MGM Ranch — Hotel in Taal

I had a little difficulty with this review. The place was neither bad nor good; it could be great. The owners are very nice and you know they strive to be good. So instead of a harsh critique, I will make this review constructive. ||||The place is a farm that offers accommodation; it appears to be trying to offer the experience of sleeping in a farm. It does not pretend to be a 4-star or even a 3-star hotel but at its price-point, it cannot be mistaken as a budget hotel either. That's one of the reasons why my rating is only average - precisely because I couldn't figure out the identity of the place.||||My advice for the owners, especially to the very nice daughter who runs the place, is to take a short hotel and restaurant management course and to travel the world especially Europe to see how the excellent non-chain hotels and inns do it. You will perhaps imbibe global standards. I'm certain you have the funds to do it. Among the lessons which will be learned from the experience, if I can offer them as suggestions, are:||||1. A guest should not have to ask for towels.||2. When a guest paid for three occupants, there should be 3 towels, not 2.||3. Three guests cannot be expected to share one blanket; unless the bed has a huge comforter with the same size as the bed like those you find in many hotels.||4. The room must have electric sockets. While you can offer the experience of a farm, without television or wifi/internet, you cannot expect guests to forget about their smartphones or deprive them of the opportunity to at least charge them for their activities the following day. Even cameras which your guests will most likely have, need to be charged.||5. When you tell guests that their breakfast will be this and that, those will be expected and your guests will be frustrated when they see something else in the morning even if what are served are arguably better.||6. Guests should not have to ask for toilet paper.||7. If water from your shower tend to wet the floor outside the shower area, a shower curtain is indispensable.||8. A floor towel or mat to make sure the floor is dry is very useful, if not indispensable.||9. There should be glasses inside the bathroom for tooth brushing.||10. The mirror at the back of the bathroom sink cannot be lower than your average guest's neck.||11. The bathroom light should be bright. Guests cannot check out their faces in the dark, especially women trying to remove makeup and cleaning their faces.||12. Your hotel must have clear directional signs especially when the hotel room is quite detached from your check in area.||13. There should be a check in/ check out area and this must be clearly identifiable to the guests so they know where to go when they arrive. ||14. Convenient communication between detached rooms and the check in/ check out area is indispensable. Giving the mobile number of the owner does not necessarily assure good service. It can in fact be discouraging.||||I can only wish the best for this place. Will I return? Only when I learn that things...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this unique glamping-style ranch house on a farm, and it was an experience I'll treasure forever. From the moment we arrived, the host greeted us with warmth and hospitality that made us feel right at home. He's not just a host but a pillar of the community, respected by everyone around. His kindness shone through when he personally drove us to several places, enhancing our experience beyond expectation.

The staff were a reflection of the host's ethos - always nice, helpful, and eager to ensure our stay was as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Their attentive service added an extra layer of joy to our stay. They cooked us amazing breakfasts everyday, and gave freshly made hot coffee pots, delivered straight to our door, at a time of our choosing.

As an animal lover, this place was a dream come true. The farm is home to a variety of animals, including majestic horses and friendly sheep. A highlight of our stay was the daily interaction with the farm's goat; walking, feeding, and playing with it was an absolute delight and a unique experience that you don't often find in regular accommodations.

The ranch's swimming pool is a chapter in itself. Surrounded by beautiful tree lights, the pool area transforms into a scene straight out of a romantic movie at night. It's the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring or to simply soak in the tranquil vibes of the farm.

For those considering a stay here, it's important to note that the ranch is a bit of a walk from the main road. The journey to the nearby main town of Taal is an adventure in itself, best experienced via a Tuktuk ride, which adds to the rustic charm of the whole experience. furthermore, just be aware that there is no hot water for the shower.

If you're looking for a blend of rustic farm life with the comforts of modern amenities, this glamping-style ranch is the perfect getaway. It's a place where nature, comfort, and outstanding hospitality come together to create a memorable stay. Highly recommended for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle...

The place where we're staying is very clean, relaxing, and has a homey vibe. It feels comfortable to be surrounded by nature, and despite the weather, it makes the entire ranch feel romantic. Our place has everything we need; the cotton towels are clean, and there's a good water supply for both drinking and bathing (it would be great if they could also add a water heater). We also got their complimentary Batangas barako coffee, and I love it so much—the hot coffee combined with the cold weather and being surrounded by nature makes for a perfect everyday morning. The whole stay felt like a trip back in time to an older era. You can see the old house situated at the center of a wide, well-kept green lawn, with some rustic houses not far from it. What makes it perfect and romantic is the view of the pool with its aesthetic fence, creating the perfect angle to center the old house. At night, the warm lights, the wind, and just the sound of crickets make it perfect. Their staff were great and very accommodating. I've read reviews from years ago and experienced their kindness myself, so their consistency is something to applaud. Kudos to the owner! The food was great too. The Taal longganisa...