El Jardin de Zaida

This resort was very comfortable, serene, quiet, and relaxing. The attention to detail was amazing and the walking trails were nice. The swimming pools were well maintained. Breakfast was good, I asked for an omelet and they provided me with what I asked for. The room is spacious and the bathroom design is very good.

I requested a late checkout but I got the impression that they were reluctant to give a late checkout. Their checkout is at 11 AM but I wanted to extend to 12 but they seemed reluctant but did agree to extend until 12 noon. There is also no grocery shopping near the resort. There is also no transportation provided by the resort.

The place was truly relaxing, rooms were clean, comfortable and amenities were complete. Staff from gate, reception, gardeners to restaurants and room all provided friendly courteous and prompt service.

There was nothing to not like.

Loved the place and it was not very busy when I checked in. It was a great place to paint and relax! Food was lovely and the staff were very attentive.

The only complaint I have is the door to the rooms. I am a very sensitive sleeper and the door had a glass window that allowed light to come in. I had trouble sleeping because of this. I hope they provide a curtain for those who would like complete darkness.

The property was incredibly well-maintained. Every aspect of it was beautiful, from the green lawns to the hotel rooms and the public facilities, like the spa and the restaurant. Every building was designed with intention. The food was also delicious; we tried both international and Filipino dishes and several of the desserts and cocktails. Servings are generous. Myself, my partner, and my parents all got the full spa treatment and it was worth the cost—they have incredible masseuses. With only 12 rooms on the property, even though it was fully booked it often felt like we were the only people there. It gave us an incredible feeling of privacy. Mhai from Rodolfo's restaurant was both a lovely host and server who spoke to us about the property and ensured we had a wonderful stay. Everyone was very kind.

The parking area was on grass, which means it was muddy to walk on after it rained. But this is not that big of an issue and it did not impact our stay.

Friendly kind helpful staff Good food

Very beautiful amenities, location is accessible.

El Jardin de Zaida was just 20 minutes drive from my mother's house so it was very accessible for us. We appreciated the room upgrade and free breakfast (that comes with my Genius Level 3). We liked the whole place, the serene surroundings, the facilities and the well appointed room. The buildings were set apart and there was a small pool just steps away from our villa. Everything was clean and the furniture were all tastefully done. The tv screen was small but we weren't there to watch so it wasn't an issue. I liked that they had a golf cart to bring my elderly mother to and from the restaurant. The staff were helpful and friendly. I liked the pool Breakfast was good with ample choices, both Filipino and western such as pancakes and bacon. The staff were very polite and helpful but we had to remind them to bring the tea my mother ordered on our second day.

I booked through Booking.com since I have been using booking.com for over 10 years. I trust the site and the amount quoted prior to the stay. I have never been billed for unexpected charges. In fact I didn't even know about Jardin de Zaida but it showed up in my search. It seemed reasonable and I was quoted to expect taxes and fees of under Philippine Pesos 3,000 on top of the accommodation for 2 nights. I availed of spa services and lunch which were good experiences and reasonably priced. I settled the charges fully upon checkout but I missed a line item and thus questioned it after we left. I was charged 6,302.50 non-vatable sales in Philippine Pesos on top of our 2-night stay and incidentals. 6,302.50 non-vatable sales in Philippine Pesos wasn't itemized in the invoice. It was also not disclosed prior to the booking and when I asked for an explanation from the Manager, Jay promptly sent emails but his explanation didn't make sense to me. In the invoice the some of the vatable sales were repeated in the non-vatable sales thus in my eyes I was basically double-charged for some items I already paid for. I was hoping for transparency for the additional 6,302.50 non-vatable sales in Philippine Pesos. That's no small change. I am not happy about that unexpected charge. Will I stay there again? I think so but I would want to know up front what would be the non-vat sales that will be added on to the accommodation and incidentals.

cleanliness and food

I love how peaceful and intimate it was. We were the only guests during our stay so it feels jarring (in a pleasant way) to be able to have the place all to ourselves. Love the pools and the old houses and nature surrounding the place. Wish we could have stayed longer. The kalamansi picking and biking and play area were great activities for us and my little one. The spa was also good!

Food options (I guess) but it was good nonetheless. It wasn’t a dealbreaker by any means. The rooms, although very clean, had a musky old smell, probably from not being used a lot? And the bed mattresses were a little too firm for my taste (this is just me nitpicking).