DIY: Legazpi City Tour

In a short notice and time i decided to go in Legazpi City and see the perfect cone face to face, b was hesitant at first but then he can't resist me, what's on my mind is a budget travel later on i will post all the expenses we had.

FARE: so first i secured the plane ticket we booked Zestair which is known to have a cheapest rate when it comes to airline we are hesitant because i read some bad reviews like late and cancelled flights but we are so lucky that MNL-LGP zestair are on time :) (anyway it was my first time to ride in a plane :) i've been in a Passenger Ship, Bus and RORO). another thing is we are seated were we can view the the perfect Mayon Cone.
Anyway we decided to try bus going back to manila, but i think much way better if you ride a plane it will only takes 30 min.

View from the top

ACCOMMODATION: A separate blog post and review can be view here. Not a hotel but a condotel which is clean and affordable.

TOURIST SPOT:  Our first stop is at Gaisano Mall of course after we leave our backpacks at Pinehurst. 

we want to try the Chili Ice cream at 1st Colonial Grill we actually love their tinapa rice which is our first time to taste. Chili Ice cream is sweet but has a stingy chili after taste!

Chili Ice cream

Lignon Hill:

I like this hill compare to People's Park in tagaytay, it was well maintained, regular joggers are free to enter, b and i just walk from the entrance up to the top it was a victory when we reach the top area.

Albay Parks & Wildlife:

It's not a part of our random itinerary but it was just beside the lignon hill so we still visit the park it was small but clean. 

Embarcadero: 

Night party goers will love this place, restaurant, dine strips and mall in one. 

Biggs Diner:

Known as a local Mcdo and Jollibee in Bicol are we're happy to taste their local burger.

Cagsawa Ruins:

The Famous Cagsawa Ruins and Mayon at the backdrop.

Small talk cafe:

I love the ambiance of this cafe the only glitches is not all written in the menu is available.

EXPENSES:

3 days & 2 nights

Fare- 3551.22 (one way via Zestair MNL-LGP)
          1510      (LGP-MNL)
Accommodation- 2400 pinehurst through agoda.com for 2 nights
1st colonial- 417
Lignon hill entrance- 20/each
Albay park Wildlife- 20/each
Biggs Diner- 306
Small Talk Cafe- 373
Souvenir- 190, 120

How we make our Legazpi tour in reality, i just search online, read blogs and forums too we don't even need the help of Tour agent. and also look for piso or promo fare of airlines.

Pinehursts Suites

Pinehurst Suites Review:

As we decided to spent a weekend vacation at legazpi, I look for affordable accommodation that are not filthy and old, I searched in agoda.com and there are some that affordable but has bad review and I glad that I found Pinehurst Suites situated in old abay brgy sagpon which is near in everything supermarkets, laundry shop, restaurant and dinestrips and just along the highway.

Pinehurst Suites use key card and guest are entitled for biometrics passes which is great it’s a condotel that are affordable for a traveler like us who has a limited budget but deserve to be in clean tidy place , after all we spend most of the time outside strolling around albay.
Amenties included a sink a complimentary soap, shampoo and a towel, breakfast served during 7:00 am delivered by Jollibee. The room is tidy and clean and from the 2nd floor you can see the majestic view of Mount Mayon, and also the place is quiet you don’t have worry hearing tricycle and jeep passing by which is unbelievable because it’s along the hi-way.

 Pinehurst Towel

 House rule

http://www.pinehurstcondotel.com/

1032 Rizal St., Sagpon, Old Albay, Legazpi City

+ 63 (2) 889.4786 
+ 63 (2) 586.7240 
+ 63 (917) 838.1032

+63 (2) 844.9901

inquire@pinehurstcondotel.com

Thunderbird Resort- Rizal

March is one my favorite month because this month we will celebrate our 10th year anniversary :) and we decided to celebrate it at Thunderbird Casino & Resort-Rizal we celebrate it last March 9 &10 but actually our anniversary is March 19 we just celebrate it advance on it's actual date and because it was just an hour away in the metro and in a reasonable price the superior room we got is spacious and clean , the hotel staff are very accommodating they see to it that we had a wonderful stay.

SERVICE & STAFF:
From front desk they welcomed us with warm greetings the check in time is 2:00 but we arrived earlier and allow us to check-in about 1:20 the room boy accompanied  us in our room bring our luggage. The guard, house keepers are so welcoming they always greeted us ''good afternoon mam, sir'' which what we really like. there are some glitches like what happen to the Koi restaurant but the receptionist apologize to us which is forgiven.

THE ROOM:
 The room is spacious it supposed to be two queen beds but i request to change it into king size bed instead, it has mini ref and a snack bar. our room is facing the car park but we still had a great view at night. the bathroom  are clean and spacious too with complete set of toiletries and towel. I love the bed since it was neat, soft and clean and it had 5 pillows which b & i really like.

(toiletries)

The Key Cards & Complimentary drinks coupons.

THE FOOD: 

Thunder bird has three restaurant The Koi Restaurant, Pool Bar and Cabana Bar (which we haven't try) we had this snack at Pool Bar and i love the food the chef is the one who prepared the food which is really great.

But we were disappointed at Koi Restaurant there's is no slot available when we arrive there it was 8:00 and the restaurant is still full  the receptionist asked us if it is okay if we will just order there and the food will be deliver at pool bar since there's is no available table for us. We agree to that but i saw that a family finished already and there's available table so i insisted to eat there, we were sit there for 20 minutes waiting for someone giving us a menu to my surprise we were the one who approached the receptionist and she's who will take the order from us :/ imagine she keep us waited eh she's the one who will take the order naman and not the waiter who seems so busy but not i estimate the there's 30 people inside the restaurant compared it to the fast food chain and you will see the different i think they can manage that number of people, the food is not presentable the food that my mom cooked is much better :/ and guess what our bill is 1000 :O for that kind of food a sweet and sour and a tempura (see the photos below).

But Breakfast buffet which is in Koi Restaurant also, has more organize compare to their sit down dinner set up.

(we asked the receptionist to take a photos of us)

Food at Pool Bar

b & i at Pool Bar

THE SPA: 

I love Zaphira Signature Massage i really love massage and i'm glad that Thunderbird had this Spa, read more about Zaphira Spa.

THE SWIMMING POOL & JACUZZI:

We love the swimming pool and outdoor jacuzzi, the pool is crowded from 4:00-6:00,  b and i decided to swim at 5:00 it's not crowded only few bunch group of friends and family are there we love dipping in outdoor Jacuzzi i spend most of the time there. Actually the pool is an Infinity pool but it doesn't look like maybe because of it shape.

 outdoor jacuzzi

night dipping

OVERALL VERDICT:

Our 10th year anniversary is memorable because of what Thunderbird Resort offer to us, I thank them despite of some glitches i highly recommended this place.

Thunderbird Resorts – Rizal
Eastridge Avenue
Binangonan, Rizal,
Philippines 1940
T: (+63 2) 651.6888
F: (632) 651.3893
E: rizalreservations@thunderbird-asia.com