lagoon.
Poolside Room – built around a pool, rooms are more spacious too!
Club Room – suitable for large group of family or friends.
Club Room w/ Loft – same with club room but with a queen size bed in the attic.
One Bedroom Suite – a large suite w/ complete amenities. Best for executives.
Two Bedroom Suite – while 1 bedroom is best for executives, this one is best suited for 2 families vacationing together.
Riverboat -this is one of a kind wherein the room is actually built over flowing water.
Penthouse -I’ll describe this as a presidential suite, 2 bedrooms, 2 floors, it’s purely luxury.
Quantum Villa -If you wanna have your private moments in Plantation Bay. 4 detached bathrooms with private pool & gazebo.
Spa Indulgence Package – learn more by reading the post in its entirety 😉
There’s really no other choice if you really want the full treatment rest and relaxation in a weekend trip, than getting Plantation Bay’s Spa Indulgence Room (US$238++). Usually for couples, there’s a choice of the lagoon side rooms or the spa indulgence rooms. But when you realize just how secluded, quiet, and romantic the rooms are when you avail of the Spa Indulgence Room, you’re in for a treat.
There were actually only 3 Spa Indulgence Rooms available in Plantation Bay Cebu which makes these rooms not only a great retreat from all the noise, but it gives you a sense of exclusivity and privacy as well. We stayed in room MS1 (Mogambo Springs 1). When you enter the room, you’re immediately taken in for that old world Japanese ambiance, with the low lying bed, with the stone walls, and even the blinds, I just loved it. And all throughout the day, the one thing that I noticed was the peace and the quiet of the whole place. Definitely the best place to stay if your goal is to get away and just relax.
Mogambo Springs is where the Spa section of Plantation Bay is located, and it’s also where the Spa Indulgence rooms are. It really does have a great atmosphere of old world Japan, with the stone floors and walls, coupled with the wooden trimmings, decorations, and even the rooftops too! The view outside of the rooms is also amazing, just check out the picture of me below, not a lot of people too which is just so great if you want to get away from the busy atmosphere and just relax.
When you realize, that at anytime, you can just walk out of your room, and dip into any one of the jacuzzi or water spas, and even avail of their massages, this place can really take all your stress away!
The package includes free use of spa facilities in Plantation Bay. Gee, the spa was just marvelous. We practically spent our entire 1st day in Mogambo Springs! We tried out each & every facility in the spa. They have wonderful jacuzzis, hot pools, massage waterfalls, needle shower nook & sauna! Check the slides & imagine how good our spa indulgence was.
In slide 1, was the jacuzzi that I liked very much, because it was just so warm and soothing, and when you sat in front of the water spouts, it also was just a great feeling too. There were a few people that availed of a massage in this area, it was just a head and shoulder massage though, but you can really tell how great the staff is, even accommodating a jacuzzi side massage.
Slide 6 was their waterfall section, that flowed into a mini pool, and in the same slide, you can see me taking advantage of their spray area, it’s nice, but definitely not as relaxing as it looks because the pressure of the water spray really is quite fast. This area is also best for maybe afternoon since the water is pretty cool to cold, and is definitely more refreshing during those hours. And the last slide is their sauna area, which is definitely a great way to rid your body of all that toxins by just sweating it out. First few minutes you feel that it’s hot, but then it just keeps getting warmer, and all of a sudden you really start to feel how hot it is. I recommend only a few minutes, but even just a few minutes in the sauna is worth it!!
And you’d think the Spa indulgence package included just that? no, no & no. Herbal bath (Php 1,500) was also part of the relaxation package! Oh wow, it was my 1st experience to bathe in water combined aromatherapy oils plus lots & lots of rose petals! And I thought it’s only in the movies!! hahaha! I’d be able to experience it after all!
Usually, they ask you in advance at what time you would like to have the herbal bath, then they came in during those hours, usually later at night, and prepared the bath for you while you wait. The first time that we opened the door and saw just how beautiful it was, with the candles, the rose petals, and the bubbles, it was just pure heaven.
The herbs were hung inside the tub. The herbs were actually contained in this large bag, looked almost like a very gigantic sized teabag, which in a sense, it was. The water was definitely soothing, warm, and relaxing.
Last but definitely not the least, what good is a spa indulgence package without a massage? Plantation Bay Cebu has thought of it (ofcourse!) & also included an aromatic therapy oil massage for 2.
Behind the japanese-inspired doors was where we got our awesome massage. There are 3 kinds of massage for us to choose from: Japanese Shiatsu (energizing), Swedish (relaxing) or combination/fusion (rejuvenating). We have tried both Swedish & Fusion (we stayed for 2 nights).
In both cases, since both Nick and I were a bit ticklish, we ended up laughing quite a number of times during the whole massage sessions. I remember that Nick had to tell the masseuse not to massage certain parts because he was just too ticklish, and I had told my masseuse not to massage my ankle since I was still nursing a fractured ankle.
The combination and Swedish massages ended up not being too different since it was still a full body massage. The Swedish massage however did have more stretches to it, more rubbing and and also a little less pressure than the combination/fusion massage. The massage bed had a small circular hole at the head portion so that when you were lying down they had also incorporated an aroma therapy during the massage session too.
First, we were asked which oil to use: Peppermint & Ginger, Lavender, Ylang-Ylang or Lemongrass. The prep for the massage is that you had to take a shower and only wear disposable underwear that they provide for you. And each massage room already had a shower inside which made it convenient as well.
You’ll then lie down on the bed and just enjoy & relax. The massage starts out with you lying down, then the next stage of the massage is with you facing up.
It was truly an experience. I believe we were able to achieve our goal w/c was to relax & enjoy. When we went home, we even got good spa souvenirs from Mogambo Springs! A complete spa indulgence indeed. If you want to be alone, have some privacy and just want to relax and get a complete pampering, the Spa Indulgence Rooms at Plantation Bay is the way to go.
——————– Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Marigondon, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines 6015
(02) 505-9800
Our overnight stay at Sonya’s Bed & Breakfast is one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. Before I share why, let me describe the wonderful accommodations at Sonya’s Garden. For just Php 3,000 per person (Php 3,400 per person during weekends & holidays), we’ll be able to enjoy the overnight stay plus complimentary breakfast & dinner or lunch.
Check-in time is at 2PM & check-out at 12 noon. We got one cottage which costs us Php 6,000 in total. Since we went with the driver, we added Php 1,000 for his accommodations which also includes breakfast and lunch or dinner. The driver’s room is uber nice too! See the pictures, they do share one room but look how comfortable it is!
This is their washroom, loved their shower area!
We, on the other hand, were given this room first. I asked if we could move to another cottage as I wasn’t comfortable with how the washroom was situated. As you can see in the picture below, the one facing the window is actually the restroom! I definitely do not want to use the washroom or bathe without blinds or curtains! hahaha!
Sonya’s Bed & Breakfast staff were very nice. We requested another room, and they graciously agreed to our request and was moved to another cottage which turned out to be a spacious family cottage. It was a 3-bedroom cottage situated near the dining area. Oh how I loved the room, we actually tried to stay in all 3 rooms hahaha!
There was no aircon available in the rooms, only fans but don’t fret as the temperature is bearable especially during night time. The outside area gets a bit dark after 9PM so you would probably want to stay inside the room and just relax after that time.
With the open windows, the breeze circulating throughout the room, the afternoons are comfortable inside the rooms. The evenings, you can really feel the coolness of Tagaytay, as the room gets really nice and cozy, and the fresh Tagaytay air greets every breath that you take. Even without air conditioning, you may still want to use the blankets too.
The room we stayed in was just fantastic. With an old world feel, it even had a nice little vanity desk for when you get ready, powder your nose, apply face lotion, etc. Even the divider that you see below gave the room another touch of old world ambiance. Not to mention they had such a wonderful variety of artwork on their walls. And on the tables were a few coffee table books and travel books too.
This is my favorite part of the cottage. Guess what room this is? It’s the washroom! And this is why staying at Sonya’s Bed & Breakfast is so unforgettable! It was in this room where Nick asked me to be his girlfriend 🙂 Maybe it’s the romantic atmosphere, and the wonderful ambiance and decor of the washroom, but it really was a great place to just sit down, talk, and take in the beauty of Sonya’s Garden. The wonderful gravel floor with the little pebbles, the stone tiles, the fresh flowers, it can truly be romantic, and even memorable.
Sonya’s Garden is really a great place, aside from the beautiful rooms & yummy food, there are also activities that we can do. One is the art of doing nothing lessons that they offer for free for those checked in at Sonya’s Bed & Breakfast. Another thing you can do is to have some spa treatments at Sonya’s Garden Spa (for a separate fee).
You can also walk around the area which is really nice. Look at the walkway as seen below. Each step that you take, you will want to notice your surroundings. The variety of flowers, plants, trees, and greenery are endless. The beauty of the flowers and the surrounding was matched by the fresh air.
The walk from the main entrance to the cottages has two main walkways, and on that corner of that intersection, there is also a nice little resting place, sort of like the mini cottages you find at the beach. Well, Sonya’s also has one of those, as seen in the picture below.
The walkway is also a great place to just stop during the evenings, even for just a minute or two. Because on a clear night, like the night we stayed, when you look up, the beauty of the sky just consumes and inspires you. The stars come out, and in the silence, you can really feel the calmness and even the romance of it all.
Now, below, this is the area where they plant herbs & this is also where we had our cooking lessons. the dalandan basil tea, the tarragon tea, the tomato and mango herb mixture, all the herbs that are used in the cooking at Sonya’s all come from here. This is where all that magic happens. The freshness of their food, comes from the fact that their Garden is just magnificent and has the best varieties of herbs and plants. This is why Sonya’s lunches are so good, like I wrote about, because of this greenhouse.
Sonya’s Garden is best for taking pictures too! The picture below is actually a signature area where people take their shots! hahaha! If you see this kind of picture, you would know that it’s from Sonya’s Garden. Couples usually have their pictures taken there. Actually, there’s just so many places that you are able to take a picture in. It’s really because the garden itself is really just sooo beautiful.
My favorite picture of all 🙂 I’ll never ever forget our experience at Sonya’s Garden. I definitely would want to go back there just to reminisce. Before you leave though, do not forget to sign the guestbook in the cottage. Nick actually wrote on their guestbook, a whole two pages! We’ll have to request to get a copy or see it next time we go back.
We actually read all the earlier entries and you can see that a lot of people do celebrate their special days at Sonya’s Bed & Breakfast just like me & Nick. 🙂
I’ve tried Sonya’s Garden Spa before. If I remembered it correctly, it was 3 years ago. I availed of their foot spa with back massage (Php 560) & I was very satisfied. I felt it was worth it!
When Nick & I stayed at Sonya’s Garden, we decided to try out their spa. In this post, both Nick & I will share our experiences with the service that we availed at Sonya’s Garden Spa.
I chose the manicure & pedicure w/ nail art while Nick tried the hair spa gugo with lemon grass.
Roch’s Experience: Manicure & Pedicure w/ nail art (Php 600)
I thought it would be something really spectacular as nail art is really popular these days. Apparently, manicure & pedicure is not really a specialty of Sonya’s Garden Spa. What I’ve gone through is just normal cleaning of nails plus application of nail color & stickers.
I was asked to choose from their nail art stickers, I didn’t like the selection that they have. I was actually able to peek through the price of the stickers & I was a bit disappointed that they were of the cheap kind. But then again, when I think about the price that I need to pay for the service, it’s actually cheap as we only need to pay additional Php300 to have all fingers (hands) & toes (feet) for the stickers/nail art. So it’s just fair. I expected too much though 🙁
Nick’s Experience: Hair spa-Gugo with lemon grass (Php 560)
Nick’s words: So, my turn to describe the experience. Actually it was great, more than what I actually expected. Sometimes, you have to realize, with the products and chemicals we can put in our hair, the dust and the pollution of the city, it’s nice that such a ‘hair spa’ exists.
Before the whole spa treatment even begins, they turn on this nice ambient, serene, and peaceful music. Sort of like the ones you use for meditation. Sounds of nature along with harps, etc.
Going back to the hair treatment itself, first they started off by rinsing my hair with warm water. And in spa manner, they did this gently by pouring the water over my hair as I sat relaxed. Then they used their own natural shampoo which also had honey in it. And they gently massaged that into my scalp. And then rinse.
For the main step, they applied the gugo and lemon grass mixture and I have to tell you. This was just a great pleasure to experience. The coolness of the mixture also had a nice tingling affect. The application of the mixture was a great treat too, as it was massaged into the scalp, and you actually got a nice massage along with the application. The guy who was doing the spa treatment, let me sit there for around 10 minutes, and just covered a warm towel over my face, while I sat there with the music. I think I actually fell asleep, it was that relaxing.
When he got back, he rinsed the gugo and lemon grass mixture, and dried off my hair with a towel. And the feeling was just great. Never has a shampoo and conditioning been oh so relaxing and felt great for my scalp! It was finished off with a shoulder and upper back massage.
The highlight of the whole spa experience was the hot dalandan tea that they served us. My golly, it was just the most delicious drink I have ever tried! It was just too addicting that we asked for more. We just cannot get enough of it! I asked them what was in that drink & we were told that it was a combination of dalandan juice & basil leaves. What a great recipe this is…
Because of our experience here at Sonya’s Garden Spa. We actually asked for the same drink when we had our breakfast at Sonya’s Bed & Breakfast.
This is us after 45 minutes all finished & refreshed! 🙂 The staff were very accomodating & were helpful when I asked if they could take pictures of us hehehe! But I will definitely not forget that the next time we go to Sonya’s Garden Spa, it’s most definitely best to stick with their massage services. They are really good at it!
