When my sister abroad went home for a one-month vacation with her family, she told me to look for a nice beach for a water escapade. My brother who is based in Singapore came home too for a five-day vacation. This is indeed an exciting reunion with my siblings especially with my sister who got so busy with her work since they migrated to California for almost three years now.
grainy sand makes the water clear… that is in Laiya in San Juan, Batangas
My siblings want to spend one whole day with the whole gang to laze into the water and eat Filipino food they are craving abroad, grilled yellowfin tuna and pork liempo. Both of them wanted to swim on a nearby beach, a two or three-hour trip only to avoid getting exhausted by traveling far. I highly recommended beaches in San Juan, Batangas knowing for their clear water compared to the other parts of the region.
I searched on the internet and found the affordable Moonlight Beach Resort.
the little sari sari store in the resort
Laiya used to have the best-secret beach resorts, but not anymore. It is now frequented by tourists because of its clean water and its proximity to Manila.
Since we were on a day tour only, we rented a van so all of us (14 to be exact) would fit in. We left our house in Pasay City around 5:30 a.m. and reached San Juan around 8:00 a.m. When we passed by the Municipal Tourism Reception Area, we were signaled to stop because we will pay the compulsory ecological fee of Php20.00. We were not aware when was this imposed. Anyway, we did not complain, we have to abide by the rule.
Along the way, we passed by Noren’z Lomi House just beside the main road. My siblings missed this Filipino dish which is authentic to the eastern part of Batangas. This is what we had for our breakfast complemented with Gardenia bread and coffee for the elders and milo for the kids. It was served in a big bowl (Php80.00 only) enough to satiate three or four people. Burp!
lomi for our breakfast
Thanks to the Waze apps for we found the resort in its exact location. The access to Moonlight Beach Resort was through MCRC Resort so we have to pay the passway fee of Php150. Should the guests decline to stay in the resort, the passway fee will be returned to them. We parked our van and hastily looked at the beach area. It’s good that everybody liked the beach. We chose the big wooden cottage on the beachfront (Php3,000.00) and brought all our stuff inside.
our cute cottage for the day
We started grilling our food. The kids applied sunblocks and ran to the water right away. My niece Rion who grew up in California was not used to beach swimming. After few minutes she went back with a sad face. She complained. “It was so dangerous.”
According to her, the water was salty and the wave scared her to swim. But since all her cousins were frolicking in the water, she joined them again. For the second dip, she did not want to get out from there anymore. She was enjoying the water now. Funny kid. Hahaha!
the nipa huts in the beachfront
Lunchtime
Surprisingly, the kids feasted on grilled Tuna with a dipping sauce of soy sauce and a pinch of calamansi. I just love it too. There were also hotdogs and Relyenong Bangus. I ate with bare hands and consumed more than a cup of rice. No diet this time, please! Our desserts were banana and watermelon.
“It’s fun in here,” Rion uttered happily as she waded on the water for the second time.
It should have been raining now because it was already a month in June. But it was still hot as summer and we did not mind soaking our bodies into the water amidst the scorching heat of the sun.
It’s good that I brought our snorkel gears. We enjoyed watching those transparent fish swimming playfully under the water.
looking forward to another family beach getaway with the whole gang
It was non-stop water fun and by 3:00 pm, we ate a hearty snack, Pansit bihon, and egg sandwich. Then we dashed into the water again.
Rion and all the kids savored the moment swimming and playing in the water. Everyone was happy. Refreshed and satisfied we left the resort by 5:00 pm.
Rate of Cottages:
- Small Nipa – P2,000 – 4 to 12 persons
- Kubo Style – P3,000 – 10 to 15 persons
- Pavilion – P4,500 – 20 to 25 persons
Activities:
- Swimming
- Snorkeling
- Island Hopping
- Volleyball
- Videoke
- Banana Boat
NOTE:
- No Entrance fee
- No corkage fee
- There is a small sari-sari store near the information area
Contact Info:
Moonlight Resort is two resorts currently run by different management. We stayed in the resort owned by Johnny and Gerlin Garcia.
- Address: Sitio Balakbakan, Brgy. Laiya Aplaya, San Juan, Batangas
- Contact Number: Kuya Henry – 09089385945; 09217297162; 09177362942 . Telephone Number – 425-3415
- Website: http://moonlightresort.wix.com/laiya
The other resort:
- Contact Numbers: 0920-2215493 (Smart); 0916-6719833 (Globe) -Tel. No. 02-710-5663
- Website: www.laiyamoonlightbeachresort.com
- E-mail: info@laiyamoonlightbeachresort.com
How to Get There
source: http://www.laiyamoonlightbeachresort.com.ph/contact-us/
Via IBAAN:
- From Manila, take South Luzon Expressway until the very end where it connects to star tollway, enter Star Tollway.
- Exit at Ibaan.
- Right after paying at the tollgate, follow the sign to Ibaan( turn left ).
- When you see the sign “alternate route to lipa”, turn left into the narrow road.
- At the end of that short narrow road, turn right.
- You will see Petron Gas Station on your left and a yellow outpost.
- Turn left on that corner of Petron and the outpost.
- Keep going through Rosario and on to San Juan (don’t enter to Batangas Race Circuit) until you see the San Juan MUNICIPIO.
- Turn right at that corner. You will see many resort signs. This is the road to LAIYA.
- Take a bus from Manila to Lipa City with the bus signboard “TANAUAN-LIPA” only.
- Get off at Lipa Bus Terminal near Mcdonalds.
- Look for Van Terminal, with the signboard “SAN JUAN”.
- Get off at San Juan Town Market, look for Manalo Mini Mart.
- Take a 21-22km jeepney ride to Brgy. Laiya-Aplaya, which LAIYA MOONLIGHT BEACH RESORT is located.
Direction Via Public Transportation starts at CUBAO-KAMIAS BUS TERMINAL STATION:
- Take a bus “ALPS” from Manila to San Juan Batangas.
- Make sure that the bus signboard is “SAN JUAN” only!! (NOT Batangas City or Lipa City Bus).
- Get off at San Juan Bus Terminal, look for Manalo Mini Mart.
- Take a 21-22km jeepney ride to Brgy. Laiya-Aplaya, which LAIYA MOONLIGHT BEACH RESORT is located.
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Mabato po ba dito?
Hi Kreng,
Hindi po mabato dito. thanks for visiting my site.
Hello.. Ask lng po mgkno pg overnight 15 persons po?.. Thanks
Hi Rika,
Please read my post po for the into. thank you for visiting my site.
Hello, ask ko lng po kung pwde overnight dto? tapos pwde magdala ng alak?
Hi Albert,
Puwede po mag overnight and pwede din magdala ng alak. Thank you for visiting my site.
Hi! May mga nababasa ako kaseng mga posts on both page, naguguluhan ako kung sinu yung resort na nirereport nila ng hindi magandang service. What do you think with the 2 resort ba? Mas okay ba yung pinag stayhan nio or yung isa?
Hello Kiz Rivera,
Based on our experience, okay naman po ang accommodation nila sa amin. I think both owners naman are good in dealing with their guests. Thank you for visiting my site.
Hi po.
Ask ko lang po sana paano ung directions if commute po kami? Mang gagaling po kami ng Buendia Pasay.
Thanks in advance po.
Hello Nathan,
Kindly see po sa post ko nandun po how to go to the resort if mag-commute kayo. Thanks for visiting my site.