Raymen Beach Resort — Hotel in Nueva Valencia

I can't believe they have a 4.5 stars rating! They don't deserve it! Let me tell you a story...||||I traveled with 11 others for our office team building. I googled their number online and had a hard time reaching them (no one seems to be answering the phone). Finally, we got through someone. Asked about making a reservation and said we would have to make a down payment of at least 50% (which is expected among resorts) but when I asked her through what bank, she didn't want to disclose it saying that it is for SURE customers only (as if my intention for calling is just for laughs). Anyway, that was the first, and I corrected her by saying that I only wanted the NAME of the bank to check if I can transfer the funds through my phone. ||||Anyway, we started looking for other options after that phone incident but an office mate who recently came back from the same resort recommended it saying it is "budget-friendly". Because of the weather, we were hesitant to give a down payment thinking they might not return the cash if we can't travel from Bacolod to Iloilo and then Guimaras due to unforeseen weather circumstances.. so the team decided and opted to just "walk-in" (also, recommendation made by the same friend). ||||We arrived late, checked in (it was past 8:30 PM) and rushed inside the restaurant feeling hungry and buzzing with excitement. Because the place was small, you can imagine the noise 12 people are making just by excitedly talking to each other. Since it was late, we assumed that there won't be any food left and got some lechon manok along the way. I think that this may be the reason for the staff's dirty looks aside from all the racket we're making. ||||The next day, it was the same thing. We were ordering our eggs for breakfast and the lady blurted out "one at a time" in a very demeaning manner. This time, I just assumed that she wasn't just a morning person, LOL. ||||We checked in to three different non-AC rooms, not so bad but didn't like the bathrooms. The toilets are rather small, no places to hang your clothes, towels, toiletries and the the likes. Also, there's no sink, had to use the one from outside and the water stinks, like it's from the sewer. But i'm used to "roughing it out" so it wasn't a big deal. ||||What really bugged me the most is how rude their workers are (except for this guy named "Paul", you're a STAR! You should be promoted!). ||||Because we were only there as "walk-in" guests, they didn't have any available rooms for our second night so we moved to the resort next door. Their restaurant offer a wide variety of food (good price range if you're in a budget ranging from P120-250), some of my office mates decided to go back and eat. They overheard one of the staff saying in the dialect "ari naman sila, abi ko naka check-out na ni sila" (translated as "Oh, they're still here. I thought they already checked out") and continued the dirty looks. ||||I get that we are rowdy (expected as we are young, excited and for some, their first time on the island)... But as a decent human being, there's actually a good way of how to handle these situations, especially if you're running a business. They could have said something like "Hi ma'm and sir, I'm sorry but can we tone it down just a few notches? We don't want to disturb some of the guests who wants to eat in peace. Appreciate it!" while SMILING! It wouldn't hurt to engage us in some small talk too. After all, you got the reputation of being "family friendly". ||||I know that this is just some dumb review. For sure, it's not like the management would actually do something but I want this message out especially to those planning to go see this place. I tell you, it's not much. YOU ARE NOT MISSING OUT. It is beach front but view is just kind of meh. Also, it's crowded, not really the place to bring a date if you're planning on anything romantic and that hideous blue building that they probably just built looks like a school, LOL. It is so out of place. ||||FOR MILLENIALS: IT IS NOT...

This was absolutely the worst experience I have ever had. I have traveled all over the world, biz & pleasure. I have stayed at budget motels, back packers dives, and presidential suites. I understand that we are not in America where all the conveniences are available, but from the very beginning it was a bad experience. We were offered a room with "hot water" for an extra P300 on 2nd floor. Then after checking in we were told another room was available on first floor w out hot water for half price. We decided to stay w hot water. So we got to room, no hot water. The TV was fuzzy, and Internet didn't work. We woke the next day, went to the canteen for breakfast, ordered our food, and was told it would be 45 minutes before it's ready. So, I went to the front desk to rent beach towels and get a "do not disturb" sign for our room because we didn't have one already available in our room. They gave us a sign that wouldn't hang on door, and standard towels, just like the room towels, but they charged us for them. Then I went to gift/souvenir shop to get sun screen, only to be told they are out, and the closets store is 40mins away. So we went back for breakfast, I had to order coffee again because they still haven't made me a cup after 30 mins. Then finally they brought my coffee and told us they are out of bananas so we can't have a fruit shake. Also, they don't have syrup for pancakes, or butter. So we cut our losses and went to beach. I was stung by jellyfish, along with three other people. Apparently this is jellyfish alley. The locals say it happens all the time. They claim to have a barrier net to keep predators out, but it's only buoys/floats that pretend to carry nets. There is nothing out there to separate the predators from the visitors on the beach. That night, back at room, again, no hot water, no internet all day, and the AC didn't work. It was hot in the room, cold in the shower, and no way to communicate with outside world. Not even a phone in the room. So I spent an extra P1500 for a POS economy room. The next morning before checking out we went back to restaurant/ canteen because there is no other option. Again it took another 45 mins and again the double charged for our drinks that are supposed to come with the combo meal. Also, the restaurant is hot and sweaty. They will not turn on the fans much less the AC. Finally, when we checked out, they charged me again for my breakfast. They claimed i had charged it to my room, even though I paid cash. The wait staff would not allow me to charge to my room. They would not take credit card either. But they told front desk i never paid. So I had to double pay for breakfast. They were rude, and very sneaky and criminal. The pics are not accurate, unless they were taken immediately after the building was finished. The beach isn't very nice, it's very rocky and rough and full of jellyfish. All this happened to my wife and I, and my wife is a local native citizen. We tried to reason with them, but they screwed us in every way possible. I forced the lady working the front desk to sign a new receipt to prove I had paid(although I had "double paid") and she signed her name...

First off, people go to this hotel because they supposedly have the best beach front so, yes, they do have a nice beachfront. ||||We stayed overnight as a family of four - when we arrived around mid-afternoon, there were many guests on day tour so the beach front was crowded and a bit noisy (admittedly, it was summer time so expect this). It (the beach front) became less crowded past 6pm after the sun had set. For guests who overnight, the best time to go swim and enjoy the beach is morning (before any day tour guests arrive)||||Supposedly, once you arrive at the Guimaras port, you take a tricycle to your resort and pay a fixed rate of P250 - which is fine because there were 4 of us, but what they don't mention (and the travel bloggers don't mention this either) is that the ride will take 40 minutes with some portions on rough roads..!||||Tip: if you want to take a tour of the tourist spots of Guimaras, you can do so by tricycle (cheaper, too) but bear in mind that sites can be far from each other and there are still some rough, dusty sections of the roads to and from those places (we opted to hire a private car for our tour)||||What we enjoyed in the island: The beach, Guisi Lighthouse, Mango coffee (both the hot and cold versions) at the Trappist Monastery, Mango pizza at Pitstop, haggling for and bringing home a few boxes of...