Camp Rofelio Surfing Beach Resort

The location is good, right in front of the beach, and the place has plenty of space. The food was good, breakfast was included in the room package, and the mini fridge came in handy. The murals were beautiful and seemed better maintained than other parts of the property. The room needs more maintenance. Some floor tiles were peeling, the old floor mat and the replacement they gave us was torn, and the TV was useless because there was no signal. The water and pool smelled rusty. GLOBE had no signal at all, though the WiFi was good.

The pool was clean, well maintained, open until 10PM, and staff were filtering it early in the morning. There were plenty of chairs around the pool and beach for lounging. We also appreciated the free breakfast and coffee, with the usual Filipino spread of sinangag, egg, corned beef, and hotdog. It wasn't anything special, but free is still good. Staff were kind and approachable, and helped us late at night when we needed something. Our room was Botanical Hall on the second floor. We paid 3.6k for it rather than 3.1k for the third floor, mainly to have our own bathroom, but the room didn't meet expectations for the price. The walls and corners looked dark with what might have been mold or dust, the balcony was dusty and covered in cobwebs, and one pillow had a large dark spot. Toiletries hadn't been ready when we arrived. We walked with a staff member to the room and saw them spraying disinfectant, then bringing toiletries and towels. The bathroom was the biggest problem, though this may have been specific to our room. The water was salty, turned rust-colored at one point, and had low pressure. The shower head couldn't be hung, which made bathing difficult, and the room smelled strongly of sewage. WiFi barely worked in our room, which was a dead spot, and there was almost no phone signal, though that could be a general issue around Liwa. Food at the restaurant was pricey. There isn't much nightlife nearby. Most places, including the resort restaurant, were closed by about 8PM. We were there on a weekday, so weekends may be different. It could be hard to find food after dark, especially without a vehicle, since the streets had little or no lighting and felt sketchy. Buy food before 8PM if you can. The beach is geared toward surfers, with strong waves and a rocky shore, so it's not very swimming-friendly. Overall, the accommodation felt underwhelming for its price and cleanliness.

The staff were nice, especially Kuya/Ate Ara, and the pizza was amazing, though quite small. I wanted to try more food for dinner, but the restaurant had closed early, around 6:00 PM the previous day. Our visit was still a great experience, and I hope we can return to Camp Rofelio. The place itself is lovely, but there are a lot of extra charges. My son came back after trying to refill his ~22oz tumbler and told me they charged for water from the dispenser. I think water should be free for guests. There's also a 350 per head entrance fee and towels cost 100 each, so bring your own. The room felt a little pricey for what it offered. It was small and dark enough to feel suffocating, so we chose the tent for four instead. It was bigger and better, with a fan and light inside.

I've visited Camp Rofelio seven times, and it still feels special each time. The staff are warm and welcoming, always helping with a genuine smile. The views are panoramic, with lush greenery and fresh air that lift your mood. The facilities are clean and well maintained, and the big bonfire adds a lovely touch. It's become my go-to for a relaxing break or time with family and friends. Breakfast is free and delicious. You can swim, surf, or take banana boat rides, and the bar is good, though it's being renovated after a typhoon damaged part of it.