Living in a tropical country, you get used to a myriad of resorts and beaches promising the ultimate getaway. We’ve all heard of Bellarocca as a prestigious five star resort so naturally, expectations run high. I embarked on this experience with enthusiasm knowing that something wonderful awaits; but really, nothing prepared me for the grandeur that is Bellarocca.
Upon arrival at Marinduque, we were greeted by staff from the island and whisked away to a waiting van without even having to worry about our luggage. We were immediately handed wet aromatic face towels and ice cold bottles of mineral water. At the peak of summer, this is highly appreciated. Right away, we were given a taste of what was to come, a weekend of luxury.
A 40-minute van ride later, a rubber speedboat waits by the dock to take us to the island. The short 10-minute ride was refreshing and already boasted of the spectacular view of Mt. Malindig.
Nearing the port, I could already see a group of people waiting by the dock. As we got closer, I noticed that they were actually singing a Tagalog welcome song and swaying and clapping to the beat. I couldn’t help but smile at this simple but inspiringly sincere gesture by the staff. Isn’t that such a wonderful welcome?
We were then driven on a golf cart to the Hotel lobby where we were seated and given fresh and cold pandan drinks. We were asked to fill up basic information on guest cards and given a friendly orientation by the manager, Mr. Alexies Tibayan, an amiable and approachable man. He even introduced the front desk manager and the restaurant and bar manager to us, which I felt was another simple yet personal approach to stellar customer service.
After that, each group was approached by a Bellarocca staff member to be assisted and brought to their respective accommodations. At this point, we were already anticipating our 2-BR villa. It was beautiful, to say the least.
Homey but elegant interiors
Extremely luxurious bedding and pillows. (I slept so well!)
Motorized Bathtub and L'occitane goodies! They provided bathrobes, towels, bedroom slippers and all your toilettries, which they replenish daily.
Walking up the colorful tiled steps into the porch and entering the foyer, we were instantly greeted by a jaw-dropping view of our ‘backyard’. Without the pretense of nonchalance, we gave whoops of delight and exclaimed at the elegant yet homey feel of the place. We then ran out to see the view.
We were not disappointed. It was majestic. No exaggeration. Just the vastness of the sea, the beautiful weather, the architectural marvel of the 2 tiered Jacuzzi and infinity pool... Amazing. Yes, this was the backdrop of our sunrise, sunset and almost every hour in between.
This trip was a way to spend time with my sisters, one of whom just flew in to the Philippines for a visit. I couldn’t have asked for a better milieu for long heart-to-heart talks, light hearted chatter and playful banter between sisters and just people who love to spend time with each other. Bellarocca’s villas deliver unparalleled luxury and exclusivity with its’ infinity pool, heated jacuzzi, veranda and the most incredible view.
sunset watch!
With a villa, you get the best of both worlds. You can have all the privacy that you want but at any moment that you need something done, just one quick call to the front desk and your request is granted. We were extremely impressed at how quickly the staff responded to all room service and transportation requests. You get around the island with golf carts driven by their staff and there’s basically no waiting time as they arrive in less than 5 minutes from your call.
Room service was amazing! :) They'll even set up your plates.
Their menu is quite diverse. They have both intercontinental favorites and Filipino specials. A few of our favorites among the native specials were the Sinampalukan and the Pinkabet. For our last dinner, we wanted it to be special so we ordered their Rib-eye Steak and Grilled Lamb Chops, which were simply superb and cooked exactly the way we wanted. Two-thumbs up!! Their smoked salmon was also wonderful because of its’ freshness and full flavor.
Gorgeous Lounge and Infinity Pool at the Seaside Pavilion
With the gorgeous scenery, nothing beats relaxing by the pool and enjoying a cold and fresh fruit shake. You can also get hour-long pampering massages in their beautiful spa treatment room. If you’ve soaked up the sun and lazed the morning away, you can get your adrenaline pumping with any of their water sports activities, like jet-skiing, hobie cat sailing and the like.
They have a small strecth of rocky beach (no worries, they provide comfy aqua socks for everyone!) that's great for swimming. The seabed gets deep quickly so it's best that you wear a life vest whilst swimming and soaking up the sun. We tried snorkeling and we had so much fun! Mostly because we got to swim around the island and really see the depths of the ocean. It wasn’t the usual snorkeling session where you’re put on a boat and led directly to where you’re supposed to snorkel. We really got to explore the sea and our snorkel master was the best!
He would dive down and get starfishes for us to hold. He brought bread for us to to draw the fishes out and feed them. We even got close-up moments with Nemo-s, who liked to touch the end of your fingertip with its’ head. Back at the beach, he even brought a blowfish for us to see! Talk about going the extra mile!
We also tried kayaking and even got to weave around the rocks by the island, which was a challenge but definitely enjoyable. They have extremely experienced staff with you anyway and we all had life jackets on so we felt really safe.
My brother-in-law tried a lesson at windsurfing, which was a lot harder than you would expect. He was able to get the basics though and had a lot of fun in the process.
They also had sunset cocktails on-the-house right by the seaside pavilion during our stay. It was definitely a nice touch :)
our home away from home :)
view from the restaurant patio :)
It was with heavy hearts that we had to leave the island. We didn't want to go! We enjoyed every minute of our stay and soaked up the experience. In hindsight, what truly made our stay unforgettable was the warmth of the people behind Bellarocca. You would expect service extraordinaire with any luxury resort but not sincerity. In Bellarocca, we felt it from the people who served our food, set-up our dinner in the villa, drove us around the island and went swimming with us. There was a genuine sense of family and an earnest desire to make sure you enjoy your stay. That is priceless.
As we got on the speedboat, the team waved their goodbyes from the dock. What a fitting end to such a heartwarming and beautiful getaway. Looking back, it was the perfect oasis from the hustle and bustle of everyday life here in Manila.
Buy thi Deal
