Luxor Resort — Hotel in Gasan

Arriving at Marinduque Airport early in the morning off a half empty Cebgo turboprop, the unsmiling lady from Dream Tours offered me a lift for P100. Four minutes later, I was at Luxor and ten minutes later in my room 5 closest to the dark gray-black sand beach.||||The resort is seven years old, and there are seven individual generously proportioned villas. Mine had two comfortable King single beds, not a size I have previously slept on but the great linen - top sheet, no doona - and good pillows plus no noise at night except for an early finishing debutante ball one night and stray dogs briefly on another ensured sound sleep even though I was unwell.||||Immediately I walked in, I surmised the stay would be good.||||Turning left at beachfront, there was snorkelling at less than five metres offshore. The fish were small but colourful. No bangkas docked there, but local government should install buoys around the area to ensure faster coral growth.||||The room had excellent, close to silent aircon and a good range of TV cable channels including Fox, Fox movies and Hit movies plus ANC.||||There was a table and two chairs in the bedroom plus same on the patio. Three 590ml bottles of water were provided.||||The room lacked a fridge. Nor did it have a safety deposit box.||||Lighting was adequate although a lamp would add to the homely feeling. There was a wardrobe, plus a small bureau that doubled as a suitcase shelf if one was careful.||||Coffee, but strangely not tea, plus a kettle were in the room. The curtains blocked most light but since the path lighting was at ground level, any intrusion mattered little.||||The bathroom shower gave instant hot water. It was not a huge flow but sufficient. Soap, shampoo and toothbrushes/toothpaste were provided.||||In 2.5 or 3 star Asian hotels towels can be small. Not the case here, with the white, fluffy bath towels being great.||||Owner Richard observed my discomfort, said he was also a doctor, examined me and got me antibiotics at no charge. I felt like I hit the jackpot, so extended my stay to four nights.||||Food was fair to excellent but my rating of it was adversely affected due to my loss of appetite. Townsfolk come in to dine, usually a good sign. ||||Staff such as Jay and Bernhard plus the two girls who cleaned my room were very good. Jay had the most English by far.||||The main dining area has a large chandelier and is pleasant, but not aircon.||||Most of the music in the dining room was not to my 60s and 70s Western pop taste. Often it was way too loud.||||The resort ought accept credit cards. The owner told me he would consider. Requiring a bank deposit for a direct booking is old fashioned.||||Obtaining tricyles on the highway was easy. To Gasan Market was P20 one way. A jeepney fare from attractive Boac with its preserved Spanish houses was P50. One way to Brgy Pinyyan for island hopping to Tres Reyes was either P150 or P200. To the port helpful Ross conveyed me in a 65 minute trip for P500.||||The gardens at Luxor are attractive. It lacks a pool.||||The owner chose quality fixtures and fittings. It shows. My tariff of about P1800 a night without breakfast was reasonable.||||Breakfast menu does not offer fruit. It could, even though produce is seasonal. For instance I bought a persimmon and kiwifruit at modern Gasan Market, but there were no bananas available, though heaps up the road in Boac, the capital.||||I returned to Luzon on the 1030 hours Montenegro Lines ferry that was packed. It left 20 minutes early so do not arrive at the last minute!||||If you want good rest on a pleasant island that except during Holy Week does not attract the tourist hordes,...

Arriving at Marinduque Airport early in the morning off a half empty Cebgo turboprop, the unsmiling lady from Dream Tours offered me a lift for P100. Four minutes later, I was at Luxor and ten minutes later in my room 5 closest to the dark gray-black sand beach.||||The resort is seven years old, and there are seven individual generously proportioned villas. Mine had two comfortable King single beds, not a size I have previously slept on but the great linen - top sheet, no doona - and good pillows plus no noise at night except for an early finishing debutante ball one night and stray dogs briefly on another ensured sound sleep even though I was unwell.||||Immediately I walked in, I surmised the stay would be good.||||Turning left at beachfront, there was snorkelling at less than five metres offshore. The fish were small but colourful. No bangkas docked there, but local government should install buoys around the area to ensure faster coral growth.||||The room had excellent, close to silent aircon and a good range of TV cable channels including Fox, Fox movies and Hit movies plus ANC.||||There was a table and two chairs in the bedroom plus same on the patio. Three 590ml bottles of water were provided.||||The room lacked a fridge. Nor did it have a safety deposit box.||||Lighting was adequate although a lamp would add to the homely feeling. There was a wardrobe, plus a small bureau that doubled as a suitcase shelf if one was careful.||||Coffee, but strangely not tea, plus a kettle were in the room. The curtains blocked most light but since the path lighting was at ground level, any intrusion mattered little.||||The bathroom shower gave instant hot water. It was not a huge flow but sufficient. Soap, shampoo and toothbrushes/toothpaste were provided.||||In 2.5 or 3 star Asian hotels towels can be small. Not the case here, with the white, fluffy bath towels being great.||||Owner Richard observed my discomfort, said he was also a doctor, examined me and got me antibiotics at no charge. I felt like I hit the jackpot, so extended my stay to four nights.||||Food was fair to excellent but my rating of it was adversely affected due to my loss of appetite. Townsfolk come in to dine, usually a good sign. ||||Staff such as Jay and Bernhard plus the two girls who cleaned my room were very good. Jay had the most English by far.||||The main dining area has a large chandelier and is pleasant, but not aircon.||||Most of the music in the dining room was not to my 60s and 70s Western pop taste. Often it was way too loud.||||The resort ought accept credit cards. The owner told me he would consider. Requiring a bank deposit for a direct booking is old fashioned.||||Obtaining tricyles on the highway was easy. To Gasan Market was P20 one way. A jeepney fare from attractive Boac with its preserved Spanish houses was P50. One way to Brgy Pinyyan for island hopping to Tres Reyes was either P150 or P200. To the port helpful Ross conveyed me in a 65 minute trip for P500.||||The gardens at Luxor are attractive. It lacks a pool.||||The owner chose quality fixtures and fittings. It shows. My tariff of about P1800 a night without breakfast was reasonable.||||Breakfast menu does not offer fruit. It could, even though produce is seasonal. For instance I bought a persimmon and kiwifruit at modern Gasan Market, but there were no bananas available, though heaps up the road in Boac, the capital.||||I returned to Luzon on the 1030 hours Montenegro Lines ferry that was packed. It left 20 minutes early so do not arrive at the last minute!||||If you want good rest on a pleasant island that except during Holy Week does not attract the tourist hordes,...

Luxor Resort and Restaurant: A Disappointing Stay

My recent visit to Luxor Resort and Restaurant left me thoroughly underwhelmed and disappointed. It's unfortunate to say that this experience did not live up to the hype.

Accommodations (1/5): The rooms at Luxor were a letdown. Despite the grand exterior, the interior of my room felt dated and tired. The furnishings were worn, and the cleanliness left much to be desired. I expected a more comfortable and modern setting for the price.

Dining (0.5/5): The restaurant's offerings were mediocre at best. The menu lacked creativity, and the quality of the dishes was subpar. The Egyptian specialties tasted like reheated leftovers, and the service was slow, with little attention to detail. Dining here was far from the culinary experience I had hoped for.

Amenities (1/5): While Luxor boasts an array of amenities, they failed to make up for the overall disappointment. The pool area, while spacious, felt overcrowded and in need of maintenance. The spa services were overpriced for the quality received, and the atmosphere didn't promote relaxation. The entire resort could use a facelift.

Service (1/5): Service was a major letdown throughout my stay. The staff seemed disinterested and unhelpful. Requests were met with indifference, and the lack of attention to guests was evident. It's disheartening when a luxurious resort falls so short in terms of customer service.

Overall Experience (0.1/5): In all honesty, Luxor Resort and Restaurant was a major disappointment. The high prices did not align with the low-quality experience I encountered. While the exterior architecture is impressive, the interior and overall experience fell far short of expectations. I cannot recommend Luxor as a worthwhile destination for those seeking a luxurious and...