Villas Buenavista

Super cozy, peaceful place.

The room is spacious and we had a great stay.

Such a sulit and worth it experience. Glad we chose this place 🥰🫶🏻

I've traveled extensively throughout the Philippines and have stayed in everything from small family-owned resorts to larger hotels. This property is one of those places that has real character. It has the potential to become an incredible destination, but it's also close to the point where deferred maintenance could begin to overshadow everything that makes it special. I stayed here for two days and, overall, I enjoyed my stay. The staff was friendly, the location is excellent, and the property has a unique style that immediately caught my attention. However, there are several maintenance issues that need to be addressed. The biggest concerns were in my room. The air conditioner could not be adjusted properly, making it difficult to keep the room comfortable. Although the hotel has an electronic keycard system installed, it wasn't functioning during my stay, so guests are still issued traditional keys. This wasn't a deal breaker, but it does make the property feel dated. The bathroom also had drainage issues, causing water to pool on the floor after every shower. There was no telephone in the room to contact the front desk, although I later discovered the front desk is not staffed overnight anyway. There is a security guard on duty after hours if assistance is needed. The pool was clean and enjoyable. Families traveling with children should know that the shallow end is approximately 4 feet deep while the deep end reaches about 7 feet. My younger daughter needed a flotation vest. The resort does not provide flotation devices, so if you're traveling with small children, you'll need to purchase one beforehand or at the public market, which is about a 10-minute walk away. The beach was one of my favorite parts of the stay. It has a beautiful mix of white and black sand, and it was very clean during our visit. However, be careful when entering the water. Just a few feet from shore there is a fairly steep drop-off, and the waves can easily knock you off your feet if you're not paying attention, especially if you're supervising children. One of my biggest disappointments was the restaurant. After speaking directly with one of the restaurant attendants, I was told that they do not stock the full menu during the weekdays and only fully stock the restaurant on weekends. During my stay, the weekday menu was reduced to eggs and only a few basic items. Because of this, I had breakfast and several other meals delivered through Grab instead of eating at the resort. I genuinely hope management reconsiders this policy, as guests staying during the week should be able to enjoy the same dining experience as weekend visitors. Fortunately, there are excellent places to eat nearby. One restaurant I highly recommend is a seafood boil restaurant that's about an 8-minute tricycle ride from the resort. If you enjoy seafood, it's well worth the trip. The black pepper sauce was outstanding and easily one of the best meals I had during my stay. One thing that truly impressed me was the architecture. The white marble throughout the property gives it a beautiful Mediterranean or Greek-inspired appearance that you don't often find in beach resorts. Combined with the beachfront setting, it creates a wonderful atmosphere. The hotel is also in a great location in San Juan, with plenty to do nearby. Transportation can be arranged through the hotel, whether you're staying within San Juan or traveling farther. The rates were fair and convenient. I've stayed at many hotels throughout the Philippines, and one thing I appreciated here was how comfortable the property remained during the rainy season. It never became excessively hot. There are rinse-off stations near both the pool and the beach entrance that work well, although they could also benefit from some updating. To the owner, I sincerely hope you take this review in the constructive spirit in which it was written. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from staying here. In fact, I would gladly return.