Review: Sitio De Amor, San Pablo Laguna

Of late, we have been spending most of our holy week vacations in quiet and cozy resorts. In 2013, we wanted to try a new place so we went to San Pablo, Laguna to check out a new farm resort named Sitio de Amor. Holy Week 2014 also found us back in this farm resort and I think it definitely won’t be the last.

Rays of sunlight in the early morning

It’s a multi-hectare farm nestled in the surrounding mountains of San Pablo and Quezon. The owner, Amor, truly enjoys working in the gardens and caring for various plants, herbs and fruit-bearing trees scattered around the farm. The resort offers 7 rooms, with the biggest one capable of accommodating 15 pax. We have tried the Mango (PHP 3,500 for 2 pax), Duhat (PHP 3,500 for 2 pax), Chico (PHP 4,000 for 2 pax) and Lanzones (PHP 5,000 for 2 pax) rooms, each of them having a unique charm.  Rates all include Filipino breakfast for 2 pax.

View from Lansones Room – River-Fed Lagoon

Each one painstakingly decorated and adorned by the owners. I especially loved staying at the Lanzones room with it’s view of the river-fed lagoon and the Chico room with it’s open air bathroom. Extra beds are available, also with breakfast for PHP 1,200.

The owners are also quite interested in restoring old houses so don’t be surprised to see a few of them under construction on the premises when you visit.

One of the main attractions of the farm would probably be the river-fed lagoon. Since  the property runs right along the river, the owners decided to create a lagoon and have it filled up by the river at certain times of the day. It’s very clean and just in case you decide you would rather swim there than in the pool, then jump right in.

Infinity Pool

In case you decide against it, they have a perfectly situated infinity pool with a view of the lush forest and the bubbling brook. A kiddie pool is conveniently available for little children to enjoy.

Fancy relaxing outside or taking a nap? They have a number of gazebos scattered around the property ready for you to take advantage of and enjoy. You might also decide to sit underneath the fruit-bearing trees.

They also serve dinner at the pavilion in case you decide to stay in. Just inform them in advance so they can prepare for the meal ahead of time. I believe it costs around PHP400-500 per pax but they serve good food. Just in case you would prefer dining out, there are some restaurants along the national road You might even decide to visit the town proper of San Pablo.

Pavillion

Pavilion

You must have some idea by now that this is a place for quiet and relaxation. I have to warn you that there are no televisions in the rooms, no wi-fi and no booming music. If that’s what you are looking for, then this is not the right place for you. However, if you want to take a real break, get away from the noise and bustle of the city and instead enjoy nature, this is the perfect place for you.

We’ve been to Sitio de Amor twice and I think that’s a good indication of how much we liked the place. It is a bit pricey if you compare it to other resorts but they do offer a unique type of experience. Plus, you can avail of the extra beds in case you want to stay within your budget.

I give it a 4.5/5 since it is a bit more pricey than other resorts but overall, we enjoyed our stay and we will be back soon.

In case you want to book your stay at Sitio de Amor, it is located along KM 88.8 Maharlika Highway, Purok Paraiso, San Antonio I, San Pablo City, Laguna. You can contact them through Telephone: (632) 401-7344/(632) 552-7340/Cellphone: 0908-884-2730/0917-533-0209/0918-927-4346 or email: sitiodeamor@yahoo.com