Dona Jovita Garden Resort
Km. 57 National Highway Bagong Kalsada, Laguna, Calamba, Luzon 4027 Philippines
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About
3.5
#1 of 1 ranch in CalambaLocation
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HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, Filipino
Property amenities
Free parking
Wifi
Pool
Bar / lounge
Hiking
Horseback riding
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Parking
Hot tub
Restaurant
Darts
Karaoke
Table tennis
Spa
Massage
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Fireplace
Seating area
Bath / shower
Room types
Family rooms
Location
Km. 57 National Highway Bagong Kalsada, Laguna, Calamba, Luzon 4027 Philippines
Getting there
Ninoy Aquino Intl Airport
42.9 km•
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Detailed Reviews
My and my family went to Dona Jovita Garden Resort located at Calamba, Laguna. It's just a nearly 2 hours drive from manila and a very accessible resort to go to. The resort has many variety of pools to choose from. They have hot spring pools and the basic pools with no hot spring. They also have I thing 4 to 5 jacuzzi pools. The resort is a garden type so there are many blooming flowers everywhere.
ROOM:
Anyways, we stayed at the resort for 1 night. We booked the family room for the price not reaching 5000php or $100. The room has air-conditioning, a television (with cable), a private bathroom, a ref, and a mini bar. unfortunately no wireless internet or (WIFI)... The rooms are clean and well maintained. everything works even the water pressure. They have hot & cold showers and the bathroom is also clean. The bed is comfy, soft and clean. Air-conditioning is working very very well. Actually our room was so cold that the window glass has moisture. We had a very quiet and good sleep through out the night.
SERVICE:
Service was also great. They have room service so everything that you wish for is granted. And you can also order food and they will deliver and serve it to your room within 15 to 20mins. BUT, I think the price of their food is a little bit expensive for the taste. But for me I thing I was OK because their restaurant is located at the front of the resort and the rooms are located at the east side and did I mention that the path from the resto to the rooms is a rocky, 200meters uphill?? Anyways, I think their service is good and you can see that they are giving it all they can to satisfy their customers.
POOLS:
Regarding the pools, Its was also nice specially the hot spring pools. The resort has so many pools I think 10 or 15 pools including the jacuzzis. There are pools with slide, pools for children, a pool with waterfall, and much more. And I almost forgot to tel you that the pool maintenance persons are very very kind. :) for example, if your swimming at one of their hot spring pools, They will ask you if the water temperature is ok. and they will add hot spring water if its a little bit cold, or add cold water if its too hot. And they always clean the pool through out the day. The only thing I didnt like is their kiddie pool located directly at the bottom of the mango tree and some of the mangoes fall and might hit children swimming. I think the management should do something about that before someone might get hurt.
Overall, Our stay at Dona Jovita Garden Resort in Calamba Laguna is nice and we enjoyed being there to relax and have fun. I recommend the resort to everybody. Specially to the families. We will definitely go back again.
Thanks for Reading my review and I hope this will help. Have a Great Day! :)
ROOM:
Anyways, we stayed at the resort for 1 night. We booked the family room for the price not reaching 5000php or $100. The room has air-conditioning, a television (with cable), a private bathroom, a ref, and a mini bar. unfortunately no wireless internet or (WIFI)... The rooms are clean and well maintained. everything works even the water pressure. They have hot & cold showers and the bathroom is also clean. The bed is comfy, soft and clean. Air-conditioning is working very very well. Actually our room was so cold that the window glass has moisture. We had a very quiet and good sleep through out the night.
SERVICE:
Service was also great. They have room service so everything that you wish for is granted. And you can also order food and they will deliver and serve it to your room within 15 to 20mins. BUT, I think the price of their food is a little bit expensive for the taste. But for me I thing I was OK because their restaurant is located at the front of the resort and the rooms are located at the east side and did I mention that the path from the resto to the rooms is a rocky, 200meters uphill?? Anyways, I think their service is good and you can see that they are giving it all they can to satisfy their customers.
POOLS:
Regarding the pools, Its was also nice specially the hot spring pools. The resort has so many pools I think 10 or 15 pools including the jacuzzis. There are pools with slide, pools for children, a pool with waterfall, and much more. And I almost forgot to tel you that the pool maintenance persons are very very kind. :) for example, if your swimming at one of their hot spring pools, They will ask you if the water temperature is ok. and they will add hot spring water if its a little bit cold, or add cold water if its too hot. And they always clean the pool through out the day. The only thing I didnt like is their kiddie pool located directly at the bottom of the mango tree and some of the mangoes fall and might hit children swimming. I think the management should do something about that before someone might get hurt.
Overall, Our stay at Dona Jovita Garden Resort in Calamba Laguna is nice and we enjoyed being there to relax and have fun. I recommend the resort to everybody. Specially to the families. We will definitely go back again.
Thanks for Reading my review and I hope this will help. Have a Great Day! :)
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Date of stay: November 2008Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
It was my first time to visit the resort. Overall experience was great. We did not have a reservation but booking one of the premiere rooms was easy and hassle free. The staff at the reception was knowledgeable and very accomodating. The room was clean and very homey. We arrived there at around 7pm and dinner was served in our room within 45 minutes and it was excellent. The place was huge but well maintained. We even had an extra treat as one of the staff informed us that we can trek to Mt. Makiling and take pictures at the grotto. The pool area was clean and the water temperature was just right. This resort is very near the metro and is an easy getaway recommended for family and friends.
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Service
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.
Had a quick visit to the resort with my family of 5 around last week of March this year. Upon arrival to the place, was quite disappointed to how the resort looks like as opposed to the photos printed on the flyers we received. However, We chose to be toured around the resort first after placing a deposit for a one night stay.
After seeing how big the resort is, I immediately understood why the resort looked like it needs more landscaping maintenance as well as with their public area facilities such as ground and the structures. It needs enough staff to handle the tasks. Question is, do they have enough manpower to handle it?
There is a big potential to this resort with the facilities it has and some activities it offers. Quite a number of pools, and few activities that appeals both adults and kids, as well as teenagers, such as trekking their own version of Grotto from the back side of the resort,and zip line in front of the resort, facing the national road of Calamba, and some donkey-pony ride for kids.
However, the ground used for zip line and as soccer field looks dirty and poorly maintained. It is the same place where the donkey/s and horse are parked for anyone who wants to ride. Coming there on quite a rainy day, it was muddy, which is understandable somehow, but there is a mix of grass and mud...and poop of horse/donkeys, as we walked our way under the light rain to their organic vegetable garden located next to the soccer field/ zip line. My kids immediately ran off away from the area back to the pool area because of it.
It is good to learn they grow organic veggies...however, it is poorly maintained and with the looks of it, you wouldn't want to see those veggies on your plate later. We went to their garden nursery, bought a few plants , and have to say , it is good to have a nursery garden as an added attraction to guests like us who likes garden, but it will be even better if they maintain the condition of the plants they're selling (should be green, and healthy), variety and presentation, being in front of the resort..as part of the landscape. Especially we came here for the garden-effect experience of the resort..as the resort's name says.
I would like to to commend the idea that the plants and trees are labelled, it's informative and adds to the charm of the resort as a real garden resort.
The Grotto trekking, as part of an optional activity, anyone is welcome to do. Since it is free activity for all, which makes it more essential for them to ensure that the area is safe, clean and presentable, that's why it needs improvement. The idea of adding the station of the cross statues on the way to the Grotto is a great idea, but as I have pointed out, the place should be safe, clean and presentable..because for now, it is not.
The availability of different pools are really good, you can choose from warm, medium and cool water. Since they have many pools available, you can still enjoy a sense of privacy. However, seeing how the staff' kids swimming with guests, wearing jogging pants are a big turn offs. I like that the life savers are always around the pool areas,almost all the time, giving us more confidence that we are safe at the pool side.
However, it was quite a turn off to see so much leaves floating on the water, when there are very less guests around..and still the pools are all with so much leaves floating, and dried stems from trees under the water. I understand that this can be due to the trees close to the pool...but this can be improved.
Rooms, are clean, Food is great at an affordable price compared to other competitive restaurants nearby. Must commend the chef for the tasty food and the freshly made garlic sauce,and the sequence of serving each item we ordered was great..on the first meal..the next meals we had on the restaurant was all good, but food was served altogether..making the food a bit cold by the time it is served. The waiters were helpful and polite. As well as the tour guide who helped the kids in zip line and donkey ride.
Overall, staffs are doing their level best, and since the resort was already on its more than 15 years, as I have learned from a staff, the resort can definitely do better than those areas for improvement.
I will still recommend this place for those who are on a budget and seeks garden setting..with some attraction. I like this place more if it will improve..as they have a big place, good ideas, but need to work on making things happen.
After seeing how big the resort is, I immediately understood why the resort looked like it needs more landscaping maintenance as well as with their public area facilities such as ground and the structures. It needs enough staff to handle the tasks. Question is, do they have enough manpower to handle it?
There is a big potential to this resort with the facilities it has and some activities it offers. Quite a number of pools, and few activities that appeals both adults and kids, as well as teenagers, such as trekking their own version of Grotto from the back side of the resort,and zip line in front of the resort, facing the national road of Calamba, and some donkey-pony ride for kids.
However, the ground used for zip line and as soccer field looks dirty and poorly maintained. It is the same place where the donkey/s and horse are parked for anyone who wants to ride. Coming there on quite a rainy day, it was muddy, which is understandable somehow, but there is a mix of grass and mud...and poop of horse/donkeys, as we walked our way under the light rain to their organic vegetable garden located next to the soccer field/ zip line. My kids immediately ran off away from the area back to the pool area because of it.
It is good to learn they grow organic veggies...however, it is poorly maintained and with the looks of it, you wouldn't want to see those veggies on your plate later. We went to their garden nursery, bought a few plants , and have to say , it is good to have a nursery garden as an added attraction to guests like us who likes garden, but it will be even better if they maintain the condition of the plants they're selling (should be green, and healthy), variety and presentation, being in front of the resort..as part of the landscape. Especially we came here for the garden-effect experience of the resort..as the resort's name says.
I would like to to commend the idea that the plants and trees are labelled, it's informative and adds to the charm of the resort as a real garden resort.
The Grotto trekking, as part of an optional activity, anyone is welcome to do. Since it is free activity for all, which makes it more essential for them to ensure that the area is safe, clean and presentable, that's why it needs improvement. The idea of adding the station of the cross statues on the way to the Grotto is a great idea, but as I have pointed out, the place should be safe, clean and presentable..because for now, it is not.
The availability of different pools are really good, you can choose from warm, medium and cool water. Since they have many pools available, you can still enjoy a sense of privacy. However, seeing how the staff' kids swimming with guests, wearing jogging pants are a big turn offs. I like that the life savers are always around the pool areas,almost all the time, giving us more confidence that we are safe at the pool side.
However, it was quite a turn off to see so much leaves floating on the water, when there are very less guests around..and still the pools are all with so much leaves floating, and dried stems from trees under the water. I understand that this can be due to the trees close to the pool...but this can be improved.
Rooms, are clean, Food is great at an affordable price compared to other competitive restaurants nearby. Must commend the chef for the tasty food and the freshly made garlic sauce,and the sequence of serving each item we ordered was great..on the first meal..the next meals we had on the restaurant was all good, but food was served altogether..making the food a bit cold by the time it is served. The waiters were helpful and polite. As well as the tour guide who helped the kids in zip line and donkey ride.
Overall, staffs are doing their level best, and since the resort was already on its more than 15 years, as I have learned from a staff, the resort can definitely do better than those areas for improvement.
I will still recommend this place for those who are on a budget and seeks garden setting..with some attraction. I like this place more if it will improve..as they have a big place, good ideas, but need to work on making things happen.
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Date of stay: March 2015Trip type: Traveled 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.
It is such a wonderful location - naturally green and lavishly with freshness .
However sad that ownership need to manage it it with vision - as the place is getting old and feel miserable.
Hot water spring is the wow factor but need to use it for creating an amazing environment.
We had been visiting this place but year after year it is going downhill.
Thanks for the wonderful staff members but not sure if we will be coming back.
However sad that ownership need to manage it it with vision - as the place is getting old and feel miserable.
Hot water spring is the wow factor but need to use it for creating an amazing environment.
We had been visiting this place but year after year it is going downhill.
Thanks for the wonderful staff members but not sure if we will be coming back.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled 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.
Had an event at this resort and my relatives stayed overnight after the party. Overall our event was a success, place is beautiful and photogenic as party venue. Set up was nice and food was good. staff were nice and had good intentions but were ill prepared or there were not enough people assigned to my event so many party details were late or not yet ready during the party. This would all have been ok if we didnt get such a bad treatment from the management of this resort. Here is a portion of the evaluation letter I emailed to the resort so they know they should improve on their customer service. I was so upset by the treatment we got from this resort's management I wrote a five page (yes five pages full!) evaluation complaint to the resort. This is my customer experience with this resort and other people deserve to know about our experience. People should always give feedback and make their formal complaints if only to make these establishments realize and rectify their wrong practices. This is my customer experience (taken from the latter part of my evaluation/complaint letter to Dona Jovita Resort):
• IMPORTANT CRITICISM—the popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy carts were set up really late. I didn’t notice at first because I was too busy attending to various details that still weren’t finished until a guest reminded me that there didn’t seem to be any attendants at the food carts so his kids were disappointed with the food carts. I called out to three young ladies at the sound system hut and asked them who was in charge of the food carts and they said they were in charge, when I asked again why they still haven’t set up the carts and it was already a full hour into our party, they said they were still finishing up inflating the beach ball and floater giveaways. These were nice girls and they were doing their best but this fact needs to be addressed.
• ALL TIME DOWNER FOR DJGR – Our party was a success and I was happy with the results overall however this needs to be said, the manager or owner of DJGR ruined the whole experience toward the end of the party. Why? I know that we were only until 9pm for the party but it didn’t help that the DJGR staff kept reminding me that we had to leave at 9pm promptly or we were going to be charged extra for any extention. The resort's events head kept coming to me to say that guests had to be shooed away from this cottage or this tree house to that area because the owner said we should leave PRONTO. The staff would be talking to me and I would hear someone calling on their radios saying that people should be removed from this cottage or that tree house. This was stressful and rude. I would see this older lady walking around the premises with her radio and I knew this was the exact same person insisting that all the guests leave the area and I was really offended by how she treated us. She never once acknowledged us as clients, the only people talking to us were the staff and all they ever said was we had to do this and do that because the manager said this and that,and we had to leave and the manager was getting angry over this or that detail. Case in point, my husband and his guests ended using a cottage near our area that was supposedly not part of the package. The events person kept coming to me to say that i should remove my guests from that cottage because the manager said it wasnt part of the package. I was so stressed by these details i just said, i freaking pay for the extra cottage already! tand I ended up paying an extra 700 for that cottage. I mean what kind of customer service attitude is that? To not even acknowledge clients or guests even though you're just around the area. To not give minor concessions such as go ahead and just give that extra cottage for free to the clients instead of forcing the client to leave an area. That was so stressful and it just ruined the whole experience. The manager kept calling out her staff on their two way radios ordering them to do this or remove guests from a certain area because party was almost over. That was really bad customer service. I could hear her on the radio making these rude orders. She didn't have to treat us that way, there were only a few stragglers who were taking longer to leave but we weren't using the party area anymore, the staff were cleaning up and removing the set up already. We were going to leave. She didnt have to treat us that way, like we were robots to be removed or shooed away.
• TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY – As if this wasn’t enough, the Jovita resort added more insult to injury with the already bad customer experience we had with them. Relatives of mine who wanted to avail of a cottage overnight were given Cottage E until 7am. I was told by my contact person that this was 5,000+ until 7am then she’ll give us 10% discount. Then the next morning I was told by my mom and relatives that they were told that they have to leave their cottages at 7am sharp. Such a rude awakening! Then they ended up in an argument with the DJGR staff because they were charging the 7,000+ rate and that there was no discount. The DJGR front desk said there were no instructions for a discount and that the rate given was not the rate to be paid. Que Horror! Other venues would automatically provide a free room or accommodation for events clients as concession for the client. Not DJGR, everything you wanted or needed, you have to PAY EXTRA. And you cannot bargain for concessions or freebies because of the strict management
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
• DJGR is a beautiful venue with many attractions
• Food is good
• Overall party was a success
• Staff are nice, accommodating but ill prepared. There were not enough people taking care of the event and I think that’s the main reason why things weren’t completely prepared for the party.
• Management – Rude, haughty, unkind. Overall terrible customer service from the manager or owner of this resort.
• Would I come back for another event – Sorry but no I wouldn’t. DJGR may be a beautiful place with nice amenities but in the final analysis it is customer experience that people remember. The way that manager treated us, practically shooed us away after the party, was a definite NO NO. The way they ruined the morning for my family, the day after the party, was a definitely horrifying experience for me. They made me loose face infront ofmy relatives who came all the way from manila to attend our party. They said they will be making their reviews online and I cannot blame them and I cant say the resort don’t deserve a bad feedback. You reap what you sow.
• Would I recommend DJGR to friends and relatives – a definite NO. I cannot refer DJGR after that experience with the manager or owner of this resort. I am a business owner myself, not as rich or as big a business as the owners or the DJGR but proud to say that we are an internationally awarded small business recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine for our social responsibility work. I don’t deal with clients everyday, I also have assistants or staff to talk with clients but I make an effort to establish a connection with our customers – be they big clients or small accounts. The way I was treated by the manager of DJGR was not the way to treat any client or any person for that matter. My event at your venue may have been a success but your customer experience left a very bitter taste in my mouth I just had to write this assessment/complaint to DJGR and at the very least,achieve a certain catharsis for all the crap your management put me through.
• For all its worth, I still hope this assessment helps. I tried to be objective. I gave the positive and the negative but said that since customer service was bad then the overall experience was negative
• IMPORTANT CRITICISM—the popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy carts were set up really late. I didn’t notice at first because I was too busy attending to various details that still weren’t finished until a guest reminded me that there didn’t seem to be any attendants at the food carts so his kids were disappointed with the food carts. I called out to three young ladies at the sound system hut and asked them who was in charge of the food carts and they said they were in charge, when I asked again why they still haven’t set up the carts and it was already a full hour into our party, they said they were still finishing up inflating the beach ball and floater giveaways. These were nice girls and they were doing their best but this fact needs to be addressed.
• ALL TIME DOWNER FOR DJGR – Our party was a success and I was happy with the results overall however this needs to be said, the manager or owner of DJGR ruined the whole experience toward the end of the party. Why? I know that we were only until 9pm for the party but it didn’t help that the DJGR staff kept reminding me that we had to leave at 9pm promptly or we were going to be charged extra for any extention. The resort's events head kept coming to me to say that guests had to be shooed away from this cottage or this tree house to that area because the owner said we should leave PRONTO. The staff would be talking to me and I would hear someone calling on their radios saying that people should be removed from this cottage or that tree house. This was stressful and rude. I would see this older lady walking around the premises with her radio and I knew this was the exact same person insisting that all the guests leave the area and I was really offended by how she treated us. She never once acknowledged us as clients, the only people talking to us were the staff and all they ever said was we had to do this and do that because the manager said this and that,and we had to leave and the manager was getting angry over this or that detail. Case in point, my husband and his guests ended using a cottage near our area that was supposedly not part of the package. The events person kept coming to me to say that i should remove my guests from that cottage because the manager said it wasnt part of the package. I was so stressed by these details i just said, i freaking pay for the extra cottage already! tand I ended up paying an extra 700 for that cottage. I mean what kind of customer service attitude is that? To not even acknowledge clients or guests even though you're just around the area. To not give minor concessions such as go ahead and just give that extra cottage for free to the clients instead of forcing the client to leave an area. That was so stressful and it just ruined the whole experience. The manager kept calling out her staff on their two way radios ordering them to do this or remove guests from a certain area because party was almost over. That was really bad customer service. I could hear her on the radio making these rude orders. She didn't have to treat us that way, there were only a few stragglers who were taking longer to leave but we weren't using the party area anymore, the staff were cleaning up and removing the set up already. We were going to leave. She didnt have to treat us that way, like we were robots to be removed or shooed away.
• TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY – As if this wasn’t enough, the Jovita resort added more insult to injury with the already bad customer experience we had with them. Relatives of mine who wanted to avail of a cottage overnight were given Cottage E until 7am. I was told by my contact person that this was 5,000+ until 7am then she’ll give us 10% discount. Then the next morning I was told by my mom and relatives that they were told that they have to leave their cottages at 7am sharp. Such a rude awakening! Then they ended up in an argument with the DJGR staff because they were charging the 7,000+ rate and that there was no discount. The DJGR front desk said there were no instructions for a discount and that the rate given was not the rate to be paid. Que Horror! Other venues would automatically provide a free room or accommodation for events clients as concession for the client. Not DJGR, everything you wanted or needed, you have to PAY EXTRA. And you cannot bargain for concessions or freebies because of the strict management
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
• DJGR is a beautiful venue with many attractions
• Food is good
• Overall party was a success
• Staff are nice, accommodating but ill prepared. There were not enough people taking care of the event and I think that’s the main reason why things weren’t completely prepared for the party.
• Management – Rude, haughty, unkind. Overall terrible customer service from the manager or owner of this resort.
• Would I come back for another event – Sorry but no I wouldn’t. DJGR may be a beautiful place with nice amenities but in the final analysis it is customer experience that people remember. The way that manager treated us, practically shooed us away after the party, was a definite NO NO. The way they ruined the morning for my family, the day after the party, was a definitely horrifying experience for me. They made me loose face infront ofmy relatives who came all the way from manila to attend our party. They said they will be making their reviews online and I cannot blame them and I cant say the resort don’t deserve a bad feedback. You reap what you sow.
• Would I recommend DJGR to friends and relatives – a definite NO. I cannot refer DJGR after that experience with the manager or owner of this resort. I am a business owner myself, not as rich or as big a business as the owners or the DJGR but proud to say that we are an internationally awarded small business recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine for our social responsibility work. I don’t deal with clients everyday, I also have assistants or staff to talk with clients but I make an effort to establish a connection with our customers – be they big clients or small accounts. The way I was treated by the manager of DJGR was not the way to treat any client or any person for that matter. My event at your venue may have been a success but your customer experience left a very bitter taste in my mouth I just had to write this assessment/complaint to DJGR and at the very least,achieve a certain catharsis for all the crap your management put me through.
• For all its worth, I still hope this assessment helps. I tried to be objective. I gave the positive and the negative but said that since customer service was bad then the overall experience was negative
Read more
Date of stay: April 2013Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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.
Me and my husband chose this resort to celebrate our anniversary. We thought that since this has been featured by ABS-CBN, it must have been a very great resort... but we were wrong..
1. Upon arrival, it was raining because of typhoon Nona. One of their staff showed us their available rooms but we were surprised as none of it was pictured on their website. Really misleading.
2. My husband decided to stay nevertheless. We went back to their front desk and the girl said that we have to check out at 7am because someone already reserved the room for the next day so we said it's fine. Front desk isn't friendly at all.
3. The room - nothing special. Small, with 2 chairs and a table. A small wall-mounted tv with a stand. Lols. 1 queen size bed with smelly bed sheets and pillows.
4. Bathroom - really small. It includes a roll of tissue, 2 soaps, and 2 shampoo with conditioner. I wonder why they put 2 glasses when toothbrush and toothpaste are not included. Funny right?
5. Their pools - are so dirty! I can't even take a picture of myself in it. Since it's raining, of course we were looking for warm pool. We requested ffor them to turn on the heater to make the pool warm but we had to wait for hours to get it done. It was so frustrating. There are several pools but only 2 are functioning.
6. Staff - no one ever smiled! No one will even greet you good morning or would even make you feel welcomed.
7. Food - so expensive. It' s overpriced considering the quality of their food. They have a menu but when we ordered, nothing in what we ordered is available. We asked what are available and their waiter mentioned only 3. Their free breakfast is even funnier. They will give you a stub and you can choose from omellete, daing na bangus and tocilog. My husband chose daing na bangus and the waiter said that it is not available so we ended up choosing tocilog and mine was omellete. I don't know how could I describe the omellete but all I can say is I would rather choose a sunny side up egg. Their omellete is just a plain egg with potatoes inside sliced like fries. No cheese or whatsoever. No life at all.
8. Cottages - lots of flies so good luck.
9. Tree house - too dangerous. Lots of holes so always watch your steps.
10. Wifi - fast connection. At least I still saw something good.
We woke up in the morning and we were surpriced that all pools were cleaned and warmed. All horses are running in the field. Only to find out that an american with his family is about to visit. Total discrimination.
I would not recommend it to anyone I know. I had high expectations for this resort but turned out that it was a waste of time and money. Anyways, thank you for letting us stay but it will no longer erase the experience we had.
1. Upon arrival, it was raining because of typhoon Nona. One of their staff showed us their available rooms but we were surprised as none of it was pictured on their website. Really misleading.
2. My husband decided to stay nevertheless. We went back to their front desk and the girl said that we have to check out at 7am because someone already reserved the room for the next day so we said it's fine. Front desk isn't friendly at all.
3. The room - nothing special. Small, with 2 chairs and a table. A small wall-mounted tv with a stand. Lols. 1 queen size bed with smelly bed sheets and pillows.
4. Bathroom - really small. It includes a roll of tissue, 2 soaps, and 2 shampoo with conditioner. I wonder why they put 2 glasses when toothbrush and toothpaste are not included. Funny right?
5. Their pools - are so dirty! I can't even take a picture of myself in it. Since it's raining, of course we were looking for warm pool. We requested ffor them to turn on the heater to make the pool warm but we had to wait for hours to get it done. It was so frustrating. There are several pools but only 2 are functioning.
6. Staff - no one ever smiled! No one will even greet you good morning or would even make you feel welcomed.
7. Food - so expensive. It' s overpriced considering the quality of their food. They have a menu but when we ordered, nothing in what we ordered is available. We asked what are available and their waiter mentioned only 3. Their free breakfast is even funnier. They will give you a stub and you can choose from omellete, daing na bangus and tocilog. My husband chose daing na bangus and the waiter said that it is not available so we ended up choosing tocilog and mine was omellete. I don't know how could I describe the omellete but all I can say is I would rather choose a sunny side up egg. Their omellete is just a plain egg with potatoes inside sliced like fries. No cheese or whatsoever. No life at all.
8. Cottages - lots of flies so good luck.
9. Tree house - too dangerous. Lots of holes so always watch your steps.
10. Wifi - fast connection. At least I still saw something good.
We woke up in the morning and we were surpriced that all pools were cleaned and warmed. All horses are running in the field. Only to find out that an american with his family is about to visit. Total discrimination.
I would not recommend it to anyone I know. I had high expectations for this resort but turned out that it was a waste of time and money. Anyways, thank you for letting us stay but it will no longer erase the experience we had.
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Date of stay: December 2015Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
Check your expectations at the door. This is definitely not a 5-star resort. But at Php 70 per head entrance fee, you get what you pay for. My family and I went here with relatives for a whole day of fun and swimming. We rented a cottage and bought our own food to cook. This is the 2nd time we visited this resort and I have to say that the 2nd time was more pleasant than the 1st (we went during the Holy Week and the resort was just full to brim!). The 2nd time around was definitely lovelier due to a small number of people in the resort. So here's a list of PROS and CONS for anyone who plans to go to this resort:
PROS
1. Distance and Location - From Alabang, if traffic is light, it would take you around 1 hour or less. Not bad. It is also relatively easy to locate since it is along the main road.
2. Affordable - Don't you just hate average and below average resorts that charges high entrance fees and you are not allowed to bring your own food and drinks (Island Cove)? Then when you enter their resort, they charge a king's ransom for food? Well that is not the case here in Dona Jovita. For Php 70 per adult, it is very affordable. You can even bring your own food and drinks and cook it inside the resort.
3. Number of pools - You will not get bored with their selection of swimming pools. Most pools get their water from the hot springs that Calamba, Laguna is famous for but they do have one pool that is not hot. There is also a kiddie pool for toddlers and small children so your kids will also enjoy their swim.
4. Privacy - if you would like some privacy and you don't want to use the showers and toilet with strangers, you can rent one of their cottages which has its own small private pool. However, when we visited last December, the private pool of our cottage doesn't have any water. Better to check with the resort if the private pool is available.
5. Ambiance - Just like its name suggests, it is a garden! The trees and flowers will give you a nice and relaxing view of the place.
CONS:
1. Upkeep of Cottage - the cottage we stayed in and its bathroom has seen better days. It needs a fresh coat of paint and new tiles. I am a bit picky when it comes to where I will spend the night so I will definitely NOT spend a night in this resort.
2. Cleanliness of the grounds - Fallen leaves everywhere. It would be nice if someone could sweep the leaves off the grass and walkway. There were also trash dumped in corners by guests. Suggest that the resort require guest to bring a garbage bag and remind guests against littering.
3. No Dress Code for Swimmers - You can wear almost anything and dip into the pool. A bit of a turn off when you see people wearing t-shirts inside the pool, remove their shirts and play with it like they are washing the shirt.
Overall, average resort for those who just want to have a good time with family and friends. Do not expect hotel amenities.
PROS
1. Distance and Location - From Alabang, if traffic is light, it would take you around 1 hour or less. Not bad. It is also relatively easy to locate since it is along the main road.
2. Affordable - Don't you just hate average and below average resorts that charges high entrance fees and you are not allowed to bring your own food and drinks (Island Cove)? Then when you enter their resort, they charge a king's ransom for food? Well that is not the case here in Dona Jovita. For Php 70 per adult, it is very affordable. You can even bring your own food and drinks and cook it inside the resort.
3. Number of pools - You will not get bored with their selection of swimming pools. Most pools get their water from the hot springs that Calamba, Laguna is famous for but they do have one pool that is not hot. There is also a kiddie pool for toddlers and small children so your kids will also enjoy their swim.
4. Privacy - if you would like some privacy and you don't want to use the showers and toilet with strangers, you can rent one of their cottages which has its own small private pool. However, when we visited last December, the private pool of our cottage doesn't have any water. Better to check with the resort if the private pool is available.
5. Ambiance - Just like its name suggests, it is a garden! The trees and flowers will give you a nice and relaxing view of the place.
CONS:
1. Upkeep of Cottage - the cottage we stayed in and its bathroom has seen better days. It needs a fresh coat of paint and new tiles. I am a bit picky when it comes to where I will spend the night so I will definitely NOT spend a night in this resort.
2. Cleanliness of the grounds - Fallen leaves everywhere. It would be nice if someone could sweep the leaves off the grass and walkway. There were also trash dumped in corners by guests. Suggest that the resort require guest to bring a garbage bag and remind guests against littering.
3. No Dress Code for Swimmers - You can wear almost anything and dip into the pool. A bit of a turn off when you see people wearing t-shirts inside the pool, remove their shirts and play with it like they are washing the shirt.
Overall, average resort for those who just want to have a good time with family and friends. Do not expect hotel amenities.
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Date of stay: November 2013
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.
+1
Me and my boyfriend went there yesterday,march 26,2010. The staff at the front desk were all nice,they even explained what will be the best for us since we were there for a day use only. We chose our place near at th top of the resort. I asked the girl who lead us to our place what are the things that we can do to their resort,she answered that we can have a mountain climbing at the grotto located at the back of their resort,because of that I go excited,because the view inside the resort were just plain,pools for the adults and kids. They have 5 pools operating when we were there, they also had pool for the kids,but the water was not clean.
Back to the grotto thing, we started walking at the back of the resort,we passed a plain lot with 3 statue of camels and 2 horses eating dried grasses. If you were there, you will think what if there are strangers who wants to enter the resort without any permission,because there were no gates at the back of the resort,and I think the back part is no already part of the resort because when we went up of the grotto,we saw students coming at the back of the hill and also there were no guards at the back of the resort. Going up to the grotto were just cemented stairs and it was not even completed,there were even no handles,and if you slip you will go straight at the bottom. Once you reached the top,nothing special,you will just choose to go down and go back to the resort.
At the pool area,they don't have hotspring water that you will think that they should have even one pool because it is where their place is famous of. The water is not that clean maybe because of the leaves falling from their lots of trees. Their biggest pool with slides is not even catchy because of the bad smell like animal waste coming at the back of the resort. They even had a pool with falls but you can't swim there because also of the fallen leaves.
We just chose to leave earlier than our expected time which is 5pm, because we're not really enjoying the place.
When we went at the shower,the smell is terrible!!!! As if the shower was not cleaned for how many days, even the curtains you can't even touched it because it was dirty. The water from the shower was not that strong enough,maybe if there were other two person who was taking a bath there,maybe I will not be able to clean myself well.
The only good thing at their resort was their staff. All of them are nice and they were very accomodating. I think they should have a thorough meeting on how to retrieve the resort, because there were lots of staff in that resort, so why can't they fix it and be sensitive enough about the surrounding of their property.
Back to the grotto thing, we started walking at the back of the resort,we passed a plain lot with 3 statue of camels and 2 horses eating dried grasses. If you were there, you will think what if there are strangers who wants to enter the resort without any permission,because there were no gates at the back of the resort,and I think the back part is no already part of the resort because when we went up of the grotto,we saw students coming at the back of the hill and also there were no guards at the back of the resort. Going up to the grotto were just cemented stairs and it was not even completed,there were even no handles,and if you slip you will go straight at the bottom. Once you reached the top,nothing special,you will just choose to go down and go back to the resort.
At the pool area,they don't have hotspring water that you will think that they should have even one pool because it is where their place is famous of. The water is not that clean maybe because of the leaves falling from their lots of trees. Their biggest pool with slides is not even catchy because of the bad smell like animal waste coming at the back of the resort. They even had a pool with falls but you can't swim there because also of the fallen leaves.
We just chose to leave earlier than our expected time which is 5pm, because we're not really enjoying the place.
When we went at the shower,the smell is terrible!!!! As if the shower was not cleaned for how many days, even the curtains you can't even touched it because it was dirty. The water from the shower was not that strong enough,maybe if there were other two person who was taking a bath there,maybe I will not be able to clean myself well.
The only good thing at their resort was their staff. All of them are nice and they were very accomodating. I think they should have a thorough meeting on how to retrieve the resort, because there were lots of staff in that resort, so why can't they fix it and be sensitive enough about the surrounding of their property.
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Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
3.7 out of 5
It’s like a resort on a small mountain. The place is mostly inclined so a bit warning for those with rheumatism. Nevertheless, they have wheel chairs readily available for senior citizens.
Place is huge with lots of trees and plants. Majority of the place is shaded from the sun. There’s a Grotto at the back where you can do a mini-hike. You can also do sports at their field. There are a lot of kubos and tables.
I think there are about 8 pools (most are warm). 2 are kiddie pools. My issue is that the water in the pools are not very clean. There are 2 pools with a foul smell (the one with the slides and the one with the waterfalls). They changed the water for the kiddie pool, though during our overnight stay.
Picture in the website (the one with the large pool) is only for the Mediteranean Escape (hotel booking only). Thus, if you availed of the garden room only or daily rate, you cannot swim there. Bit misleading, to be honest.
Food is okay. The free breakfast is tooo small! Hard to get water so bring your own!
The service was GREAT. I think this is what increased the rating of this resort. We brought along our 95year old lola and she was well taken cared of. Special mention to Kuya Jaime (for carrying my lola to the kiddie pool so that she can swim), and Kuya Elmer and Randy.
Please just clean your pools more by changing the water (not just by vacuuming).
It’s like a resort on a small mountain. The place is mostly inclined so a bit warning for those with rheumatism. Nevertheless, they have wheel chairs readily available for senior citizens.
Place is huge with lots of trees and plants. Majority of the place is shaded from the sun. There’s a Grotto at the back where you can do a mini-hike. You can also do sports at their field. There are a lot of kubos and tables.
I think there are about 8 pools (most are warm). 2 are kiddie pools. My issue is that the water in the pools are not very clean. There are 2 pools with a foul smell (the one with the slides and the one with the waterfalls). They changed the water for the kiddie pool, though during our overnight stay.
Picture in the website (the one with the large pool) is only for the Mediteranean Escape (hotel booking only). Thus, if you availed of the garden room only or daily rate, you cannot swim there. Bit misleading, to be honest.
Food is okay. The free breakfast is tooo small! Hard to get water so bring your own!
The service was GREAT. I think this is what increased the rating of this resort. We brought along our 95year old lola and she was well taken cared of. Special mention to Kuya Jaime (for carrying my lola to the kiddie pool so that she can swim), and Kuya Elmer and Randy.
Please just clean your pools more by changing the water (not just by vacuuming).
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Traveled 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.
I would never regret my trip to Doña Jovita this Holy week.
No wonder, it`s even called the getaway. A place where I can finally escape from the problems and stress brought about by the city. I went there with my family, like what we usually do during summer and other vacations.
We left home like 9:45 am in the morning and arrived there at almost 11 am. The trip was shorter than expected because less people are on the road during Good Friday. Upon arriving, we ate our lunch and enjoyed going around the place. There were pools everywhere! And it`s very nice to see that other people enjoy swimming, despite the heat from the sun.
Smiles were everywhere.
And little by little, I came to realize that my face is trying to paint a smile by itself. Okay. I had to admit that I really had fun! My siblings were so excited to go in every place they could think of.
Then after lunch, we were invited to watch "The way of the Cross". Wherein the employees and some staff took the roles of Jesus and all that came next. It was a very solemn event, and people really were carried away. Even my mother cried when she saw the person playing Jesus getting hit. The sun was very intense that time, but it didn`t matter. We did it for the Lord. We prayed and participated well during the said event.
Afterwards, my sister asked me if i could accompany her in a stroll around the place. Wanting some more adventure, i joined her. We went to the back part of the resort, and noticed that there was a Grotto placed on top of a small mountain. My sister and i were very curious and eager to know how it felt when we`re there.
So, we climbed.
Halfway the climb, my sister felt her knees shake. She told me that we should already go down before we get too high. She was afraid of heights, that`s why. And I still wanted to go up, so i told her we should continue. The sun was still hot that time, around 3 pm in the afternoon. Lucky we had umbrellas with us. :)
Finally, we reached the place.
I got awestruck by the breath taking view i saw from that point. Wow. I became speechless. Unable to utter even a single syllable. Even my sister forgot how high we were and just appreciated the view like I did instead.
For a religious person, that place would be perfect for praying. Solemn, peaceful -- it`s just meant for that.
It was very difficult to climb up, but when my sister and I got there, i thought...
It was worth it.
No wonder, it`s even called the getaway. A place where I can finally escape from the problems and stress brought about by the city. I went there with my family, like what we usually do during summer and other vacations.
We left home like 9:45 am in the morning and arrived there at almost 11 am. The trip was shorter than expected because less people are on the road during Good Friday. Upon arriving, we ate our lunch and enjoyed going around the place. There were pools everywhere! And it`s very nice to see that other people enjoy swimming, despite the heat from the sun.
Smiles were everywhere.
And little by little, I came to realize that my face is trying to paint a smile by itself. Okay. I had to admit that I really had fun! My siblings were so excited to go in every place they could think of.
Then after lunch, we were invited to watch "The way of the Cross". Wherein the employees and some staff took the roles of Jesus and all that came next. It was a very solemn event, and people really were carried away. Even my mother cried when she saw the person playing Jesus getting hit. The sun was very intense that time, but it didn`t matter. We did it for the Lord. We prayed and participated well during the said event.
Afterwards, my sister asked me if i could accompany her in a stroll around the place. Wanting some more adventure, i joined her. We went to the back part of the resort, and noticed that there was a Grotto placed on top of a small mountain. My sister and i were very curious and eager to know how it felt when we`re there.
So, we climbed.
Halfway the climb, my sister felt her knees shake. She told me that we should already go down before we get too high. She was afraid of heights, that`s why. And I still wanted to go up, so i told her we should continue. The sun was still hot that time, around 3 pm in the afternoon. Lucky we had umbrellas with us. :)
Finally, we reached the place.
I got awestruck by the breath taking view i saw from that point. Wow. I became speechless. Unable to utter even a single syllable. Even my sister forgot how high we were and just appreciated the view like I did instead.
For a religious person, that place would be perfect for praying. Solemn, peaceful -- it`s just meant for that.
It was very difficult to climb up, but when my sister and I got there, i thought...
It was worth it.
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Date of stay: April 2010Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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.
Even though its already a year ago, I would be happy to answer this question.
As far as i know, the front desk doesn't have a capability to help you book a taxi here because there is no taxi's in that place. You can try to use an apps like Grab or Uber for transportation.
"Went here during the ending part of summer (june) that's why there wasn't too much people.. Highly recommended for dog lovers"Read full review
"The Mediterranean rooms are more quiet and private if you're willing to wait for service"Read full review
"Choose any of the Mediterranean Escape rooms for lower lanai-based internet access."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
dona jovita garden hotel calamba
LOCATION
PhilippinesLuzonCalabarzon RegionLaguna ProvinceCalamba
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
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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Frequently Asked Questions about Dona Jovita Garden Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Nearby attractions include Rizal Shrine (5.7 km), Mount Makiling (4.0 km), and Makiling Botanic Gardens (6.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a desk, and a fireplace.
What food & drink options are available at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Dalcielo, Herb Republic Restaurant, and Satya Graha Cafe and Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Filipino.
Are there any historical sites close to Dona Jovita Garden Resort?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Rizal Shrine (5.7 km).