Its been more than 20 years since I left this place to study in the US as a young man. This was…read morejust dirt and sea at the time, nothing was here except old huts and fishing villages! Now, its a thriving resort community with a hotel, surfing school, restaurants and a view to a kill from the too of the hotel. San Juan Surf was my home for 4 days, coming back to serve as a commencement speaker and to train their educators and leaders as part of giving back to the old country I grew up in. The hotel offers a variety of rooms according to your preferneces, three floors of rooms that or perfect for vacationers or just stopping by to see the beach and enjoy a stride or better yet, a sunset or perhaps a surfing lesson. The rooms are not too classy, just enough for one or a couple but will offer an extra bed here and there, if you need to. The rooms might need upgrading, its a little old now and kinky but comfortable and cool. Step out into the restaurant and they serve food from 7-9:00 P.M. From Vigan Longaniza (sausages) to milfish and eggs with coffee or chocolate. Prices are very reasonable and the staff are wonderful and nice. If you want to explore and get out of your room at 5 A.M, their gates to the sea opens up life the seemingly metaphorical gateway to paradise, fine sa D, clean landscape with umbrellas and a horde of surf instructors waiting to take you under their wings for about 600 pesos per hour. There's also some of these folks trying to sell you souvenirs and other stuff but what's cool are photographers who'll take your live photos and transfer it on your phone for a couple of hundred pesos! What a deal for a hundred-thousand likes for social media enthusiasts? LOL Drive out to San Fernando and see along lists of food haven from large chains to simple pleasures manner by Mom and Pops serving local delicacies and culinary delights of the north. Don't worry about the menu, many offer fresh fish grilled to perfection and dishes that are not often seen in larger cities of even Los Angeles where I live and work. Drive farther to Pagudpud and you won't ignore the excellent local foods by the sea, too ...from their dinengdeng (vegetables) to dinakdakan (grilled pork with mayonnaise) or a seafood combo with all sorts of clams and shelled galore. I can go on and on but if you happen to go to this wonderful country and travel north, drop by San Juan Surf Resort and experience a little about the sun, sea, surf and wonderful hospitality of the Ilocanos.

3.5 stars! Fun surf resort right on the beach, in front of Ubiztondo break. Nice spot for a simple…read moresurf vacation. We got the deluxe rooms, which are small and basic but clean. We tried to pay with credit card when we checked in but they said only cash was accepted. A day later we saw a sign that said VISA was accepted here, so not sure what the actual deal is. The San Juan surf school is right in front of the resort on the beach and you can take a beginner lesson for 600php per hour or an intermediate/advanced for 700php. Breakfast every day is not included since the restaurant Coast Call Kitchen and Bar is separate from the hotel. The food at the restaurant is pretty good! Overall, it's a nice experience but I wouldn't come here expecting a 5-star hotel experience.

My favorite resort in all of La Union! Been going here almost annually since 2018! Their service is…read moretop notch! Everyone is very friendly, from the reception desk, to the restaurant staff and even the housekeepers! The massage offerings are also very nice! Food is as great as you may expect and the fact that it's literally walking distance to the beach! I will always choose Kahuna! Also a huge shoutout to our driver to Vigan, Kuya Edgar! Could not have asked for a better driver to take us around!

Got a massage at Spa Luana (check out my review) and ended up staying for lunch, which was a happy…read moresurprise. They have an extensive American and Filipino menu, and I was craving a burger. The service was pretty good overall! Though there were some small ups and downs like missing condiments or my cousin's Hawaiian burger missing pineapple but, the fries were definitely a highlight, hot and crispy. Prices are pretty affordable for tourists, and the view is absolutely stunning! Overall, it's a really cute resort with beautiful beach views. The prices are decent. If you're planning a big family trip, I'd probably recommend an Airbnb, but if it's just a few people, this could be the perfect spot. A lot of surfers come here, and for around $150 a night, you can get a family suite with 2 queen beds, pretty reasonable. Want something bigger? A 2-bedroom for 8 people with 4 queen beds runs about $330, which breaks down to roughly $45 per person per night if all 8 adults split it. Not bad at all for a fun beach getaway!

I always wanted to visit La Union. Me and my family visited this hostel. We got a room from the…read more3rd floor with the ocean view. The best part about the room was the cool breeze from the ocean when you wake up in the morning. The room was super clean from what I remember. I wanted to learn how to surf, but there were no waves where we were at the time. Bummer! The beach was really clean, because people there really do take care of the place. They also have a place with hanging hammock, where you can just relax. Now lets talk about food! Umm.... During lunch we ordered two pizza. I cant remember the name but there were both really good. And on dinner I remember I ordered one pulled pork adobo, beef bowl, and calamari with mojito and Smirnoff mule. Very affordable!! They also have night party events here. So if you are single, start practicing your dance moves and get your groove on. Haha Overall, our stay here was amazing. If I come back home again. I will definitely book a stay here. Super cheap!! I highly recommend this place.

Good day Flotsam and Jetsam! I just wanted to share with…read moreyou our bad experiences at Flotsam. Your guards are too strict in front, especially those in red polo shirt. We paid 5,000 for the VIP table to Miss Jo but our other friends weren't allowed in because they said it was already cut-off. I talked to the head of the guards to just add a fee, but he answered me (CUT-OFF IS CUT-OFF). We asked them where Miss Jo was so we could talk to her to prove that we had paid for the reservation, but they said she had already go home. Is this Flotsam's standard procedure?

The Spanish Latte tasted like a latte. Very pretty presentation and friendly service. I'd pass on…read morethe Peanut butter banana bread. It didn't have much flavor. The Mexican Breakfast was ok. Nice portion of bacon and I need to remember to ask for well done scrambled eggs. The corn meal and salsa were very tasty but the beans didn't do this dish any justice. Jack had the classic breakfast and he would pass on it next time.

When I saw the name of this place painted on the side of their building as their only sign, then…read morestatues of wonky versions of DC superheroes and Disney and anime characters on the grounds, I should have left. However, my cousin drove over 8 hours from where we were originally staying to get here, so we had to stay at least one night. When we arrived, it was hard to distinguish staff since they were dressed very, very, casually. Nonetheless, staff was kinda friendly, but rooms were another story. Our door had a huge gap to the jamb so people could possibly peer in while all of our walls had peeling paint from some previous water damage. Then the bathroom seemed quite unhygienic with a muddy shoe print on the floor, then a dirty wet rag hanging from the shower rod, and the absence of a shower curtain. The shower temperature adjustment was located way too high for me (I'm not that short), and had to be adjusted by my hubby who is quite a bit taller. Because of how filthy it seemed, I suggest wearing flip-flops for walking around the room including the shower. In the main room area, there was a small TV on a sort of open dresser with shelves. The beds' headboards were rather dusty while mattresses were really thin and questionable. Towels were colorful, worn beach towels that appeared iffy in terms of cleanliness. There was a really small kitchenette that had a sink with a damaged faucet and super shabby cabinets and small counter top. No appliances. The drain to the sink was broken and actually drained to a bucket within the room. My parents' room had similar issues. The included breakfast of rice, egg, and longanisa (sweet pork sausage) was good and satisfying and served at a common area on the 3rd floor with a nice view of the beach which is quite close but full of glass and seashells. The claim of free wi-fi was only limited to the area close to the front desk. We were supposed to stay for 3 nights but fled after 1 night. The owner didn't ask why nor offer a partial refund on the whole bill of 3 nights. This "hotel" is really just a place to sleep even though I wasn't comfortable doing so. I don't mind simple, as long as it's clean and functional. This was neither.

This hostel was a high note of our brief trip to the Philippines. After traveling in tight, cramped…read morequarters with no A/C, coming here was a blessed relief. The fact that this hostel is right on Urbiztondo beach didn't hurt either. It's so refreshing to be able to relax on the beach, sunbathe and come back to your hotel room with nice clean sheets and air conditioning and a delicious meal. For 4 nights, a large room which could easily accommodate 6 people equalled $330.24. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are optional (and extra charge) but very reasonable in price. The food was delicious! My son who is a picky eater loved the tocilog breakfast and their cheese pizza. Good old comfort food. They offer free wi-fi, a pool table, an absolutely gorgeous view. The rooms were sparse but very clean. Shower and bathroom were functional, but no frills. My kid enjoyed the novelty of the bunk beds. I appreciated the A/C. Overall, a pleasant stay!

Nicest hotel in La Union with reasonable rates. Met the nicest owner, Peter and awesone staff like…read moreJane, Kate and others. Best food at their restaurant with good view of the ocean. In the evening, great music and live band. Best German beer. Great ambiance, beautiful place. Like paradise! We highly recommend to stay here. The room is so comfortable. My husband and I stayed at their best private room, #11 with full view of the ocean. We will definitely come back every year. We have already recommended to our friends in the US. Thank you Peter and staff for making our stay a dream vacation! Andre & Josie