Venue Review: Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos-Poro Point

A few days ago, Bride and Breakfast was invited to sneak away from the city for an overnight trip to La Union. Amidst the rainy season, we were able to get some sun in one of the biggest, most known portorts there, Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos-Poro Point. We were really excited to see the place! We left Manila at 6:00AM, and after a five and a half-hour drive, we arrived at the resort.

I’ve never been to Greece, but Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos-Poro Point sure did realize my imagination of it. The structures were mainly blue and white, and the areas around the area were named after Greek places.

The entrance was very grand–white walls, high ceiling, and a spacious area–it felt like a vacation in an instant. And just an F.Y.I. to all Pokemon trainers–the lobby in this resort has one of the best Pokestops I’ve ever been to! (I caught a Ninetails, Magmar, and Exeggutor, to name a few.)


Upon arriving, we settled down in the room assigned to us. We were located in the condotel building, in one of the better rooms of the resort. It was near the fitness center, a playroom for children, game center for teenagers, a few conference rooms, a soon-to-be showroom for event setups, and had direct access to the pool.

It was the perfect-sized room for us. We had two queen-sized beds, a sofa, and a desk to work on, with a lot of space to still move around. The room and bathroom were very clean, something I am particular about when it comes to sleeping over in places. It smelled and felt like it!

This is what the condotel looks from outside. It has a beautiful view of the pool, the boardwalk, and the ocean.

After settling down, we got down to business–LUNCH! We were so hungry, we rushed to the resort’s main restaurant, Olives. The style of the place was still very Greek, and I loved the combination of wood, white tableware, and blue placemats.

The food was a combination of different Greek food, Filipino comfort food, and a few favorite dishes from other countries. We ordered the Thunderbird Iced Tea, Lemongrass Tea, and Watermelon Shake. Try ordering the first two for a change–they’re so refreshing!

For our food we ordered Pizza Ilokano, Seafood Combination, and the “Olives Garden” salad, which are some of the restaurant’s best sellers.

We shared all the dishes and wiped them all out.

After our meal, we needed to do some walking to digest everything we ate, so we decided to tour the area. The place was really huge (our area was just a dot in the 65-hectare property), so it really was a workout to get from one place to another.

Aside from the hotel and condotel, Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos-Poro Point also has villas you can rent. At the moment they have over 70 rooms, suites, and villas, but there are 47 villas and 29 rooms under construction, with a lot more other areas undergoing renovation for expansion as well.

When you enter the resort you are greeted by this big patio, their Santorini Veranda, where a lot of guests like to hold events and wedding receptions. It’s so beautiful because it’s one of the highest areas in the resort, so you have a good view of the horizon.

Just a few steps away, you’re led to another area which is just as beautiful.

And down below, you have the pool area where you can swim with the sound of waves in the background.

The Beach Club Garden is also absolutely beautiful. This patio is the perfect place for your ceremony and reception because it’s right by the beach, but you get a gorgeous garden setting at the same time. It’s extra breezy and feels secluded from the resort.

I would love to shoot a prenup here! The rocks by the shore and the deserted-looking beach make for such a dramatic backdrop.

Here are some other areas we came across, which are also used for events:

The Amphitheater is a nice outdoor venue overlooking the ocean. Wedding ceremonies and receptions can be held here, but this area is usually used for corporate events.

The Agora Events Hall is a nice indoor venue for a wedding reception. At the moment, the place can hold about 350 people, but its ongoing renovation will allow it to hold as much as 1,000 guests.

At the end of the day we visited the Casino area and ate in the restaurant beside it called Ouzo. Their main menu is a mix of Greek and Filipino food, but their daily buffet offers a specific cuisine. For this meal, we decided to go for Filipino comfort food. And it. Was. So. Delicious.

Crispy Pata, Kilawin Tanguigue, Pork Sisig, and Sinigang na Baboy

On our last day we made a visit to the Zaphira Spa and the golf course.

Zaphira is a small room that can accommodate four guests at a time. The smell, ambiance, and music here was so inviting, we didn’t want to leave the room after sitting on the couch for just a few minutes. You could also opt to have the massage in your own room so you don’t have to go through walking back after a relaxing massage.

Nine-Hole Golf Course

This was the last location to visit on our list, and we went around the nine-hole golf course using a golf cart. The ninth and fourth holes were amazingly breathtaking–it was so breezy and the view was just really so beautiful.

We also really loved the trees around the course–they make such nice silhouettes, we couldn’t help but take photos.

When we got back from roaming around the property, we couldn’t help but stop by the Pianosa Deli Shop, which is located right in front of the reception. The sweet smell of fresh bread and cakes was absolutely satisfying! They have a nice selection of fine wines too!

 

Before leaving, we snuck in one last meal–the recommended Four-Cheese Pizza (which did not disappoint!), and a plate of crunchy Calamari. A hearty end to a short but sweet mini-vacation to Thunderbird Resorts and Casinos-Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union. It was such a beautiful destination to arrive to after a long drive, but I would say it’s definitely worth a visit despite the distance. We all can’t wait to go back to see the expansion come to life. Until our next visit!

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