(UPDATED NOV. 2016)
Balesin? Where is that?
Many do not know where it is, but get mesmerized by the photos they see, are amazed by the stories they hear, and well, start drooling about this paradise at the heart of the Polilio Group of Islands in Quezon province.
I cannot describe it better than how the website itself did, and I quote:
“A destination of unmatched natural beauty located off the Eastern coast of Luzon in the Philippines, Balesin is a 500 hectare tropical island paradise with 7.3 kilometers of pristine white sand beaches. Located 21 kilometers southeast of Polillo, Quezon Province and just 60 nautical miles east of Manila, Balesin is a quick 25-minute plane ride from Manila, yet is a world completely unto itself. Alphaland Balesin Island Club is your unique, members-only, private leisure getaway-today and for generations to come.”
It features 7 of the world’s most exquisite beach destinations. It’s like being in 7 countries without leaving Luzon. The seven are: Mykonos of Greece, Bali of Indonesia, Phuket of Thailand, Balesin of Philippines, Costa del Sol of Spain, Toscana of Italy and St. Tropez of France.
The latest addition, The Balesin Royal Villa, has the perfect beach front (only accessible to those who are checked in at the Royal Villa), the best sunset spot, and 10 Royal Suites at the lower level and 4 Maharlika Suites on the upper level, overlooking 2 bubble-jet pools and sunning decks.
Luxury is the resort’s middle name. Like any pampered guest, we are taken around the island via a golf cart that’s made available at our beck and call. Towels are provided for in any village we go, in any pool we swim in. Bottled water is available at request. We are provided with a luxurious set of toiletries.
I’ve personally stayed at Bali, Phuket and Costa del Sol. But my friend Jons, who has been there 5 times, says the best to stay at is Toscana. When I first went there in 2013, it was still being constructed. When I went back just recently, I fell in love with the bricks, gazebos and gardens it had.
I need not say that the thread count of the sheets is enviable. The architecture and interior design, even the cuisines, in each of the villas, are authentic. You would really feel you are there.
The island has an airstrip all to itself, has a jetty port, an aquatic sports center (kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sunset cruising, kite boarding, etc), a wellness and fitness center (basketball and badminton courts, table tennis, gym, yoga center, lawn tennis courts, wall climbing, kids playground), a spa, a clubhouse, stables, a chapel, golf driving range, an organic farm where they get their ingredients from, an Ifugao village, a fishpond, generators and a water treatment facility.
My friends and I would have wanted to be lost in that island. It had everything a traveler would ask for.
THE BUDGET:
Only members of the island club and their guests, can stay in the island check in to the villas, prospective members may tour the island during the day as well. Current membership is at PhP 4.4 million which allows the member 14 nights (or villas) per year for free. Anything in excess to that, is Php 25,000 per night per villa.
They can only accept debit or credit cards for transactions. Don’t bother bringing cash.
Airfare: A chartered plane will take you there and back at PhP 9,000 per passenger. Alphaland, the developer of the Balesin Island Club, has its own hangar along Airport Rd. in Paranaque. Alternatively, flights have also started since October 2016 from Clark to Balesin vv. I’ve seen some business owners and members get picked up from the island via a private chopper too.
Although Balesin chartered planes still use the NAIA runway, guests of Balesin need not go to the public airport because Alphaland has its own hangar.
Villa (Room): PhP 25,000 per night maximum of 4 persons (extra bed for the 5th person at PhP 2,500), free up to 14 nights per year for Diamond Members. Suites have double the price and number of persons at PhP 50,000 a night for 8 occupants.
Food: Ranges at PhP 300 to PhP 1,000 per plate / entree (there’s a link below to check out the food we’ve tried in the island).
Activities: There are a number of activities to keep you busy in Balesin, aside from swimming and cam-whoring. They have a stable so you can horse-back at the island. Guests can also kayak like we did, rent a speedboat, catch your own fish, visit the Aviary and fish pond, play basketball or badminton, get a massage at the Balesin Spa, or visit all of the village-themed restaurants.
Getting around the island is easy. Pick up the intercom and request for a golf cart / e-jeep to pick you up and drop you off anywhere in the island. You can even rent a golf-cart so you don’t have to wait to be picked, rentals range from PhP 3,000-4,000 a day. Mountain bikes can also be rented if you like to burn the calories from all the sumptuous buffets in the island at PhP 300 a day. If budget permits, you can also get one of the Segways to get you around for an hour.
Other water activities include sailing (especially during the sunset), surfing, paddle-boarding, water skiing and wake boarding.
The family can ride the sports yacht, which can be rented at PhP 200,000 for a day including snacks and lunch, docking at Cagbalete and other nearby islands in Quezon. A maximum of 12 passesngers can be accommodated plus the yacht crew and Captain.
Each village has a unique pool (or maybe two). Costa del Sol has 2 – salt-water and fresh-water pool opposite each other, fronting the beach. Mykonos has an indoor and outdoor pool set perfectly against its beach. Toscana, Phuket, Bali and Balesin have their own pools too.
And the food? You may read here for more about the various cuisines from world-class chefs in the island.
Watch out for it! In the mean time, may I indulge you with other highlighted photos of our stay there:
We’ll be supportive forever, right True Friend Joy? haha. #MissingBalesin. Remember Migz, our ultimate goal is to be a MEMBER OF THE BALESIN ISLAND CLUB! 🙂
We shall be. =)
Hi,
Your blog is interesting. I want to check if you know anyone who rents out their membership for Balesin? I really want to check this out for my honeymoon.
Thank you and God bless
Christel
Hi Christel, thank you for your interest in Balesin. I was only a guest of a member, and I don’t know anyone else who does “rent out” their membership. Have you tried contacting Balesin directly at balesin.com ?
Best of luck, and congratulations!
Hi Christel, sorry for the super late response. You won’t believe how poor the signal is in our place. Anyway, the member who took us there is a friend’s relative. I will ask around if he knows anyone who would rent out their membership. And congratulations on your wedding! 🙂
Can one exceed the number of people staying in one room at Balesin? For instance, if it says accommodates 4, can more than 4 people stay in the same room? Does one need permission from Balesin when the number of people exceeds the recommended? Thank you.
Hi Gabriel, when we were there, there were 5 of us in the room and the rate was PhP 10,000 a night (now it’s at PhP 20,000) so the extra person / bed was charged at PhP 2,500.00
It surely is worth it 🙂
Hello! Does your friend allow to rent his/her membership?
Hi Abby. My friend does not rent out his membership because he frequents the island due to business concerns. If I hear though of a member who does, I will come back to this blog post and let you know. Or you can email me at migzhernandez17@hotmail.com so I can respond.
Good day, i really, really hope to go tho i am not a member. may i join a group soon that you know who can have a vacay there, of course at a reasonable cost. It is my wish before i leave…
Thanks much,
Marielle
Hi Abby,
I am not sure if you are still looking for a chance to go stay in Balesin, but I have a friend who is selling his chance to stay in Balesin for 2 nights 3 days, with airfare included, for 2 persons.
The villas (good for 4) are usually PhP 20,000 a night and the airfare is PhP 14,000 round-trip (since this is a chartered flight).
He is selling the whole package for only PhP 50,000.
Let me know. This is not mine, I’m just helping him sell it.
hi, this 50K package is good for 2 pax right?
yes Henry. 2 pax, 2 nights, round trip chartered air fare included.
Im interrested anitzghost@yahoo.com
Nice Place
Hi Nello. It is. 🙂
Hi! Is your friend member ng balesin?:) fixed na ba yung 50k?
Hi Nicole, pls email me at migzhernandez17@hotmail.com so we can speak more privately. Thanks.
Hello, can u suggest if I dont have any membership with balesin is there anyone who allow to have their membership rented?
Hi Loyce. Balesin is such a beauty. I don’t know of anyone at this time who is willing to rent out their membership. But if I come across someone who does, I will keep you in mind.
Thanks.
Hi Christel, if you’re still interested, please email me at migzhernandez17@hotmail.com I have some updates for you.
Hi Loyce, if you’re still interested please email me at migzhernandez17@hotmail.com as I have updates for you. Thanks
Hello!
I came across your blog because I was searching for membership rentals for balesin island. I see that there was an opportunity in in May based on the comments. Please do let me know if another chance opens up. I am based in the US and am looking to visit my family in the Philippines in March and would love the chance to experience this wonderful place.
Hello! I came across your blog because I was searching for membership rentals for balesin island. I see that there was an opportunity in in May based on the comments. Please do let me know if another chance opens up. I am based in the US and am looking to visit my family in the Philippines in March and would love the chance to experience this wonderful place.
Hi,
Im sorry for the late response. Please email at migzhernandez17@hotmail.com so I can give you the details.
Hi, i sent an email to you. Thanks
Hi Lizie, I sent you an email. I will let you know once the member decides to rent out his membership again.
Hi Mam i have a guest who wants to book in Balesin, pls. help me to book for them. Thank you.
Hi Irene, guests can be invited by members over as they are not allowed to go to the island on their own. I will let you know once I find a guest who will rent out his membership. The other member I know has stopped renting out for the meantime. Thank you for interest!
Hi,
My boss is interested. I’m trying to send you an email with the address you posted.
Thank you.
hi… are there any available package now
Hi there! Are there any available package for December 6-9, 2016?
Hello Aida. The current window for the member’s trip back to Balesin is anytime between Nov. 29 and Dec.4
We have to be accompanied by the member as their guest if we want to go to Balesin. Let me know if you’re ok with the dates I mentioned,
For a faster response, please email instead: migzhernandez17@hotmail.com
Thank you!
If anyone in this thread is still interested to visit the island resort, please let me know by emailing at migzhernandez17@hotmail,com
I have some exciting news for you. Thanks.
Hi,
Im still interested visiting Balesin. How much is the package for 2 and what are the available dates?
Regards, Lizie Sent from my iPhone
>
Hi, please email at migzhernandez17@hotmail.com
The rates in the blog are updated but we can talk about the dates in the email. Thank you.
Hi im interested. Kindly email me the package for 2. chie_antonio_28@yahoo.com
Hi! Do you have updates about anyone who wants to rent out their membership? My family and I really wish to visit this April
Thank you!
Hi Rhen, I have a friend who is a member. Please send me an email for the dates and number of guests. migzhernandez17@hotmail.com
I am a non member . My husband and I would like to visit Balesin on the 10th of December 2017. I am happy to rent a membership at a reasonable price and what it entails in the renting.
Hi Jackie, Thank you for reading my blog!
I will ask the member for any dates they have booked for April and May. Accordingly, I also want to give you the rates:
25k per night per villa up to 4 pax (sharing din Kami ng friends ko Kaya ung 2 nights namin parang 12,500 Lang per pax). This is payable to the member.
9k per pax for the round trip chartered air fare Manila-Balesin-Manila.
Food and other activities are payable only via credit and or debit cards as they do not accept cash on the island.
Hi Jackie, please email me if you are still interested. You won’t be my first referee, and they’ve all enjoyed the island. migzhernandez17@hotmail.com
Hi. I’ve sent you an email re balesin. Hope you could review and revert. Thanks.