Matabungkay Beach Hotel

The hotel is a popular beach escape, particularly noted for its extensive facilities and family-friendly atmosphere, making it a prime choice for those seeking a comprehensive resort experience near Manila. Its signature feature is its multiple swimming pools and a wide array of water activities, offering diverse recreational options for all ages. This makes it an ideal destination for families looking for a fun-filled vacation, company outings seeking team-building opportunities, and couples desiring a relaxing getaway. Guests consistently highlight the warm hospitality and accommodating staff as a significant positive. While some areas show signs of age, the overall sentiment points to a good value for an easy escape from the city. To maximize your stay, consider exploring the various water sports available and be prepared for a potentially long drive from Manila, but many find the journey worthwhile for the resort's offerings.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers a wide range of facilities designed to keep guests entertained and comfortable. A major highlight is the presence of multiple swimming pools, including kiddie pools with slides and separate adult pools, which are consistently praised for their cleanliness. Guests can enjoy various water activities such as scuba diving, jet ski rides, banana boat rides, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. On land, there are options for billiards, table tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball. The resort also provides ample and often shaded parking space. While the Wi-Fi connectivity receives mixed reviews, with some guests experiencing intermittent service or slow speeds, particularly during peak evening hours, it is generally available. Some guests noted the absence of a jacuzzi despite prior information, and a poolside bar was reported as closed.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on room comfort and cleanliness is generally positive, with many describing rooms as spacious and neat. However, a recurring theme is that the rooms and their fixtures appear dated or old, with some areas showing signs of wear or needing renovation. While some rooms are noted as clean and well-maintained, others reported issues such as mold in bathrooms, dark lighting, or creepy hallways. The air conditioning is a point of concern for several guests, with reports of units not cooling effectively, being noisy, or breaking down. Some also mentioned a fishy smell from the shower water or a lack of warm water. Despite these issues, the beds are generally found to be comfortable, and rooms are often described as spacious and well-ventilated, offering a comfortable stay for many.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining options generally receive positive remarks for food quality and taste, with many guests finding the Filipino dishes served to be delicious and satisfying. The buffet breakfast is often highlighted as bountiful and offering a good variety of options, though some specific items received mixed comments. While the taste is praised, the food prices are frequently mentioned as being on the higher side, leading some guests to consider them expensive. Service at the restaurant can be slow at times, and some guests noted issues with staff mood or long waiting times for orders. The restaurant area itself is described as nice, and there is also a coffee place offering good selections. However, some guests found the restaurant to be uncomfortably hot, and there were limited choices for vegans/vegetarians.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel is situated as a beach escape, typically requiring a three to four-hour drive from Metro Manila, with some guests noting bumpy roads or construction along the way. Despite the travel time, many guests feel the journey is worthwhile for the resort experience. A significant point of discussion is the beach itself: while offering scenic views, it is frequently described as shallow, with low tide often making it unsuitable for swimming, especially in the afternoons, and sometimes containing sea grass or seaweed. Guests often resort to renting boats for deeper water or using the hotel's multiple swimming pools for aquatic activities. The hotel provides ample and secure parking. While the immediate area around the resort is generally quiet, some guests advise against venturing out in the evening.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and accommodating nature. Guests frequently commend their responsiveness to queries and requests, noting that staff members are quick to assist and provide a warm welcome. The check-in and check-out process is often described as very smooth. Bellboys and housekeeping staff are particularly highlighted for their pleasant demeanor and efficiency. While the overwhelming majority of feedback on staff is positive, a few isolated comments mentioned some front desk staff being unfriendly or overall service being slow in specific dining areas. However, the general consensus points to a dedicated team committed to providing excellent service and ensuring a comfortable stay for guests.

Additional Information
A standout feature of the hotel is its highly praised pet-friendly policy, including a dedicated hotel lodge for pets, making it an excellent choice for guests traveling with their animal companions. The resort is also a popular venue for company outings and events, offering facilities for large groups, though some guests noted that large events, such as karaoke parties, could sometimes lead to noise disturbances for other guests. A specific hotel policy that drew attention is the corkage fee applied to alcoholic beverages brought into the resort, which some guests found unusual or unexpected. The hotel provides a variety of accommodation types, including villas and suites, and offers water activities that can be rented.