THUNDERBIRD RESORT: LUXURY IN LA UNION

BY: Ysabs Villaflor

If you want a quick getaway to just relax and eat good food, Thunderbird Resort may just be your salvo.

LOCATION: Pora Point, La Union, Philippines

FEEL: Mediterranean/Greek-inspired, Modern.

PERSONAL: Tagged along with my folks who were there for a wedding.

RECEPTION: Spacious, airy and welcoming. First thing that greets you is the blue-painted dome and a staff that offers you a welcome drink and cold mini-towels to wipe off the heat of the sun.  It was a nice first impression.

THE ROOMS:  Junior Suite Beach View - The rooms are spacious and good for 4 people. The beds are so comfortable that it would tempt you to stay in than to stay out.  There is a kitchenette with microwave, a mini-bar, and the fastest wi-fi service imaginable.  Yes, it is tempting just to stay in and turn on the 42 inch LED and just doze off.  It is luxurious, spacious and the welcome chocolates surely made for a lasting impression.  There is a dining area out in the balcony over-looking the sea with nice woven seats for nice meals and leisurely reading.

 

   

 

THE BATHROOM:  The bathroom had a tub and separate shower area. The shower area has see-through glass doors with wooden floors and stones. Very modern. The tub however, is a Jacuzzi with turbo jets for a nice massage (and a nice playtime for the kids). It doesn’t feel cramped even when there are 5 people using the bathroom.

The toiletries available are from VMV – a hypo-allergenic brand with a loofah and scrub.

THE COST:  Is a bit pricey but is worth every penny.  A Junior Suite Beach View room  can ring up P8,000+ (US $188+) and the Master Suites can fetch up to Php 17,000+ (US$ 400+). Tip: book for a week day and get a discount of less than Php2,000 on the published rate and sometime, you might even get an upgrade! J

THE FOOD:   The buffet at breakfast is delicious with a variety of continental fare. What is remarkable though- is their Lemongrass Iced Tea, which is brewed fresh daily and the beautiful view overlooking the sea and the pool while digging in your breakfast.

One of the things that one must try is their pizzas and Greek dishes.  The pizzas are thin-crust and homemade.  Something to try while lounging in the pool or reading a book on the balcony.

  

THE SERVICE:   The service is personal and friendly. The staff is extra helpful when we had a problem with the toilet. A quick call and someone was already at the door ready to assess the problem and ask for the maintenance to fix it.

OTHER AMENITIES:   The resort has its own gold course, a casino and pool and beach area. 

this welcomes you before you take a dip in the pool

going down to the pool

this device shows you all the activities and promos Thunderbird has in store for its guests.

MY RATING: 4/5 stars :) A return trip is not far.

For more information:  http://www.thunderbirdresortsporopoint.com/ppc/index.php

Mai Hotel and Halo Hotel

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

By Ysabel Villaflor

I love looking for budget hotels that surprise you.  Sometimes, we often equate “budget” for having to sacrifice certain luxuries.  It doesn’t have to be so. Who wouldn’t want to be sleeping in good beds, having clean bathrooms, free breakfast but without spending so much? 

I do. Everyone loves a good bargain.

	Mai Hotel 4A-4B Thi Sach Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, District 1 - Riverside, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	Halo Hotel 23 Thu Khoa Huan Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, District 1 - Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Location	Located in Riverside and party district where the bars are located.	Located w few steps away from Ben Thanh Market and Reunification Palace
	If you want to be closer to the where the party is: Mai Hotel would be your best bet. If you want to be closer to the sites and shopping: Halo Hotel would be the choice
Rate	US 16 / Php 1,300 with breakfast Standard room 2 people (My friend and I upgraded our room for twin beds)	US 16 / Php 1,245 with breakfast Standard room (no window) 2 people (My friend and I upgraded our room for Php300 for twin beds)
	Breakfast was buffet with choice of Continental and Vietnamese fare.	Breakfast was pre-set with choice of Continental or Vietnamese fare. Picture below from the room service menu. I was half-way through when I remembered to take a picture!
Style	Trendy.	Mix of Traditional Asian, Rustic, Homey.
Reception	Ample space for guests. Couches are available while waiting.	Ample space for guests. Although Halo had smaller reception table, the couches are huge.
Elevator	Can fit 4 people.	Available although we took the stairs more often since our room was just on the 2nd floor.
Hall	The halls in Mai Hotel can be like a maze.  You can go up and down certain steps until you reach your room.	The halls are spacious and clean.
	I prefer the halls of Halo Hotel. Compared to Mai, it is cleaner and well- lit.  Mai may not be as organized and sometimes, you might see things in the hall that aren’t supposed to be there.
Room	Spacious. The closet space can fit 2 big sized luggage bags.	A bit cramped but for budget friendly hotel, it is sufficient.
Smell of Room	A bit musty.	Very clean.
Bed	Bed is comfortable. Not too soft or stiff.	Bed is comfortable. Not too soft or stiff.
View	We had a window with a view of the nearby neighborhood.	No view since we opted for a room with no windows.
Bathroom	Spacious and clean. The shower door is transparent. There is hot and cold shower.  The bathroom is very minimal with touches of design on the wall.	If there’s one thing to remember Halo, it’s the bathroom.  Very rustic. With Rain Water Shower head and a small basin made of cement, it’s probably the coolest rock bathtub I have ever seen. No shower doors but a wall full of rocks cover one side for the airy breeze.
Toiletries	There are bottles of shampoo, conditioner and toothbrushes.	Halo’s shampoo and conditioner set are placed in little ceramic jars to tie in with the rustic feel of the bathroom.  The hairdryer placed in a basket.
Extras	There is a dresser with chair.	One of the things I really liked about Halo is the service. Although we paid for a budget hotel, we felt very pampered.  The staff was very helpful and very friendly. Some of the fellow guests we met in the hotel were returnees.  They also love the personal touch  Halo provides.
Internet:	Available Wifi.	Available- in the reception area and rooms.
Rate:	3/5 stars	4/5 stars

*the author would especially like to thank the wonderful staff at Halo Hotel for taking care of Gen who had a migraine. Although we already checked out and waiting for our flight that night, they let her stay in our room.