Momarco Resort & Hotel — Hotel in Luzon

A very nice resort to go to if you want that “Back to Nature” vibe but with some caveats. The setting for a start is within dense tropical jungle that really lives up to the “Forest Cove” name but it also means that you have to travel about a kilometer on a narrow, very bumpy dirt track to actually get there after turning off the main road. Best take a high-clearance vehicle like an SUV or a pickup if you can.

Once you do get there the hotel staff are polite, courteous, and helpful but they could use some improvement in how they relay info. Several times we were told things that weren't quite correct like the restaurant closing at 8 pm when we were there until just past 8 and a couple of guests arrived and were served normally still. The following day we were told the artificial waterfall in the lagoon would be turned on at 9 am but we ended up having to track down the pool attendant ourselves to have it done.

The resort also obviously has seen better days with a lot of amenities scattered about that have fallen into disuse or disrepair like the tennis court that was covered in mud or the remains of an old BMX track down a side road. The main amenity though, the large pool, was top shelf with a very large main area and smaller offshoots for the kiddie pool and a shallower section. The water was clean and the temperature was slightly on the cold side but perfectly lovely after you get used to it. The surrounding trees and forest make for a relaxing environment to enjoy the water too.

The artificial lagoon is a bit more of a novelty. With the artificial falls on it gives the effect of a mountain waterfall with some nice swimming holes at its base – just like the countless natural waterfalls in the Philippines that allow for swimming. It's a can't miss feature of Momarco if you're looking for your next social media photo upload.

Other than the pool and the lagoon there wasn't much else to do at Momarco though so thankfully the hotel room was great with ice-cold AC, comfy beds (although the mattreses were a bit on the hard side and the pillows, while soft and comfy, weighed like they'd been stuffed with lead), and nice, hot water in the shower. Sadly while we were there a tropical storm had just rolled through the area and electricity had been cut to the resort. At least they had a generator effective enough to keep everything running including the air conditioning. The wifi wasn't working while we were there though.

Overall, Momarco Forest Cove made for a very nice overnight stay but the little missed details mean it gets only three out of five stars. A little improvement and it could easily be a four but more amenities and easier accessibility would be needed for it to hope for a five. They also had plenty of day-use bungalows so if you're just looking for a nice swim then the lack of other amenities might...

This pet-friendly forest resort boasts of a wide swimming pool with a deep-end (4-6ft) and a shallow-end with some fun sprinklers for kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy. A man-made lagoon with falls surrounded by greenery offers shade from the sun while enjoying the water and some instagrammable shots, if you like. Momarco offers daytours and it has many cottages to accommodate guests. Despite this, one does not get a sense that the place is overcrowded. The pools are well-maintained.||||At night, the bar (1 of 3 restos) becomes a karaoke place where overnight guests can hang out, have a feel of community, and take turns singing while drinking booze. I thought that was a nice touch. Breakfast at the main restaurant is good and filling. Their arroz caldo stands out for its taste. Our dining experience was underwhelming, though. Food was served quite simplistically (no sides to make the dish look good or more inviting) and taste was average. The staff were courteous and helpful.||||Momarco has a small spa "hut" which externally looked more like a karaoke place. They also tended to play instrumental pop music loudly that I had to request for the volume to be turned down. They lacked storage for their towels and blankets and a relaxing scent was missing. That said, their signature massage was surprisingly good! Given the uninviting exterior and ambiance, I did not expect to get one of the best massages I've ever had. But I did. Ask for Belle.||||In the morning, we explored the property and found many delightful things. The property runs through a stream, but the area around it is undeveloped. Its forest is a DENR protected area but can be developed crudely for some recreational hiking. They have a basketball court and a tennis court. I did not inquire, but hopefully, they have a trainer on call, should a guest want to play.||||Their website mentions that they have a zoo but maybe because of the maintenance cost during the pandemic, most of their animals had already been donated.||||We stayed at the hotel and found the room to be spacious. The comfort room is also spacious and modern but lacked towel/hanging racks. ||||Momarco is a huge resort with wide open spaces and many nooks and crannies to relax and commune with nature. For its price, the many items for improvement can...

We availed the couple's sweet escape package at Momarco, which includes a regular room, a fancy dinner, breakfast, foot spa, and use of their amenities such as the pool, a billiards table, and a tennis court.

I would start off with some downsides of the experience. We were expecting that tennis rackets would be available to use but that was not the case. You need to bring your own racket to play. The cafe/bar/ktv, separate from the restaurant, is non-operational. The bar, another separate place within the resort, was also non-operational at the time we visited.

We suggest bringing in your own drinks, snacks, and other prepared food as the options for these are minimal.

The location can also be a bit tricky to navigate and we got lost on a muddy dirt road on the way. We were using Google Maps at the time. We suggest marking Bakasyunan and asking around that are so as not to get lost.

The room was also a bit lacking. No hangers to use, or a closet, or wifi, or some sort of storage for bas. This was not a huge deal breaker for us as the room was only to rest while most of the time was spent out and about.

Now for the positives.

The place is breathtakingly beautiful. You can get lost in thought appreciating the beauty of nature that surrounds you. Birds live on the trees, giving off hums and songs as your ambiance.

The pools are numerous, and you have different options to choose from. A shallow wading pool is great for families with kids, and those who like to go deeper can go on the massive pool.

Gazebos line the surrounding of the pool, and day trips are possible.

The food at the restaurant is fantastic, and the couple's package also let us experience a nice candlelit dinner.

The staff is very kind and accommodating - they make sure that you are enjoying your stay. They are also very communicative during the initial booking.

We look forward to going back, and we'll be more prepared this time to get the most out...