Showing posts with label samal beaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label samal beaches. Show all posts

Sunday, October 21, 2012

COSTA MARINA

Costa Marina beach resort is just beside Paradise Island Resort. And too crowded, not too developed and not too expensive. This resort gives you the right tastes to everything in a beach resort. For me, the perfect resort to relax and enjoy.

modern day Tarzan??
modern day Jane??
The resort also boast a portion of natural greens. Even on a summer you can opt to come to their shades to avoid the heat of the sun.




Enjoy the touch and feel of the soft white sand while getting wet with the calm wave of the sea.


Deep your whole in the cool turquoise water while the suns warm embrace awaits as you get out of the water.


You may avoid the sun and immerse yourself in the water under the shade.












There is also a playground for the young and the young at hearts.


The resort offers complete family satisfaction. This relaxing piece of moment lingers for a long time.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

PRECIOUS GARDEN oƒ SAMAL


NO ENTRANCE FEES, NO COTTAGE FEES and NO BRINGING OF ANY KIND OF FOODS AND DRINKS!

Unlike any other resorts, this one does not collect any entrance fee and do not collect for using one of their cabanas. The catch, you are not allowed to bring any foods and drinks. Everything that fills your stomach must be ordered from their restaurant. Yet don't hesitate, they serve mouth watering menu at a very reasonable price. Prices are just like of those in middle class restaurants in Davao City.

The mouth watering foods served
We ordered a plate of Tempura (P200.00), Canton Guisando (P160.00), three glasses of Fruit Juices (P45.00/glass) and five cups of rice (P20.00/cup). Actually I only ordered four cups of rice for us three but I just can't resist to ask for one more with these delicious servings. So all in all we only spent P595.00 and we now get to use their facilities (except hotel rooms of course).


Taste their delicious foods. Pizza is actually the garden's specialty but we didn't get to taste it. I'm not a pizza fan.


Be fulfilled of what you eat. You can choose a place to eat. You may want it under the umbrella, under the shed of trees, inside a bar, by the beach.


And relax to the ambiance of a quiet garden. Or you could roam around and take your souvenir photos. Here's some angles inside the garden hotel.

One place you can take your meals. Under the umbrella.
Fish pond. 
A decorated portion of the garden
A heart shaped cut
Hot Momma! a beautiful tile mosaic model.
Djuzamdjin roaming around on his own.
The Bar. You can dine or have some shots of poison or beer.
Tables in the Bar.
I guess that's enough for the garden hotel. Now we go to the beach. We need to get out of the garden hotel and enter another gate to get to the beach. There's a sign and there's no other gate nearby so I'm confident you won't miss that entrance.


See that big head I'm leaning on and the three little heads with hair leaves? At left of this is the entrance to the beach.

The walk to the beach.

Here we are, Caribbean style. Let us start exploring and see what's on the beach.

One of their free to use Cabanas
Beach Tables
You can ask to have your orders served here and dine by the sea.

Looking at the sea

You could bathe in the sun, or...


...relax with the sea breeze cooling you off.



But a dip in the clear waters would always be refreshing.


After some time of paddling and waddling, the open cabana is always a very comfortable place to relax. With full cushion and open sea breeze, ahhh...zzzZZZzzz.


Here's a last view of the beach before we go to "how we got here". As usual when you're a cheapskate going to beaches and resorts in Samal Island, we ride the bus that gets to the barge. Our usual stop is Babak Centro (Town Center). We take a pedicab (motorcycle with side car) or "habal-habal" (motorcycle without side car) which will deliver us to the gates of Precious Garden oƒ Samal. Fare is P10.00 / head. That easy for this trip.


Again, its time to go home, and I really enjoyed this day. Though judging with the number of people present either in the garden hotel or in the beach, this place has got a few visitors. Or perhaps, it is because only little is known about this place. The other guests today are mostly Caucasian foreigners. I am joyed that I have discovered this Precious Garden. But most of all, I am joyed to have discovered why this place is...PRECIOUS.

For more inquiries click here

Sunday, November 6, 2011

VILLA AMPARO GARDEN BEACH RESORT

main entrance signage
Villa Amparo Garden Beach Resort is located in Sitio Dasag, Barangay Camudmud, Island Garden City of Samal. From Davao City, you will have to take on an Island Express Bus and get yourself unloaded at Babak Centro (town proper). From there, you can take on a pedicab or "habal-habal" (single motorcycles). Currently, (November 2011) fare is priced at P50.00/head minimum of three passengers. Its more or less 30 minutes of mostly rough road trip to the resort.

View from the bus on a barge
The way to Villa Amparo Garden Beach
Due to the scarcity of transportation from the resort, you must make a deal with the driver who brought you to the resort to pick you back up, or better ask for his mobile number so you can contact him whenever you feel like going home. We were lucky to have met a really good driver in Manong Titi. We even contracted him to be our driver whenever we feel like roaming around the island.

Down to the Main Entrance
At the moment, entrance fee for adults is at P100.00, kids aged 5 - 12 is P70.00 and children below 5 is free of charge. Entrance fee is doubled when you opt to stay overnight. When you bring your own food, corkage fee is P50.00 per head. Plus, you are not allowed to bring in soft or hard drinks. Only water.

Down to the beach!
After registering at the main entrance, you will be directed to go to the canteen to pay your fees. I was really anxious to see the resort myself since I never really heard about this until I saw pictures on Facebook.

a beautiful landscape
It was really nice to see the natural green and blue, and smell the scents of forests dews. The sun was cooperating by being a little shy, not showing its wholeness.

the boardwalk
There are cottages for rent but these tables with big umbrellas in the boardwalk are free to use, so why spend. You could also relax on the recliners behind the tables. The tables also gives you a nice view of the ocean and the man made islet.

The islet, viewed from the Gazebo
This is how beautiful the islet is viewed from the Gazebo. The Gazebo is a two story cottage where you can sing all your ting-ngini-nginings out in the videoke. The second floor is best for resting and viewing the ocean and surroundings.

boardwalk to the islet
The boardwalk to the islet is good for viewing schools of different fishes present in the clear waters. Kids really enjoy swimming and playing chase with these little fishes. The abundant presence of other marine life such as starfishes, crabs and shells is a great thing to see knowing how marine biodiversity has gotten its damages from our own irresponsibilities.

One of the Four Islet Huts
This Islet hut gives you a better feel of the ocean. A stay here would really be relaxing. Getting your wish of peace and quiet sooths your soul and preoccupied mind. The only thing that could get you busy here is having fun!

play swing in the water
Djuzamdjin posing with a starfish
When a day tour is not enough for you. They have a lot of close cottages to choose from. And for me, the rate is kinda cheap for what you get.

A view of their garden
A view of some of their cottages 

Now, its time to go home. But I really enjoyed the sights and ambiance. And I can really feel my heart and mind emptied of the weights the buzzes and dazzes the city life gives.

up to wait for our ride
in the bus, Djuzamdjin falls asleep after a day of fun...as usual.
For more inquiries click here