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.