Glamping 101
- Andrea Ayala
- Nov 23, 2017
- 5 min read
First quarter of this year I found out a resort up in Aurora near Baler offers Glamping. For those who are not familiar with the word; Glamping is where stunning nature meets modern luxury. It’s a way to experience the untamed and completely unique parts of the world—without having to sacrifice creature comforts (Definition according to Glamping.com) basically, it’s the word Glamorous and Camping combined.
Anyway, so I found this resort near Baler… it’s called “Sands and Stars Resort” 1 hour bus ride from Baler Aurora. It’s already located in a different town called Dinadiawan and the view going to this resort is breath taking. However, it’s sad I wasn’t able to take a photo or a video of this breath taking view coz we were just riding a bus and it’s an ordinary bus (non Aircon) and a lot of people are crammed inside it and not really a good situation to take a photo or video.
This is how to go to Sands and Starts Resort, Dinadiawan Aurora.
Take the Genesis Joybus at their Cubao station. Bus fare is php730 one way. Total bus fare MNL-BLR-MNL will be php1460. My advice is book ahead of time in able to get better seats and not be a chance passenger. You can also ride a normal aircon bus from Genesis going to Baler, no need for reservation but it will take more than 6 hours to reach baler.
My take for the Genesis Joybus is its comfy, looks like the Victory Liner Deluxe bus going to Bagiuo. The difference is, the G Joybus doesn’t have charging ports on each seat like VL’s Deluxe bus. I don’t know if G joybus have wifi like VL’s Deluxe coz we didn’t ask. Both have stewards to accommodate your needs and oh, G Joybus offers you blankets unlike VL’s Joybus. They also offer water and light snacks along the way. I was mostly asleep along the way.
It’s better to get the first trip (12:30am) coz the bus will arrive at Baler around 5:30-6:00am depending on the weather. It is crucial to arrive at Baler around that time because the bus going directly to the resort only have trip and it leaves by 6:00am sharp. IF you miss this, you can take the 9:00am Van going to the resort. Bus fare from Baler to Resort is php85, Van fare is php200.
Once you arrive in Baler, ride a tricycle for php12 per head going to the Bus station to the bus going to Dinadiawan or you can also walk from the Genesis bus station to the common station where the bus to Dinadiawan is located. The Dinadiawan bus station is also located beside the Baler wet market. You can buy food here to cook later at the resort. The resort only offers Silogs for food (cornbeef, ham, toccino, hotdog silog). But they allow you to cook your own food, store your food in their fridge and grill for a price of php200 for gas and php50 for grilling. They will also cook the food for you for php200 on top of the gas and grilling fee.
The road going to Dinadiawan is like a snake. Imagine the road going to Baguio but most are steeper or more curved to the extent that you can’t see if there’s a vehicle coming at you from the other side. The road as I mentioned earlier is breath taking. Mountain ranges to shore lines, majestic. I advise that if you are a big group, once you arrive at baler, just hire a Van to take you to the resort so you can make stop overs along the way. The best scenic places have viewing ports where you can stop by the side of the road safely from the ongoing traffic to appreciate nature.
After an hour or so, we arrived at the resort. We arrived around 8 or nearly 9am. It’s not your typical beach resort. We are talking the provincial type resort. A beach that is yet to be touched by modern investors and tourist and I hope they won’t be able to touch it coz I like the resort the way it is.
This is one of the views that you can see along the road to Dinadiawan. Too bad I wasn't able to get the full beauty of the place. Perhaps next time we visit this place.
The resort is just along the highway. They have a wide parking space and reception area is a make shift kubo before proceeding to their bamboo restaurant.
When you walk on the sands of this beach, it doesn’t feel like quick sand. That’s proof that this beach haven’t been touched by multibillion investors that all they think about is cashing on Mother Nature. Believe me I know, most famous beaches in our country naming, Boracay, Puerto gallera, batangas etc you walk on its shore with too much effort coz every step the sand is trying to eat your feet. Anyway, I so love this place.
Their main attraction here is their glamping sites. Big Coleman tents set up like hotel rooms minus the closets, own bathroom and ac. believe me, it’s comfortable and you will enjoy their tents.
This is the tent where we were staying. Its tent Vega, their biggest one.
The resort will actually check you in early given if the tent that you booked doesn’t have occupants from the previous day. Unfortunately for us, there were people booked in Tent Vega and we waited for them to check out. Unfortunately again, said people took them forever to check out. At first I was ok with it, they have a comfortable lounge in their restaurant. And if you get bored at the lounge, you can walk around or if you are with your gang, you can actually start swimming. Again, unfortunaly the companion I am with didn’t seem to care and just planed sleeped on the restaurant lounge. So I was stuck guarding our things, until I had it with the waiting that I left my companion and just moved the things closer to her and left and explored the place.
When it comes to entertainments, the resort has various board games and card games that you can barrow to bond with your family, friends, co-workers or whoever you are with on the vacation. There is also billiards and videoke machine that you can rent. They also offer island hopping when the weather permits. Mainly, do not go to this place expecting Boracay like or Puerto Gallera like feel. This place is way more peaceful and a good place to bond with the people you want to bond with. I love the provincial feel. I hope they will keep it that way.
The waves of DinadiawanAurora.
I will soon go back here. I just love the peace and quiet atmosphere.
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