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Perfect Pico de Loro

May 13, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 19 Comments

May has always been a month to look forward to in our family. MrC celebrates his birthday in May, and I also get my celebration on Mother’s Day. It’s the middle of summer, so the little boy is often in high spirits, and, best of all, the month begins with a holiday. What’s not to love about May?

Pico de Loro
Perfect Pico de Loro

Well, this year our wonderful friends from Pico de Loro (who happen to be our same wonderful friends from Taal Vista Hotel) gave us one more reason to love May. I had been wishing, hoping and dreaming about a summer getaway ever since school closed at the end of March. Finally, sometime mid-April, I received an invite from Celine Arenillo, Area Marketing Communications Manager for Pico de Loro and Taal Vista, for an overnight stay at Pico Sands Hotel. Happy, happy, joy, joy! Even better, we were scheduled to visit the place at the same time as my bloggy mommy friend, fellow WMB contributor, seatmate, group mate and dance partner, Tina Rodriguez and her family.

The Cuyugan and Rodriguez families with our super gracious host, Celine.

We left Alabang at a little past 2pm on April 30, a Wednesday. MrC had to report to work in the morning, and that’s why we weren’t able to head out until after lunch. It was a quick and easy drive along familiar roads. While most people take Cavitex on the way to Pico de Loro, that route is actually out of the way for us. Luckily, Pico is only a cove away from Patungan, home of Lolo’s Fishville, and we know how to get there via Imus, Trece Martires, General Trias, Ternate and Maragondon. Yup, it’s a tour of Cavite!

Pico Sands Hotel

We arrived at Pico Sands Hotel at just after 4pm. Celine greeted us at the reception area and explained our 2-day itinerary as we checked in. Of course, my curious little boy asked question after question about the food, the amenities and the activities available to us.

“What? There’s a video game room???”

Check in was super quick and easy. We were given our key cards, a map of the grounds, a checklist of activities that we can do while at Pico, breakfast and beach towel coupons, and waterproof wrist tags that we had to wear in order to access all of the amenities. See, some areas are exclusive for members, and so non-member guests are given a different color tag  from members and sponsored guests. 

Everything we need to find our way around the hotel and country club

We were booked in a Corner Deluxe Room, which was really big and super cozy. Little MrC is at that age where he can still squeeze into a big bed with his dad and I, and we were happy that the bed was roomy, the pillows soft and the blanket fluffy. I knew right away that I would sleep like a baby at Pico Sands, just like I did at Taal Vista Hotel.

I love how light from the big windows flow into the room

Because we were in a corner room, we had a huge balcony. It was actually wrapped around two sides of the room. We also had lots of windows so the room was always bathed in light. The windows and balcony also gave us access to the gorgeous view of the man-made lagoon and the country club grounds.

Out on the balcony

I find that balconies are the best places to read or write, especially when the weather is pleasant. Because this summer is scorching, though, I hardly spent time outside. I opted to use the large writing desk inside the airconditioned room instead. I also didn’t bring my laptop on this trip because I just wanted to go on vacation so badly and so I decided to leave work at home. I think that was a super good move.

The perfect blogging spot + more photos inside the room

After we got settled and unpacked, I had to leave the boys for a bit to go on a property tour with Celine and the other bloggers in our group. They said they would go and explore on their own too, then sent me off. Back at the ground floor of the hotel, I saw Pico Restaurant where we would be having breakfast the next morning, and Pico Bar where I would have loved to grab a cocktail if we were staying longer.

Pico Restaurant and Bar

Pico de Loro Country Club

Our first stop on the tour was Pico de Loro Country Club, which is only a short walking distance from the hotel. Guests staying at Pico Sands have access to the pool at the club, as well as the locker rooms, which are big, clean and nice smelling. Yay for that!

The country club swimming pool

The Country Club also has bowling lanes and billiard tables, and it super reminded me of the resorts and country clubs I visited during my childhood. For the little kiddos, there’s Club Pico, a play place with tunnels, a ball pit and other fun activities. My kid is too big for this already, but Tina’s girls had the best time playing inside Club Pico. 

Bowling, billiards and Club Pico

For older kids who aren’t big enough for billiards or bowling yet, there’s always the Game Lounge, or, as Little MrC calls it, the video game room. At the beginning of our mini-vacation I declared that there would be no video games on the trip. But then on day two, something about the mid-day heat made me say yes to an hour of Plants vs Zombies on the PS3. I guess I was just really happy that my little boy and Tina’s son, Tim, really hit it off. They were so in-sync, it was as if they had already known each other for years. 

A peek at day 2 – At the game lounge!

I really would have wanted to try the videoke rooms, but later on decided that I would just save that experience for another visit. The Country Club has a restaurant called Lagoa, a Cafe Lounge and a Lanai Bar. There is also a large ballroom for corporate or social functions. In the same complex, there’s a really nice sports area with tennis and badminton courts, a basketball court, ping-pong tables, and even a squash/pelota area. This is really perfect for company team building or sportsfest activities. HR friends, take note!

The badminton and basketball courts

There is also a convenience store at the lobby of the country club where members and hotel guests can buy things like food, sunglasses, and various other things. If you are looking to buy flip flops, beach bags, swimwear or cover-ups, though, you can actually visit the Kultura boutiques, which are located at the lobby of Pico Sands Hotel and the lobby of the Beach Club. I only got to take a quick peek at the convenience store before the shuttle arrived at the Country Club driveway, and it was time for us to go and check out the chapel.

Wouldn’t you want to get married here???

I love this chapel! It gives you a beautiful ocean sunset backdrop, just like what we had during my sister-in-law’s Bohol wedding, only with the added perk of airconditioning! It’s the best of both worlds, if you ask me. Celine said that this chapel has been used for a celebrity wedding, and also for the wedding of one of Henry Sy’s grandsons. 

See that beautiful view? (Photo belongs to Tina!)

Meanwhile, in MrC land…

We caught up with the boys on our way to the Beach Club from the church. They were trying to catch a shuttle and ours just happened to drive by. I was so curious to know what they did while I was on the property tour. The photos I found in the camera were just so cute that I thought I’d share them here, too!

Daddy’s little mowdel

They checked out the country club, the beach and the grounds around the lagoon during the afternoon. That’s a lot of walking! No wonder they both looked tired when we picked them up.

Having fun without me!
When mommy is away, the boys will play

Imagine, we did all of that in only a couple of hours, and day 1 of our vacation wasn’t over yet. After the property tour, we had cocktails and then dinner on the beach. And then day 2 was filled with lots of family fun and bonding with the Rodriguez’s! So much to write about and so many photos to share, but I will save the rest of the story for another post.

We love Pico de Loro!

Have you been to Pico de Loro? If you haven’t yet, you really should add it to your list of vacation prospects. Honestly, I can’t wait to go back! 

PICO SANDS HOTEL
Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast,
Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas
+632 2147800 / +632 2147888 / +639178091289
reservations@picosandshotel.com
http://www.picodelorocove.com/
http://www.hamilocoast.com/
#/picosandshotel

For membership inquiries, call +632 9458000

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Batangas Beach, Beach near Manila, Family Vacation, Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu Batangas, Pico de Loro, Pico Sands Hotel, Road Trip

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chinky says

    June 9, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    So the summer just passed me by and I wasn’t able to go to the beach! Waaaah!

    Pico de Loro looks like an interesting vacation spot! Hope we’ll be able to go someday soon! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. Samantha Isabel says

    June 8, 2014 at 1:07 pm

    The only Pico de Loro I went to was the mountain! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  3. Que Sullano - Gavan says

    May 31, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    We are planning to here with my volunteer friends and the families. I’m so excited!

    Reply
  4. Janice / The Roller Coaster Ride says

    May 29, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    Really looks like a great place to stay. Hope we get our chance to stay there soon. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  5. Kim | Mom On Duty says

    May 28, 2014 at 10:36 am

    Wow! Beautiful place.

    Reply
  6. Mr. Jacob's Mom (@MrJacobsMom) says

    May 28, 2014 at 9:10 am

    What a nice hotel/resort! Kaso ang layo! πŸ™ Gusto ko sana mag-travel pa before baby comes.

    Reply
    • MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan says

      May 28, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      The drive coming from the city is relatively easy, thanks to Cavitex! πŸ™‚ Hope you get that pre-baby getaway.

      Reply
  7. Michi says

    May 26, 2014 at 11:48 am

    This resort is in my bucket list, I just don’t know when we it will be crossed out. I was checking the rates for the non members medyo expensive. hehehe!

    Reply
  8. Mitch Ryan says

    May 25, 2014 at 12:52 am

    Wow such a beautiful place, and the room is so cozy.

    Reply
  9. Tetcha Figuerres says

    May 18, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    We stayed overnight at Pico Sands Hotel last week, and my son really liked it there! We enjoyed the pools and the beach! I have yet to write a blog post about it, though.

    Reply
  10. rina says

    May 17, 2014 at 9:42 am

    wow saya! gusto ko rin ng ganyang raket he he

    Reply
  11. May De Jesus-Palacpac says

    May 16, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    oooh it’s gorgeous! pico de loro is now officially on my wish-list. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. Mark says

    May 16, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    Hey! Kinareer ang blogging, ha? Noice post.

    Reply
    • MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan says

      May 19, 2014 at 7:53 am

      Korek! How goes life with you, daddy-o?

      Reply
  13. Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says

    May 14, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    We haven’t been to Pico de Loro and it looks like such a nice place for a family vacation.

    Reply
    • Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says

      May 30, 2014 at 7:51 pm

      Seeing your Pico de Loro post once more makes me want to go there. Kaya lang malapit na rainy season.

      Reply
  14. Franc Ramon says

    May 14, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    I also enjoyed my stay at Pico de Loro when I did Salomon Xtrail there.

    Reply
  15. Joei says

    May 13, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    Love your post!! Hope we can also visit one of these days before summer is over πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan says

      May 14, 2014 at 7:50 am

      Thanks, Joei! Yes you should. Sobrang nice there.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm MrsC, a happy wife and mom, a help-less but not helpless homemaker, who is learning to live simply in this complicated world.

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