Old Parola Seaside Inn - Baler — Hotel in Baler

I booked and paid for this place in advance through Expedia. I was aware that the establishment had a non-refundable policy. I did not consider it important - after all - the reviews did not give me cause for concern. I did not know any better - but I do now! Never, ever, have I encountered a more disgusting, dirty, smelly hostelry whether hotel, resort, bed and breakfast, or in this case beachside cottages.||||This establishment is a blot on the landscape of Baler. I arrived but I did not stay. The stench was nauseating. The parking area is next to their restaurant, which is nothing more than a wooden hut. Next to it was rotting drying fish under a washing line of hanging clothes in an adjacent property. How anyone could be expected to eat in it is an anathema. For the record it has a predominantly Indian menu.||||Such was the overwhelming foul odour that I was unable to communicate with a member of staff. In truth I could only return to my vehicle having remarked that I felt I was nauseated. Indeed the smell was so pervasive that it took a good shower to shake it off. ||||I left, gladly. But I did make observations. Their beach area is unkempt and uninviting. As for the lighthouse - that’s merely a distressed carbuncle of concrete with a small bulb on the top. It’s no higher than 20ft and nothing more than a folly - the Parola (Tagalog for lighthouse) which gives this disgusting accommodation it’s name. ||||I did not stay. I did not seek recompense. I swallowed my losses - about £50. I have not made any claim since. I was just happy to escape and go elsewhere. To Somewhere cleaner and much more decent. It cost me much more but when you’ve been to hell, everywhere else is heaven and worth...

Old Parola is a huge mistake and gave worst experience! Our travel date was December 28 and we made our booking through their Facebook page as early as December 11, did the deposit and got the confirmation. On our arrival date, we arrived Baler around 9pm from 11 hour travel from Manila so imagine the longingness to rest our bodies to bed. To our horror, the help (not sure if i can call her receptionist) told us they had some error and all rooms are booked!! The owner would not talk to us but i insisted that she at least face us and remedy the situation. She offered to transfer us to their "other" room for a night and we can move to our reserved room the following day upon other guests check out. To our dismay, they wanted us to sleep to an old, dirty room with no aircon, no bed frame just mattress and no own restroom!! Of course we did not agree so they looked for an available room to the transient house nearby and we were left with no choice. The help even forgot to give us the key of that "temporary" room! The next day we moved to our original room and i cannot say anything good about their room - the sheets were dirty (i even had bug bite the following day as huge as my palm), the towels were so old it even had patch to cover the hole on it, there was no water for hours and no tissue paper! Location? Nah! though it is beach front, the surfing and swimming area is still 200 meters away. Believe me, you will never want to book to this place! I should have listened to bad reviews...

Old Parola is a huge mistake and gave worst experience!|Our travel date was December 28 and we made our booking through their Facebook page as early as December 11, did the deposit and got the confirmation. On our arrival date, we arrived Baler around 9pm from 11 hour travel from Manila so imagine the longingness to rest our bodies to bed. To our horror, the help (not sure if i can call her receptionist) told us they had some error and all rooms are booked!! The owner would not talk to us but i insisted that she at least face us and remedy the situation. She offered to transfer us to their "other" room for a night and we can move to our reserved room the following day upon other guests check out. To our dismay, they wanted us to sleep to an old, dirty room with no aircon, no bed frame just mattress and no own restroom!! Of course we did not agree so they looked for an available room to the transient house nearby and we were left with no choice. The help even forgot to give us the key of that "temporary" room!|The next day we moved to our original room and i cannot say anything good about their room - the sheets were dirty (i even had bug bite the following day as huge as my palm), the towels were so old it even had patch to cover the hole on it, there was no water for hours and no tissue paper!|Location? Nah! though it is beach front, the surfing and swimming area is still 200...