Monday, 6 May 2019

Resort Review: Balesin Island Club - Costa del Sol (Polillo, Quezon)


 Date of Stay: May 6-7, 2019

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)
Location: *********
Rooms: ********
Condition and Cleanliness: *********
Staff Performance: *******
Room Comfort: ********
Food and Beverage: ********
Other Amenities: ********
Value for Money: ********

Costa del Sol

Casa Grande
Entrance arch
The charming Balesin Island hamlet of Costa del Sol, which literally translates to “Coast of the Sun,” draws  inspiration from the quaint, coastal towns within the province of Malaga of Southern Spain, features handsome Spanish colonial architecture with arched thresholds, imposing stucco walls and manicured courtyards.

Check out "Balesin Island Club"


Casas of Costa del Sol
Casas of Costa del Sol


Each of the suites and rooms in the six casas (Estepona, Fuengirola, Malaga, Marbella, Ronda and Torremolinos) opens up to a picturesque view of Lamon Bay and the Pacific Ocean.  We checked in at two luxurious rooms (11 and 12).


Room 11
Room 11

The room we checked in can accommodate up to 8 people, with a couch and 2 double beds on the first floor and 1 king-size bed on the loft. 

There were also two bathrooms.  Our veranda had a small dining set, daybed and a sofa set.

Costa del Sol is home to two beautiful, 5-ft. deep swimming pools that bookend each other - a black-tiled saltwater pool and a blue-tiled freshwater pool. 

Both are surrounded by sun loungers and parasols. There is no children’s pool.

Room 12

Casa Grande, the main signature dining facility, has a warm and cozy classical Spanish style interior. Its menu features Spanish favorites.  

Their selection of tapas includes tortilla de patatas (traditional Spanish omelet), callos a la Madrileña (ox tripe and chorizos in tomato sauce), tortillas de chorizo (Spanish omelet with chorizo) and  beef salpicao.  There are three types of paella – Valenciana (mixed seafood, chicken, ham and chorizo), Mallorquina (seafood on saffron rice) or arros negre (with baby prawns in squid ink).


Living Room. L-R: Bryan, Cheska, Kyle, Jandy, Grace and the author

Other items in the menu include almejas a la pobre (baby clams with crispy garlic and gravy sauce), gambas al ajillo  (river shrimp in garlic and olive oil with paprika), bacalao a la Vizcaina, and the always popular cochinillo asado (a suckling pig with tender, juicy meat and the crispiest, tastiest skin, order at least six hours ahead and good for 6 to 8 people). Jandy and I tried out the beef salpicado (beef tenderloin cubes in garlic and olive oil with paprika).


Interior of Casa Grande

All these can be enjoyed with a pitcher of sangria or with a bottle of Rioja from the restaurant’s extensive wine list.  

You can dine in one of the four uniquely designed private dining rooms—Vista de la Playa, Vista del Mar, Marbella Club, and Puerto Banús.


White sand beach of Costa del Sol

Balesin Island Club: Brgy. Balesin, Polillo 4339, Quezon.

Metro Manila Corporate Office: Alphaland Corporation, Alphaland Makati Place, 7232 Ayala Ave. Extn., 1209 Makati City, Metro Manila.  Tel: +63.2.5337.2031 and +63.2.5337.2055 loc 271 to 274 (Reservations). Fax: +63.2.5338.1231,  E-mail: info@alphaland.com.ph.  Website: www.balesin.com.

Saturday, 4 May 2019

Resort Review: Balesin Island Club - Phuket Village (Polillo, Quezon)


 Date of Stay: May 4-5, 2019

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)
Location: *********
Rooms: ********
Condition and Cleanliness: *********
Staff Performance: *******
Room Comfort: ********
Food and Beverage: ********
Other Amenities: ********
Value for Money: ********
 
Villa No. 6 at Phuket Village

The hamlet of Phuket Village, our home for two of the three nights we stayed on Balesin Island, is tucked away in the southernmost tip of the island.  We were checked in at Villa No. 6.  

Each Phuket villa is characterized by multiple roof tiers, undulating serpentine shapes, pointed finials reminiscent of grand Thai temples and blade-like roof projections which are all hallmarks of the rich Thai heritage.


Also check out "Resort Review: Balesin Island Club - Costa del Sol"
and "Balesin Island Club"

Interior of Villa No. 6

Day bed
Outdoor jacuzzi
Our Phuket villa, nestled in a lush green forest, are said to be similar in layout to Bali and Balesin Village villas with an outdoor deck, daybed, and lounge chairs and tables for relaxing and spectacular viewing of the sunrise at Lamon Bay and the the sunset at the Pacific Ocean side. This was an unplugged, technology-free stay as our villa had no internet of mobile phone signal.


Check out "Balesin Island Club - Bali Village" and "Balesin Island Club -Balesin Village"
Loungers at verandah
White sand beach at Phuket Village

Our large ensuite bathroom had no doors plus the clear glass enclosures of the water closet and shower gave no privacy either.  A nice touch though was the private outdoor heated jacuzzi. 

Veranda of Villa No. 6

The awe-inspiring Salathip, Phuket Village’s main dining area, reflects the style and quiet elegance of Thai culture with liberal use of wood and scaled roofs.   

It is adorned with a mix of Thai design elements such as Buddha statues and authentic Thai artifacts.  Internet access was available here.

Salathip Restaurant

Its traditional menu lists Thai favorites with a complex mixture of the distinguishable bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and hot flavors. 

From appetizers through dessert, the food is successful in delivering the vibrant tastes, lush textures, and warming tingle of spices that the cuisine is known for.

Reception Area

Its most popular house specialty dishes on the menu include tom yam goong (a shrimp soup with fresh herbs); fla neung manao (steamed fish with lemon sauce); pad Thai goong, everyone’s favorite stir-fried noodles with shrimp; tako (a Thai rice pudding topped with coconut cream); pad Thai, and keng deng gai.

Al fresco dining area

Diners here can either eat in the large airconditioned indoor dining room or dine al fresco, in the large, generous outdoor verandah or sala that overlooks an unusual black-tiled 25 m. long swimming pool, with a row of lounge recliners and parasols along the beach, and the sea. One can dine in privacy at the Hua Hin and Koh Samui rooms. Each can seat 6-8 persons.

Swimming pool

Balesin Island Club: Brgy. Balesin, Polillo 4339, Quezon.

Metro Manila Corporate Office: Alphaland Corporation, Alphaland Makati Place, 7232 Ayala Ave. Extn., 1209 Makati City, Metro Manila.  Tel: +63.2.5337.2031 and +63.2.5337.2055 loc 271 to 274 (Reservations). Fax: +63.2.5338.1231,  E-mail: info@alphaland.com.ph.  Website: www.balesin.com.