Finally had the opportunity to experience first hand what the fuss was all about in the surfing town of San Juan, La Union and it surely lives up to its hype. One great thing going for ELYU is its accessibility. Just hop on a northbound bus and you step right into surf town.
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| Drop off point in Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union |
And once there, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from. From upscale star-rated resorts to homey bed and breakfasts. We stayed at San Juan surf resort on our first night there.
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| Sign of San Juan Surf resort, one of the pioneer resorts in the area. |
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| Urbiztondo Beach. |
The place was jam packed as this was the super peak season and because of this, I think the room that we stayed in was the worst (premium room no. 4) room at the resort. It had no windows and was in the middle of the staff and utility room :( . The kind and friendly hotel staff and wonderful ambiance of the resort as a whole, sort of made up for the dismal room. We would definitely go back but will choose the ocean view rooms.
And right outside is what we came to ELYU for!
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Surfing at ELYU!
The waves are perfect for beginners and there is a system in place among the instructors and the other stakeholders to ensure safety for all. There are designated surfing and swimming spots and the beach is open only from 6 am to 6 pm.
And since water activities stop at 6 pm, its food scene takes up the slack and contributes to the vibe of ELYU. Specialty restaurants and eateries abound and here are some that we were able to experience. |
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| Mad Monkeys burger joint |
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| Mad Monkeys cheeseburger |
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Bacnotan pizza at Surf Shack. And yes, that is an egg in the middle.
On our second night, we stayed at Angel and Maries Place across the street. They provide a more homey ambiance being a bed and breakfast operated by the owners themselves. And the food is so worth checking out.
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so they played sungka and enjoyed it! :)
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| Pinakbet, adobong pusit and inihaw na liempo at Angel and Maries place. |
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Banana pancake at Angel and Maries Place, so good!
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The time spent there ( 3days, 2 nights) simply was not enough to soak in all that ELYU has to offer, which makes for a good excuse to come back. But from what we experienced, we can truly say that ELYU's got VIBE!
