Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

When In La Union, there are days when Nature decides to play a cruel trick on you. As one typhoon left and another one eagerly replaced her, we were for the most part stranded within the confines of our resort, looking out towards the veranda as the heavy rain and wind battered the glass door. The rain, as if alive, wanted to get in; we wanted to keep warm inside.

Staying @ Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

The iconic Four Muses painted on the ceiling of Thunderbird’s dome.

It’s a good thing – a very good thing – that our room at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point was built to keep the rain out and furnished to keep its guests happily inside. With a 42″ wide-screen cable television, a multi-input HD media player, firm, well-mattressed twin-size beds, and a bathroom that, well, would make any bath person happy with its jacuzzi and elephant shower, we were more than contended to stay inside while the rain poured. The warm wood, dim lighting, and royal bath area conveys a luxurious, relaxed feel to the room.

My twin-size bed, flanked by a post-modern print with studio lights that serve as additional lighting for the room. Love the mix of traditional woodwork and modern décor!

Clockwise: A view of the veranda (girlfriend not included); the bath’s jacuzzi tub; imported bath essentials scented for a calm and relaxed bath experience.

And the impeccable service doesn’t hurt either. Rain or shine, the wonderful people at Housekeeping will offer to tidy up your room – twice daily! We barely settled in during the afternoon when an attendant came and handed us complimentary bottles of water and chocolates, and asked us if we wish them to make up our beds. “Bukas nalang,” I joked. A newspaper was hanging on the door handle the next morning. And the front desk was quick to send people to our room for matters such as the in-room router not turning on, and not knowing how to drain the water from the jacuzzi tub. (Don’t judge! The router was broken, and the knob for draining the jacuzzi was damaged as well.)

Clockwise: The front desk situated at the open lobby; the day’s newspaper anonymously hanged on our door handle; complimentary bottled water and Kisses served on a daily basis.

Dining Options @ Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

“Dining is always more than the food.”

Located adjacent to the resort’s front desk is the European-inspired restaurant, Olives. I found it interesting that the eponymous fruit was integrated into most of the bistro’s main entrées.

I loved the warm focaccia bread paired with salty, distinctly flavorful olives which they served for our dinner’s appetizer. As for the dishes we sampled, the grilled salmon was good. Instead of drizzling olive oil onto the salmon fillet, they topped it with crushed black olives. The deviled chicken was adequately spiced, served with chunky olives and baby potatoes. But my favorite would have to be the Ilocano pizza, topped with Ilocos longganisa and tocino and tuna flakes. I guess I have a bias for their breads given that they use a stone oven for baking. And more so for the pizza ever since my horrendous experience of packing, sealing, and flying fresh, uncooked Ilocos longganisa (in all its vinegar-y glory!) back to Manila some time ago.

This one’s on the house: Freshly baked focaccia bread with pitted olives and dip.

Clockwise: Oreo milkshake and fresh fruit juices (Love the froth in their fruit juices!); Grilled Salmon Fillet topped with crushed black olives; Deviled Chicken with olives and baby potatoes.

Background: Must-try Ilocano Pizza with Ilocos longganisa, tocino, and tuna flakes.

Overnight guests have complimentary buffet breakfasts served at the Olives. The breakfast menu rotates, though staples such as the Ilocos longganisa (Haha! I’m sorry if this section is turning more and more into an ode for that fatty, meaty indigenous sausage) and absurdly humongous crispy bacon will keep meat lovers perpetually happy. Personally, I appreciated the fruit selection the most. I loved the perfectly ripened, blemish-free plantains. Think export-quality Dole plantains – that’s how Thunderbird’s bananas are.

Top-left to right: Spanish sardines; crispy bacon; bread and pastry tower.

If you’re looking for gastronomical variety, beside the Fiesta Casino a shuttle ride away is the Vegas Café which serves Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and American cuisine. Their Chinese is decent, nothing really special though. The sandwiches are pretty good, though I feel that the price is a bit too high for what they offer. As for the other dishes I tried, well, they’re not really something I’d recommend. I guess the perfect analogy would be Resorts World Casino’s Noodle Works: They’re not the best noodles in town, but hey, they’re right beside the casino, so what the heck.

Top to bottom: Lemon chicken; black mushrooms and vegetables; spicy chicken with mushrooms and hofan noodles.

A Beach-y Vacation @ Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

Sitting atop the steep cliffs of one side of the Poro Point peninsula in La Union, Thunderbird Resorts is reminiscent of the elegant Santorini homes built beside the Mediterranean Sea. The waves can be seen forming from miles beyond, gaining momentum until they crash into the jagged rock formations at the bottom of the cliffs. The waters are inaccessible from here, so Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point constructed a mid-sized pool, complete with a bar for you to sip, wade, and relax while the Great Blue performs its hypnotic dance.

The strong waves and jagged rock formations aren’t the best combination for a good afternoon swim (but good enough for a photo opportunity).

Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point has a good-sized pool for a relaxed swim during your stay.

To the right of the resort lies the Beach Club, where on a good day the waves aren’t trying to swallow everyone whole and offers guests a stunning view of the sea. The Beach Club is a favorite for weddings and prenuptial shoots; high-profile celebrities like John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles are among the many who have tied the knot here. The sunset, I was told, is a majestic view to behold.

On a good day, the Beach Club would have been a lovely spot to shoot and swim at. Then again, we chanced upon a not-so-good day for our visit.

For the more adventurous, Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point also arrange tours to the surfing capital of San Juan, La Union for their guests.

If you’re not the pool/beach type but more into the elegant sport of golf, Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point has a 9-hole, 36-stroke golf course across its sprawling property. Not a golfer here, so we just decided to tour the estate with golf carts. Several holes are literally just a few meters away from the edge of the cliffs, offering an amazing view of the resort and the Beach Club, as well as the Poro Point Lighthouse built in 1885.

What’s New: The Villas @ Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

If you’re going as a group and the hotel rooms just wouldn’t do, Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point recently opened their villas for accommodation. For sale, these villas cost 11 M pesos, while an overnight stay will cost you 25,000 pesos. With three bedrooms, a spacious sala, dining space, a kitchen with a bar counter, and an open roof deck, the villa is ideal for families and groups that wish to prepare their own food or do more activities together without the fear of disturbing the folks next door.

The Thunderbird villa is luxurious yet homey, sophisticated yet personal, definitely a viable choice for groups that want to bond.

Final Impressions About Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

When In Manila, I recently had a conversation with one disillusioned colleague, complaining about how food and travel blogs have recently become more and more of a sell-out. How everything seems so palatable and enjoyable, yet in reality the place, the food isn’t what we bloggers promised.

The whole idea behind the bloggers’ movement was precisely that: People wanted to read the story behind the story; to know the cold, hard facts – unflinching, unaltered, unafraid; ultimately to be guided where to go, where to eat, what to buy.

So here are the cold, hard facts: On a rainy day, the six hour drive up and another six hours going back home is not the best vacation one can hope for. Best look up your AccuWeather app and make sure the days you’re going are filled with sunshine. The best features of the resort are its architecture and luxurious accommodation. The idea of someone making up your bed twice, the anonymous newspapers, and the service in general can be good or bad, depending on your personality and purpose for staying. If you’re there to enjoy some alone time, the consistent knocking may be quite bothersome. For us however, the extra effort put in by Housekeeping was greatly appreciated.

The food at the Olives is good, but it’s not really what you will drive the long hours North for. Given the choice, I’d eat here any time, any day compared to dining at Vegas. The view from the seaside is to die for. The billows that roll up and the foam and spray that results from its collision with the jagged rocks is mesmerizing. On a good day, I would’ve loved to try the beach, run from one end to the other, and soak myself as the tides wash in.

Ready to dive in? Visit www.thunderbird-asia.com to learn more about the resort and their events. “Like” their official Facebook page and you just might get the chance to win an overnight stay for 2! Last time I checked, they’re 500 shy of reaching 20,000 and giving away the prize. For those who aren’t as lucky, room rates stand at 6,700 pesos on weekends and a discounted 6,300 pesos during weekdays. Current room rates applicable for the low season, so hurry up and start booking!