* Check out Part 1 here.  

Las Casas follows standard check in and checkout times. However you can arrive early and explore the property. There’s a 45 min tour (or longer depending on your group’s speed) available every hour.  Our plan was to have breakfast on the road to catch our 1030 AM tour so that when it’s over we can have lunch, rest and swim!!! Things didn’t go as planned and we left Manila late. We arrived at the property a little after 10 AM famished so we proceeded to have brunch instead. Luckily our room was ready after our meal and we were able to check in. In true Spanish practice, we had sieta. Mwahahahahaha

We stayed at the hotel which was housed at Paseo de Escolta, a replica of commercial buildings in Manila in the 19th century. The hotel rooms are located on the second and third floors. All 17 rooms have modern facilities and fixtures. 

Our voucher got us a Deluxe Loft for 4 adults for P4500. The room in fact can accommodate up to 6 adults so we simply asked for 2 extra beds. The room comes with breakfast already.


Las Casas only has one restaurant at the moment that serves delicious Filipino and Spanish dishes. Like Bellarocca, prepare yourself to pay at resort prices. That’s really how business is done. If you go there having made peace with that fact, you’ll be fine. Haha There aren’t any restaurants near the property but we passed by a couple of sari-sari stores before reaching the entrance.


After the brunch and siesta, we proceeded with our tour. There are tours available every hour from 8 AM to 4 PM. We were lucky that no one else joined our group so we were able to go on our own pace. 



Service at Las Casas is incredible. Everyone was courteous and always had a smile on their face even under the burning hot sun in full Filipiniana costume. Wherever you went, the staff would greet you. I could genuinely feel that the people working there were happy works and loved their job. Kudos to management for this! 

The property is amazingly well maintained. Throughout our visit we would constantly see staff cleaning the building, sweeping, trimming the grass, mopping, etc. I hope this is something management can keep up so that when I visit Las Casas again, its beauty stays the same or better.
 
Here are some sunrise photos. Oh yeah, I tried to wake up to catch a few snaps.

Las Casas’ beach front was bare and I liked it. I loved that it wasn’t pretentious or had shishi chairs and tables. It also helps that we were the only ones there so we didn’t have to compete with other people to get a spot.
 
I’ll admit when I saw the beach of Las Casas I had my nose up in the air. Choosy! I’m not the biggest fan of gray, black or dark sand. I am partial to white sand having been lucky to see a lot of those in our country! Coron, Bohol, Sarangani, Batanes, to name a few, have spoiled me!
 
Las Casas changed me! I am now a convert and no longer just a sand snob; I am now a water snob! Haha Las Casas may have gray sand but the water was clear and calm! I don’t have photos near the water but we enjoyed just being in the ocean. The water didn’t sting my eyes as much as other beaches and it gradually became deeper. Our group was so blessed to have great beach weather that trip! I SERIOUSLY needed a beach trip! 

Arguably the most unforgettable experience at Las Casas was the sunset! After our tour, we headed to the beach to chill. As the sun bid adieu, the most gorgeous display of colors appeared in the sky. We quietly stared at the horizon and were in awe of the sunset unfolding in front of us. 


I FREAKED OUT. I didn’t have my camera with me! I ran all the way back to the room and returned to the beach. Time spent for that? 10 – 15 minutes! Thank god I was still able to snap a few photos. I would have hated myself if I let the opportunity pass.

A few tips:
- Best spot for sunrise and sunset is still the beach.
- Odd tip, for a good view of the mountain, try to peer outside your bathroom window.
- Go ahead and bring snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. They’re not especially strict about that rule but don’t abuse it as well.
- Choose your foot wear for going around. I wore flip flops but was challenged by the cobblestoned streets.

If you’re looking to party and get wild, find yourself another place to go to. On the other hand, if you want to relax, bond and immerse in history - Las Casas is the spot for you. It is a chill vacation getaway that is great for families, couples and friends.

It was only the Monday after the trip that I felt the immensity of what the trip meant to me. Besides having another amazing trip with my cousins, that’s already a given, I felt refreshed. Add the fact that my past beach vacations have rained on my parade, I truly needed a good vacay. Good weather, immense beauty, wonderful company and shooting away energized me. Photography saved me once more; time and time again it proves to be my therapy. Salamat!


Ooohh Deal Grocer just posted a deal for the room we got. Grab yourself a voucher here.



 
---------------------------------
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
Bo Pag-asa, Bagac, Bataan
Manila Sales Office 02-3325338; 02-3553032
reserve@lascasasfilipinas.com

 
***********************************************************************