Thunderbird Resort Poro Point

June 6-8, 2014. Thunderbird Resort Poro Point is a Mediterranean-inspired resort in La Union. It has Santorini's signature white-wash architecture dotted with blue accents. It's a five-hour drive away from Manila and could soon be shorter when TPLEX gets completed. Just perfect for a quick spur-of-the-moment weekend getaway.

We arrived at the resort shortly after lunch. So after a quick check-in, we headed straight to our first activity - Water Gun Fight.

They have this huge "battle arena" complete with obstacle course. The mere sight of it made the kids so psyched. For Php200 per person per hour, you'll be provided with a big-a$$ water gun and of course safety goggles. You might think an hour is too short but once you're holding the heavy (as hell) water gun under the scorching sun, it'll be a miracle if you last for even half of the allotted time.

Having a blast.

The game is simple -- get your opponent's flag without getting hit during the process. Of course, you're free to have your own rules, or simply discard the rules altogether and hit each other until you turn blue or orange or whatever color of water ammunition you have.

The water they use is tinted (different color for each team) so you know if you get hit. It's totally safe -- washable and we did not get any allergies, whatsoever. We were totally drenched from head to foot with colored water.

We got to play two rounds, after which we were just plain exhausted from running and carrying the heavy water guns around. We probably was just able to play for fifteen minutes, though it felt as if we've worked out for an hour. It was awesome, and needless to say we all had a great time. 

Now it's time to shower, hit the pool, visit the beach and eat!

Special order -- Hawaiian Pizza.

Their pool bar serves delicious snacks and if you have something in mind that doesn't appear in the menu, simply ask and they can probably whip it up for you.

The beach is ok though their pool is a little small. Nonetheless, the kids had a blast swimming and playing.

For dinner, we decided to try the Chinese buffet at Vegas Restaurant. It's near their casino and there's a free shuttle that can take you there from the resort. It's separate from the main casino so kids are ok to go.

The buffet price is really cheap so I guess I should not have expected so much. I mean, I get what I pay for. The food is ok at best and there's a very limited spread. Imagine my disappointment when there was not a single dim sum, and it's a Chinese buffet!

View from Olives Restaurant

Luckily, the breakfast the next day at Olives restaurant made up for the disappointing dinner the previous night. The spread is ample, the food is delicious and the view of the pool and the beach from the veranda is gorgeous. 

Driving range at The Cliffs Golf and Beach Club.

Activity for the day: try the driving range. At Php125 per bucket of 50 balls, I guess it's not bad. It's the kids' first time to try the sport and they didn't like it that much. They both had a hard time making their balls fly and they both complained about how heavy the clubs are (no kid's club available). Amidst the complaints, they kept on hitting until they finish their own buckets.

Our last stop was the Lighthouse, just a short ten-minute drive from the resort. Nothing really special here, just a lighthouse and a museum. We snapped a few photos and headed back. 

Overall, the resort is beautiful and their room is clean and spacious (though it already shows signs of aging). The staff, especially the person in charge of their activities, is courteous and knowleadgeable. I've read a few not so good reviews online and it's probably because the amount the resort charges doesn't quite live up to the expectations. You can book a better room from a better resort for the same price. It's definitely far from Bellarocca Resort which really has luxurious rooms and amenities. 

Thunderbird Resort Poro Point 
Poro Point Freeport Zone
San Fernando City, La Union
Website: http://www.thunderbirdresortslaunion.com 
Tel: +63 72 888 7777
Mobile: +63 908 815 8984
Email: pororeservations@thunderbird-asia.com