Resort Feature: Balesin Island Club (Why It's The Perfect Family Getaway) - Part III

The next day was glorious so I took Jia to the beach. Her Dada joined us later for a swim in the pool.    

Since Mykonos was the only village we haven't visited, we decided to go there for lunch. 

I dressed Jia to match the white and blue of the village. She was so tired from swimming that she nodded off even before she had her lunch.

She's awake! She was so rapt listening to the kumbancheros because she loves music.

Since day one, I was telling my husband we should go watch the sun set at Nusa Dua bar in Bali Village but our schedule did not permit. This was again recommended to me by Kathy Solis, VP for marketing of Alphaland. We finally got there the day before our departure and it was perfect. The bar stood on stilts with bridgeways that connected to a water villa on either side and to Warung restaurant. 

For our last dinner on the island, we picked Costa del Sol, acclaimed as the best restaurant in Balesin, to which we heartily agreed.

This paella negra was simply delectable. We definitely scraped the bottom of the pan for the soccarat. I ended the night so full but I wished I could eat more.

My husband remarked how well thought of and well executed the dishes are, not only in this meal, but also in our previous ones. He said he'd love to bring more friends and family there next time we visit. I guess it's safe to assume that he loved our little getaway. 

Resort Feature: Balesin Island Club (Why It’s The Perfect Family Getaway) - Part I

In one of the long weekends of August, I took my family to Balesin in Polillo, Quezon as a birthday treat for my husband who recently celebrated his birthday. We had an 8:30 a.m. flight so we booked ourselves at a nearby hotel to make sure we got to the Alphaland Hangar on Airport Road on time.

We had a rough start because my daughter had fever when she woke up and seemed to have a cough. Thankfully, it broke quickly after we gave her Tempra. Her pediatrician told us to just observe her cough and give her double dosage of Ceelin in the meantime.

When we arrived at the hangar an hour and a half before the flight, there were already plenty of passengers waiting. Our flight was delayed for 30 minutes but it was fine because the baby was asleep. We boarded a bus to get to the plane, which took off shortly after. It was a quick 25-minute flight.

We were welcomed with a drink and lei when we disembarked. Then we walked to the Clubhouse to check in (You may opt to ride one of the jeepneys on standby but it’s really just a short walk).

We were booked at Balesin Village, which was perfect because it was just a short walk to and from the clubhouse. It was also fronting the best beach on the island.

Balesin is a members-only island club but you can arrange a visit if you're looking to become a member or if you know someone who is a member of the club. It's an ideal destination for families because there's plenty to do, whether you're a kid or an adult. I didn't realize how big the island was (it's 500 hectares!) until we got there and started touring the facilities.

We spent our afternoon exploring some of the villages guided by front office manager, Jason, who was so friendly and accommodating. He even volunteered to take us around again the next day to see the rest of the villages since it was too much to do in one afternoon with a restless toddler in tow.

Riding in a golf cart with Jason in the driver's seat, we got to appreciate the lushness of the forest cover, which enhanced the feeling of being tucked in your own private space. Our first stop was Phuket Village.

Every village has its own pool and recreational facilities, restaurants, and bar. Accommodations vary between villas and hotel suites, but all villas are similarly set up, with a king-size bed and a daybed, and a veranda.

Our second stop was Costa del Sol, which we were told had the best restaurant.

This is Costa del Sol's restaurant. Before we left for Balesin, the club's VP for Sales, Kathy Solis, advised me to partake of their cochinillo and wine offer. It sounded really good but it was good for six people. Maybe next time when we go back with a bigger group.

Jia and I, with Jayson, Balesin Club's warm and engaging front office manager

Our third and last village stop for our first day was the Royal Balesin Villa, which hosted the wedding reception of actress Heart Evangelista and senator Chiz Escudero.

The Royal Balesin Villa was huge, with a laid-back, very Miami vibe.

After our tour, we had ourselves dropped off at the Clubhouse for merienda then went back to our villa so that Jia can have a nap.

We opted to have our dinner at the lovely Toscana Village.

The village was patterned after Bobby Ongpin's villa in Tuscany. The olive oil used in the restaurant is from Mr. Ongpin's Tuscan vineyard. Mr. Ongpin is the owner and chairman of Balesin Island Club.

We ate fabulously in Balesin and this was just the first of many meals. Kudos to management for offering fantastic food at very reasonable price points. 

Hotel Review: Ascott BGC (Why It’s Tripadvisor’s No. 1 Hotel in Taguig City)

At the lobby

By now, you probably know how much I love staycations, mostly to celebrate a special occasion. I recently booked a stay at Ascott BGC for no particular reason other than to explore new places in BGC. Since one of my nieces, Julia, was celebrating her 12th birthday that weekend, I also invited her to join us.

The living room. My camera couldn't capture the entire living area.

I always consult Tripadvisor prior to making a booking. I pore over all the reviews good and bad before making a decision. It was a no-brainer to opt for Ascott because it was ranked number one on the review site.

I wanted a serviced apartment as opposed to a hotel because I needed enough space for Jia and her entourage (her day nurse and her evening nurse), my husband and I, and my niece. I got us a two-bedroom executive suite.

When I came in to the apartment, I was floored by the amount space! It looked even bigger than I expected, maybe because the ceiling was high. My daughter seemed to approve because she started walking all over the place.

The master's bedroom

The master's bathroom

L'Occitane toiletries are always a good idea

The guest's bedroom

The guest's bathroom

I wished we were staying longer so we could use all the room appliances including the electric stove, oven, washer, and dryer.

First order of business after setting up Jia’s crib (it’s a playpen that we also use as a crib because she has outgrown her previous one) was food. Since I follow Gaita Fores on IG, I knew that Ascott BGC’s restaurant and room service were run by her. In short, there was no need to go out to eat well. Besides, it was pouring outside and I had a cold and a bad cough.

We ate apples oranges from the welcome basket while waiting

I ordered the mushroom and spinach pappardelle while my husband had the pulled pork sandwich. Even Jia gave the pasta her approval. A basket of apples and oranges were waiting for us when we went in so I also gave my daughter some. She loved the orange even if it was on the sour side.

Like Ascott Makati where we stayed a few months ago, Ascott BGC has a kids activity room. It was at the 7th floor where the gym and pool also are located. It was small but with enough entertainment for a 14-month old, mostly books and rocking toys.

It was pouring the whole day but when the rain let up for an hour or two, my husband stepped out to buy a cake for Julia from Slice. We welcomed her birthday with cake blowing and nursery rhymes from Jia who woke up before midnight in high spirits.

Breakfast was at Alta on the 2nd floor of the building.

The breakfast spread was uninspired and rather limited. I think next time a better option would be to book without the breakfast option then either order room service or go to the Wildflour branch at the corner (Wildflour never fails to satisfy me). What caught my attention at the breakfast buffet is this.

The Ascott BGC is great for a family staycation because you're getting more value than if you booked two hotel rooms of the same class. The apartments are comfortable, even luxurious, spacious, and are fully equipped. The location is perfect for exploring the shops and restaurants in the BGC area. And Gaita Fores's food for room service? It's hard to beat that.

Happy birthday, Julia!