Hi, guys! How is everyone? I know October and September were slow months for the blog, because I couldn’t update it as often as I wanted to (yet again). Between work, out-of-town trips, and wedding planning, it’s just been so hard to sit down, edit photos and videos, and write well-thought-out articles. And like I mentioned in one very long Instagram post (which you’ll find below), I wanted to dedicate the remaining down times I had to rest and to re-energize myself.
Hopefully this November will be different, now that my schedule has somewhat normalized. I’ll do my best to update the blog with articles I’ve been meaning to put together—starting with my first post for the month!
If you caught me on Instagram last weekend, you’ll know that I was in Mindoro enjoying the peace and quiet of Fridays Puerto Galera, the first 5-star resort in the area located inside the lagoons of UNESCO-protected Muelle Bay.
The first and last time I was in Puerto Galera was back in May 2015, when my former colleagues and I had our team building. However, I only got to visit White Beach—which I found quite commercialized, and which reminded me a bit of the party scene in Boracay (before Boracay was cleaned up).
And of course, introverts like me prefer a more serene setting, which is why I found Fridays in Boquete Island to be the perfect getaway.
Fridays Puerto Galera is partners with AirTravPH, a local company that operates air charter services in the country, and offers regular flights via seaplane to Clark, Coron, and Puerto Galera for as low as Php 4,500.
Our 8am flight from Realship Yachts in Manila Bay to Fridays Puerto Galera took about 45 minutes, and we were a total of 8 passengers (the maximum number that the seaplane could accommodate). Flying via seaplane is so much different compared to a regular plane. For one, since we were only 8 passengers, it felt a lot more private. It was also cool how I could easily see the cockpit, and that we could interact with our two pilots! We flew at an altitude of about 3,500 feet so unlike bigger planes, you can feel the turbulence more frequently (especially when we were near the mountains). But because we weren’t as high up, I could literally see the breathtaking view of seas and greenery. At times, I could even tell what area we were in, because some sights looked familiar (like SM Mall of Asia and Tagaytay Highlands).
Upon landing in Fridays Puerto Galera (the landing felt a lot smoother compared to land, too!), the rest of the passengers booked a boat that could take them to their respective resorts, but not before having breakfast at the luxe resort’s restaurant (which also has an outdoor bar and grill big enough to seat up to 120 pax). Since the Cupcake and I were staying in Fridays, our main pilot, Captain Josh, was even the one who carried my bag and directed us to the reception, who already had welcome drinks waiting for us. Check-in was a breeze, because our Premier Sea View Room had been prepped earlier on.
After settling in our very spacious and sophisticated-looking room (complete with a king-sized bed and a marble tub!), we had breakfast and enjoyed the view of the isolated island we were on. There were hardly any guests, which made us feel like we had the whole resort to ourselves. Upon asking the very friendly waiters what type of travellers usually checked in, they told us that it was often couples or individuals looking for a quiet and relaxing place to stay in.
Since we still had an entire day to enjoy, we swam in the pool, waded our feet in the beach, indulged in juicy steak for lunch, walked around to explore a bit, and took a nice nap. Right before dinner, we booked a Swedish massage for two, which we got to enjoy in the comforts of our room.
Of course, this was my ideal way to spend a night away from the city and just being surrounded by nature. But if you’re looking for more activities, there are tons to do as well. You can book tours and water activities, rent boats to visit other areas in Puerto Galera, or even learn how to dive (Fridays Puerto Galera has two kinds of pools that they use for dive courses). There are a lot of fun things you can do, whether you’re a couple, a family, or even a group of friends.
The next time you’re looking for a quick escape from Metro Manila, I highly suggest just taking a 45-minute flight to Puerto Galera through AirTravPH, and booking a room at Fridays Puerto Galera, the only luxury resort in the area. You save so many hours compared to riding a boat, plus you won’t feel exhausted coming from the long ride. And the best part—you get to maximize the whole weekend before coming back to work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, which was exactly what happened to me!
To know more about AirTravPH or to book a flight, you can visit their website here. To know more about Fridays Puerto Galera or to book a room, visit their website here.
That’s it for me today, but if you have any questions, just send them in the comment section and I’ll answer them right away! Do follow me on Instagram for daily updates, and hope you all enjoy the long weekend!