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The way to Casa Amara is rough and the travel time from Manila takes at least 3 hours but the fatigue and the treacherous road was most definitely worth it.
Upon arrival, we were given welcome drinks. Everyone was friendly and accomodating. I loved how homey the place felt.
We booked the sunrise villa which can accomodate 10 guests. There are 2 king sized beds, 1 queen, and 2 sofa beds. We struggled to fit 2 people on each sofa bed so we had to request for additional matresses which costs 1,000 pesos. Basic toiletries and towels were included. There are 2 TV sets and a wifi connection. The wifi speed is acceptable at 20+ mbps and it was a lifesaver since cell signal from any carriers are virtually non existent. The sunrise villa has a jaccuzi and a private pool that are exclusive to guests staying in the villa. There is an infinity pool on the upper level that is open for anyone staying in the resort. We were not able to see any sunrise or sunset because of the cloudy and rainy weather but the beach view was amazing!
We paid 1,800 pesos per person per day for the food. Breakfast and lunch included platters for sharing while dinner consisted of a 4 course meal for each person. The presentation and the taste was amazing! We pretty much loved everything that was served to us. The quantity of the servings are generous. Each food was definitely prepared with passion because both our mouths and eyes were fed.
We had to hike on a rough road to get to the beach. The descent was fine but the return to the resort definitely challenged our legs. The hike lasts 10-15 minutes each way. The sea is pristine and clear. There are a lot of rocks and corals so swimming without an aqua shoes is pretty much impossible. It was not crowded when we went there so we pretty much had the beach for ourselves. The local government and the owners in the area need to work together to develop the path to the beach in order to make it easier for tourists to get there.
Overall, we loved our stay. The weather was bad but we still made the most out of our stay. The views were breathtaking and the service we received was great. We will definitely consider going back!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I had a great time staying at this hotel. The resort and the beach are nice. We had this place almost exclusive to ourselves. The hotel served full course meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) which were all tasty. The only thing that needs improvement is the toiletries that the hotel provides to guests. They are very limited and substandard.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ahhhh paradise. The view from our room is the best and most relaxing. I also love the pool side because u can see the beach and forest part of place. Also also, i love the jacuzzi. The staffs were very attentive and helpful. The owner is kind.
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Date of stay: March 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Watch out for this place. Pretty much disappointing that all was paid and confirmed for our offsite office activities and come the day of our trip, all hell broke loose. I have not experienced anything far worst of Hotel Staff saying they cannot do anything about it, when all THE MESS WAS DONE BY THEM?
The reason you go out for an offsite activities is to avoid the unnecessary stress, now a days, technology ensures that these are avoided, which we did, confirmed room accommodations, got written confirmation of allotment, paid as agreed and BOOM, OWNER double booked rooms that were assigned to us?? We tried talking sense to their staff to contact their owner, and the manager on site, just disappeared. NO sense of accountability.
Where did we end up sleeping at after paying for a high end room? Let me tell you about it.. slept on a floor with a make shift bedding, pillows that were made of air and .. drum roll,the use of a common bathroom and washroom! You guessed right, slept in a conference room, turned BUNKER!
Small business starts to falter when owners get greedy. Mark my word, everything will be downhill once you treat your customers like this. And this is where it starts.
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Date of stay: August 2017
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I went back to Casa Amara this year because I had a lovely time with my friends there last year. But this time around, I’m disappointed. I booked 2 rooms (we were 2 couples) but when we got there the person in the lobby didn’t have an idea about my booking, she only knew a booking under my name, she had to read my message exchange with Casa Amara for her to know my exact booking details. She even suggested that the 4 of us stay in 1 room, which annoyed me because I booked 2 rooms. Anyhow, I think they were fully booked so one of the rooms they gave us was supposedly new, and better, and I heard from their staff that we were the first ones to use the room, but this room was disappointing! No shower and heater, not even a water pail in sight , there was no trash can, the faucet had a leak, and the AC was so small it didn’t really do much to cool up the room. They tried to make amends by giving us a water pail and an electric fan, but it’s kinda funny because the electric fan they gave was so weak it didn’t do much at all.
Also their wifi connection - i think it was a prepaid pocket wifi they are using - was always on “insufficient balance” so aside from having no signal in the area you really can’t surf the net.
Anyway, the view is still awesome, you can’t take that away from Casa Amara. The place is beautiful and has a lot of potential. I just wish they would improve their quality of service.
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Date of stay: November 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The in road from the highway is pretty tight and partially uncemented. Be very aware of the signs and directions or you might get lost. It took us 3.5 hours from Manila. We got room 2 and has a beautiful view of the ocean with a glass sliding door opening to a smallish patio. Ac, tv, hot water all available. Room 4 has a additional view of the pool though. Food is very decent considering the area. Free water is available by the dining area. Large family area beside it maximising the ocean view and breeze. To get to the beach you have to walk down to it on gravel road which may be slippery in some places. Pretty steep if not accustomed to walking. It’s 5 minutes down with 3 turns and maybe 15 minutes up if you don’t stop. They are planning to have a shuttle to go up and down but as of now none yet. The beach itself is not white. Must use aqua slip on shoes as it’s pretty rocky and can easily slip or get cut on the shored shells. It is shallow and doesn’t drop off. Has very cool rock formations on the right side that make awesome pictures if done right. And snorkelling is a treat as the corals and fishes can easily be seen but the sea has to be calm. The shallows and corals and rocks will be dangerous in strong currents. WiFi is also very weak in the area as well as smart and sun lines. TM and globe has bit better connection. Homey, restful, clean pool, friendly staff, welcoming owners, pretty secluded beach, cool rock formations, free water and decent food. Will go back, maybe when the beach shuttle is there already.
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you're getting tired of city life or simply want to be alone to think and recharge yourself and looking for a place to disconnect for awhile Casa Amara is the perfect place to stay with. It’s a 5-6hrs drive away from Manila depending on the heavy traffic going to San Juan Batangas. If you have your own car or private transportation, from San Juan, Batangas another 45 mins trip going to Laiya. As you reach, Brgy. Imelda, turn left until you see that beautiful mansion-like house on top of a cliff, that’s Casa Amara. If you travel by bus going to San Juan Batangas, at the bus terminal station, there are some tricycle drivers who are willing to bring you to Casa Amara at a price that ranges from P200-P250 pesos or even higher.
I had my first experience of Casa Amara when I attended an intensive team building training with my friends. Despite of being exhausted and tired with all our activities, there’s a kind of magic that brings joy and peace to each one of us. We stayed at the penthouse room and it’s amazingly beautiful. The veranda with a nice view of the ocean is a perfect place to simply think or meditate before the sun rises or just to relax your body in the late afternoon. As you woke up in the morning, you can jog or simply walk to the beach and be enthralled by its beauty. As you swim and enjoyed the waves, the cool breeze caress your body and you cannot explain the mysterious calmness it brings within you.
Prior to going to Casa Amara, I feel the pains of others and yet somehow the place provides healing and it brings peace and true joy to the person visiting the place. As if letting that person to transform into someone more beautiful than he or she can ever imagine.
Other Observations: 1. The staffs are very polite and very accommodating. 2. Ms. Gemma and Klaus Kolb, the owners personally attend to your needs and make sure that all visitors and guests are taken care of. 3. Fully satisfied with the entire menu prepared for our group. I loved everything. 4. I suggest you just enjoy your stay at Casa Amara and let them prepare the foods for you.
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Date of stay: August 2016
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Penthouse room for a group more than 10.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Congratulate yourself if you make it to Casa Amara. It isn't easy because they're often booked out. Everybody wants to go there and why not? Casa Amara is the proverbial dazzlingly bright white house on a cliff over an achingly blue sea. Does it need to be said? The view is amazing, one that can make travel photographers weep. And it's just three to four hours drive from Manila. The contrast couldn't be greater, you come here to forget the city's fumes and its baking streets. One look at that infinity pool and you see the promise fulfilled.
If you've been to Italy, Casa Amara will remind you of the Cinque Terre, or Positano - except that Casa Amara has its own character. All big hotels have masses of brochures saying they will give you that extra personal touch, a unique experience. Casa Amara is a place actually small enough for the people running it to provide that touch. It isn't so much a hotel as a house - only one out of a glossy magazine: a place that values elegance, comfort, fun, relaxation. And good food. What more could you ask for? Even if it were raining (sometimes it does) you'd still feel at home, looking at that stupendous seascape. Every room is designed to maximize the view.
The rooms are furnished with airconditioning, individual bathrooms, plush beds and TV, in the unlikely chance you'll want to stare at a monitor. Who knows? You by the way should know you won't be getting much of a phone or WiFi signal so you'd best go there with the intent of enjoying your stay. Each room is furnished differently from the others, with posters and knicknacks from the owners' collection.
You can walk down to the beach, which admittedly is a bit rocky, or you could lounge in the infinity pool, or sit on any of the inviting sofas and read a book. And you can eat. The owners will see to it you are stuffed. If you don't want to pay for the food you can bring your own, or book a room with its own kitchen
In the evening, you can turn off your room's light, slide open the balcony door and stare out to the Tayabas Sea, an infinity of sea and stars.
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Date of stay: June 2017
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:You get better value for money if you reserve a room for a group and pay for the food, which is...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked the entire place to ourselves, a group of 40 adults.
Pro's: - one of the most amazing, vast sea views i've seen in the entire Philippines - friendly and helpful staff - quirky decor - pool's water is lukewarm - perfect for swimming - rooms don't feel cramped - pretty good food options, they also have a bar so you dont need to bring drinks to the place, at reasonable prices - suprisingly, not a lot of mosquitoes! and you can see fireflies!
Con's: - lots of maintenance needed - paint is peeling at the ceiling (i suspect waterproofing issues), some railings are rusting (not kid-friendly) - missing lightbulbs in night lamps and balconies - no water heater in the shower - you have to ask for a towel - no basic toiletries provided - beach is isolated yet very rocky, so please wear appropriate footwear (and a tiring 10-15 min hike up/down - 24/7 videoke session from neighboring homes - a big bummer if you want peace and quiet
Would probably go back - the view compensates for a lot of things. But best to temper expectations since the place can be extremely photogenic online.
Lots of things to improve on, esp since the price tag isnt exactly cheap but overall, a pretty awesome stay and looking forward to the management spiffing up the place even more.
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Date of stay: September 2017
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PROS. * VERY IG-worthy place - all spots is superb! Perfect for ootds and “blogger” posts. View from room is so picturesque. * Location - peaceful and quiet. * Beds and pillows - comfy and fluffy. * Room - The interior and decors feels like home.
CONS. * Location - No convenient/sari-sari stores nearby. Lack of signages going to the resort. * Beach - 10 to 15 mins “trekking”. Not good for swimming * Rooms - Lack of electric outlet. Better to bring your own extension cord so you can watch tv and charge all your gadgets at the same time. * Amenities - No towels, soap, shampoo or even body wash. Its a “bring your own toiletries” resort. * Restaurant - No ala carte meals.
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the San Juan area.
LOCATION
PhilippinesLuzonCalabarzon RegionBatangas ProvinceSan Juan
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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