Argao Royal Palms Serviced Villas

The ocean views stretch around you, and the decor is beautiful. It feels quite exclusive, and the service was excellent. Maayo has clearly put effort into freshening the place up for short stays. The restaurant serves locally sourced produce, though ingredients seem to run out often, whether because of the suppliers or the inventory. The pool and rooms aren’t far apart, but the heat in the morning and afternoon makes the one-minute shuttle feel necessary.

We left without staying. The villa was described as serviced, but it had no cooktop or dishes, and there was no shop, bar, or restaurant apart from breakfast. There wasn’t even Wi-Fi, and we couldn’t find tours or much else to do. The staff were kind and helpful, and they arranged a car to take us somewhere else, but the location is far from everything and the town didn’t seem to offer much either. We booked at the last minute hoping for some quiet time, and the place may suit families with a rental car and their own supplies. For the nightly price, though, our money felt completely wasted. I wouldn’t recommend it to the general traveler.

The staff were cheerful and accommodating, and the rooms had clean, crisp sheets with a nautical look I liked. The pool was about a five-minute walk from the rooms and villas, though you could call Reception for a pickup. A lifeguard was always at the pool. Dinner and breakfast buffets were okay, and you can bring your own food too. A few things to keep in mind: the wooden floors carry footsteps to the room below, and when we visited on Sunday the restaurant was closed for dinner, with no à la carte option. Bring snacks if you get hungry between meals. The poolside tiles are slippery, so watch children and don’t let them run. The beach was fine, but the shoreline wasn’t very clean. Waze didn’t show the right entrance and sent us to the Argao Royal Palm entrance, where a guard redirected us. Still, it’s a nice place for a quick weekend breather.

We held our bequeathal here and had a great night, even though the buildings were new and improvised. The food service fell short of what we expected, though. Some of us weren’t allowed a second serving even with plenty of food left after everyone had eaten.