Patio by Balai Norte — Hotel in Luzon

Long review. In summary though, worst service experience I've encountered. What a waste of a beautiful hotel. Here's what happened from my perspective:

We attempted to dine in at their roof top resto last week, Wednesday. The night before, I asked if we could make reservations. They told me to text a number. I did and they confirmed my reservation.

Wednesday night, our group of 5pax arrived at around 630ish pm which was the time we said in our reservation. We placed our orders at around 645pm. We ordered 2 appetizers, 3 viands for sharing, rice for sharing and a few drinks.

The drinks seemed to take a while so I asked for service water for our table since none of the servers offered. Not sure exactly what time the drinks came but it did take a while considering one of our orders was just a bottle of beer. The other drink, which was something like a mocktail, even came before the beer.

At around 745, a whole hour after we ordered, we asked to follow up our food. No one got back to us for an update. At about 750, we followed up again and the server said they were plating our food. Finally, one of the two appetizers we ordered was served. Then at about 755, one main course out of the three we ordered was served. We asked the server if the rice could be brought to the table already as we were already starving. 5 minutes later, 8pm, still no rice.

A lady with what I think we're stuffed toys approached our table and asked us how the night was going. We said we had been waiting for our food for more than an hour already. 805pm, still no rice served and no update with regards to our other food orders. We asked to speak to a manager. We explained that it had already been more than an hour since we ordered. Even the simplest plain rice was taking so long. We said we already wanted to cancel the order since we were super hungry already and it was taking ages. All he said was "I'm sorry" and nothing else. We stood up and walked out. Seemed like some other tables wanted to follow us out, honestly.

Everything was just a big failure. No updates from the servers after our follow ups. Everything was taking so long. Then the lady with the stuffed toys just chose the wrong table to approach. Service water, we had to ask for this. Shouldnt it be automatic for a hotel like this to give service water to dining guests? The simple rice, which we requested to be served already after the first main course came out seemed to be none existent. Manager didn't even bother to offer alternatives and said nothing else but "I'm sorry." Seems like he just accepted defeat.

The next day, I messaged the number I sent the reservation through with the same story I detailed above. I received no reply.

A day after, I get a message from a different number. The sender asked how our dining experience was at the Patio and said thank you for dining in.

I was shocked. After what had happened when we were there and the message I sent them, this is what I receive from them?? Seems like they didn't bother to address the incident with their team internally. I replied simply to check with the staff at the restaurant and to check with the reservation number what happened during our attempt to dine in there.

It's been more than a week and I have received no communication from them whatsoever. Seems like our incident was just shrugged off.

Big fail during our time there. Even bigger fail after. Worst service ever. Expected way way more from a...

Upon check-in, staff were very accomodating. They allowed us to check in 1 hour earlier than the designated time. The reception area feels luxurious and they provided refreshments upon arrival. Rooms are spacious but you can hear the noise from your neighboring room. We went on a tour on our 2nd day, and we hanged a “please make my room” sign in our door. We left early that day at around 7:30am and came back at around 2pm and still our room was left untouched. Before leaving for the tour, we ate at their buffet breakfast which they serve at 7-10am. At that time I knew the hotel was fully booked but we were seated promptly. We went there at around 7:30am but food trays were almost left empty, refills take longer than usual (as in longer, I have to wait for a water for almost 20minutes standing at the counter). I thought maybe because it was fully booked that they were having difficulties to keep up on the demand. Anyways, the following day more than half of the people checked out. I was hoping for a faster service on their buffet at this time but to my surprise it was still the same service like the previous day. We were there at around 8:30am and I requested multiple times for a refill of foods like fried rice, pork giniling, salted egg w/ tomatoes (which they were not able to refill after an hour of waiting). Even requesting for ice took almost 30minutes. They have a beach front access which was 7-10 mins away by car. You can request a shuttle going there but you will have to wait for 5-15 minutes upon request. The beach front feels like the wilderness. Empty, not well maintained. You’re better off going to urbiztondo beach front which was 2-3 mins away from the hotel via car. We avail their laundry service which was superb btw. All in all value for money? Nah! For 4k php/night, I believe the service rendered to us was not worth 4k. There are better hotel services somewhere that is below 4kphp. If I were to go back at La Union, I will stay away...

Patio by Balai Norte exceeded all expectations! I could go on and on about how exceptional their food was, especially at Vista. Without a doubt, we experienced the finest dining in La Union right at their restaurant. In fact, the calamansi juice they offered as a welcome drink was so delicious that I willingly ordered it again, despite it being complimentary. That's how irresistible it was! I'd gladly purchase it again and again.

Beyond the food, the ambiance and design of Patio by Balai Norte were flawless. The tropical theme throughout the hotel perfectly captures the essence of La Union and beach living. It's like stepping into a movie set dedicated to beach life, instantly whisking away any stress from the daily grind.

One highlight was the complimentary shuttle service to their beach-front glamping site—a game-changer that adds immense value to your stay. Alaia by Balai Norte's staff were exceptional, matching the superb amenities and environment. To truly grasp the full experience, you'll want to reach out for more details, as words here can't do it justice.

The standout feature, however, was the unparalleled staff. Balai Norte boasts a team that's second to none. Their warmth and genuine friendliness make every interaction a joy. Their expertise and professionalism are top-notch, leaving us consistently impressed. It's no exaggeration when we say they're simply the best!

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Patio by Balai Norte. Don't hesitate—every peso spent here is worth it. You'll feel not just taken care of, but truly...