I am writing this review with constructive suggestions for the hotel to improve. Hopefully, someone reads it and takes action.
We had high expectations when visiting this hotel, based on recommendations from friends who stayed there three years ago and described it as incredible. Unfortunately, our experience fell short. Given that we paid over $600 per night, we anticipated a 5-star experience but received a 3-star one instead. Here are the positives and areas for improvement:
The Good:
1. Omakase:
This is an absolute must and probably the best dinner we've ever had. It's a real chef's table experience where you are served a 10-course menu with 10 other people while interacting with the staff, which was so much fun.
Recommendation: As soon as we arrived at the hotel and expressed interest in the omakase, we were charged $150 per person immediately. I recommend charging after dinner. It's quite harsh upfront and also results in no tips for the staff.
2. The Pool/Beach/Location:
The view is epic, with a deserted beach in front that really helps you relax.
3. Casa Wabi:
Really beautiful and a must-visit.
Areas for Improvement:
1. Staff Communication and Service:
This is the main issue. When booking a hotel this expensive, my expectations are high. From the moment we arrived, the reception team was not up to standard. They were quite rude, talked over each other, and lacked knowledge about us or our reservation. With only 12 rooms, there's no excuse for this.
For example, on the last day, I called from my room to inform them we were heading to the pool and they could collect our bags for checkout after lunch. While at lunch, the staff called us to go to the reception to check out. When we got there, they didn't know if they had our luggage, wasted time confirming, and then told us to come back after lunch to settle the bill. This was a waste of our time. Double-check details before approaching guests.
Another issue was the main lady at reception asking for 4000 pesos as a deposit for extras in the first minute. This isn't the type of clientele that would run away. Don't do this, as it takes days for guests to get their money back. Guests should pay what they owe at the end.
It was also annoying to be asked three times for proof of our reservation, which we had already sent. On the last day, they presented a final bill with