White Villas Resort

Breakfast was superb, and the staff were warm and friendly, always greeting us with a smile. Our spacious room had a veranda with views of the pool and beach, and thoughtful things like a laundry basket for used clothes and a sampayan to dry wet items. Everything else was well provided, though a hairdryer was missing. The beach view is lovely, but there were still remnants from the previous storm. I wish the area had been cleaned up so guests would be more likely to enjoy the shore and swim. Paliton Beach, only five minutes away, was spotless by comparison.

The staff were accommodating, the rooms were clean, and they could clean the room during your stay too. The food was good, especially breakfast, with sides, bread, and fruit, plus drinks, served buffet style. The only issue was the pool. I think they change the water once a week, hopefully, but I noticed what seemed like too much chlorine. Otherwise I'd have given it five stars.

The resort is okay, but the showers are too small and it definitely needs some upgrades. The Wi-Fi wasn't very reliable, as other travelers have mentioned. The beach side of the restaurant is an appealing spot, and some music there could give it a better vibe.

The renovated room at White Villas was clean, and we liked it. That was the one good part of the stay. The staff seemed lacklustre, didn't smile much, and were slow to answer on WhatsApp. The grounds need gardening to look clean. The beach was covered with seaweed and mud, making swimming impossible. The hotel's website mentions this, and it's not the owner's fault. Prices at the resort were far above those outside. A motorcycle cost 550/day compared with 350 pesos elsewhere, over 50% more. A one-hour massage was 950 pesos, while other studios charged 600 pesos, also over 50% more. It felt overpriced. The free breakfast included with the room booking was especially disappointing. Although many Westerners stay here, the breakfast seemed mainly intended for Filipinos. There were no cereals, whole grain bread beyond toast, yogurt, salami, or different cheeses. There weren't even fresh mangoes or pineapples, despite those being local. It was meager and downright pathetic. People have mentioned this in several reviews over the past years, but nothing seems to have changed. Why? The rooms are nice, but to me the experience makes this poor value for money. They're too expensive for what the resort offers, and there are cheaper, better options in San Juan. I don't regret coming once, but I won't return.