In a remote part of Bulalacao, you’ll find Southdrive Beach Resort. With nothing much around, you’re almost forced to eat and drink here. The hotel did not have WiFi and do not offer any complimentary water so you have to buy bottles from them. The rooms are like little huts which invite in bugs and mosquitos (they don’t provide nets) so be careful during your stay. Food is served outside on a picnic table which, whilst a lovely setting (beach views and ocean waves), gives flies and bugs an invitation to dine with you. The food was good but a little overpriced for what it was. They do offer a free ride to the port (it’s 5mins away) which was very kind. I’d say one night is enough if you just want to be near the port.
Chikita was a wonderful host. She made us feel very welcome and her and all the staff went out of their way to make our visit so enjoyable. Chikita organised two trips for us, island hopping and a visit to Suguicay. Both were amazing! The islands were completely deserted with white beaches. We had problems withdrawing money and Chikita was so helpful in helping us to resolve it. Finally, the room was lovely and food was delicious. Cannot recommend Southdrive Beach Resort enough!
Avoid this place at all costs. 1. Roosters crowing next to your room from midnight to early morning non stop! 2. Toilet flush is weak. 3. No housekeeping. They don't send anyone to change sheets, pillowcases and blankets. Expect to be using the same sheets on your 3rd day. 4. The roosters will drive you nuts!!
Great place para makapag relax, malayo sa stressed ng manila. Nag travel kami by roro , sinakay yung car at nag drive mula calapan papunta sa resort. Pero worth it naman yung place nagustuhan ko kasi ang tahimik, sarap matulog. Thank you kay ate ching at sa daughter niya super ok sila pati mga staff ng resort. Minsan masarap talaga mag travel maski malayo lalo na maganda yung pupuntahan.
A lovely little beachside resort, beautiful location, great room with air con and a big shower, only metres from the beach. Very friendly staff, great Pork Adobo for dinner, and only a couple of hundred metres from the ferry port. And all for only php 2200 per night.
It was a blessing and disguise that we were not accommodated by the first resort i have inquired at in Bulalacao. Our Southdrive Grill stay was such a pleasant experience. The owner herself, Ms. Ching attended to the reservation inquiries and although the wifi signal in the town isn't that efficient, she made sure that all my facebook queries and text messages were answered promptly. Her staff, especially Myra, were all polite, professional, and kindhearted. Even the locals in Bulalacao were all nice and helpful to tourists. The room we rented was spacious enough for 4 persons and the bathroom was clean and bigger than the usual backpacking resorts. They serve breakfast, lunch, merienda, and dinner. They also arranged island hoppings, and tricycle rides to the town for us. It was never a hassle staying at their place even if we were at a remote area in Mindoro. Will definitely go back to stay there again :)…
Yes I give this place 5 stars. It is a slice of heaven tucked away at the southern tip of Mindoro. It is only an hour van ride from San Jose. The owner and staff were very accommodating, friendly and best of all very genuine. They are not just trying to make a sale. They truly are very helpful people which is quite refreshing to see. A few people would prefer to go here instead of the crowded Boracay. The cottage we stayed at is well kept and very clean and the bathroom is modern and well maintained. If you miss taking a hot shower, you have the option here to do so. The price is also very reasonable. Our cottage had 3 big beds so you have a group of friends or a family of 5 or 6 you will have plenty of space here. They also have a restaurant right at the resort so you wouldn't have to figure out where you need to go after a long day either working or out kitesurfing somewhere. I was here on a very specific reason/business but I was still able to enjoy the scenery and just being disconnected from the daily busy lives we have. The owner, Ching Jano I particularly thank because made most of the connections for us and ensured that we had a balance of work and play during our stay. Their hospitality is truly Grade A quality.…
We had our wedding at south drive,we stayed at their guest room for two weeks while we waited for our apartnent,we lived in Bulalacao for 16 months then moved to Calapan City.South Drive is the best in Bulalacao!
best for backpackers but too far from airport of San Jose Occidental Mindoro. The service is great and the place is too quite ideal for honeymooner. best for barkadas. mainit ng konte at sana dagdagan pa ng mga puno at halaman.
A wonderful piece of uncommercialized heaven. There's scarcity of info/blogs on Bulalacao making it a hidden gem - and to our advantage last Holy Week. A lot of things have changed and South Grill (which used to be the only resto in Bulalacao) now has a full-fledged resort called South Drive Beach Resort (beachfront) along Magsaysay Rd Bulalacao. They also have South Drive in the town center, which is 1km away from the beachfront. We stayed at Balay Rosa and if you are ok with fans this should be good. We transferred on the 2nd day in their a/c room which is quite a walk to their resto but the view is breathtaking! Brownouts are common at night, water is a bit difficult but at least there is water unlike other resorts, and I really did not swim in their beachfront bec the water's so alive with plants. The place is worth going to if you want to just relax, or do island hopping in nearby islands (we did Buyayao 2nd day and Target-Silad-Aslom islands on 3rd day. They even gave us suman and puto on our tour, and did not charge us for it! Each tour we paid P2k. Careful as they may ask for additional fee from time to time which may add up to a handsome amount if you don't keep track. Also pay attention to what they say you'll have: buko, re-grill of food, kayak and extra coves to visit on your tour. If you don't ask you may not get it. Overall the staff treat you like king and queens. Kuya Ato was the best, and Kuya Kano was ok for the tour. These guys can be trusted. I'm a sucker for off-the-beaten track travel and Bulalacao is just the place for me amidst the vacation-craziness of this holy week! Their staff are amazing especially Francine, and the owner Ms. Ching (also the town's planning officer) is gracious. Food is great and big on serving so best if you go with a group. It is hard to look up this resort but they are in FB and responds to messages asap. Just look up South Drive Beach Resort (Bulalacao) in Facebook for more info. PS: They've got clean rooms and clean sheets. …
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