Canyon Woods Resort Club

The cool Taal Lake view and the climate made the trip enjoyable. It was only a few hours' drive from Manila, so we came for a quick two-day break. A car is handy for getting around, though they have vehicles you can hop on too. A few amenities could use work, but there's still plenty to enjoy.

The Champorado was the best part of breakfast. The other food was just okay, a basic Filipino breakfast. We stayed at the hotel, which was wholesome, but it needs upgrades in a timely way. It seems its glory days may be behind it, though the place has potential to compete with other developments. A redevelopment, fresh marketing, and accommodation concepts could help it improve a lot. If I had plenty of money, I might offer to redevelop it.

The hotel and restaurant staff were the standout, all friendly and accommodating. The hotel and clubhouse are okay, but a lot of the other areas look run down. Breakfast at the buffet was pretty meh, and the climate didn't feel all that relaxing for a place like this. Basic amenities were missing or limited, and the jacuzzi wasn't working.

There are plenty of other places with nice views and pools for about the same price, so I'd go elsewhere. These guys are liars, with hidden fees and policies that seem designed to mark you as a no-show if you say you won't arrive on the first day. They don't even tell you the acceptable arrival window. They say they have policies but don't know what's listed, and seem not to realize that a secret policy is void because both sides need to know and agree to it for it to be binding.