El Jardin De Zaida Managed by HII

The staff were pleasant and accommodating throughout, and we’re grateful to Mhai for setting up a beautiful birthday dinner for our grandmother, to Kevin for helping plan everything, and to Marvin for repeatedly taking our grandma to and from the resort in the golf cart. They tried their best to help. We understand the problems we raised were for upper management to resolve, but the price we paid didn’t feel worth the stay. We had booked rooms in the recently built hotel area for three nights for our grandmother’s 87th birthday. One room was promised a garden view, but construction around the hotel was still going on and the view was blocked by blue tarp. We heard work noise almost all day, including at night. In another room, the auto lock kept beeping even after we asked for new batteries, so we had to switch rooms. The room arrangements were also confusing. One room had five people but amenities for only three, while another had supplies for three despite having just two guests. We had to remind staff of the correct numbers each day. One room’s shower made a screeching noise whenever we turned it on, possibly because of the heater. It was distracting and unpleasant, and we felt we had to hurry through showers to stop it. Communication between staff seemed poor. Reception said breakfast at rodolfo's restaurant began at 6 am, but the restaurant staff said 7 am. On our second morning the buffet ran out of mushroom steak and fried egg. When we asked if they’d replenish it, they said it was gone because some guests had taken too much. That didn’t make sense to us, since guests shouldn’t be blamed for eating at a buffet.

We wanted somewhere to relax without an itinerary, and this was just the spot to recharge from a busy life. It’s a classy, high-end resort with a traditional Filipino feel. The hospitality, service, and food were all great. We met the owner, Ziada, who was very warm and accommodating. We were a family of three in a one-bedroom suite with a king-size bed, living room, bathroom, and Jacuzzi, spread across 100 sqm. Even with that much space, the maximum occupancy is two. Adding our third person cost 1,500 per night. Breakfast for two was included, with another 550 charged for the extra person. The food was so good that if the restaurant were closer to Metro Manila, we’d go back just to eat there. The spa was amazing. We booked the 90-minute full Alaga massage, and the sauna was included. We visited on a weekday and had the infinity pool to ourselves. When the lifeguard saw us coming, he switched on the small bubble fountain and brought us beach towels without being asked.

We chose El Jardin de Zaida for our anniversary weekend and had such a good time. Everyone was kind and helpful, and the guards even went out of their way to help us fix a flat tire. Thanks especially to Halen, Mhai, Owen, and the rest of the wonderful team for making our stay memorable. You’ve made us want to come back soon! 💚

The resort was calm during our weekday visit, with just us and a few other guests. We enjoyed our stay, and the kids had a great time. The property is beautiful and well maintained, with lush gardens, neat lawns, clean pools, plenty to do, and an on-site chapel. Our rooms were spacious and nicely decorated, breakfast was good, and the staff, especially at the front desk, were polite and helpful. Flies were the biggest problem. They were everywhere, including about 5-7 in our room. We also hired two masseuses. One didn’t give a proper hard massage, then didn’t check on our companion or offer any guidance afterward, unlike her husband, who got proper attention and instructions. A few smaller issues: there was no hairdryer, dental kits and laundry bags weren’t provided initially, the ceiling fans and water heater were tricky to use, some areas were dusty, the TV didn’t work, and the restaurant menu was limited and pricey.