Subic on a Rainy Day....

Although I have been traveling a lot back and forth Iloilo and Manila / Tarlac for business, I have never blogged about any of my travels for work. I guess the travel is so routine that I never have the urge or excitement to blog about it. But just now, I have arrived from a day trip from Tarlac City to Subic. My boyfriend needed to go to Subic for a meeting, and since I was in Tarlac, I have agreed for him to pick me up in Tarlac which is an hour and a half away from Subic, ( he travelled from Manila) and accompanied him to his trip. And because I was coming with him, we decided to stay in Subic for a night. On the way from Tarlac to Subic, we passed by so many nice sceneries. The road ( the NLEX) is very nice and there is no traffic. On the way you will pass by a bridge with a huge sight of the lahar, instead of a river. This lahar was caused by the lahar overflow from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the early 1990's. I have been to Subic a few times, and most of the time its for touristic vacations. Subic is one of the many places I like to go here in the Philippines. The freeport zone is clean, and has lots of duty free shopping which I love. There is the Royal Duty free shopping. I used to go there a lot, but lately when i went there yesterday, it was still okay, but it has lost its luster due to the opening of the new Puregold Duty free. I guess most people now go to the duty free in Puregold because it has more choices than the Royal Duty Free. What i love most about Subic is that they still have their forest preserved, and it has so many attractions for tourists, such as the Zoobic Safari and the Treetop Adventure. This time when i went there, there was not a lot of people because it is the typhoon season and parts of Subic has been flooded last week. After my boyfriend's meeting this afternoon, since i know we were here not for holiday but business and on a budget as we are just staying overnight, i have decided to look for affordable hotels in Subic. Before, in my previous visit to Subic, I stayed in one of the best hotels I have stayed so far. The Segara Villas. I think this is the best hotel in Subic. What i love most is they place really delicious chocolates and personalized letter in my bed during their turndown service. This time though, since we were on a budget, I looked at agoda and checked for a hotel that is affordable yet popular. And voila! i found the CINDY KELLY hotel, and it is indeed popular with an 8 rating out of 10. I booked the room at 1200 pesos Room Only/ night on agoda thinking that i need to hurry as there is only one available at this price of the standard remaining and so i did. We went to the hotel after his meeting and the hotel is not hard to find indeed. It is beside the James L Gordon Hospital and in front of the Volunteers Park facing the Harbour Mall/ Puregold and SM. Not bad for the location as it is just a walking distance to the mall, but at the opposite of the river. It is not in the Freeport area anymore. It is located in a shoddy area, near cheap drugstores. But not to worry, the hotel looks clean and with a security guard. Still, I feel it is safer if I have booked a hotel inside the freeport zone. But hey, I was on a budget so I cannot complain. Then came check in. The check in was great. No hassle at all. She said there is still a Standard Room available. Although, I saw a brochure in the front desk that says, Promo rates now starts at Php 800 per night for a Standard room, and 1200 pesos for a Superior Room. I asked the Receptionist if she can give me an upgrade because I paid 1300 in Agoda anyways, and she said no, she cant as the promo is just if you give them a call. She gave me a key ( Room 116 ), and we went in. Not bad at all, the room is new, and its clean. With an LED flatscreen TV, and clean toilet. A clean basic hotel which is all we need. Although during the night we couldnt sleep well,as the bed is too soft and it gives us a back pain. But..again, cant complain. My boyfriend and I went out for dinner in the Waterfront in Subic, and usually in the summer, this place is full, this time there is no one. And all the rooms in the waterfront road, in the freeport area are on promo because its the rainy season. Herbie's Inn in the waterfront rd, is i think 1200 pesos a night, and if I knew that most hotels are in promo, i would have just called. Anyways, we still had a fantastic dinner at the Seaside Restaurant. Went back home afterwards. The next day, had a bit of shopping again at the Ayala Mall Harbour Point, and then lunch at my favorite beach front restaurant at the Camayan Restaurant. It's beside the Ocean Adventure. I suggest for anyone visiting Subic for the first time, and with a car, this place is a must! Theres plenty of choices for food, and it is so delicious. Their pasta and salads are well made, and it is also cheap. A Ceasar salad costs Php 280, and a pomodoro pasta at Php 150. So, all in all....Subic is still lovely on a rainy season. The road from the freeport to the west side of Subic ( way going to Camayan Beach ) is so scenic. In the summertime, you would see monkeys on the streets but during rainy season, they seem to be not around. And also accommodation in Subic is cheap as long as you know better to book through phone and not through agoda. For budget travellers who wants to stay at a clean basic hotel that is affordable, I still recommend the Cindy Kelly Hotel. Just Just be sure though that you have a good back...and that you are not choosy with beds. Otherwise, this budget hotel can give you a backpain the next day. :) Other than that, its still a good hotel. Instead of booking online as well, I suggest to call them to book instead. Here's their phone numbers: (047)2220218 or 09174705583. Address:

Corner Fendler Exit and Columban Road, Subic.