Resort Review: Elysia Beach Resort (Donsol, Sorsogon)

Date of Stay: March 28-29, 2023

 

RATING (Scale of 1 to 10)

Location: ********

Rooms: *******

Condition and Cleanliness: *******

Staff Performance: ********

Room Comfort: *******

Food and Beverage: *******

Other Amenities: ******

Value for Money: ******

 

Elysia Resort Hotel

After our lunch at Casa Almei Beach Resort and visit to Panumbagan Sandbar, we returned to Pilar Port and, upon arrival, boarded our coaster for the 15-km. (25-min.) drive to the neighboring town of Donsol where we were to check in at the beachfront, charming and peaceful, 3-star Elysia Beach Resort, located near (610 m.) the Whale Shark Interaction Center. (a 1-min. drive). 

Check out "Panumbagan Sandbar” and “Casa Almei Beach Resort”

 

Room 14

Room balcony

We checked in at some of their 15 comfortable, beachfront, airconditioned and non-smoking rooms (Deluxe, Super Deluxe) which were designed with a mix of tropical theme and contemporary style.rooms.  Each has a 24” LED flat screen cable TV, bar-refrigerator, ceiling fan, mosquito net, bamboo furniture, a balcony/terrace and private, moderate size  ensuite bathroom with hot and cold shower and hair dryer.  All rooms have direct access to the centrally located garden and the lovely and well-maintained outdoor rectangular swimming pool (open from 7 AM to 9 PM).

 

The centrally located swimming pool

The 25 sq. m., Deluxe Room (Php3,150) has a double bed and sleeps 2 while the 25 sq. m. Super Deluxe Room (Php3,550) has a double bed and a single bed and sleeps 3.  There is no internet in the rooms but it is available in the restaurant and some public areas (very slow though).  They don’t accept credit cards but there is an ATM nearby (they don’t always work though, so always bring cash).

 

Front Desk

It also has a limited hour (6 AM – 9 PM) Front Desk (with safe deposit boxes), a restaurant, cafeteria, bar/lounge (with a good selection of drinks on offer) and a gift shop.  The adjacent private beach was not spectacular (don’t expect white sand) but there are plenty of nice lounge chairs, cabanas and comfortable hammocks to chill in plus there are great sunsets.

 

Beachfront cabana

Sun loungers

They offer room service, currency exchange, concierge, luggage storage, tour assistance, airport transfers on request (additional fee, 6 AM – 9 PM) and valet parking.  They also organize diving trips, firefly watching tours and whale shark encounters. The resort was the brainchild of Korean couple Eric and Viki Sy Eun.  Currently, Eric is a WWF ((World Wildlife Fund) volunteer and part of a research team for whale shark photo ID project. 

Check out “Donsol Firefly Watching Tour” “Whale Shark Interaction”

 

Restaurant

The customer service was good and the well-trained staff was genuinely pleasant, very helpful and friendly.  The hotel was also very clean and the breakfast (a good selection of Continental and Filipino) at the restaurant was tasty, with generous servings.  However, breakfast (6 – 9 AM) is not included in the room rate and a surcharge is applied (Php195-200/pax).  The resort was not high end luxury but it does have the potential to be one of the best if not the best in Donsol.  Power was said to go off from time to time in the town, but the resort does have a generator.

 

The author (second from right) at the restaurant

The resort is located 3.8 kms. (2.3 mi.) from Peralta Park, 3.05 kms. from the Astillero of Donsol, 5.6 kms. from Dancalan Beach and 30.25 kms. from Legaspi Airport.

A hammock by the beach

Elysia Resort Hotel: Aplaya Rd., Brgy. Pangpang, Donsol, 4715 Sorsogon. Mobile number: (0917) 547-4466.  E-mail: elysis@live.co.kr. Website: www.elysia-donsol.com. 

How to Get There: Donsol is located 489.7 kms. (an 11.5–hr. drive), via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26, from Manila and 78.3 kms. (a 1.75–hr. drive), via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26 and the Putiao-Pilar-Donsol Rd., from Sorsogon City. From Donsol town proper, the resort is an 8.2-km./15-min. drive. 

Sorsogon Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice. 

Donsol Tourism Office: Visitor’s Center, Brgy. Dancalan, Donsol 4715, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (0917) 137-5134. E-mail: donsoltourismoffice@gmail.com. Facebook: https: www.facebook.com/DonsolTourism/