Review of Sablayan Paraiso Beach Resort 1*

I would like to give this resort a 5 star rating but there are a few small attentions to detail in the areas of customer service and facilities that prevent me from doing so. On the plus side the resort is intimate and beautifully rustic. With it's limited accommodation, you can be sure there are fewer than 20 guests staying here at any one time. It is located on the beach and can only be accessed by boat or you can also take a foot bridge that you will find near the public market. You can walk or ride your motorcycle over. Take a right once you get over the bridge and follow the road until it ends. Here you find a short dirt path to the beach. If you ride your motor cycle make sure to stick close to the water where the sand is packed down. The restaurant/bar is also small, but nicely situated so you can watch the sunset right from your chair. A short walk to the beach will give you a front row seat to the spectacle. There is free Wi-Fi and 2 charging stations with USB ports or a plug-in outlet near the stereo. Accommodations are simple. The two nipa huts (bahay kubo in the native language) are small bamboo huts made in the traditional Filipino style with grass roofs and bamboo walls. They are just big enough to hold a double bed and a few shelves. There is electricity and a fan is provided. The beds are also traditional bamboo beds with foam mattresses. They are comfortable. A mosquito net ensures you wont be bothered by the pesky critters. There were very few around when we stayed there. I didn't use my repellent at all. The bungalows are slightly larger than the nipa huts but they have a private bathroom with a shower. Otherwise they are built exactly the same. If no bungalows or nipa huts are available, or you just want some really inexpensive accommodation you can opt for a tent pitched in the sand near the entrance to the resort. The menu is interesting and offers an eclectic mix of European, North American and Filipino dishes. Some dishes require advance ordering. The bar is also reasonably well stocked and they offer a selection of local Filipino beer, some international brands and a few local craft beers. I exhausted their supply of IPA from Juan Brew, a local craft brewery. It's a delicious full flavoured IPA and they kept it ice cold for me. The staff is friendly and accommodating. They are also knowledgeable about the local attractions and diving/snorkeling activities. However, they did not seem to be overly anxious to provide service, which brings me to the negative side of things at Sablayan Paraiso Beach Resort. Whenever I came and sat down in the restaurant/bar I had to ask for something even though a staff member was usually just a few feet away. Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to have to ask for service. No one would ask me if I would like another, even if they noticed I was empty. Several times I found myself reminding the staff I had ordered another drink. I found this to be an unnecessary source of irritation. Ordering food was also a bit of a challenge. On more than one occasion I had to remind a staff member that I had ordered something. The menu items seemed to be hit and miss. The Pad Thai was delicious, the Quiche Lorraine looked wonderful as does the Stuffed Squid. I'm sure the Adobo Chicken would have been wonderful too, but my order was never given to the kitchen. I ordered a hamburger but I'm not sure what it is I got. It was in a hamburger bun, but cabbage is never a replacement for lettuce. The shower in the public shower was also a problem. It needs to be replaced or cleaned as it only dribbled water even though plenty of pressure came from the tap. Despite the issues mentioned, I will probably return. The staff and the location make this place.