Bruce K.
Yelp
This resort seems to be on a downturn in its fortunes. Well built backing onto a little lake and fronted by the sea on the devastated beach side across the Arnaldo Boulevard.
The room we got was full of unnecessary small glitches: as usual in this country, little or no maintenance on services, and so the handyman had to come over several times to solve TV, shower pressure, etc. Too bad that a recent typhoon messed with their barkada huts, and that Covid-19 has been plaguing them just like the rest of us for 6 months now, as it's hard to get a good read on what their usual services are like...
Their complimentary breakfast from the main hotel kitchen was only average and barely okay, but palatable.
The spacious but smaller room was quite expensive at 2500 pesos, but better than most. Trying for 3-star hotel status is cool, but doesn't reach it: the grounds are weed-infested, and rust along the eaves tell the story of neglect for a long time. But we enjoyed our stay enough.
The pool backing onto the little lake is very good. Clean and designed for families, it has 3 depth levels, and is pleasant enough. But the surrounding facilities - banquet hall, small convention area, playground with slides - all show more signs of long-term neglect.
Cafe Felisa, a nice restaurant attached to the resort's motel-like wing is facing the highway, and is quite good. Their baby-back ribs with mashed potatoes and pasta were good, and the young man making the lattes and shakes is as good as any barista anywhere. Lucked out.
As for other food venues, a few very good fresh seafood line the boulevard up the street: El Maria's has great fish, sea pod salad, oysters and angel-wing clams. The Indian and Korean restos were disappointing for different reasons, but you might like them.
It seems that it's foreign-owned, as it's just too well built for most pinoy, but whomever the owner is, it's not looking good.
Overall a good place to stay but next time we will try another beach strip hotel to see what is best for us...
Check it out?