I was recently asked by one of my followers in Instagram if I can recommend any baby-friendly beach resorts in the Philippines, as she was planning a vacation for her family. I thought about it and quickly came up with a list (which I decided deserves its own blog post–SOON). This was, of course, based on my recent experiences traveling with my husband and toddler Tristan.

Misibis Bay was one of the resorts that immediately came to mind, as my last trip was super fun and memorable. I was there to shoot for my lifestyle and travel show: #TrendingWithKelly, at the same time it was a family trip because I brought Tristan with me. Actually, I bring Tristan with me to all my trips because I am still breastfeeding, but not all the places we go to are family friendly (I realized this after we were done filming Season One). Needless to say, Misibis Bay gets high points from me, because they really pulled all the stops to ensure my family had a great vacation.

For those of you who don’t know where Misibis Bay is, well, it is in the exclusive enclave of Cagraray Island in Bacacay, Albay. To get here, to need to book a flight to Legaspi City, and from the airport Misibis Bay staff will pick you up and bring you to the resort with one of their vans. Everything from the flight (unless it is delayed) to the transfer is seamless. It is usually super quick and convenient, as their staff will take care of everything for you.

It was actually my third time to visit Misibis Bay–the last two times I went were for a magazine shoot and a newspaper editorial back when I was still modeling. Those trips were several years ago when the resort had just opened. To be honest, it was nice to come back after so many years because then I got to see how much the resort has improved.

This time around, I got to stay in one of the Pacific view rooms in the newly opened mid-rise structure just beside the beach. The room offered a bright and modern design which was different from the villas, which gave a traditional tropical vibe. Both are super luxe and comfortable, but I have to say, I really enjoyed that amazing view when I woke up in the morning–it somehow made me feel like it was my first time to stay at the resort.

So, okay, I said in the title I have five reasons why you should vacation in Misibis Bay. Well, there are actually more but these are the top five things that I personally loved about the resort. I hope this helps you decide on your next travel destination.

1.) You get a spectacular view of the Mayon Volcano. It truly is a breathtaking sight, and though I’ve already seen it before, the view this time around still took my breath away. This volcano is quite famous, because of its perfectly symmetrical conical shape. In fact, it is considered to be the world’s most perfectly formed volcano because of its symmetry. It is an active volcano, which has erupted quite a few times in the past (the last ones were in 2006, 2008 and 2009-10). Seeing it from the ocean was amazing, and something I recommend you try at least once. You can rent a boat from Misibis Bay to take you to this beautiful spot.

2.) There are plenty of fun activities for the whole family. Back when I was still single, my mission whenever I would go to a beach was to find that perfect mix of relaxation (getting a tan and massages every other day) and fun (going out and partying all night). But these days my idea of fun is completely different–it is now all about wholesome family activities, like swimming, building sandcastles, jet skiing, banana boat riding, snorkeling and diving. Of course, Tristan is still too young to do some of these activities, but I can totally imagine older kids having an incredible time while at the beach. The good news is Misibis Bay offers all these and more, making it a truly fun family-friendly resort. For babies and toddlers like Tristan, Misibis Bay has a huge kiddie playroom that offers activities like drawing, painting, tie dye t-shirt making as well as full access to so many toys. Personally, I think these are great ways to keep the kiddos busy, especially around 10am to 4pm when it’s too hot to swim.

3.) You have access to a white sand private beach facing the Pacific Ocean. One of the highlights of Misibis Bay is this amazing beach that you have practically all to yourself (only guests have access to this stretch of white sand beach). That view is just unbeatable, and it is completely safe for kids. It was difficult to convince Tristan to get out of the sun, as he was busy building his own version of a sandcastle. For water sports, you can choose to snorkel, paddle board, jet ski and windsurf!

 

4.) You get to sleep on an amazingly comfortable bed. At the end of the day, after a full day of activities, the only thing you want is to snuggle into a cozy bed. Well, that’s exactly what you get at Misibis Bay, because their beds are just incredible. No doubt, hotel beds are my favorite, because they are just so comfortable and you end up sleeping so well. This is no exception–their beds here are topnotch.

5.) There’s plenty of space to explore. Misibis Bay is a sprawling five hectares of land that has amazing views from different vantage points. The best way to see these is by riding one of the ATVs! You can ask a guide to take you to the most scenic spots (to get gorgeous photos), and if you prefer a more adventure-packed ride, there is a much rougher trail you can go on with amazing views of Mayon Volcano.

There are still so many reasons to stay here–the food here is delicious (Filipino cuisine is their specialty), you have a choice to swim in their many pools, they have huge function rooms to accommodate weddings, reunions and other big events, and their staff are just so warm and welcoming. Clearly, this is a great place to bring the fam bam on vacation! For more information, go to www.misibisbay.com.