Experience iFly Singapore at Sentosa

Experience iFly Singapore at Sentosa

Friday, January 26

If you wanna try skydiving but still afraid of jumping out of the helicopter, it's time for you to visit iFly Singapore at Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa and experience a thrill like no other at the world's largest themed wind tunnel for indoor skydiving. 

Anyone can fly

Whether you are 7 years old or 70, this state-of-the-art facility is safe and enjoyable even for first timers. The 16.5 feet wide and 56.5 feet high wind tunnel gives you an amazing view of the South China Sea and the Siloso Beach. 

Pre-flight requirements

• Flyer must be 7 years and older
• Weight must be 120 kg maximum if under 6 feet tall or 140 kg maximum if over 6 feet tall
• Should not be pregnant
• Should have no history of shoulder dislocation, back or neck injury
• Should not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Flyers are required to arrive at the venue an hour prior to scheduled flight time. You must attend the professional training to ensure your safety during the flight. Bring a valid ID and/or your passport for verification.

Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothes and preferably sneakers / rubber shoes. You are not allowed to wear jewelries and accessories while inside the wind tunnel. 

A certified International Bodyflight Association instructor will accompany and guide you to ensure that you get the best experience at iFly Singapore.

Rates and Packages

Walk-in Rates:

The Challenge (2 skydives)    SGD119

The Adventure (4 skydives)   SGD199

Online Rates (2-day Advance booking):

The Challenge (2 skydives)    SGD109

The Adventure (4 skydives)   SGD189

(Normal time slot: Friday to Sunday; 10am - 8pm)

The Challenge (2 skydives)    SGD99

The Adventure (4 skydives)   SGD179

(Off-peak; Not valid on Public Holiday; Monday to Thursday; 12nn - 8pm)

The Challenge (2 skydives)    SGD89

The Adventure (4 skydives)   SGD169

(Super off-peak; Not valid on Public Holiday; Monday to Thursday 10am - 12nn; Monday to Sunday 8pm - 930pm)

Package includes complimentary skydiving gear rental.

My husband was awarded a certificate after his 4 skydives. You can also take your memories home with you by purchasing photos and videos. Even though I took photos and videos, we still bought a souvenir copy of the video.

Make your Singapore trip truly unforgettable! Book online at www.iflysingapore.com

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Romantic Getaways in Dominican Republic

Romantic Getaways in Dominican Republic

Thursday, January 11

Couples love being alone with nature, enjoying everything from the pristine beaches and clear aquamarine waters as well as the warm hospitality and spark of the resort towns. The Dominican Republic is filled with the sophisticated vivacity of the 21st century with plenty of Latin flair and Spanish charm. One can browse the legendary resort towns such as Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Barahona, La Romana and others with loads of tropical fun in the sun. There are different homes for rent in Dominican Republic to suit every preference and budget. There is plenty to do and see here for the romantic couples who can go whale watching or enjoy river rafting to mountain biking or scuba diving. They can dance in ultra-modern restaurants or explore the countryside nature preserve. There are umpteen places where they can make romantic memories just around every corner.

The Sirenis Tropical Suites 

Located on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic, the five-star hotel is placed among the most beautiful coconut groves. The couples get to enjoy indoor and outdoor lounges, spacious public areas, magnificent swimming pools, sun terraces and one of the biggest water park - Sirenis Aquagames. They can enjoy themed evening meals and buffet restaurants set with panoramic sea views. They can take tennis lessons, enjoy water sports, windsurfing, snorkeling, beach volleyball, beach football and more.

Anse Chastane

Set amidst two soft-sand beaches and St. Lucia's lush tropical beauty, the environmentally friendly resort is famous for its breathtaking views. Innovative menus based on fresh produce from the resort's organic make for a great culinary journey. Couples can enjoy interactive chocolate-making classes as well as a range of watersports. There is plenty to do and explore here such as scuba diving, snorkeling, sunset sailing, jungle biking and more. One can simply laze around and spend the day on the balcony or the beach. Dinners are a romantic candlelit affair and are very popular with honeymooners.

Alsol Tiara Cap Cana

Designed with a contemporary style, the resort is well equipped with exquisite restaurants and other amenities that make for a great romantic vacation. Close to the resort are the adventure theme park, Scape Park Cap Cana, and the famed Punta Espada Golf course. Enjoy theme parties, cocktail parties, live music, dance lessons, and golf.

Jade Mountain

The luxury resort is truly romantic and makes for a magical setting. The architecture of the exclusive resort is in perfect harmony with nature and introduces a new level of sophistication. Jade Mountain boasts of each bedroom with extravagantly sized private infinity edge pool with glorious views of the island. Enjoy floating or swimming with your loved one in a stage-like setting with infinite views. The luxury resort offers an unforgettable sunset panorama and creates a private dining experience with fantastic tropical flavors, and its exotic and delicious cuisine is indeed a history of fusion.

Paradisus Punta Cana Resort

Boasting of an open-air architecture, the Paradisus Punta Cana Resort offers an exquisite balance of natural and man-made wonders. There are artistically designed tropical gardens, and one gets stunning views of Caribbean Sea along with the native mangrove forests and stunningly clear turquoise waters. One comes across a new species of native birds and exotic vegetation along with delicate garden scents. Couples can enjoy golfing, water sports and an exquisite full-service spa. There are private beach areas and adults-only restaurants too.

Eden Roc at Cap Cana

With more than 30 freestanding suites with private pools and stunning views, Eden Roc boasts of extravagant amenities. There are private Beach Clubs and diverse culinary selections plus loads of extravagant amenities such as golf, spas and various multi-purpose spaces. It is here where the couples can look forward to best of form, function, and fantasy. Explore the and awe-inspiring panoramas and views of lush greenery, lagoon-style pools, and verdant gardens. It is indeed one of the most coveted resorts in the area. You will love the stunning designs of the resort's French and Italian Rivieras that blends the aesthetics of the French and Italian Rivieras from the sixties.

Sanctuary Cap Cana

The five-star resort is luxury heaven that is just about 15 minutes’ drive away from the Punta Cana International airport. Situated along the pure white sand beach, the beautifully designed resort offers unique rooms with distinct architectural styles to its guests. Couples can pick from Caribbean Villas, Spanish Colonial, and The Castle Suites. There are myriad of things to do such as outdoor activities and water sports. It is indeed one of the most desirable vacation spots among the couple looking for romantic getaways.

Alsol Resorts

It is the time to let go and re-connect with each other for total rejuvenation. Couples take advantage of the exceptional honeymoon packages that allow one to celebrate some of the most incredible moments together. One can plan a romantic getaway or a honeymoon banner at Alsol Resorts that welcomes one with champagne and tropical fruit plate. There is a romantic turn down service on the first night followed by a sumptuous breakfast in bed the next morning.

Go ahead and pick any of the above resorts for romantic escapades at the Dominican Republic that boasts of Atlantic and Caribbean-facing beaches. There is plenty to do here for the outdoor enthusiasts with destinations like Juan Dolio and La Romana. Couples will love those clear waters and white-sand beaches that are just perfect for wedding venues as well as snorkeling and diving!

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Singapore Tourist Pass Plus

Singapore Tourist Pass Plus

Monday, January 8

Are you travelling to Singapore soon? During my first two visits, I was only using the single journey MRT pass. I stayed at the business district for 4 days on my first Singapore trip while on my second visit I stayed for 5 days in Sentosa. On my recent trip with the family, we stayed for 5 days at Harbour Ville Hotel which is 10 minutes away from Vivo City. We had to take the bus a lot and prior to the trip I computed that it will be economical for us if we have a Singapore Tourist Pass.

The Singapore Tourist Pass gives you unlimited travel on public buses, MRT and LRT for 1 day or 3 days depending on what you will avail.  I bought mine at the passenger service center in Changi Airport. 

They have now launched the Singapore Tourist Pass Plus which includes perks. For only SG$28 for a 1-day pass or SG$38 for a 3-day pass, you can also choose 4 of the 9 perks aside from the unlimited travel.

1. Laksa at Cravilla

2.Mee Siam at Cravilla

3.Kaya Toast Set at Cravilla

4.Curry Chicken at Cravilla

5.Chee Cheong Fun at Cravilla

6.Cha Soba at Hokkai Villa

7.Singapore Sling at D Happy Factory

8.Admission to Mint Musuem of Toys

9.Admission to Chinatown Heritage Centre

You do not have an excuse not to try the Singapore Sling!

Visit the website of Singapore Tourist Pass Plus for more information. Enjoy Singapre. I am definitely keep coming back.

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Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern 3-Bedroom Luxury Penthouse Suite

Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern 3-Bedroom Luxury Penthouse Suite

Thursday, January 4

What kind of traveler are you? If you are like me who wants a memorable experience and who wouldn't mind spending for a well-deserved vacation, I suggest you book the 3-Bedroom Luxury Penthouse Suite at Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern. I stayed there with my family for the New Year's Eve and the 180-degree view of the fireworks was a superb experience.

Let me take you on a tour of the Penthouse Suite.

Located on the top floor of the 36-story hotel residence, the suite has a 280 square meters  living space perfect for family or group. 

The cozy living room opens up to a veranda that offers a view of Greenhills and Wack Wack Golf Course.

 It is equipped with a  Sony Bravia television with cable channels.

The dining area has an elegant 8-seater dining table. 

The kitchenette has a breakfast counter, stove and oven, a full-size refrigerator, and kitchen wares. 

I wouldn't mind washing the dishes with this kind of a view.

There is also a powder room at the first level of the two-story Penthouse Suite.

Are you ready to go upstairs? 

The three bedrooms located on the second level of the Penthouse also have a veranda with a view of the Wack Wack Golf Course. Each bedroom has their own bathroom.

The Master Bedroom

The master bedroom has a king size bed. a study, and a two-seater leather sofa. The bathroom is spacious but not impressive.

One thing I look for in a hotel room is that it should look better than what I have at home or it should be something that I would like to have at home. I must say I love the Master bedroom of this penthouse. 

I love closet space and it's great that the master bedroom has a walk in closet and a dresser table. Wish I was staying here longer.

Bedroom 2

The second bedroom has a king size bed, a flat screen tv, and a study desk.

The bathroom has a clean, minimalist feel.

Bedroom 3

The third bedroom has a single bed and a sitting area. It also has its own bathroom. The penthouse suite can typically accommodate 5 adults and two kids. But you can have an extra bed set up on this spacious room.

The published rate of the 3-bedroom luxury penthouse suite is P32,000 for an overnight stay with buffet breakfast for 5. Check out the website for special promo and get it for almost half the price.

Snapped and Scribbled says....

The overall experience was worth the price per night. I wanted a suite that's perfect for our family to celebrate the New Year's Eve and Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern lived up to my expectations. We had the best view of the fireworks and a comfortable and elegant space to stay the night. The location is perfect. Greenhills Shopping Center and restaurants are just a few steps away.

A prosperous 2018 from our family to yours

The staff were very accommodating. I got anxious when I found out that the hotel has limited parking space. The social media manager of their Facebook page was very prompt in answering my queries. The front desk officer was also very helpful when I called up. I had a parking slot when I arrived at the hotel. Checking in was a breeze. We arrived an hour early of the standard check in time but our suite was already available for us. 

We weren't able to swim because there is an ongoing repainting on the pool side area. The boys played billiards instead and they really had fun. I don't know what's wrong with the key card that day but almost everybody is having a problem. We had to keep opening the door for the guests who want to go to the pool since the door access is at the billiards room.

Nothing exceptional with the buffet breakfast but since it's complimentary (P430 for additional person) I couldn't complain. I hope there's an option for a set meal delivered to the Penthouse Suite instead of the buffet so we could enjoy the dining room and wake up a little late.

The bathroom at the master bath is a bit out of theme with the bedroom. I hope they make it have a zen feel. 

I love that they have shampoo, bath soap, conditioner and hand soap dispenser instead of the usual travel size toiletries in most hotels. This is more economical. 

The kitchen have cookwares and utensils and more than enough dining wares. There's an oven at the kitchen but please provide oven mitt. It would also be great if there is a microwave oven.

Will I be staying again at Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern?

YES.

BOOK HERE

Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern

49 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
Metro Manila, 1500, Philippines
http://www.greenhillselanhotelmodern.com/

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Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel

Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel

Tuesday, December 12

Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel is the most popular resort in Lucban, Quezon. I have seen its humble beginnings and I was one of the thousands who braved the cold spring water when it opened in 1997. I've visited Batis Aramin several times since then and the last was in 2010. All visits were just day tours. Fast forward to 2017, I booked a 4-day stay with the family for my sister's wedding.

  Click image to book a room

Batis Aramin is located only fifteen minutes away from the town proper of Lucban, Quezon. In 2002, Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center, a favorite pilgrimage destination of the Catholics, was built just across the resort.

The resort has 120 rooms and can accommodate 800 guests for overnight stay. The rooms are spacious. The rate includes breakfast, use of swimming pool and 1-hour daytime use of basketball court. The restaurant and in-room dining is available 24/7. There is no corkage fee if you plan to bring food and they allow food delivery from restaurants nearby.

The Pavilion

My sister's wedding reception was held at The Pavilion. There are 29 fully-airconditioned double-sharing rooms. The room rate ranges from P3,500 to P5,000. Click HERE to book.

It could get a bit loud if there's a party at the Pavilion Hall. Unless you are staying here to party, I suggest you request the room located on the 3rd floor.

Pretty Paw

Pretty Paw is located near the reception. It has 7 fully-airconditioned rooms. The rate of the 6 standard rooms is P2,000 while the rate of room with a receiving area is P5,500.

Hilltop

I originally booked two Hilltop rooms but we were transferred to The Pavilion since it's more convenient for us. The Hilltop has 4 quad-sharing rooms and one dormitory room that can accommodate 12 people. Hilltop also has it's own private pool.

Hillside

The Hillside and Hilltop are located at the far-end of the resort. If you are like me who prefer some privacy and away from the crowd especially during peak season, these accommodations are your best option.  The rate for a quad-sharing room with two queen beds and receiving area is P6,000.

Adventure Camp

Adventure Camp caters to company team building. It has a rope course, obstacle course, open field area and a 50 feet wall climbing tower. I have tried the 150 meter zip line while my sisters and husband have tried wall climbing and rappelling.

Wishful thinking: How about an ATV and a shooting/archery range (or paint ball) at Batis Aramin? Pleaaaase. 

Lambingan Bridge

Overlooking the lagoon where you can rent a kayak is the Lambingan Bridge. It was raining when we went there and yet it was still a perfect spot for a nice photo.

If you prefer the lagoon for a view, book an accommodation at the Lambingan. There are 4 family rooms (two of which have kitchen), a double-sharing room, a quad room, and a dormitory type room for 12 people.

How about a pre-nup photo shoot here? 

We walked towards the far end of the hanging bridge and somehow led us to the forest (I think). There is also a maze but we weren't able to reach its location.

Getting around

The best way to appreciate and enjoy the resort is by walking. But if you prefer to ride, a golf cart is available to fetch you from the room. Some roads around the resort is steep. The golf cart can only accommodate maximum capacity of 5. 

The Pavilion, Hilltop, Hillside, and Amihan are some of the accommodations with parking space and you can bring your vehicle. The resort also has a mini bus if you do not have a car or there's no parking space near your accommodation.

I love Batis Aramin. My family has already sold our vacation house in Lucban so I guess this resort will be our new home whenever we want to visit Lucban. This resort is already stunning but still has a lot of room for improvement. There are ongoing repairs and renovations. The rooms (well, at least at the Pavilion) have moldy smell but it goes away after a few hours. I'm not really bothered though because it brings back memories of our vacation house (hehehe) but  I hope they could do something about it. The website is not very informative. There's not much photos and description. Online booking is also not yet available. Looking forward to seeing an updated website and hopefully online booking will be available soon. You can also check out their facebook page www.facebook.com/BatisAramin

I wished it was not raining during our stay but I was told that November to January is a wet season in Lucban. I could have taken more photos and strolled around the resort. But I am definitely coming back!

Click here to Book Now!

Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel
Brgy. Malupak, Lucban, Quezon
email: info@aramin.ph
Contact Nos. (63) 917-595-4145
                      (63) 939-903-6935
                      (6342) 540-7320
                      (6342) 540-4401

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Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore Review

Harbour Ville Hotel Singapore Review

Tuesday, September 19

The entire family went to Singapore again for a 5-day vacation and this time we opted for a practical accommodation. The itinerary I prepared had us out all day. We just need a decent hotel to rest and sleep. I searched on google, read blog and TripAdvisor reviews before finally deciding on booking Harbour Ville Hotel.

Location

Harbour Ville Hotel is two bus stops away from Vivo City via Bus 61 or Bus 143

If you are travelling via MRT, you can reach the hotel via the Green Line (East-West Line) and alight at Outram Park or the Purple Line (North-East Line) Harbourfront Station. 

From Outram Park, you have to board Bus 61 or 166, opposite Hong Lim Complex. Alight at the 6th stop (St. Teresa Church) or 7th stop (Keppel Distripark). 

If you are coming from Harbourfront Station, Board Bus 61 or 143 and alight at the third stop in front of Harbour Suites.

Rooms

I booked three rooms: two standard queen and one standard single. The standard queen room is only 14 square meters while the standard single is 11 square meters. It's difficult to move around in the cramped room especially if you have big luggage. Closet space is very limited. The superior queen is a bit spacious with 18 square meters room size while the superior twin is 20 square meters.

Although the room and the bathroom are small, they are very clean and well-maintained. 

Breakfast

The room rates do not include breakfast. I paid an additional of S$5 for the buffet breakfast which I somehow regretted. The buffet choices are: fried rice, sunny side up egg, chicken sausage, potato wedges, beans, chicken nuggets, white bread, peanut butter spread, strawberry jam, cereals and milk, brewed coffee and Nescafe latte, cappuccino, and black coffee.

It's actually worth it for the the S$5 price since it's a buffet. The problem is that we stayed there for 5 days and we had the same breakfast every single day. I just wish they serve a different set every day. The latte is delicious though.

Freebies

The complimentary WiFi in the room is fast and reliable. But what I like most is the Handy Phone. It's a smart phone provided in every room that you can bring with you as you explore Singapore. You can stay connected with families and friends while overseas at no extra charge. Enjoy free local calls and free international calls to India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. You can also navigate the streets of Singapore with the help of interactive map installed.

Will I consider staying at Harbour Ville again?

Yes. Learning from experience, I will book the Superior Queen which I believe will only cost me an additional S$5 instead of paying for the S$5 breakfast. There's a nearby hawker center that is open for breakfast.

The staff at the hotel are very accommodating and helpful. I'm also glad there are Filipinos working at Harbour Ville Hotel. 

Book your stay at by clicking here Harbour Ville Hotel

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