Alley 2, Buton Street Barangay Sabang, Baler, Luzon Philippines
Surfhouse Baler
45 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Hubby and I are both architects and when we saw the pictures of this place on the internet, we we decided to stay here for our trip to Baler. When we arrived at the resort, the place didn't disappoint. We love the outdoor shower and the spacious room which opens to a grassy courtyard.
This being said, what would keep me from coming back here would be the lack of attentiveness or customer service from the staff.
We arrived at around 6pm after 7 hours on the road and I was looking forward to a warm soothing shower before cozying up on the super comfy bed. To my dismay, there was no hot water and I ended up cringing under the cold water in the outdoor shower. It turns out that the staff forgot to turn on the heater (outside of the room), something basic that should have been done when preparing the room for a guest.
Hubby and I were looking forward to watching movies on the tv in our room later that evening. The TV wouldn't turn on. It was late and there was no staff in sight outside. we found out next morning that they needed to replace the TV in our room because it didn't work. Ok, weren't they supposed to do this BEFORE the guest arrived?!
So we had to instruct them to turn on the shower heater and replace the TV. We headed out to surf early in the morning and went back to the resort for the breakfast that came with the room. It was a simple meal of suman (sticky rice), fruits, scrambled egg, toast, and tea. Breakfast was plated well and was ok.
After a long day of exploring and more surfing, we came back to the resort around 5 pm. There was no electricity and the staff said it was a scheduled brownout. We hung out outside becuase it was too hot inside the room. It was getting dark so I went in to get the rechargeable emergency lamp that I saw there only to find out it was out of juice. Ok, another thing that the staff needed to attend to BEFORE the guest arrived. They knew there was a scheduled brownout yet they weren't attentive enough to check if the emergency lights in the rooms were working. When the electrcity came back on at around 7pm, I went in to get a hot shower. And guess what? THERE WAS STILL NO HOT WATER IN THE SHOWER. I was so pissed and tired I asked my hubby to please ask one of the staff to turn on the heater while I waited.
I really tried to be patient and kept my temper in check. But to think that we were paying Php4,500 a night only to have such poor customer service is a deal breaker for me.
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Date of stay: May 2016
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled 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.
My partner loves to surf, perhaps it's his second love. Thanks to Abby and Marco for recommending Surfhouse. You were both right on every aspect. I only have good words for this place. The room we had is spacious and gorgeous with so much art and class. The staff are very kind and welcoming. And the food? And milkshakes? They're one of the tastiest! Will definitely stay here when we come back for another surfing session.
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Date of stay: May 2016Trip type: Traveled 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.
It was the first time I've experienced resort staff calling me two hours away from Surfhouse, asking us if we needed assistance in finding our way. (This care and attention without even stepping on the resort steps made me feel this trip would be promising) Since it was our first time to travel to Baler, the staff already had the initiative of making sure their guests arrive without difficulty. We were immediately greeted with smiles and fresh fruit drinks, while the staff ushered us to our rooms. The rooms...ahh so gorgeous! From the tall minimalist/industrial glass wooden doors to the outdoor private toilet and bath with awesome unique artwork (which I learned was made by a local artist) 👏 to the massage stones on your feet while showering (I wanted to shower there for hours haha) So much attention to detail...my senses were in overdrive with all the pampering and visual beauty of the place. Then I tasted their brick oven pizza and coffee....I was a goner! Haha Beside the rooms stands a quaint two level open hut that serves gourmet/artisanal food and the best coffee in the island. Everything prepared fresh in front of you. They also arranged our trips to the nearby beaches and must-see places, bonfire for the kids on our 2nd night, fat bike rentals, surf lessons, anything we needed, their staff were very courteous enough to provide. They say you create the best memories when you travel, this place just made it even more memorable! We enjoyed every moment of our stay here. Dreaming of the day we can come back...soon soon!
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Date of stay: July 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.
Pretrip: Nobody bothered to respond to sms messages to confirm if the reservation was good to go but we pushed forward because well the card got charged.
Arrival: Got there after a long, arduous drive. There are no signs to the place so you will need to ask around. When we found it, a neighbor helped us find a parking spot right next to the property. Parking fits 1 SUV. There was nobody manning the place when we got there. A woman, who claims to help teach Yoga there, was kind enough to assist and basically said, we can just go and pick any room. Highly unusual but ok we chose the room farthest from where construction work was ongoing.
The Room: Minimalist. So much so you've nowhere to put your bags. Mosquitos everywhere. They gave us semi wet towels (gross). And that outdoor shower people were raving about? Dirty. No heater. Did I mention the mosquitos?
Plus side: The bed and the AC.
False advertising? Most definitely. It is NOT at all what's pictured in their website. On a sidenote, props to their marketing people for the great photos. I certainly got duped into booking.
They claim 24 hour security. This place isn't gated and manned. The property next door is maybe 10 steps away and a wired wall separates them. There was heavy construction ongoing so you can imagine the noise. On top of that, the construction guys would have music blaring with volume levels that could go against any respectable ugs ugs dance joint. After spending the first night, i was woken by the sound of a cement mixer, hammers pounding, and dance versions of fra lippo lippi. This.at. 6 am.
Breakfast: 1 piece of bread. 1 banana. 2 pcs of sliced apple. Scrambled eggs. 1/4 of an orange and tea. They said coffee was only available Sat and Sun. Also the dude who prepared our breakfast? I mistook him for one of the construction guys. The kitchen? I suppose you can say both the cook and the kitchen needed some serious lessons in cleaning.
The whole place also smelled of chicken poop. Like being on a chicken farm. I dont know what that's about but the locals claim it may have something to do with their unregulated construction of pipes and sewage systems.
After breakfast, I made a quick call to Kahanamoku Bed and Breakfast and was accommodated immediately (merits an entirely different 5 star review).
I was booked from Sunday to Wednesday. Completely paid for. I checked out at 8am Monday. It was that bad.
This is about 4k php per day. Pretty steep for the area. If they had charged me a grand per day, i would maybe change my rating to a 3. Clearly, hold up dito.
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Date of stay: February 2017Trip 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.
There was no full service resto, welcome drinks were free bottles of mineral water, no fat bikes to rent, no in-house massage. The flooring was bare concrete and the room itself was full of mosquitoes. The outdoor shower area looks up to the windows of surrounding houses and has a sliding door that is so heavy and rusted that it's a chore to heave close or open. There was no cable TV and the hot water was fleeting. Breakfast was paltry and quite ho-hum. The real disappointment was that it had no view - not of the sea, not of the mountains, not even of anything beautiful or restful to look at - just the corrugated walls of its make-shift fence and the ugly backsides of the adjacent structures. I feel that there was a deliberate effort to mislead people.
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Date of stay: September 2017
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Just don't go here.
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.
when we arrive the hotel was not guarder at all. no guards, no decent gate. it was just wirings.
the door was so heavy, makes an annoying sound whenever you open and close it, you can't lock it too, they have a unique and weird way of locking it which takes time.
they have an outdoor shower, again a good idea, but the wall is too low and there were some construction around the place. shower was too weak too!
what really turned me off was the smell of bidet, it smelled like sewer!
the only positive thing about this place is the caretaker was very nice and the bed was soft. not worth it for 4500/n maybe for 1200 its okay.
but forget it.
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Date of stay: February 2018
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:dont book this bnb
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 got to Sabang beach a bit later (7pm) than anticipated and didn't find the place easily because, honestly - from the photos we've seen of the Surfhouse Baler - we didn't expect it to be nestled amongst the run of the mill, rustic lodging houses in the vicinity, no offense.
Expect to be transported to a different state of mind when you enter the compound; especially when you're facing the surf houses, it's just so... zen. Truly worth the long drive from the metro. Yes, the vibe of the place is palpable and its effect, immediate! Made me forget our travel snags almost instantly.
The room, outdoor shower, even how the door is locked has been designed to make the place and the experience there, unique.
The bed and linen, divine! I'm a sucker for hotel beds and linen and theirs (Surfhouse's) is definitely much better than a lot of other fine hotels I've been at. If only my kids aren't such beach bums and still in need of supervision, I'd have spent most of my time in bed (not a beach hag here). 😂
The staff are very friendly and accommodating. The complimentary breakfast is well balanced, delicious and generous. Puwedeng humirit ng suman plus may taho pa!!
Though I didn't get stoked by the surf (like I said, not a beach hag) I'd definitely go back to Baler if only to be able to stay at Surfhouse Baler again!
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip 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.
From rooms to fatbike and surfing, every member of the family has a sure thing to dive in! Specially the refreshing handcrafted drinks (milkshake and calamansi juice!) This place is a must to visit! Thank you Surfhouse! We will definitely come back! (Photo with the owner is a bonus😀)
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip 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.
The SurfHouse is a small boutique hotel, Very clean and nice bathroom . It is only quite new and the facilities will develop further . The staff where very friendly and could not do enough for you, it was like one big family. Aaron was a excellent surf guide up at dawn for us.
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Date of stay: October 2015
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 stayed two nights. Room was very interesting (in a good way) with the bathroom connected to the room with glass doors and an outdoor shower with local art drawn on the walls. Bed was comfortable with nice linens. The aircon was a little small for the room size but we were provided a fan upon request.
Eat at the restaurant! Eat the pizza! Eat the catch of the day! But really, really eat the pizza. It is cooked in their pugon and is absolutely amazing. Coffee is fantastic as well. Actually, everything they serve in the restaurant is great. But really, really eat the pizza.
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Date of stay: September 2015
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Really only good for two people.
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.
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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