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.

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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).

Also check out “Resort Review: BalesinIsland Club – Phuket Village”

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.