Makiling Onsen Hotel

The staff were really nice and helpful. Parking was available, payment could be made in cash or gcash, and they required a refundable P500 room deposit. Our room came with dinner, breakfast, and a private onsen, which they opened for us after dinner. Service was pretty efficient, and our food arrived about 20 minutes after ordering. We checked in around 8 pm. I'd been in touch about our arrival time and hoped the AC would be switched on before we got there. It was especially hot in Los Baños, the room felt stuffy, and I couldn't open the windows because of insects. They weren't obligated to turn on the AC, but it took a while for the room to cool down. Dinner choices were limited to rice meals. I ordered grilled orange chicken, but it didn't taste of orange. In the morning they called at 9 without us asking, to remind us about breakfast. The buffet had adobo, rice, and pansit bihon. The pandesal was already cold and hard, so heating it or having a microwave would have helped. Juice and water were available, while the coffee and creamer came in sachets. The hotel didn't seem to take steps to reduce plastic waste. The onsen was an interesting experience, though summer may not be the best season for it.

The place looks lovely inside, and walking around the grounds had a nice atmosphere. The onsen itself looked good too, including the private room we used, but the water was barely warm, not even properly lukewarm. If you're coming for a hot onsen, this may feel like a waste of money. Our room for four was about 30 sqm and cost P6.5k with a private onsen, which felt expensive for what we got. The design could be better, though the amenities were good, the shower was nice, the bathroom clean, and the shampoo and soap smelled great. The beds were very clean and comfortable, but the blankets could be thicker. Food was just okay. The white mocha chocolate drink was so sweet I couldn't drink it. Staff were very nice, but on the phone they told us the pool was under renovation and that we had to rent a room. When we arrived, the pool was working. It felt like they may have said that to make us rent a room. Their service would otherwise be a 4/5, but the dishonesty brings it down to 2/5. Overall, 2.5/5 stars.

We had a nice overnight family stay at Makiling Onsen Hotel, and we'd like to come back. The facilities are dated, but clean and well kept. Covered parking was a godsend in the heat, and the staff were easy to talk to and accommodating. Our spacious family room had two single beds, a double bed, and a sala set with a two-seater, two single seats, and a decent sized coffee table. It came with a private onsen, which I loved using as much as I could. There was also an electric kettle, mini fridge, blowdryer, four mugs for the complimentary coffee, toiletries, and a clothes bin. The AC seemed well maintained and its remote buttons all worked. We didn't try the TV. Everything was clean, including the sheets, towels, robes, mats, and the toilet and bath. We saw no signs of pests. That made it much easier to relax in the bath, which matters a lot at an onsen hotel. Room service uses a wall phone intercom, which worked without trouble. The wait for orders was reasonable, and the food and drinks tasted good. The kids liked their meals. A bigger pitcher of water would be helpful in this heat. The pool area gets strong afternoon glare, though there are places at the deeper end to get out of it. There were sometimes puddles by the poolside dining and drinking area, probably from splashes, but they weren't a big bother. The harder part was the highway noise late into the night. Since Makiling Onsen Hotel sits right beside the road, motorbikes and jeepneys were jarring, and the bath windows faced straight onto the highway.

We got a good massage for Php 800. Even though it was late, they still contacted a therapist to come in for us. Let reception know right away if you want to use the Onsen, since it takes time to get ready. I'm giving four stars because they forgot to explain the amenity schedules, including the Onsen and restaurant.