October was really toxic for me, no, let’s call it hectic instead, because my hosting load was unbelievably heavy since October 1. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely grateful for the blessings that came my way, it’s just that it was taking its toll on me, physically. So we decided to get away for the weekend, just an overnight trip, and booked ourselves at Acuatico in San Juan, Batangas. We’ve tried many resorts there, Tivona, Balai, Virgin, and we’ve always wanted to try Acuatico but they were always fully booked. Finally there was an opening, and we took it.
This was our cottage. Even from the outside, it looked really nice. It had 2 floors, with it’s own balcony, the bathroom downstairs and the bedroom upstairs. The room we got was good for 4, but since it was the only room available, the other queen-sized bed was left unslept in. Here’s our room, the view from opposite ends:
The rooms are quaint and cozy, not luxurious like the high-end resorts, but very much comfortable. I just like the unique way the cottage was designed, very odd, but in a good way. One thing though, there was free internet available in the rooms, but the server was down, so I wasn’t able to avail of it. Not really their fault, it’s just a downer if you’re expecting to enjoy free wi-fi. And another thing, because the resort is really small, noise management is a bit of a problem. Because one group was having a drinking session at the bar, we could hear every guffaw, every rowdy conversation they were drunkenly exchanging. It was okay when the TV was on, but once we turned it off, the inuman noise was a bit inescapable. Thank goodness I was drowsy, so sleep came easy despite the noise.
The resort’s crowning glory is it’s sprawling swimming pool. It’s a water-lover’s wet dream! It’s got 3 “levels”, one for kids, the other for the bar, and the last, an infinity pool facing the sea. The pool is surrounded by the cottages, so technically all the rooms are poolside. We spent half the time in the salty sea water, and half the time soaking in the pool. Here’s are the 2 views, one facing the bar, the other facing the sea:
The food is okay; not bad, but not great. But what really impressed me in this resort is the service. I really give it my highest marks! I mean, everyone was really waiting on us hand and foot, and even before you had a chance to ask for something, they were already there to assist you. The staff was always asking if you need anything, they have good dispositions, and generally courteous, friendly and eager to please. It’s actually rare to find such good all-around service outside of the big Palawan resorts, so it was refreshing to find great service in a small resort like Acuatico. We really enjoyed our couple of days in the water, as typhoon Juan threatened the country. The price is not expensive, but it ain’t cheap either. But for me, worth visiting if you’re a weekend warrior looking for a little pocket paradise a couple of hours drive away from Manila.
