Villa Marinelli Bed and Breakfast

The view of Taal Lake is genuinely nice, and the place has a pleasant old-mansion feel. If you want an affordable villa-inn with a pool, it may be worth considering, but there were quite a few problems during our stay. Water pressure in the rooms was very low, and the pool-area shower had no water at all. When they changed the pool water, worms came out from between the tiles. There aren’t any convenience stores within walking distance either. The room called “Deluxe” didn’t feel deluxe. Its bathroom tiles were dirty, the toilet was old and yellowish, and the shower head was worn out. They do provide free toothbrushes, shampoo, and soap. The breakfast and other food were nothing special, more like carinderia-style meals with tiny portions that seemed focused on profit. The towels were extremely thin, poor quality, and clearly overused. They charge ₱80 for extra or replacement towels.

The garden view was the only thing I liked. Our room was okay, but the bathroom badly needs renovation, and I didn’t dare use the shower. I’d expected a lot from this hometelle because it’s Italian-owned, so I was very disappointed. I woke at 4am to people talking loudly outside our bathroom window. Then at 6 am, people in the lobby were chatting loudly, without considering that guests might still be asleep. Nothing else about the place stood out in a good way.

The location is excellent, right beside Starbucks, with a view and in the city center. We paid around P2,300 a night through booking.com. The hotel is showing its age, but it’s still maintained well. The food and housekeeping could be better. For the price and location, I’d stay again ☺️

The room was near the main road, so traffic noise was loud. That’s my only criticism, otherwise I’d have given five stars. The place was clean and tidy, the bed was comfortable, and the staff were lovely. Breakfast was nice enough too. Having Starbucks and some good restaurants within a three-minute walk was a welcome bonus.