Viaje del Sol (Laguna-Quezon-Batangas)

[kikay iska]

Viaje del Sol (Way of the Sun) is a mix of Culture & Arts and Culinary tours in Laguna (mostly in San Pablo), Quezon, and Batangas.  Here are some of the 19 (some say 16) points of interest:

Casa San Pablo  http://www.casasanpablo.com/bed-and-breakfast
Ugu Bigyan's Potter's Garden
Sitio de Amor Farm Resort
Sampalok, Pandin, and Yambo Lakes
Villa Escudero
Kinabuhayan Cafe


Any sis who has tried this roadtrip in a couple of days?  I'm cooking up an itinerary for Sat-Sun and I need your help, mga sis.  A few questions for example:

1. Is Sitio de Amor's food superb and worth the 500/head rate?

2. Anyone who tried the tours of Sampalok, Pandin and Yambo Lakes by Manny Marino?  How was it?

3. Is Sulyap Cafe's good? Any idea on their rates?

Hope you can share tips.  Thanks!

[jaded1025]

Sana may sumagot..gusto sana namin to this holy week..

[kikay iska]

^ Sis, i'll post my review next week.  Tuloy na kami sa Balentayms Weekend eh pero I still need tips tips tips.

[yikee]

parang gusto ko din to 

^wait ko din kwento mo ha sis, tia

[princessrio]

i've just been to the following:

casa san pablo
kinabuhayan cafe
lakes of laguna

pupunta dapat kami sa Ugu kaya lang super late na kasi. baka nasaraduhan na kami.

you might want to check out www.ourawesomeplanet.com

[kikay iska]

^ sis, which lakes ang napuntahan mo? or napuntahan mo lahat all 7?  how was it? i read, yung trails daw slippery?   

thanks, i read more than 10 blogs already including OAP. 
any other tips? what to try etc...

[princessrio]

lake sampaloc and pandin.

included din kasi sis sa viaje del sol yung tahanan ni aling meding. it's right in front of lake sampaloc. pulido daan don. parang park.

pandin naman is maliit tapos pwedeng magsail. di naman ako nagsail.

[kikay iska]

i see.  did you get the services of Mandy Marino for the lake tours? thanks.

[the_missus]

i'll be waiting for all the replies. would like to do this sa april.

any feedback on casa san pablo and sitio de amor? ano mas ok for an overnight stay with a toddler?

would love to go on the lake tours too.

[kikay iska]

^ sis, sige, i'll post feedback.  my group will be staying at casa san pablo but we'll also have 1 meal at sitio de amor.  may ipapa-check ka ba sa mga lugar na to, like amenities for kids/toddlers? 

kung hindi lang naka-deposit na ang payment sa casa san pablo, i htink i'd go for sitio de amor. parang mas private kasi ito at mas konti ang rooms.

[the_missus]

^ thanks, thanks! based sa mga pictures, parang i'm more inclined to book sa sitio de amor. sabi sa mga blogs, it's 1 1.5 hrs from manila. totoo ba?

i'll wait for your review, sis.

[kikay iska]

1.5-2 hrs away naman ang mga nabasa ko, sis.  orasan ko sa sabado. we'll head straight to sitio from makati eh.i'll let you know. 

[kikay iska]

Just a quick update for Day 1 of our tour:

1. It took us 2 hours to get to Sitio de Amor from Ayala-Buendia Avenues.

2. I love Sitio De Amor.  We plan to go back here and stay overnight. The place is much better than Casa San Pablo (where we stayed overnight).  No complaints on the service - warm welcome and good food service.   

3. Casa San Pablo is OVERRATED.  I found it not well-maintained, not so bed-and-breakast atmosphere.  It's generally okay but then I wont go back here unless it's for free.  Don't ever book Room 13. It's a function room that they convert to a sleeping quarter if people book it overnight and converting it to this isn't a very bright idea.  IMHO, it's not value for money.  Maybe the "real" rooms are much better and well-maintained.  Breakfast buffet was rice, chicken adobo, crispy dried dilis, scrambled eggs, bananas, and coffee.  Their pool is not that clean but one can swim...with floating tree/plant leaves. 

4. Don't miss Ugu Bigyan's Potter's Garden.  It's my favorite Viaje del Sol spot in this leg.  I have yet to see other VdS spots.

5. Sulyap Gallery Cafe is nice for photo ops at night.  Go there for the lights but just have dessert, I suggest.  Have dinner somewhere else cheaper and tastier.

6. We missed Carlito's Workshop as his contact numbers weren't working.  We didn't try walking-in. 

LOL quick update. Ang haba na pala. 

[yellowpie]

sana may mag-post pa dito..im planning Casa San Pablo overnight pa naman for hubby kaso may hindi magandang review..

[darna88]

mga sis okey pa ba sa casa san pablo for daytour? may kasama kaming seniors and infant this coming holy week thanks.malinis ba ang pool area?

[kikay iska]

^ yung pool, hindi malinis - madaming leaves na nagflo-float. malamok sa may lounge chairs sa pool side.

yung food, basic, usual pinoy breakfast (ito lang kasi in-avail namin dito).  there's rice, eggs, fried dried fish, chicken/pork adobo, bananas, coffee.

see my posts here: http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,238556.0.html for casa san pablo review and other viaje del sol destinations.

[the_missus]

^ we booked with sitio de amor. is this near sampaloc and pandin lakes? how long ang tour sa lakes? i'm planning kase on going there before we go to sitio de amor. feeling ko kase when we get to SDA, we won't want to leave na.

[yellowpie]

^ we booked with sitio de amor. is this near sampaloc and pandin lakes? how long ang tour sa lakes? i'm planning kase on going there before we go to sitio de amor. feeling ko kase when we get to SDA, we won't want to leave na.

sis,ano contact details ng sitio de amor..i cooking a getaway kase with hubby and my college friends..and [textspeak!]-ano [textspeak!] mga places na ivi-visit nyo..thanks!

[gulaysk]

For those who have already been to Sitio de Amor, how much is an overnight stay? With meals na ba ang rate nila?

[kikay iska]

^ sis, i've been to SDA but only for a day tour, not overnight. though nakapag-tour kami sa lahat ng accomodations nilang available, pati sa pool, and gardens.  Konti lang ang rooms/cottages, about 4 lang yata.

Their Tree House is so nice! My friends and I would love to go back and stay there. It's pricey, i think rate starts at 7k (or 5k?) per night. not sulit for a couple but it's sulit for big groups.

Yung breakfast na in-avail namin was good. Sulit din.