Hotel and Inn Review: Huanying Hotel (Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro)

Date of Stay: April 27-28, 2019

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *********

Rooms: *********

Condition and Cleanliness: **********

Staff Performance: *********

Room Comfort: **********

Food and Beverage: *****

Other Amenities: ******

Value for Money: ********

Huanying Hotel

Huanying Hotel, the newest budget hotel in Calapan (opened May 2017), has airconditioned rooms with electronic door lock system, 40" flat screen LED TV with cable channels, 8” mattresses with luxurious beddings and linens and very spacious and elegant bathroom with granite countertop, hot and cold water, rainshower head and free toiletries.

The Deluxe Twin Room (PhP1,800) comes with 2 twin-sized beds while the Deluxe Queen Room (PhP1,600) comes with one queen-sized bed.  Breakfast (Filipino and Continental) is included in the rates. 

The entrance to the hotel is at the ground floor but the Front Desk, reception  area and rooms are on the second floor.

Front Desk

The hotel also has a 24/7 standby generator and safe and secure parking is available.   Snacks, cold drinks and souvenir items are sold at the reception area.

The hotel also offers a variety of massage services (Signature Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Balinese Massage, Swedish Massage and Hand and Foot Massage).

Deluxe Twin Room

The rooms were chic, very clean and nice while the staff was very friendly.  The rooms and bathrooms are windowless so don't expect any natural lighting and ventilation.

The chicken longanisa meal (with brewed coffee) we had for breakfast was tasty.  Breakfast was served inside our rooms.  The advertised free WIFI here was spotty at best.  

Located in the heart of the city, it is near the Calapan Public Market and is very accessible to different modes of transportation.

Huanying Hotel: 8 Juan Luna St., Brgy.San Vicente Central, Calapan City 5200. Tel: (043) 288-8499. Mobile numbers: (0945) 269-7513 (Globe) and (0949) 440-1168 (Smart). E-mail: info@huanyinghotel.ph. Website: www.huanyinghotel.com.ph.

Resort Feature: La Hacienda Naujan (Oriental Mindoro)

La Hacienda Naujan - Villa Hermana

This picturesque, 26-hectare Balinese inspired private resort, once a family hideaway for personal healing, meditation and retreat, was formerly known as Fitta's Eden Resort and now has themed private villas with personal butler services. 

Fritta's Eden - the two-storey family house (photo: La Hacienda Facebook page)

The two 25 sq. m. single-detached villas (Kalaw and Dalupan, good for four people, PhP7,200/night) and two 30 sq. m. duplex with loft (Avocado and Champaca, good for eight persons, PhP9,000/night), are all fitted with modern furnishings with touches of traditional Filipino elements. 

Fitta’s Eden, the resort’s signature two-storey, 2-pax  family house (PhP10,000/night), has a well-manicured garden and a balcony overlooking verdant farm and mountains. 

 

The swimming pool with outdoor spa and sauna

Each non-smoking airconditioned room comes with a 32" flat-screen TV and media player.  

The private ensuite bath has a hot and cold shower and bidet with bath robes, slippers and free toiletries provided.

The three-tiered circular fountain

The pathway leading to Villa Hermana, the main house and the first and original structure of the resort, is adorned with lovely Balinese statues. 

Villa Hermana houses the registration area, lobby, entertainment and game room (darts, billiards, etc.). In front is a beautiful, three-tiered circular fountain. Free WiFi and private parking is available on site.

Lobby of Villa Hermana

The huge outdoor swimming pool, one of the main attractions of the resort, has an outdoor spa (Facessence) and sauna. 

Plaza Nanos, a stand-alone function hall, is a good venue for intimate weddings or parties. 

One of the villas (photo: La Hacienda Facebook page)

There’s also a vast garden, a fine dining restaurant (Casa Comida), a communal lounge/TV room, videoke and a private beach area (a 15-min. drive from the resort). 

Horses, goats and sheep roam unrestrained around the ranch. The resort also offers free use of bicycles, safety deposit boxes, mini golf, shuttle service (surcharge) and massage.

Plaza Nanos (photo: La Hacienda Facebook page)

La Hacienda Naujan:  San Agustin-Bancuro Rd., Brgy. Bancuro, Naujan 5204. Mobile number: (0999) 996-3611. Website: www.lahacienda.com.ph.  Coordinates:   13°16'33"N   121°18'34"E.

Resort Review: Southdrive Beach Resort (Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro)

Date of Stay: April 25-26, 2019

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: *******

Rooms: ******

Condition and Cleanliness: *******

Staff Performance: *******

Room Comfort: ******

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: ******

Value for Money: ******

Southdrive Beach Resort

This beachfront, Jano family-owned resort started out as a small restaurant called South Drive Grill (then the only restaurant in Bulalacao) opened on May 19, 2006.  Now a full-fledged 5 year old resort, it had its soft opening last September 18, 2014. They also have South Drive in the town center, which is 1.5 km. away from the beachfront. 

The resort has a variety of spacious airconditioned rooms with private baths.  The A-frame Glamping House,(PhP1,800/night) has 2 single beds. The uphill Lyra (PhP2,000/night), the standard room with 1 double and 1 single bed (with pull out), accommodates a maximum of 4 persons and has a breathtaking view of Bulalacao Bay. The beachfront Irral (PhP2,400/night), the de luxe room with 2 double beds, accommodates a maximum of 4 persons. ​All room rates are inclusive of breakfast for 2.

The uphill Lyra Cottages

Alyssa (PhP3,200/night), with 2 double and 2 single beds (or 3 double beds), has a great view of Bualacao Bay and accommodates a maximum of 6 persons.  

Balai Rosa (PhP3,400/night), the cottage were I stayed in near the beach, has 3 double beds and accommodates a maximum of 6 persons.  All room rates are inclusive of breakfast for 4. 

Balai Rosa

The cottage we stayed in was well kept and very clean and the bathroom was modern a, well maintained and bigger than the usual backpacking resorts. 

Water is a bit difficult but, at least, there is water unlike other resorts.  Housekeeping is available, upon request, at the Front Desk. Brownouts are said to be common at night but, luckily, none occurred during our overnight stay.

The Glamping House

The restaurant/pavilion, open 7 AM - 9 PM, serves Filipino dishes (between PHP120 to 390 per dish) for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Early breakfasts may be arranged. 

The breakfast we had was really great and big on serving. We had a choice of lamsilog (lamoyo, sinangag and fried egg), longsilog (longganisa, sinangag and fried egg), tocilog (tocino, sinangag and fried egg) and baconsilog (bacon, sinangag and fried egg).  The pavilion is also used for seminars and meetings (Php3,500/day, 8 AM - 5 PM).

The restaurant/pavilion

The resort offers kayaking, airport/city pickup (available on request and arranged 3 days in advance), boat rentals (PhP4,500, maximum of 10 pax), beach volleyball and also arrange island hopping tours and tricycle rides to the town.  The beige sand beach, at this slice of heaven tucked away at the southern tip of Oriental Mindoro, is the place be for beautiful sunrises (the province faces the east).

The resort's beige sand beach

Sunrise at Bulalacao Bay

It is a very steep climb and descent, from the national road and the parking area, to the cottages below (especially the beachfront cottages), not something the unfit, handicapped or aged would relish.  Climb slowly and descend carefully.  

The resort is a 3.5 to 4-hour drive from Calapan City and a 52-km. (one-hour) van ride from San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.  Bulalacao Roro Port is a 5-minute walk from the resort (you can also take a tricycle).

L-R: Mr. Rey Gabriel (DOT), Mr. Kristian Marfori (blogger), Mr. Mark Osorio (Living Asia Channel), 
Mr. David Jeffrey Francisco (Living Asia Channel), Mr. Sherwin A. Cuasay 
(Senior Tourism Operations Officer) and the author

South Drive Beach Resort: National Road, Sitio Tulali, Brgy. Maujao, Bulalacao, 5214 Oriental Mindoro.  Mobile numbers: (0998) 863-3424 and (0977) 813-0732.  E-mail: alyssajfeustel.southdrive@gmail.com.  Website: www.southdrivebeachresort.com.

Restaurant Review: Vencio’s Garden Seafood Café (Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro)

Entrance to Vencio's Garden Seafood Cafe

During our 4-day Media Familiarization Tour, Vencio’s Garden Seafood Café was to be our usual watering hole as well as our venue for interviewing Gov. Alfonso Umali, Jr.  Opened in 2008 by Ms. Mayvel Ortega, it occupies the first floor of a two-storey 377 sq. m. building, with hotel rooms (8 single and 2 double rooms) at the second floor.

Providing an awesome ambiance to the place are statues of Buddha, Queen Nefertiti, the Queen of Sheba, Tutankhamen and many more. 

Their food was very delicious and reasonably priced and the staff was very accommodating. 

Vencio's Garden Seafood Cafe

On our first day, we really had fun watching the waiters singing and dancing while we were feasting on their Assorted Seafood and Meat Platter (tilapia, shrimp, salted egg, pusit, tahong, chicken, pork vegetable and crab, PhP800).  WIFI inside was also strong.  

For dinner, we tried Vencio's Binalot sa Dahon (Fried Liempo sa Alamang and Chicken Caldereta,  Regular PhP125 and Special PhP135).

Dining area

They offer Filipino, international and Asian cuisine and their specialties include Lechon Sisig (PhP160), Crispy Pata (PhP750), Talong Binagoongan (PhP150), Beef Caldereta (PhP300), Sinigang na Hipon (PhP349), Lechon Kare Kare (PhP357),  Shabu-Shabu (PhP749) and many more.  

For breakfast (6 - 9 AM), try out the crispy biya (fried dried fish) with egg and rice (PhP159), Breakfast Sandwich (bacon, lettuce and tomato, PhP150), French Toast with Chips (PhP150) and, for merienda, they offer the famous suman with latik.  They give free flowing brewed coffee.

Bar counter

The restaurant had nice landscaping and interiors and is a great venue for parties and celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, baptismal, reunions, corporate events and seminars. 

The café also has a videoke and offers catering services and rentals.  They also have an organic farm and here you can buy fresh harvested mushrooms and organic cucumber as well as ginger turmeric tea and Banayko honey.

Assorted Seafood and Meat Platter

A selection of desserts

Turmeric Tea

Vencios Garden Seafood Cafe: J.P. Rizal St., Brgy. Tawiran, Calapan City 5200.  Tel: (043) 288-2073. Mobile numbers: (0918) 957-2855, (0919) 891-8477 and (0917) 960-7875.. E-mail‎: ‎venciosgarden@yahoo.com.