Previous parts of the trip:
Flight Review: Singapore – Manila on Philippine Airlines, Economy Class, PR508 (November 2024)
Restaurant Review: Lobby 385: Where Friends Meet For Flavour in Manila

During my recent visit to the Philippines, we decided to get out of Manila and find a beach. Previously I had been to Montemar Beach Club Resort but didn’t get round to writing a report. This time we tried out Anvaya Cove Beach & Nature Club. My wife’s family had apparently been to Anvaya before, but this was the first time I had made the journey and the first time with the kids. I have only been to the Philippines a few times, and most of my time is spent in Manila so it’s nice to get away from the city.

The drive from Manila to the resort isn’t a quick getaway. Just escaping the city’s traffic took a full hour! But once we hit the NLEX expressway, the road opened up, and the next three hours were smooth sailing. Manila traffic is so unpredictable—timing can be anyone’s guess. And while road trips in the Philippines offer some surprises, you never really know what to expect from roadside stops. Some are basic shacks, while others are full-service stations with fast food chains. On this trip, most stops were well-equipped, making the journey a bit more comfortable. Just make sure to plan ahead—you never know when a break will be essential!

470 hectares—that’s how massive this so-called “members’ resort” is. And guess what? You don’t even need to be a member to visit! Still, the place has its charm. It’s huge, almost overwhelming, but that means there’s plenty of room to explore. Whether you’re into leisurely walks, soaking up the views, or just want to feel like you’ve escaped to your own mini-kingdom, this resort has you covered. Just be prepared for the scale—it’s not the kind of place you casually stroll across in ten minutes! When I got an invite from a member , I couldn’t resist.

Anvaya Cove Casitas

The accommodation is a bit of a twist on your standard hotel setup. Picture this: houses with multiple rooms that have connecting doors. There are a number of casitas placed amidst lush greenery, creating a serene escape. The room we stayed in was the Garden Room which had twin beds and pull-out options. There are also other options available such as the Lagoon Terrace, the Garden Terrace and the Anvaya Suite.

Sounds convenient, right? But here’s the catch. Those connecting doors aren’t exactly noise-cancelling you’d find in regular hotels. If your neighbours are chatty or there’s a group celebration next door, you will hear it. We had our neighbour watching tv until the early hours. Something to keep in mind if you’re a light sleeper or craving absolute peace. But you can’t complain about the wi-fi – you could get it pretty much anywhere there was a building.

Getting Around the Resort: Convenient Golf Buggy Service from Your Room to the Facilities

So how do you get from your room to the rest of the facilities well they have a golf buggy service from the front desk to the facilities including your room. The golf court will not transport you to your plot of land if you happen to own a plot there. If you own a plot of land, you’ll need to make your own way to the club, House, and all the other facilities across the estate. You obviously have the option of driving your car, which they normally have very large vehicles in the Philippines or you could buy yourself a golf buggy.

The buggy services actually free course, like all things in the Philippines people pay a little tip usually around 100 pesos which to me seems quite a lot. Never mind, this is a tip to the driver, not for the actual electric vehicle itself.

Anvaya Dining

What was the food like the food was okay The breakfast had a decent selection of local cuisine, but was not that wide ranging as you’d expect to find in a hotel. And I think that limitation on choice was reflected across all the dining options in the resort. The food policy was okay, but I would say that after

The Bamboo Cafe

The bamboo cafe is the all day dining facility at the resort. This is also where they serve the buffet breakfast.
They also offer an a la carte at lunch rather than a buffet.

Pawikan beach bar

Eating at Pawikan Bar and Grill feels like stepping into a postcard—waves crashing, rain softly pattering, and the beach practically at your feet. One evening, if felt like we had the place to ourselves, turning dinner into a private, open-air experience. The ambiance? Relaxed and breezy, with just a couple of other tables occupied. The food? Solid and hearty, perfect for sharing with family after a long day. One tip: beachside dining has its quirks, so keep an eye out for those inevitable evening flies (one could say it’s part of the charm, right?).
I won’t go into detail with all the dishes as I got there late (because I was putting the kids to bed) so didn’t get a chance to look at the menu. Of course the famous dessert is halo-halo, which could I suppose be considered the unofficial national dessert of the Philippines. The other dishes include sisig which is on the hot plate. And then there is a mix of food on the plate with 4 portions of rice.

Tap-In Bar & Cafe

The Tap-In Bar & Cafe is an outdoor (but under cover) establishment that serves Mediterranean-inspired food. It is located poolside at the Sports Complex and is a great spot for dining and drinks after a long day in the gym, on the courts, or a game of golf at the course.Take a pick of risottos and pastas as you casually dine al fresco and look out to the view of the lagoon in this Mediterranean-themed restaurant. It isn’t far from the casitas but you definitely need to use a golf buggy to get up the steeper roads to get here.

Veda Spa

There is also a spa on site which before my last night I thought I would try it out. Unfortunately it was fully booked for the rest of the day. The issue you face when you have kids is, you’re not sure how much time you actually have to use some other facilities. The closest I got was to the price list which you can see below

What other facilities are there?

As you know from my previous reviews of the Mulia hotel in Bali, the Hilton resort in Bali and the Village Hotel in Singapore Sentosa, I have a thing about resorts without lifeguards. Unlike some places I’ve visited (looking at you, lifeguard-less resorts in Bali and Singapore), here, the lifeguards mean business. They’re so dedicated I’ve been told they won’t even stop to take a photo for guests—not that I tried to test it! The resort offers a mix of pools, from smaller, family-friendly options to larger ones perfect for serious lap swimmers. A quick heads-up, though: these pools are cold. Think invigorating, goosebumps-on-every-inch-of-your-skin kind of cold. But hey, it’s a great excuse to dive in quickly and keep moving!
In addition to the swimming pools, there is another whole activities section. For example, there were two basketball courts, which also could convert into badminton courts. There was also a gym for people to work out in. It appeared to be quite a large area for working out and then there was also a session for yoga. That was a games area with consoles as well as computers. It also had traditional games such such as pool and darts. Unfortunately I found this area on the last day on the way to dinner so didn’t get a chance to take many photos.
In addition to these pools and activities area for adults, there is also the children’s play area with a pool and a slide. However, it was not what I was expecting. It was in fact rather disappointing. All it had was a slide and that was about it.
This children pool area also had an area where kids could play it was a little program. And also a children’s activity room. These were two separate facilities. Also in this area was a babies changing area/sleep area. If this is all air-conditioned.
The highlight, of course, is being able to have direct access to the beach and those waters. That said, I’ll admit—I’m more of a pool person myself. This was especially the case after I saw signs warning that there were jelly fish sightings. The life guard told me that they hadn’t seen jelly fish all day but were required to keep the sign up so it as go in at your own risk!
You get to feed ducks which generally reside in the lake in the bottom left photo. And yes .. there is poop on the floor in the photo on the right. However, they do clean up regularly.
As I mentioned earlier this is actually a private members club and when we were leaving, we had the opportunity to view, plots of land and condominium locations within the estate that were for sale.

They also have plots of land available for purchase. I don’t think the plots are available from the developer anymore but you can probably buy as a private sale. There are continuous developments on the plot so it would be worth coming back to see how things progress.

They also are developing a condominium style building on the site.

If you enjoy reading this, you might want to read it in its original format (Hotel Review: Exploring Anvaya Cove Beach Resort in Bataan, Philippines)