It's been years since I last visited Laiya. If I remember correctly, my last trip to the beach was in the summer of 2015. And that's because all the succeeding (Philippine) summer seasons until before the pandemic, we were enjoying
spring in South Korea. That's approximately seven years of not being able to visit the beach!
So much has changed in
Playa Laiya since my last visit, hence, this blog post update. For starters, the entire resort community is now known as
Club Laiya, which encompasses not just the beach park, but also the pool deck, club house, and all the amenities, walkways, and forest trails within the area.
Speaking of amenities, they now have Cocoons, which are perfect for overnight stays. These cute and quirky cylindrical pods are fully airconditioned and come with a queen-sized bed, a flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, and a safety deposit box.
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Back in Laiya after almost seven years! |
Aside from being cozy, this accommodation is also Instagram-worthy with its beach-themed mural paintings on the exterior, and starry night-themed interior. However, there are no bathrooms inside the pods. No worries though, since the clubhouse's bathrooms and shower rooms are just within an arm's reach. In addition, the pods also have a nice view of the pool and the beach, both of which are just a few feet away.
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Cocoons at Club Laiya. Rates start at Php 5000. |
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Eye-catching murals. |
More of our Club Laiya experience after the jump!
Speaking of the pool, I've always loved Club Laiya's infinity pool and the spacious pool deck, which looks pretty much the same the last time I was here. Even the turtle fountains, which Yue used to sit on when he was a kid, were still there. The cabanas were also still there, as well as the beach chairs and the umbrellas.
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Yue and his favorite turtle fountain. |
I've noticed that they've added more outdoor furniture, strewn across the pool deck and along the beach area. The bean bag chairs, woven mats, and string lights along the beachfront give the place a lovely Bohemian vibe.
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Yes, it was raining when we were there. |
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The infinity pool and the beachfront. |
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Bohemian vibes! |
The cottages that my grandmother used to sit on while admiring the sky and the sea were also in their usual place. Even the souvenir vendors were back in business, as we came across a few of them while strolling on the sand.
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Maggie gets her dose of Vitamin Sea. |
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Hello, beach. I missed you! |
The beach was a lot livelier now than the last time we visited; I reckon it's because of the different water activities that Club Laiya now offers. Aside from the usual banana boat, they now also have UFOs (you know, that round inflatable ride), speed boats, and jet skis. If you're up for an adrenaline rush, you can also try parasailing, or jump and bounce aboard the 'flying fish'.
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How about a ride on the UFO? |
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Parasailing, anyone? |
There's also a new restaurant along the beach called Captain Barbozza. Inspired by the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, this cafe/bistro is the perfect place to lounge, chill, and enjoy some evening cocktails. Rumor has it that Captain Barbozza serves some really mean Baby Back Ribs and Buffalo Wings, and I regret not trying them during our visit. (We ordered food from The Sands Grill and Cafe', by the way, because Mum loves their caldereta.)
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Captain Barbozza. |
Also a standout in the sand are the camper vans - total Kdrama glamping vibes! This area is called Camperisti, where two travel trailers are parked. Each trailer can house up to six people, and is fully equipped with a bedroom, a bathroom, a dining area, and a kitchenette with an induction stove and a microwave oven. The 30-ft aluminum travel trailers are fully-airconditioned, so you don't have to worry about the heat once you're inside.
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Camperisti at Club Laiya. Rates start at Php 6000. |
I can just imagine how wonderful it is to be here at night. The cool breeze embracing you, the sound of crashing waves lulling you to sleep... how romantic!
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Maggie wants to go glamping. :) |
More photos of our Laiya getaway:
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Waiting at the lobby while we were checking-in at the front desk. |
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The Club Laiya Christmas tree was still up! |
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See our height difference? |
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He used to be too small for this pool. |
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Morgan loves the water! |
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Mum having fun. |
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More Cocoon photos. |
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Taking a break from swimming. |
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Back in the water. |
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Food from The Sands - Garlic Rice, Pinakbet Bagnet, Chicken Barbecue, and Beef Caldereta. |
Oh, and before I forget, they now have wifi access! And yes, it's for free! Just ask for the password at the front desk and they'll share it with you.
Brgy. Aplaya Laiya,
San Juan, Batangas
(0917) 894 7013
This looks like an amazing place to visit. Being a little claustrophobic I'm not sure I would be able to stay in one of the cocoons.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a cool place to stay. I always love being by the water.
ReplyDeleteSuch amazing photos. Looks like a wonderful place for a visit. I'd love to see that sometime.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure a lot has changed since you were last at Laiya. I like the outdoor beach furniture!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a beautiful/fun place to visit. Love all the photos, I'm sure you all created a lot of priceless memories!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit this destination. This looks like such a beautiful vacation spot.
ReplyDeleteThose cocoon hives look so neat! I'd love to see them first hand!
ReplyDeleteThis place says Relax and enjoy your time with your family! It's my type of place for sea vacations!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a wonderful and amazing looking destination! My family are going to love to be here!
ReplyDeleteit soundslike a great place to visit. Has so many places that are fun as well. thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteWow... what an amazing trip you guys had and lots of beautiful pictures to keep those memories intact which I love! We are so overdue for a getaway and this is perfection!
ReplyDelete