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A seaside city with a busy port and a burgeoning tourism industry, Batangas offers excellent diving and luxurious accommodation to visitors. Located just a two-hour drive sue south of Manila, Batangas features wonderful sites for diving, especially Taal Lake in Taal Volcano! Several structures from the 1700’s are still standing in the town, and the St. Martin De Tours Church is one of the largest churches in Southest Asia! The Batangas International Container Port is a huge facility that will interest anyone who enjoys ocean-going vessels. The surrounding mountains also offer lots of hiking opportunities. Mt. Maculot is a favorite site for trekkers to explore. When shopping in the bustling downtown markets, you can purchase the national festive garment called the tagalog. Beaches are numerous and water sports are easy to enjoy in Batangas, and at many places the local reefs are carved to create small swimming areas entered by conveniently placed ladders. While in the port you can see the ferries heading out to exotic destinations such as Verde Island, Fortune Island, and Ligpo Island. If you are interested in local foods, be sure to sample the ‘kilawin,” a fish entreé usually soaked in vinegar, lemon juice, and lime juice, or the local specialty called kalamansi, another fish entreé dressed with minced onions, garlic, and hot peppers.
Batangas has become a popular tourist destination in the last few years, and today the city has innumerable hotels and resorts offering accommodations to visitors. The following short list can suggest a few places for you to stay at when you visit Batangas…
Anilao Outrigger Resort
The Anilao offers 38 rooms by Balayan bay. The resort also provides complete diving equipment and houses a restaurant and bar. Enjoy the al fresco dining during the day and night. Tours to local islands are available, and there are conferences rooms for meetings. Just note that there are about 185 steps down to the resort from the parking lot. Porters will carry your luggage up and down. But you have to climb all of those stairs after your visit, which if this includes diving is strenuous.
Evercrest Golf Resort
Golf is the name of the game, and the Evercrest provides some of the best golfing experiences in the Philippines! At the Evercrest, a beautiful 18-hole course is ready for you every day, and the hotel also makes sure that conference rooms are open and prepared for any meetings you need to arrange. The Evercrest also offers tennis courts and swimming pools, and each of the 76 rooms has coffee makers and mini-bars. Enjoy a Jacuzzi and a breathtaking view of the Taal Volcano at the Evercrest. You may want to enjoy a paintball game in the Abandoned Area, and work up an appetite for the fine dining of the Casa Luna and El patio Restaurants.
Hotel Pontefino
The Pontefino is a new hotel, and it is fully equipped with luxury accommodations for business travelers and families on vacation. For children, a wonderful playground is available outdoors and a recreation area indoors. Adults can enjoy the gym, the jogging path and the adventure challenge complex. Located near the center of Batangas, and fairly close to a huge SM Mall, the Pontefino also offers you fine dining at the Robusto Restaurant and the Pastorelli Restaurant.
Days Hotel
Eagle Point Resort
Farm At San Benito Hotel
Hotel La Corona de Lipa
Matabungkay Beach Resort
Microtel Inn and Suites Hotel
Ponte Fino Hotel