Weekend Retreat at Casita Ysabel in Mabini, Batangas

Before my sister started her residency, our family went on a little trip to Anilao, Batangas. (Oh yeah, she passed her medical board exam! I can’t believe I forgot to blog about that?) We traveled deep into the night and ended up riding through the mountain. We were looking for a beach resort so it was a bit disconcerting that we’re going up in the mountains. Apparently, Casita Ysabel is different from most of the resorts I’ve been to, and it’s definitely one of the prettiest. We definitely enjoyed our stay!

The resort is nestled in a quiet mountainside in Mabini, Batangas. It overlooks a rocky beach and offers a quiet atmosphere morning till night. You’ll really feel isolated from the rest of the world. A sign in the place even says it’s a quiet place! We were also blessed to be embraced by warm sunlight our entire stay. No rain during that weekend! Such a rarity lately.

If you’re looking for a place of excitement and fun, I’m not exactly sure this is the place? We were given the chance to trek Mt. Gulugod-Baboy but we weren’t exactly up for it. After spending a good night’s sleep, we enjoyed breakfast which was included in the package. We were served a plated meal, but we could eat as much fruits and pandesal as we wanted. We spent the remaining morning just kayaking and waddling in the water. It was my first time to kayak! It was difficult and tiring, and I’m obviously not athletic.

Of all days, I failed to bring the battery of my dSLR! I’m the girl who lugs around a camera all the time and my family’s baffled at how I could forget it? But being a space-cadet, it’s not really a surprise. Good thing my mother brought our old digicam so we could at least do that. I miss taking photos with a point-and-shoot! I’m glad the photos still turned out well.

I would love to go back and stay. It’s such a relaxing place to spend a saturday. But without a voucher it’s quite expensive. Like, really expensive! Just by including lunch is enough to make me cry. If you’re wondering, I got the voucher from Ensogo! See, they’re not always so bad even when I said I’ll never buy another voucher from them again. Good thing it’s not carved in stone, and I can always swallow my pride.

Casita Ysabel is the perfect weekend retreat, especially if you want to avoid a large crowd and socializing. Something I actually want from time to time (or all the time).

Casita Ysabel
San Teodoro, Mabini, Batangas
+632.546.7083 / +632.722.4600 / +63917.755.9575