A quiet and homey beach getaway 2 hours away from Manila
Venue: Casitas Ysabel (Anilao, Batangas)
Price: Mid to Above Average
Proximity to Manila: 2–2.5 hr drive
Taking a break from work can be quite difficult so I find myself settling for quick weekend (or three-day) getaways from the city. And what can also be difficult is choosing where to go, with the multitude of choices we have in this country. An online research can give you a whole lot of options, and you can never be too sure about your choice. Friends’ recommendations are a good resource. Or blogs. So I am making this fairly descriptive, informative yet straightfroward.
Price:
I paid about 4,600 Php per night for a room; it’s not cheap but I’d say it’s adequately priced. If you’re not traveling on a budget and want something nice and quiet, this is perfect for you.
General ambiance:
Formerly a family resthouse, they opened the place to the public in 2007 and I’d say it’s well-maintained. It gives off a laid back, rustic yet very homey feel and it can be really quiet most of the time. It also feels a bit secluded, as it seems to be surrounded by a mini-forest, so you’re better off bringing your own vehicle as it can be difficult to access through public transport.
Upkeep:
Well-maintained, and they got staff all over the place to attend to your needs. Some of these staff can seem a bit unwelcoming, frowning or stoic, but don’t let that get into you. Overall, I think they’ve done a great job maintaining the place.
Facilities:
· I think they only have about 10 rooms in this place, so the number of guests are quite controlled. It does not seem to get rowdy or noisy.
· They have a nice dining area, where tables are labeled with guests’ names.
· They have three tiny pools, perfect for late night drinks. These are warm pools by the way, which I like.
· An elevated bamboo deck by the sea (again, not sure what this is called); they got a common toilet and shower area in here as well — all clean.
· They have a big covered space, probably used for events or an outdoor yoga class
· They got massage rooms and cottages as well (will probably try this next time I visit)
Food:
Breakfast comes with the room charge; I paid 450 per additional meal (lunch/dinner). It’s not fancy restaurant grade food — but it’s the sort of meticulously prepared home cooking — Filipino comfort food that you will love; meals usually come with a soup, main course (they give you options e.g. pork or chicken), and dessert (usually jelly or banana fritters).
The beach:
They don’t have a beach — but they do have a bamboo-made deck (not sure what you call it) by the sea, where you could just hang out, chill, drink beer. The water’s really clean but you have swim out a bit because the area close to shore is quite rocky. Seems like a perfect spot for snorkelling.
Summary:
This is such a great experience and I’d definitely come back to this place. I will miss the nice and quiet ambiance, it just felt so calm, homey and comforting. I’d say every thing in here is well thought of, like I said, it’s like a weekend visit to granny’s house.
Cons:
Don’t get me wrong — I loved the place, but things to improve on:
The wifi connection is almost dysfunctional though, I’m not too sure if the connection just happened to act up during our visit or if it’s the permanent case. And again — not accessible to public commuters (may or may not be a disadvantage, depends on how you roll with travel).
