Resort Review: Sebay Surf Central Resort (San Juan, La Union)

Date of Stay: October 29-30, 2015

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: *****

Condition and Cleanliness: ****

Staff Performance: *****

Room Comfort: *****

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: *******

Value for Money: ****

Sebay Surf Central Resort

The family-run Sebay Surf Central Resort, ideally located in the heart of the surfing capital of Urbiztondo, San Juan, is considered by many as one of the premier surf resorts in Northern Luzon. 

They have plenty of parking space and they accept major credit cards. It's right along the main highway so it is easy to find.  

The resort, owned by Atty. Rodolfo V. Yabes and Mrs. Godofreda Yabes (Sebay is Yabes in reverse), is one of three pioneer resorts in Urbiztondo Beach (the others are Monaliza Surf Resort and Hacienda Peter's Beach Resort).  It has 24 rooms within 3 buildings named after each of the couple's children - Rhoda (the oldest building), Regina and Raissa. 

Regina Building

Sala

Each year, surfers flock to enjoy the 6-7 months of surfing beginning in October and ending in April. Throughout the year, various tournaments and competitions are also held right in front of Sebay. 

The gray sand beach was clean and great, with lots of waves for surfers, but there are a few jellyfish present during certain times of the year, so do be careful. If you want to swim, do it in the morning or brave the afternoon sun. By 3-6 PM, you'll have a lot people learning to surf.

Barkada Room

Sebay Surf Central offers airconditioned, modern or native-style rooms for all types of groups, be it a couples room, a family room or a big group "barkada" room with double deck beds.  

Rooms have cable TV (reception though is poor), wi-fi connection (however, signal is better in the restaurant and lobby) and tiled private bath (their water supply is sometimes a problem plus there’s no hot water and shower curtains). Don't expect high-end looking rooms, but rooms are clean, comfortable and space is just enough. 

The native style Rhoda rooms are good for 2-3 people (Rooms 1-4 are recommended); the native style Regina (with a small sala) and Raissa rooms are good for big families. Room rates range from Php1,400 to Php2,800.  Additional person: PhP500/head.  Check out time is 12 noon (late check out: PhP200/hour) and check in time is 1 PM.  

Urbiztondo Beach

The resort has two food and beverage outlets.  

Mama’s Canteen, which caters to motorists and budget-conscious people, offers 24-hour fast food and cable TV.  It also has a convenient store for grocery items you need to buy. 

The beachside Fat’s Bar ‘n Grille

The seaside Fat’s Bar ‘n Grille offers a wide variety of sumptuous, delicious but affordable food. For breakfast, they offer a simple buffet of scrambled eggs, hot dog, hotcakes, French toast, fried rice, biko (rice cake), Vigan longanisa, etc.).  For lunch and dinner, they offer boodle fight meals consisting of grilled pork, fish and chicken, pinakbet, pansit and steamed rice. Every Friday and Saturday nights, they offer live acoustic band music, making it a nice spot to chill and kill time. However, it makes it difficult for anyone in the nearby cottages to sleep.

Sebay Surf Central has a surf school, owned by Mr. Arnel “Badz” Badang, that offers surfing lessons (Php400/hour - Php200 for the board + Php200 for the instructor) and surfboard/longboard rental (Php200/hour, Php500/half day, Php800/whole day).  

The Game Room, where you can play billiards (free for guests), darts and chess, also rents out volleyball paraphernalia (Php100/hour) and badminton sets. The resort also offers 2-seater kayak rental (Php400/hour); 1-seater kayak rental (Php300/hour); Frisbee rental (Php100/hour); boogie board rental (Php100/hour) and skim board rental (Php100/hour).

The author (left) with media group at Fat's Bar 'n Grille

Sebay Surf Central Resort: Manila North Road, Urbiztondo, San Juan, 2514 La Union. Telefax: (072) 888-4075.  Mobile numbers: (0910) 739-5698 (Smart) and (0917) 640-1118. Email: sebayresort@yahoo.com  and reservations@sebaysurfcentral.com. Website: www.sebaysurfcentral.com.