FURther Edition (Finds, Uses, Recommends): That Place Called Balar Hotel

From my previous post, the quite tiring and long transit in Marinduque was somehow compensated by a few good stuff within the trip. One of them was the place I stayed in.

Thanks to a colleague-friend's recommendation, at least my search for a place to stay in the province wasn't too spontaneous. It even became a blessing in disguise. 

While we are used to hotels that are of mid or high-rise structures, Balar Hotel is a three story building. Most hotels in Marinduque offer a bed and breakfast kind of vibe cause the island boasts nearby beaches or coastlines to plunge in, so Balar isn't your typical hotel with swimming pools and stuff. But, I'm still impressed of their establishment's plus points.  

  

(But First) To Get There

Since Marinduque's airport is still closed for renovation, the hotel is quite far from the port area (Balanacan Port). To and fro, one would need to ride a jeep or trike for an hour to get there. 

It's in the mid-part of the island, minutes away from Boac town proper. The advantage though is it's easily locatable cause it's along the main road. As mentioned in the previous post, when their airport reopens soon, travel time to the hotel will be shorter. 

Rooms

Usually in terms of rooms, as long as the hotel ticks three of my basics --- proper place to sleep, shower and privacy --- it's a bonus for me if the room facilities exceeds my usual expectations. I'll post something separately on hotel room must haves.

my room for 3.5 days

Going back to Balar Hotel, the rooms overall are ok. It has the usual appliances you can find in hotel rooms. The room I stayed in has a working hot-cold shower and toilet. I had my own toiletries in the room. If you're a high maintenance kind of traveler, maybe their accommodation may not exceed your expectations. However for me, the fact that all their facilities in the room work well, clean, the bed is comfy and they even adhere to sustainability it's a bonus already.

Around the Hotel

Since the island isn't urbanized and that crowded, there are no nearby huge establishments. Surprisingly though, they have a cafe (that also serves as a resto and function hall for events), restos and a Korean-like convenience store nearby. Fronting the hotel are trees and fields while at the back is a beach where you can get a glimpse of the sun rising or setting. 

cafe beside the hotel
(in fair, their food is good and even their coffee)

satisfied my K-food and drink cravings from the nearby K-mart/store

The best part of my experience in Balar are more of their staff and their customer service. From my first inquiry to them for my online reservations down to calling a trike for me to go back to the port on my last day there, they've really been helpful and accommodating. During my stay, they even helped me get alternative options just so I can tour within Marinduque (when the tour agency was in no luck for me to get me a tour package). I was almost about to give up my approved vacation leaves and going there, but it was an unexpected act of kindness and support right there. 

You might think they only just did that for me, but regardless of who and how many their guests were, the treatment is the same. 

In most of my travel experiences, almost majority of the places I've stayed in (whether I go solo or with friends / colleagues or family) have had staff that are helpful and not snobs. Because of the scenarios I had there in Balar Hotel, it was a very good decision for me to have stayed there. This is based on my experience, but I hope if you guys would opt to go and stay in their hotel, you'd have the same experience as I had.

witnessed sunset everyday, just a few steps from the hotel ☺️

For your travel plans to Marinduque, book your reservations thru any of the links here, for any discounts / perks on your stay in Balar Hotel.   

Klook

Agoda

Trip.Com

Go, happy and safe travels!

Balar Hotel

Balaring, Boac, Marinduque

Mobile: 09178822527

IG: @balarhotel