Thursday, May 30, 2013

Heaven in Laiya, Acuatico Resort Experience


Oh well, I am glad to say that the looong wait to experience Acuatico Resort was worth it. Our staycation fell on a Monday-Tuesday but that did not hinder us to enjoy. Since all our car’s plates end in 1, we decided to hit the road as early as 5am to avoid the number-coding scheme in the Metro. After following their direction carefully, we arrived at Acuatico’s lobby at around 9am. Coding turned out to be a real blessing in disguised because we had maximized our stay there.


The courteous staff served our welcome drinks at Oceano.


And since we’re way too early for their standard 1pm check-in, she advised us to stay at the playroom 1st for the kids to rest and/or sleep. Do you really think these kids can rest with toy overload?



Even the kids-at-heart partook with the toys.



And since the playroom just pumped-up the kids' energy, they 1 by 1 asked demanded to swim. And they changed inside the playroom. Lol


What’s good with Acuatico was that there were outdoor shower rooms and toilets at every corner and funny how they named those, very Batangueno.



FACILITIES:

Aside from the playroom and the public rest and shower rooms, Acuatico Resort also offers a lot of fun activities inside their premise. There’s an open basketball court at the parking lot, a game room at the 2nd floor of the hotel and a souvenir shop.



ACCOMMODATION:

Since we’re a family with 9 adults and 4 kids, we were asked to get 2 rooms. 1 was actually a villa called Estancia (P21400) which the (PIL’s) children and their family was assigned, while my parents-in-law stayed at the hotel room, called Vista de Laiya (P6950). The rate includes complimentary breakfast, bottled water, slippers, toiletries, towel and complimentary uraro.

Estancia has 3 rooms which can occupy up to 8 adults. 1 room have 2 twin size beds and 2 rooms with 1 queen size bed each. It has a private lanai, a loft, a sala area and view deck. It also has 2 LCD TVs with cable, 2 telephones, a personal ref, 2 shower rooms and 2 toilets. 



Though the villa was generally nice, the size of the shower room where notably small. How small? A little less than my kalahating dipa. I was literally outside the shower area as I gave bath to my kids. Also, they used smoked glass as a divider to the shower rooms, which was disadvantageous since 2 adults cannot take a bath simultaneously (unless they're okay to show their bare bodies to each other). I also dislike that 1 of it's bedroom don’t have privacy because 1) it only has curtain to cover the bed and 2) everybody need to go inside "that" curtain when going to the restrooms or upstairs. What’s the use of the curtain? If I were the architect I would definitely not design it that way.



Vista de Laiya was more luxurious, we think. This was where my parents-in-law spend their nth honeymoon. It has queen size bed, safe, LCD cable TV, personal ref and bath tub. It also has a view of the whole resort. It also have spacious cabinet to play hide and seek with. Lol   



Acuatico only accommodates a maximum of 70 guess at a time. I think it is safe to say that the resort was fully booked during our stay. But surprisingly, we hardly felt that. We felt like the whole resort belonged to us alone. And according the supervisor we spoke to, the resort is fully-booked until July. If you're planning to visit the place, better reserve at least 2 months prior your date to guarantee a slot, especially if it's within the peak seasons.   

AMENITIES:

Acuatico has an in-house restaurant called Oceano  (full review here), where we relied our main meals at. A spa and of course what we came there in the 1st place “the” infinity pool. For me, their version was the best I have seen so far. It’s perfectly flawless. It was actually divided into 3 parts, the deep (kiddie pool), the deeper (I’m guessing 3-4 feet deep) and the deepest (about 4 - 5.5 feet). I just named the divisions, actually. Lol Aside from those, there is also an outdoor Jacuzzi right in front of Oceano. Lifeguard was very visible, btw.  


The Infinity Pool

Outdoor Jacuzzi
BEACH:

If you’d been to Laiya, you probably know how the sand was. It’s white but not-fine kind of sand. But I like how that not-fine sand tickles my toes as I walked barefoot. Water sports facilities like pedal boat and kayak were complimentary with our stay too. But there were other fun activities available like banana boat and speed boat rentals. And if you’re a little romantic and can shed a little more than what you have actually spent, you can request for a dinner set-up by the beach.





With all the words written in this post, I can actually summarize our staycation in 1 word, F-U-N (ang dami ko pang sinabi noh). Here’s more photos just in case the photos above were not enough.    

               

              

 

 


 


 

 

 

 


48 comments:

  1. Wow! I've always wanted to go there with my family! such a nice place for a getaway. Aww! :)

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  2. What a fun vacation! Super enjoy ang lahat. Sana makapunta rin kami dyan! :)

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  3. Your photos sure make me want to go swimming again! Before school starts, I think we are going on an excursion, I hope the kids would enjoy.

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    1. Kids never say no to excursions, swimming let alone. I'm sure they'll enjoy.

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  4. The place looks so beautiful! I like the photo where there seems to be a walkway in the pool. And I'm sure your family had a grand time vacationing there lalo na the kids :)

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    1. That's the post photographed part of the resort. Wala lang akong shot don, busy ako sa bata eh.hehe

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  5. I am glad you enjoyed your stay in Acuatico. Last summer we checked in at Acuaverde just beside Acuatico. Maganda naman ang beach sa Laiya kaya lang masyadong mahal ano? Kahit husband ko eh laking San Juan we agreed that prices are overpriced. Pero kung pamimiliin kami ng resorts dyan sa Laiya we will go for Acuatico or Acuaverde mababait at accomodating ang staff nila compared to others.

    MomMy Hanny

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    1. It's sister companies. Acua Verde though would like to maintain it's "close to nature" touch kaya walang pool, it was called Balai (where Judy Ann and Ryan had their wedding reception) before it was sold to Acuatico. That's the info I got from the Oceano's supervisor.

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  6. that is a great resort, i like the beach and the place seems huge, dami niyo...hahaha you're a bunch of big happy family enjoying the vacation

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    1. Ang laki ng pamilya.hehe Which made it more fun.

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  7. It's good na pwede nang gamiting ang amenities even before the checkin time. Siguro when I finally book us a stay there, pupunta din kami ng maaga to maximize the overnight stay. hehe :)

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    1. Oo nga eh, it was really a blessing. When we were ushered to our room, medyo pagod na mga bata kaya tulog na muna sila. It was around 12 noon then, just in time for siesta.

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  8. great pictures! acuatico, though on the pricey side, looks very enticing. i hope we get to visit it when we are in manila.

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    1. A place to be talaga. Surprisingly, laging fully-booked kahit may kamahalan.

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  9. I love the infinity pool. Kaya lang I can't swim so jacuzzi na lang. Mas maganda if not crowded ang place. From all the photos, I can say your family enjoyed your staycation.

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    1. It's not really crowded. Mas maganda mag stay sa kiddie pool, don lang din ako since I have a very valid excuse, my daughter.hehe

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  10. Though you sited some negative, I think the place is still good to visit.

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    Replies
    1. Actually, yung negative hindi mo na papansinin pag nandon ka.

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  11. I want to experience that infinity pool! I want to swim , or massage. I'm so tired of working! hahaha

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    1. Huh? It's your 4th palang and you're exhausted already. On the second though, I am tired of working myself.hehe

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  12. This is such great family bonding, nice pool and kids area where they can just play.:)

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  13. the resort looks very, very nice...
    enjoyed your photos

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  14. from the looks on your faces on the photos, I'm sure you really had so much fun! ang ganda naman sa acuatico! been hearing a lot of raves about the place eh. sana one day we can go there too! pag may budget na, medyo pricey, hihi!

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    1. Oo nga, buti nalang the PIls were generous. hehe

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  15. Ang ganda ganda ng beach and infinity pool! The place is really perfect for a family outing.

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    Replies
    1. It is. Just enough room to monitoring your kids and have fun at the same time.

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  16. The place looks very cool pero quite expensive noh? Very exclusive for those who can afford.

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  17. very nice place and luxurious it is! XD

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  18. The resort looks super cool.. must have been a blast of a holiday to be with family.

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  19. nice place and the beach fantastic, acuatico is really a good resort to visit, i have read a some good reviews about the place

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    Replies
    1. Don't take our words for it, experience it.

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  20. Never knew this place but looks like it is nice place to visit. I hope our family could go and visit there, too. :)

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  21. Nice place nga! Nakaka-hyper nga naman yung playroom haha. At ang cute ng comfort rooms! :-)

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    1. Oo nga, gusto ko nga sana matulog, bat you can't.

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  22. I can say that you and your family did really enjoyed it very much. Me and my wife have been to Laiya but on a different area. Perhaps we might try to go there as well with the whole family.

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    1. Yes, for sure your kid will enjoy it there.

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  23. Looks like you really had fun! Do they allow day use of their amenities? Their rooms rate are beyond my budget. :(

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    1. I am not sure. I believe its exclusive for guest who'll stay for overnight only. You can inquire.

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  24. It does look like FUN! Glad you can have that chance, bonding moment with your family. These are priceless moments :-)

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    Replies
    1. And thanks to you I had the guts to swim a little longer than what I usually do.

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