Upon arrival at around 3 pm, we were immediately assisted by their welcoming staffs. We weren’t impressed with their rooms but we were too tired to transfer to Shirven Hotel in Jordan (our second option) so we checked in anyway.
After more than half a day of travel from Manila to Iloilo to Guimaras, I was very much looking forward to finally recharge and call it a day. I barely slept last night, thus since morning I’ve been dreaming for a comfy bed for me to plunge in. However, my heart sank as soon as I settled on my supposedly haven which will house me for the next two weeks. To my dismay, I made this review even before I unpacked my stuff. And from all the energy that’s left of me, here’s what I’ve managed to take down:
Air-conditioned Rooms (East wing):
· Room A: P1,450/night - good for 1-2 pax, one double bed, cable tv, hot and cold shower
· Room B: P2,200/night - good for 3-4 pax, two double beds, cable tv, hot and cold shower
Air-conditioned Rooms (West wing):
· Room C: P2,700/night - good for 3-4 pax, two double beds, cable tv, hot and cold shower, intercom
· Room D: P4,500/night - good for 3-4 pax, one king size bed, one single bed, cable tv, hot and cold shower, intercom, mini refrigerator
(They also have cheaper non-airconditioned rooms near the beach, which I forgot to take note of the rates. =l )
I originally had a reservation for Room A but upon seeing it, I found it too small. I suppose the room’s fine if you’ll be staying just for a night or two but not for me and my good-for-15 day stuff on tow. Room B is basically a twice-sized Room A. The west wing is newly built and its rooms have bigger bathrooms. However, your take away with the P1,800 difference between rooms C and D is just a personal-sized refrigerator (boo!). Weighing the material difference in rates, I opted for Room B which proved to be a good choice because they lodged me in the ground floor (several steps away from the front desk and the restaurant).
On my room:
- Bed sheets were old and dingy. I requested to have it changed before I managed to sit on the bed. (Good thing, they never used that same bed sheet again)
- The bed / foam is of low quality. As soon as I sat on it, I felt it flatten beneath me. I mean, seriously?
- No complimentary breakfast.
- No wi-fi connection on rooms.
- Bath towels provided were old and worn. Some even had holes in it.
- The mirror planted on the wall is too high. I have to stand on a monoblock provided in the room so I may get a good sight of my reflection.
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| My room. After the bed sheets were changed. |
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| Closet and sink. |
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| The bathroom |
My Verdict: Their rooms are overrated.
I’m really not much of a reklamador when it comes to rooms. Besides, I wasn’t expecting much from a beach resort since people don’t stay here for long. But after considering their steep rates, I kinda expect something of that worth. In fact, in a city hotel, I can already get a more decent room with that rate. Sadly, for Raymen, I don’t find their prices reasonable for the quality of accommodations that they offer.
I’m really not much of a reklamador when it comes to rooms. Besides, I wasn’t expecting much from a beach resort since people don’t stay here for long. But after considering their steep rates, I kinda expect something of that worth. In fact, in a city hotel, I can already get a more decent room with that rate. Sadly, for Raymen, I don’t find their prices reasonable for the quality of accommodations that they offer.
On other matters:
- Beach: The beach is decent enough, well-maintained, and clean. There are nets set on the parameters of the water to keep jellyfishes away from the swimming area. The sand is fine and powdery but of course, you do not expect for that boracay-like sand.
- Food: Serving size is generous and prices are reasonable and actually taste good. I also got hooked with their yummy mango shake (just the thought of it now makes me crave for one) =D
- Staff: They were nice and courteous.
- Other service: They are offering island hopping activity (P400 for the 1st hour and P150 for every succeeding hour)
- Internet connection: The restaurant is the only wi-fi zone in the resort. To get connected, their staff will have to key in the password from your gadget and only one gadget per room will be given access to the net (quite weird).
- Getting here: You'll find it quite tiresome if you're commuting to get here. However, if you're in large group, you can rent the pump boat from Ortiz Wharf in Iloilo to go directly to Raymen.
From what I've noticed, it is the most developed resort in Guimaras Island. No wonder it is the top choice of tourists, though there are two other resorts adjacent to it. If you'd want to maximize your vacation here, I recommend you go here on weekdays since the place gets incredibly crowded on weekends. So after all the rantings I've got on their rooms, I guess I'd still suggest Raymen to my friends.
