LUXURY VACATION IN BICOL - Gloria Tree Mayon & Park View Residences Condotel

ABBEY: This is our stop at Albay; a condotel. They picked us up from the bus terminal and straight to Gloria Tree. A few moments after we were given our rooms (2 storey, 2 rooms, 3 baths, kitchen and living room) they served us breakfast. This is super early checkin at 5AM. We just thought to drop in the bags and come back later but lo and behold, we have the whole house to ourselves. 

The sheets are clean and smooth. They can improve with their amenity kits though; the soap is thin and the toothpaste tube won’t last you a couple of brushes. The place is adjacent to a park so you can jog or have a brisk walk in the morning. You can snap a good view of Mayon at the rooftop. 

Our bill costed us for 2 days/1 night stay and breakfast add-on for our arrival. I must admit that this is not a first choice for our stay but with the service they provided before our trip, we preferred them over a hyped-resort.

LUXURY VACATION IN BICOL  - Gloria Tree Mayon & Park View Residences Condotel - 2nd room

LUXURY VACATION IN BICOL  - Gloria Tree Mayon & Park View Residences Condotel - Receiving Area

LUXURY VACATION IN BICOL  - Gloria Tree Mayon & Park View Residences Condotel

LUXURY VACATION IN BICOL  - Gloria Tree Mayon & Park View Residences Condotel

WILL: We like to have an accommodation that will give us peace of mind and relaxation while we are in vacation, we want that the breakfast should be included, an almost a travel-agency-like that will provide us what we needed during our travels and yet still budget friendly. Gloria Tree Mayon has it all. 

I am a bit skeptic about Gloria Tree Mayon, hard to find an online review on them bit when I called the given phone number and the owner answered my querries, it is the sign for me to book the place.

The two-storey cost Php8,000 with free breakfast and free van transfer from Bus Terminal (Isarog from Manila). The house consisted of 2 airconditioned bedrooms with 1 queen size bed and 1 sofa bed. 1 extra sofa bed on the staircase area, 1 bunk bed, 3 bathrooms and airconditioned living and dining room. We also booked their van for our day tour which is Php500 cheaper than people who organised group tours.

Gloria Tree’s employees always make sure that we were satisfied with our meals and we are well served with our inquiries regarding the place. We really do feel that we are more than welcome in this establishment. Love that feeling so much. We will not forget that. Haha. 

Climb their 4th floor and you’ll be awed by the unobstructed view of Mt. Mayon.

***

Gloria Tree Mayon & Park View Residences 

Php8,000 2 - Bedroom with free breakfast and hotel transfer 

(F) https://www.facebook.com/gloriatreemayonandparkview

(A) Kalayaan Park Purok 1, Barriada Road, Brgy. 38 - Gogon, Legazpi City

(T) +63 922 846 5301

Cheap Lunch Buffet in Manila Philippines | Php699 Nett Lunch Buffet at Guevarra's by Chef Laudico

ABBEY: We were looking for Pinoy cuisine and we found Guevarra’s. For Php699.00, you can have a delicious lunch buffet. They do have lechon, bacon bagnet, angus tapa, baby back ribs, chicken barbecue, laing, paella, caldereta, and chicken skin. 

For dessert, you can enjoy choco pudding, halo halo, flan, and cakes. I keep coming for more lechon and baby back ribs; falls of the bone and melts in your mouth. Be sure to eat as much as you want. They are strict in sitting times as another batch will be served after you. 

Only later we knew that Chef Laudico is a celebrity chef. Celebrity or not, the food is great. End of story. Haha.

Cheap Lunch Buffet in Manila Philippines | Php699 Nett Lunch Buffet at Guevarra's by Chef Laudico

Cheap Lunch Buffet in Manila Philippines | Php699 Nett Lunch Buffet at Guevarra's by Chef Laudico

WILL: If you are an expat that didn’t have a chance to visit Philippines due to COVID there’s a possibility that you really do miss to indulge in authentic Filipino cuisine. And when we say indulge it means that it should be unlimited food with a fair cost (stingy mode) right? I have seen Guevarra’s Lunch Buffet and we were shocked that it only cost Php699 Nett (USD 11.86) and it was tucked away in a quite secluded neighbourhood of San Juan. 

So without further words, I would say that this is totally recommended. I love their sisig in shot glasses, kare-kare, baby back ribs, laing and their ensaymada! Ahhm, not so happy with their paella.

I would love take out some of their whole cakes but we are bound to another location. The seats are very limited so please do make an advance reservation.

***

Chef Laudico Guevarra's Late Lunch Buffet -- Php699(NETT)

(W) https://guevarras.com

(H) Late Lunch (Weekdays only) - 2:30 to 4:30pm

(A) 387 P. Guevarra St, cor Argonne, San Juan, Metro Manila

(T) 0998 881 3200

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL

ABBEY: After a 4-hour hike at Masungi Georeserve, our chosen place of relaxation is at Estancia de Lorenzo. It’s a couple of hours drive from the nature park but all worth the travel as the resort is quiet and peaceful. 

We stayed in a two-storey villa which has two bedrooms and three bathrooms. They have two restaurants, a sports bar, pools, a banquet hall, and spa. Off to the spa we go to rejuvenate our aching body. In the morning we took a dip at their pool and were suprised to see a crocodile pen nearby. 

Our stay also included breakfast. I got their version of bangsilog (bangus, sinangag and itlog) with matching brewed coffee. 

Great stay at a great place. But be sure to checkout on time, else you’ll be charged even for a minute.

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL - FAMILY PRIME VILLA QUEEN SIZE BED

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL - FAMILY SWING

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL - LORENZOS RESTAURANT

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL - POOL

BEST RESORT IN RIZAL PHILIPPINES | ESTANCIA DE LORENZO SAN MATEO RIZAL

WILL: If you’ll google Rizal resorts, the top results will be Luljetta’s or Timberland Casino. As I am Wilma (haha) I searched deeper than Google can reach, so I have found the Estancia de Lorenzo in tucked in San Mateo Rizal overlooking the Sierra Madre Mountains.

It’s a new resort, having a calming ambiance and low tolerance of noise. Well, people who are visiting the resort is willing to pay premium to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Sierra Madre.

We checked-in on time and we were assigned to Orchid Villla just in front of the reception building. This prime family villa is huge that comprised of 2 bedrooms on second floor. 1 space that can accommodate 3 extra beds in first floor, a receiving area, 8 seater dining table, 3 bathrooms and huge veranda. We were 7 adults in that villa and it is still seemingly huge for us.

We had dinner in their Farmyard Sports Bar and Grill and the pizzas their are surprisingly good. Our breakfast is in Lorenzo’s restaurant and we were given a set meal of either sausage or bangus. Yummmy!! 

The pool is huge, temperature is fine and you can stare all you want in its greenery backdrop. 

Totally recommended! 

Here are some things that you need to know in Estancia. 

1. You can’t early check-in or check-out here. You will pay a for those minutes. 

2. You can bring food or drinks for a fee. 

3. You can’t be intoxicated in this resort. 

4. You can hail a grab and BGC is just an hour away! 

Thanks Estancia de Lorenzo for this wonderful experience for me and my family.

***

Estancia de Lorenzo -- Php15439.29 

(W) http://rizal.estanciadelorenzo.com.ph

(A) St. Patrick Street Marvi Hills, Subdivision, San Mateo, 1850 Rizal, Philippines

(T) (2) 8570.61.72 +63.917.192.7062| +63.921.847.9608