The Sanctuary Batulao

Such a great getaway. We went here on Jan 5. (Just forgot to leave a review,) but here it is. It was great, the roads going there was a little tight, but luckily our pickup could still fit, but smaller cars are advised if you're a new driver. But when we arrived, it was all worth it. The room didn't have a TV though, but it was alright because the place had fun activities. The ATV experience was fun and shoutout to that kuya who assisted us on the experience. There was also a pool and the view was crazy good. The food was nice, it's homemade, which reminds us of home. We would definitely come back here once we have time again.

We had the chance to visit this place with my wife however typhoon Crising eventually affected our stay. Even with the rainy weather we were still able to manage and enjoy our stay. We occupied the bahay kubo and there was no tv, bathroom essentials, or electric kettle which we had to borrow from the reception. Not to much to do in this place but swim or have an atv ride. Food is limited too and happened to ordered a whole fried chicken that was tasteless. Pancit bihon was a bit acceptable. Massage service was ok and staff are really friendly and accomodating. Place is pet friendly with a fee. Just a place to relax and connect with nature.

Beautiful Setting, But Facilities and Experience Need Improvement Rating: ⭐️⭐️ We recently stayed at The Sanctuary, Batulao for what was supposed to be a meaningful and relaxing getaway with very close friends—one couple even flew in from Canada for this special occasion. While the location offered a serene, natural environment, several aspects of our stay left much to be desired. Our first concern arose even before our arrival. Due to the upcoming National Election, we anticipated some establishments to be closed and tried to move our booking from May 12 to May 13—a request made well over a month in advance. Unfortunately, we were told there would be a ₱2,000 rebooking fee, which felt a bit unreasonable given the national circumstances and the advance notice of one month. Disappointed, we chose to stick to our original dates. Upon arrival, we encountered another unexpected issue: we had booked what we believed were twin villas, but were instead given a single villa. The stairs leading to the upper deck of the room were quite steep and not senior-friendly, which was a concern for some members of our group. After voicing our feedback, the staff graciously accommodated us with a room transfer. However, the new room had non-functional door locks, which made us feel uneasy in terms of security and privacy. In terms of comfort, the room conditions were not ideal. 🥲 There were a lot of insects 🐝 🐞 inside the room, and crawling bugs, which made the stay uncomfortable, especially at night. While we understand and appreciate the resort’s natural setting, basic pest control would go a long way in improving the guest experience. One of the more frustrating aspects of our stay was the frequent power interruptions. While we experienced several times during our stay there, the most inconvenient was on our last night, when there was no electricity for nearly 30 minutes. This left us without lights or ventilation and significantly disrupted the atmosphere of what should have been a relaxing evening. Despite these major issues, we want to commend the staff. The staff were wonderful—warm, courteous, and genuinely eager to assist. Their efforts did well and made a bright spot during our stay. The natural surroundings are also undeniably beautiful and peaceful—The Sanctuary certainly has the potential to be a tranquil escape. That said, the facilities and room conditions need considerable improvement to align with the expectations set by the resort’s branding and price point. With better attention to detail— especially in room readiness, pest control, power reliability, and guest communication—The Sanctuary could become a truly special destination. We hope this feedback is taken constructively, as we see great potential in the place. Unfortunately, our first out-of-town trip with close friends didn’t turn out as memorable for the right reasons, but rather for the missteps we encountered in our booking.

Secluded and quiet place though it was a bit busy when we got there. Do note the road going there as it's a struggle. Luckily, it wasn't raining during our visit. The challenges with the road didn't end inside the villa. There are lots of stairs and they are quite steep. Heading to the pool and back to the room was exhausting, especially if you have a toddler in tow. It was compensated by the lush surroundings and serene views though. Overall, it's a great place to unwind. Just don't expect tons of activities. The food was also good, the staff were all nice, plus it's pet friendly.

Life is sweet at The Sanctuary Batulao. Last minute change of plans (we're supposed to be at the beach but typhoon happened >.