Laiya Riviera by Yemaya powered by Cocotel

The staff were pleasant and accommodating, and the place felt quiet and secure. Parking is limited, and the road into the resort is narrow enough for just one vehicle at a time. When we were getting ready for lunch, there were a lot of flies around, though I’m not sure where they were coming from.

The beach was the only good part for me. I was here for a company teambuilding event and didn’t expect much, but still left disappointed. Finding the entrance was tricky, through a very narrow street that could be difficult for larger cars, and parking is limited, so arrive early. When we got to our room, staff were still cleaning. The staff member left without saying we could come in, and that was my only interaction with them. The room was clean, but had no ventilation and its only window seemed covered with paper, so there was no natural light. It contained only two beds, with no side table, TV, or trash bin. For the rate we got, that was disappointing. The tiny toilet didn’t look clean, had no bin, and the mirror was broken, which seemed dangerous (see the pic). The plumbing water smelled so bad I wasn’t sure it was safe even to gargle with, so bring plenty of bottled water. No toiletries were provided, not even towels, tissue, soap, or small toothpaste. The food was mediocre too: poorly cooked rice and vegetables that were almost raw, with a soil-like taste. The buffet selection wasn’t much better. The event sound system was so bad we wished we’d used China-made speakers. The next day’s handoff to arriving guests was messy, with some knocking on company rooms before 12noon. The administration doesn’t seem able to run the resort well or communicate properly with the team.

The beach had lots of large stones that could hurt swimmers, and I didn’t feel the place was safe. There was no parking, the management seemed disorganized, and the staff were too. Our rooms weren’t ready, yet we were still expected to leave on time the next day without any consideration. We had to ask for a table and a water dispenser. There was no fridge despite being told there would be one, and no kitchen near our rooms. The upstairs floor was noisy. No trash bin, no TV, and no pool either.

The wide beach made it easy for everyone to spread out, even during the busy height of summer, and my daughter enjoyed the water and learned a few basic swimming strokes. The long coastline and picturesque views made for memorable, IG-worthy pictures. The water wasn’t very clear, though, and rocks underfoot hurt. The hotel has gated beach access and 24-hour security. Its rustic grounds have lots of trees and ample shaded parking once you get inside, but the approach is through narrow streets, and there were bugs around. Our room was clean, with fresh linens and towels, though sand was hard to keep out of the room and t/b. The bathroom water clogged, but staff fixed it on day 2. Staff were attentive to our requests and easy to reach at the nearby admin office or by phone. Special thanks to Grace. We chose Laiya Riviera because we needed a beachfront place where we could bring food for a family member with strict dietary needs. They also provided cooking amenities, which helped us avoid eating out too much. Breakfast was simple Filipino food, decent and served hot and on time, between 7:30 and 8:00 am. The room for four cost 11k for 3d/2n, which felt pricey given we booked more than a month ahead. I also didn’t like having to pay 100 percent of the room fee online at booking, with no partial payment option. Still, it was a great family stay.