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10 Minutes To Paradise

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One of the things I love about being a Davaoeña is the fact that “burn out” is an abstract concept to me. With the pace of life here in Davao there is always time to do the things I need to do and still have time to relax in between. Allow me to share with you my relaxation quick fix. Whenever I feel like I am starting to get stressed, I get into a cab, direct the driver to Barrio Pampanga, hop on a boat and in about ten minutes I find myself in paradise. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a work day or the weekend; paradise is always just ten minutes away from Davao City.

Paradise Island is a resort on a stretch of beach in Caliclic, Samal Island. Not just boasting its beach line, this resort has developed its amenities and now offers not just the benefits of sand and sea but a host of inland activities and sights. What I like about this resort is that it is still quite affordable, the prices are tourist friendly without compromising the service.

White Sand, Clear Blue Water

Beating the heat in cool, clear blue water is always enough to while your troubles away. I would recommend the early mornings up until about 10 am where the tide is still high and the water is almost kissing the picnic tables where you can enjoy your breakfast. If you want the beach all to yourself, visit the resort on weekdays. Sometimes the best way to clear a crowded head is to just sit and listen to the waves lap the shore. You can hang out by their break water steps and feed the fish (the kids really get a kick out of this one by the way!), go swimming, or you could just lie back on one of their sun beds and take a relaxing nap. They even have a house of massage which is just by the water.

Delicious Food

Since this resort is so accessible from the city, you can visit this resort over an extended lunch. The food is delicious and not as pricey as you would expect from a resort. You can just kick off your shoes for a bit and take in the sights while you enjoy a good meal. The barbeque and seafood selection is a must try as well as their refreshing tropical shakes and treats. Or if you are really going to there for the beach, you don’t have to stress about preparing a picnic basket because you can just order from their extensive menu. With that worry out of the way, you can just wear your board shorts, pick up your snorkeling gear and sun block, hop in a cab and head for Paradise.

Aqua Sports Galore

For those of us who are after something more than just the beach experience try the array of water sports. My personal favorite is the intro dive which you can do for a very affordable price or you can just rent some snorkeling gear and check out the beauty of the world beneath the sea. The corals are alive just beyond the nets they set up in the water for the safety of swimmers so there is no need to rent a boat just so you can appreciate the beauty the bottom of the ocean has to offer. If scuba diving is not your thing, there are still a host of other things you can do, like kayaking, aqua cycling and jet skiing.

Other Stuff You Can Do

If you are not in the mood for swimming or all the other things I just mentioned, there are still other things to do at this particular resort. You can visit their aviary or their mini zoo or just take a stroll in their gardens. The resort also has ping pong and billiard tables where you can sip beer or one of those yummy fruit shakes and relax over a game or two. Or if you are up for something more adventurous, you can go trekking or take an inland tour of the island.

I don’t mind mentioning that the resort is best enjoyed with some companions although going there won’t be boring either. So if you ever find yourself in need of a relaxation quick fix, this resort is definitely something you should consider. In my opinion, relaxation should never be expensive and at this resort you don’t need to worry so much about dishing out too much just to unwind. What’s important is that you get to enjoy leisure without really going out of your way to escape the hustle of the everyday routine.

Have fun! Go ahead and relax. You deserve it. Besides, its not a world away. It’s just 10 minutes to paradise.

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This article on Paradise Beach Resort in Samal is written by Monique “Nikki” Musni, just in time for the Lenten Season when everyone is thinking of going to the beach to unwind. Nikki loves the Paradies Island Resort, unfortunately her photos of the resort is not yet ready, so it’s best to check out their website if you need to contact them. The resort’s Web Address is at http://www.paradiseislanddavao.com.

Bluejaz Resort And Water Park in Samal, Davao

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We live our lives at warp speed, rushing from one family or work obligation to another. No wonder it can take the first few days of vacation to unwind completely.

Need help slowing down to island time? I strongly suggest Bluejaz Resort and Water Park in Samal. At first I thought it was quite odd to name a beach Bluejaz. (Though, mostly it is spelled as Blue Jazz especially when one is using the search engine to get information about the resort.) To me, it sounded more like a bar or restaurant. I asked some staff and they say the resort’s owner is named Jazmin Middelton and because the resort’s water is more or less blue. Put them all together and the name was born. That’s my conclusion by the way.

But what sets Bluejaz from the other resorts? Here is a rundown of my personal opinions based on first hand experience going to the resort.

Resort Amenities and Features:

Bluejaz offer luxurious cottages and rooms with an extensive menu of services that make it simple to get yourself renewed. Say for instance, for a family of five thinking of staying there for the night, Bluejaz has the so called The White House. It has four rooms each costing around P 3,000 inclusive of breakfast.

They also have the Fiji cottages, a more refreshing version of overnight stay, for a family of five (5) it cost around P2,995 (no breakfast) but if you want to avail of the breakfast package you simply pay P3,500 pesos.

If you think that is way out of budget, the 10-room Jasmin Cottages is available for P2,500 good for 4 persons. That’s way sensible, is it? You can ask friends to “chip in” and enjoy the night.

A better option I suggest is the overnight open cottages (although you have to endure if it rains or is freezing cold at night ), per head costs only PhP 200 for adults and PhP 100 pesos for kids 7-12 yrs old.

If vacation is not an option and a company conference or meeting is in the wings, I highly recommend the Bluejaz Resort. If that will make things a bit different. Bluejaz has ambience that is new and fresh which is sure to make everyone in the conference feel relaxed. How about your upcoming team building seminars and parties?

By the way, the resort is Wi-Fi Ready, so you can access the Internet anytime you want.

Using Bluejaz’s Pavillion Hall costs only PhP 3,500 per 5 hours, inclusive of whiteboard, mini-sound system for perfect for 50 to 100 persons in attendance. It is good for birthdays, anniversaries or beach weddings.

Pets And Other No-no?

There is one thing though that my friend dislike about the resort. She is fond of her pet dogs and always brings them anywhere she goes. At Blue Jazz Resort, pets are not allowed. So “Muning” and “Bantay” will have to endure the lock-up cage while you enjoy frolicking the beach waters.

Take note also that no bringing of drinks is allowed, so that means you have to order at the Resort. And if you want to save on food, I strongly suggest you rather order at the resort’s restaurant than bring in your own food. The corkage is quite expensive. Corkage for Lechon baboy and lechon baka, for example, is a tingling PhP 700 and PhP 1,500 from your pocket.

Other Resort Facilities:

If you want to have more fun, waterspouts is available for the taking. Just make sure you bring in extra cash. If you feel a little adventurous, a diving lessons is also available. Jet ski, banana boat, Kayak can also be enjoyed while you are there.

Day Tour Packages include free use of their famous three swimming pool, waterslides, beach (obviously), boat transfer and open cottages. Day tour costs PhP 90 for adults and PhP 70 for kids.

Some photos from the Bluejaz Resort:

How To Go There:

Jump off point is at MaryKnoll Beach resort in Lanang for only PhP 30.00 per person

So if you are looking for an all in one tropical beach experience, Bluejaz Resort And Water Park can be reached for reservations and inquiries at the following lines: 082-302-8411 and 082-3031117.

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This article is written by Stepahnie Morales.

Summertime Is Beach Time in Davao

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Most people would agree that summertime is best spent on the beach — swimming, snorkeling, or getting your skin colored under the heat of the sun. For us here in Davao, the best place (or beaches) to be is to jump out of the city’s land mass into the nearby island: The Samal Island.

Falling In Love With Isla Reta

Davao Traveler’s pick for this summer is the lesser advertised (too bad) beach resort in Samal, or more specifically in Talicud Island. The name is Isla Reta. Now thanks to the Internet, the resort is getting its share of high-tech exposure.

Here is Isla Reta at a distance:

Isla Reta Talicud Samal Davao

Got a few words to describe it? Here are some from those who have been there (including the author):

  • Very clean, white sand
  • Nice view of the mountain in front
  • Secluded and very quite
  • Perfect for snorkeling
  • Peaceful and relaxing

Well, you can add yours on the comment of this article after you have visited the beach yourself. You will definitely like it there, just like the kids on the photo shown below.

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