I actually really enjoyed the San Antonio Resort... Yes, it's true that they do have one of their…read morepool under renovation but after hearing the full story, it all makes sense. Unfortunately, the contractor did a terrible job in the repair and it will be worked out ASAP with replacement of the tiles and the water... by the way their other swimming pool is spectacular, I like the way it has two different heights so the deeper pool is a cooler temperature and the shallow pool for when you want to just sit and lounge in some warm water is perfect.... nice variety of different loungers and different chairs for different seating options... They have some stone fish sculptures that turn into fountains... Enjoying the pool at night time is the best because they have neon lighting, fabulous music and a very festive atmosphere with much more happy vibes and happy customers....... The pool has a view of the lagoon in the backyard on the left side is the villas which is where we stayed with a direct view onto the Lagoon and on the right side evidently are all properties owned by the San Antonio . Some of them are privately Purchased and some of them are for rent rent mostly to Expats so we are going to consider that in future as well for the next visit... In the meantime, the staff honestly I don't think we've had such amazing customer service anywhere else and we've done in the Philippines for almost a month...... the free breakfasts are great and there's a variety every day which is nice because sometimes it's the same thing every day... Yesterday I had a nice noodle soup along with scrambled eggs and fried egg and rice and fish and today they had so much more exotic and interesting things as well as congee and pancit and different fish... The pool service staff the restaurant staff there are unbelievably attentive and friendly and helpful and they always go above and beyond the call of duty. We hung by the pool yesterday pretty much all day and the staff were always there when we wanted them and gave us privacy when we didn't need them.....the entire day, including all the drinks - 2 beers and 2 mojitos- and the delicious food we had homemade varieties of Chicharron, which we thought was just an appetizer size, but it turned out It was enough food for the two of us for a massive very filling lunch and it included pork knuckle which we've never had before.YUM!!!! When we got the bill It came to the equivalent of Canadian $25. For you Americans out there that's about $15. Unfortunately, I don't know why but in the Philippines when you pay with a credit card or just sign to your room there's never a place to add a tip, which is frustrating when you don't have any cash on you. So we said I apologize to the staff who totally seemed to not mind somehow I don't even know if you were in Canada you didn't Tip they'd be cursing and spitting on you... and then the next day we were checking out, but I left a nice personal note and a healthy tip to thank them for their service because they were amazing...

This resort seems to be on a downturn in its fortunes. Well built backing onto a little lake and…read morefronted 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?

One of the highlights of my Philippines vacation was our trip to Boracay. I was really pleased that…read moreI booked and stay at Mandala Spa and Villas, the place looked exactly the same as in the pictures. This place is a great place for relaxation and to be free from negative vibes outside the "real" world, even for a few days. Both the staff and location's serenity is very contagious. You will find yourself a 5 minute walk from boat station 3 at the quieter end of white beach. The Garden Villa that we booked is very spacious with a private garden at the back. The bathroom and toilet are a treat on its own with a rainforest shower and a very spacious bath area. They also served complimentary healthy buffet breakfast during our stay. There are also many spa treatments available but at additional cost, although they may throw one in for free if you are celebrating a special occasion! This is definitely a place that I can recommend to family and friends.

Philippines Review #3…read more During my first visit to Boracay with my ex and all the family, the oldest brother (and our tour guide) suggested we all go to Mandala Spa to take a look at this stunning property. We piled into a few different tricycles (a small motorcycle with a 2 (or maybe 3) person covered sidecar attached (the only transportation on Boracay). Once we reached the location, we were greeted by this impressive entry. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=xquwckI23ciwDT2oK3_ZUg We went to the main office, asked for a tour of the property and after about 10 minutes, one of the staff was showing us around. Wow, what a beautiful and serene property! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=3j9B-KSmAgHPBZNbnglfMw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=yAxkbYA26SfFwHTJWmqciQ During our tour we were shown the around the entire property, therapy pools, relaxation areas and massage rooms in addition to one of the beautiful luxury villas. Incredible! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=v3K3coDIBpTsa-tTF93_8w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=KhPtEzmlvvmNrOl7wb-jig After our tour my ex and I decided to take advantage of being here and decided to get massages. While my ex was willing to have a massage in a room where others were also getting massages, I wanted the full luxury treatment and have my massage in a private villa. Sure it cost a little more, but at the time I really wanted to be pampered! After changing into a sarong in the... (locker room sounds too "high school" for this spa), my masseuse escorted me about 300 feet away to a private villa where my massage was to take place. At first I was instructed to sit in the chair out on the small patio while soaking my feel in the bowl and enjoying some relaxing warm tea. After 10 minutes she dried my feet and I moved to the massage table. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mandala-spa-and-resort-villas-malay?select=ys2pKMz0_nU0sy-fPkMruA For this massage I chose the 2 HOUR(!!) hot & cold stone massage. She used medium/large size black river rocks, that at first were hot, then chilled, between her hands and my skin as she worked the tension from my muscles. Long story short, this massage was absolutely sublime! OVERALL: Mandala Spa & Resort Villas offers numerous options for relaxation, healing, detox, diet and health spa treatments, as well as some incredible villas if you want the full get-away-from-it-all spa treatments. I highly recommend Mandala Spa to pamper yourself when on Boracay!

My entire family stayed here for 3 nights/4 days upon our return from Boracay…read more All 3 of our rooms varied in size due to the number of people in our party but the accommodations throughout were very clean and very comfortable. The lobby and amenities throughout the hotel were modern and well kept. The staff was friendly and very helpful. The a/c units in our rooms were such a relief especially with the heat and humidity outside. It was nice to take a warm bath and hang out in the comfort of our room. If anyone knows the Philippines, you would expect some brownouts in the middle of the day but that did not happen here at all. Woooo! Win! Everyone was very happy with the setup. Normally, we would stay at Marzon but due to them being completely booked this was a great alternative. Unlike Marzon with their ant issues and the setup of having the shower/restroom open up into the main hotel room - this hotel has the entire shower/ restroom in an entirely separated area just like you would normally find in a hotel and there were no creepy crawlers that we had to worry about! We enjoyed the fact that this located was in a more centralized area where we could walk and take a tricycle to anywhere. It's down the street from the police station and from the main plaza and from Inasal!!! You don't have to tell me twice! There's also a cafe next to the lobby and a small convenience store next door to grab snacks and drinks for the room. We will definitely be back.

This restaurant is the situated in the first floor of the hotel, offers seating inside with ample…read morespace and outdoor under a native decor of bamboo and native nipa roof. The staff is professional and swift with serving it's dishes. The food is by far the most excellent, ranging from crispy pata, crispy liempo kare-kare, and large varieties of soup to choose from. Not only are the meal size abundant but also offers packages for large groups who may have trouble deciding on what to order. No one will leave this place hungry.

Hey! Hey! Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort! Where do I even start to review such gem of a…read moreplace! For starters, php200/head grants you access to their infinity pool, cave pool, fish spa, WIFI access, and billiards at the restaurant - talk about a steal! Whether you're a solo traveller, travelling with friends, or looking to bond with your family, you will find everything you need and more when you stay here. You can choose to rent a room starting at php1800.00/night or just opt for the day tour that include all the things mentioned earlier. They also have a wellness spa that's sure to take off every bit of stress in your body. Words and pictures alone aren't enough to describe this paradise so my best advice is for you to experience it yourself!

I LOVE BORACAY, PI. AND I LOVE THE DISTRICT BORACAY !!! They were the cherry on top with our stay…read more First off, flying to the PI from the US is long and on top of that taking another flight to Caticlan AND then a 15 min drive AND then a speed boat AND then another drive to the hotel!!! It's overwhelming just when you land in Manila. However, once we got to Caticlan the District takes care of everything else. At the arrival of meeting a District staff member at the airport I just felt so relieved knowing we can relax and be worry free. Staff reassured us we were going to be taken care of. All of the staff on the boat and cars were so welcoming and took photos of our landing. When we got to the hotel, we were welcomed with cold eucalyptus towels (which you're gonna want bc of the humidity) & a refreshing cucumber cooler drink ! Check in was an ease and we got to our room without much of a wait. Room is probably the better of the ones in station 2 with AC & tv with all streaming services. We get a cute balcony. They have night time getting ready turn around and fully daily room service. All inclusive breakfast buffet which changes daily and beach access chairs with umbrellas. My BF and I every day would walk the beach, get our seats, & the. swim/relax for the day. No need to claim as there is always plenty. They have a spa and it is fantastic ! We got 3 massages on our 5 day stay and shout out to Grace - hands of an angel! Best massages ever, with a variety to choose. They were well needed after our flight. They have a pool, but we avoided bc the beautiful beach is right outside the hotel. We did however sit by the poolside to escape the sun during peak hours. They have a very small basic gym, which had everything we needed. It was great to get our workouts in cause that's a part of our lifestyle. There's also three other restaurants in the hotel which was delicious. Higher prices compared to restaurants on the station, they deliver to the beach if you're sitting there. Try their Japanese restaurant, very fresh high quality fish. I will say the hospitality in the PI is 10/10 & the hospitality at The District was 100/10. They were on top of everything and always greeting with the smiles. Please make sure to tip them for all their excellent work (including transportation and staff assisting with luggage) !!! Boracay is a tourist destination, & the beautiful staff assist us with over the top service and they deserve so much for what they are actually paid!!! If you can afford to travel to Boracay, you can afford to tip the amazing service. If you're looking for a nice stay, celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, etc stay here!!!

Staying at The District made my husband and I's Boracay trip extremely enjoyable from the minute we…read morelanded at the airport to checking out and leaving. They made our transportation experience from landing at the airport, taking a boat to the island, and transport to the hotel very seamless. All of the staff is friendly and welcoming and the overall hotel is clean. We enjoyed their spa and really took advantage of it and went twice during our stay and enjoyed each session. It was definitely a soothing and relaxing massage especially from all the walking and being out in the hot sun. The beach is literally footsteps from the hotel making it super convenient and the hotel is located at station 2 making it a great location that is near Dmall and various other restaurants, stores, and more. If I were to ever return to Boracay, I'd definitely stay here again!

Returned to the Philippines after sometime and bringing along both my adult…read moreDaughters visiting the Philippines for the first time from the U.S. I wanted for them to have a wonderful experience. We booked our stay in Astoria as time share members and it did not disappoint. From the moment we arrived at the airport, our driver from the hotel with our private van was already waiting for us and everything was all set up and the process of getting to and from was smooth and stress free! When we arrived at the resort we were greeted warmly by all the staff and was escorted to our suites . The resort looked beautiful. It was clean, very well maintained and has a relaxing tropical vibe to it. Our room was clean, organized and everything we will ever need was prepared and ready. The resort also has a private security and we felt safe the whole entire stay. The restaurant buffet at the resort was great but we also was close enough to explore the beach grounds for several other restaurants and shops to enjoy. The resort also assisted us in booking all the activities we wanted to go to and the process went smoothly without issues. Prices were all at an affordable range. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for myself and both my daughters and family. We all had an amazing time!

Had an exceptional stay at Astoria!! From the front front desk to housekeeping to the kitchen and…read morefloor staff you had all made us feel welcomed !! Special Thank you to Ollie and Shea managers at this resort who lead there employees well !! Maraming Salamat po Sa lahat! We will be back soon!! GOD bless you all ! Actually 10 stars!!!!

Lakawon Island Resort and Spa definitely wasn't on my to-go list to be honest. The pictures I've…read moreseen from blogs and other people's travel did not give the island justice! Too bad I waited until today to go here or I would have come back several times by now. How to Get There Lakawon is an islet north of Bacolod City. Travel time takes approximately 3 hours from the City of Smile. From Bacolod, you take the bus at Ceres North Terminal. We took the non-stop bus going to Cadiz City for php100.00/person. You'd know you're in Cadiz Viejo because the bus pass by and make a short stop there. From Cadiz Viejo, you take a 20 minute tricycle ride at P120.00 per trip. Once you're at the port going to Lakawon, you'll pay P280/person or if your group is less than 10, then you'll have to divide the P1,200.00 boat fare amongst yourself. We ended up paying P330.00/head plus additional P50.00/head for corkage because we brought chips and soda with us. The boat ride takes around 15 minutes and can be a bit scary especially if it's high-tide. Once in the island, go straight to the reception and pay either for the cottage or your overnight accomodation. We chose the Bamboo Huts at P2,500.00/night good for 4 people. There's an extra P300.00/head fee if your group is more than 4 so take note of it. Food and Tawhai Floating Bar The good thing with Lakawon Island Resort and Spa is that food is cheap and can feed a huge group. Servings are easily good for 3-4 people at P200-P250 per plate. 1.5 L soda is at P100.00 and a pack of Marlboro lights sells at P100.00 Tawhai Floating Bar is P250.00 with free juice and boat transfer from Lakawon to the bar. This basically covers up everything. I'd like to write more but I decided to take pictures of rates for activities you may want to try to show you how much you need to spend.

Please do not try to order their Paella. The paella here is ridiculously tasteless. Not only that…read moredoesn't deserve the almost $20 price for its taste, texture and food presentation. The seafood on their paella is only 1 piece of shrimp and 2 small pieces of mussel. I almost collapse when I taste it and can't take that I paid for it.Actually of their food is pricey. The only good thing about this place is the beach. Will Never go back again.

Great atmosphere. Amazing beach ! Must stay hotel in Boracay !!! I love this place and the people…read moreare here to make sure you are taken care of.