Oct 12, 2018, 12:37 pm
Amanpulo, Philippines (Consolidated/review thread)
Mar 6, 2012, 11:19 am
#61
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: France
Posts: 971
I'm interested in comments regarding comparison between 1-bedroom villa & casitas. To me private pool makes villas really interesting. But I understood in December wind can be an issue. Is it better in October/November, or later let's say february/march?
Mar 6, 2012, 12:13 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,432
Go ahead and email the property directly and explain your concerns. They will give you an honest answer. That side of the island can get the brunt of the wind.
Mar 6, 2012, 4:57 pm
#64
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Been to a lot of nice beaches and resorts. This might be the best. Seriously thinking about spending a month here next winter.
That said, a couple of small suggestions.
1) Screens so you can leave windows open day or night.
2) Chaise lounges on the deck for reading and working.
3) Outdoor shower.
4) Slightly softer bed/mattress.
5) Ceiling fan so you can dispense with the A/C.
Practically perfect in every other respect. (Oh except the Krug is a little over-priced.)
That said, a couple of small suggestions.
1) Screens so you can leave windows open day or night.
2) Chaise lounges on the deck for reading and working.
3) Outdoor shower.
4) Slightly softer bed/mattress.
5) Ceiling fan so you can dispense with the A/C.
Practically perfect in every other respect. (Oh except the Krug is a little over-priced.)
Mar 6, 2012, 5:05 pm
#65
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
Truth is that I am confused why everybody here sweats the casitas or villa location. Even when fully booked you feel like you have the entire place to yourself. Amanpulo is NOT FS Maui.
Last edited by mike_la_jolla; Mar 7, 2012 at 8:25 am
Mar 6, 2012, 6:07 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
locations >
N - one 4BR "nature"
NW - one 1BR and two 2BR, former "west"
SE - seven new 4BRs
inclusions >
Musken villa report http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-amanpulo.html
Musken villa pics link http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18223579-post89.html
compilation >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17958905-post28.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17963525-post32.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17963766-post34.html
Amanjunkie incl villas and romance package http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...ml#post9995101
ridefar incl romance package and special order http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post17675998
N - one 4BR "nature"
NW - one 1BR and two 2BR, former "west"
SE - seven new 4BRs
inclusions >
private swimming pool, separate bedrooms, living and dining pavilions, outdoor lounge and a kitchen...private chef, butler [cook and housekeeper] and a buggy for each bedroom
Musken villa pics link http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18223579-post89.html
compilation >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17958905-post28.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17963525-post32.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17963766-post34.html
Amanjunkie incl villas and romance package http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...ml#post9995101
ridefar incl romance package and special order http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post17675998
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Mar 21, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Mar 6, 2012, 6:24 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: Skymiles Plat/1MM, United Prem, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 326
I remember reading in someone's posting that if you request a particular casita (40, in my case), they reply they can't guarantee. This just happened to my travel agent. If she says "she REALLY wants 40", am I probably going to get it regardless (understanding there are only two del hillsides, so I'm choosing between two...)?
Mike, thank you for again saying that everywhere is private - I just want to hear those gheckos and no people
Mike, thank you for again saying that everywhere is private - I just want to hear those gheckos and no people
Mar 6, 2012, 6:27 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
one thing that has come up is to talk to GM if you arent already
4 - Treetop Casita
5 - Hillside Casita
29 - Beach Casita
2 - Deluxe Hillside Casita
1 - 1BR Villa
2 - 2BR Villa
8 - 4BR Villa (1 Nature Villa and 7 SE Villas)
4 - Treetop Casita
5 - Hillside Casita
29 - Beach Casita
2 - Deluxe Hillside Casita
1 - 1BR Villa
2 - 2BR Villa
8 - 4BR Villa (1 Nature Villa and 7 SE Villas)
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Mar 6, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Mar 9, 2012, 6:21 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
OK. I found some pictures that should illustrate Amanpulo privacy or lack thereof. My opinion is that at full capacity, you can be in ANY casitas or villa and get near total seclusion if you wish. We were in casitas 24. Let's start by going back to the terrific pictures posted by damaxer91:
OK. Let me add 5 from my collection:
Gratuitous picture of gecko from casitas 24:
Note that the vegetation is high enough so that you can't see over it. And finally, for those of you that want privacy, note that not a single picture here has a human in it. Not one. In fact, I couldn't find a single picture in the 1000 or so my significant other took that had another human.
Here are some images from Amanpulo. Some are low quality because they were taken on my Blackberry. Genius that I am, I totally forgot to photograph the inside of the Casita 
Landing at Amanpulo-http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/img0663ku.jpg/
Once we got over the initial shock... http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/amanpulo7.jpg/
Some Photos taken on the beach right outside our Casita
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...manpulo11.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...manpulo12.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/amanpulo13.jpg/
View From the Spa http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...romthespa.jpg/
Path from Beach to our Casita http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...chtocasit.jpg/
View from our Beach Casita http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/847/img0697ng.jpg/
View from the Beach Club http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/img0729sc.jpg/
Landing at Amanpulo-http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/img0663ku.jpg/
Once we got over the initial shock... http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/amanpulo7.jpg/
Some Photos taken on the beach right outside our Casita
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...manpulo11.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...manpulo12.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/amanpulo13.jpg/
View From the Spa http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...romthespa.jpg/
Path from Beach to our Casita http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...chtocasit.jpg/
View from our Beach Casita http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/847/img0697ng.jpg/
View from the Beach Club http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/img0729sc.jpg/
OK. Let me add 5 from my collection:
Gratuitous picture of gecko from casitas 24:
Note that the vegetation is high enough so that you can't see over it. And finally, for those of you that want privacy, note that not a single picture here has a human in it. Not one. In fact, I couldn't find a single picture in the 1000 or so my significant other took that had another human.
Mar 9, 2012, 6:35 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: Skymiles Plat/1MM, United Prem, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 326
:-)))))^ - thank you for taking the time to post those! I'm looking forward to hanging out in this beautiful place with the gheckos....(I think they had these at the FS Tented Camp and I loved seeing and hearing them)
Mar 10, 2012, 8:22 am
#74
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: Skymiles Plat/1MM, United Prem, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 326
Musken, could you take a few shots of the interior of your casita or villa? I'm going to do one of the del hillsides(39 or hopefully 40) so if you're in that area and can show the proximity to other villas/casitas, that would be wonderful too. Thank you so much!
Mar 11, 2012, 6:32 am
#75
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Quick report.
1. The casitas are totally secluded. Don't worry about privacy. I like the beach casitas, but they are set back in the trees and have limited views. It's about a 10 or 20 meter walk to the beach.
2. You'll see very few people anywhere in the resort except in busy periods (Christmas, New Years, C New Years, Holy Week, Spring Break, Golden Week).
3. Might be the best beach in the world.
4. The ocean is always very calm and warm. No need for a pool unless you have infants.
5. Food is very good. Ditto for the service.
6. Casitas are great, but it'd be nice have screens so you could open the windows.
7. You can get anywhere on the island in about 5 minutes by bike or golf cart, both of which are supplied.
8. Avoid the windy side (except May/June when I am told it's very calm... but also quite hot).
9. Great tennis program... good pros...complimentary lessons.
10. Incredible diving. Very easy. Good safe program. If you come here and don't try diving, it would be like going somewhere blindfolded for the entire vacation. You can't believe what's under the water.
11. Very safe. Doctor always on the island. Heavy duty security force (which you will never see.)
12. Lot of monitor lizards. The staff recognize and have given names to all the big ones (five and six footers). Scared the p*ss out of me the first time I saw one.
Final thought -This is such a beautiful relaxing place, the resort itself seems pretty superfluous.
1. The casitas are totally secluded. Don't worry about privacy. I like the beach casitas, but they are set back in the trees and have limited views. It's about a 10 or 20 meter walk to the beach.
2. You'll see very few people anywhere in the resort except in busy periods (Christmas, New Years, C New Years, Holy Week, Spring Break, Golden Week).
3. Might be the best beach in the world.
4. The ocean is always very calm and warm. No need for a pool unless you have infants.
5. Food is very good. Ditto for the service.
6. Casitas are great, but it'd be nice have screens so you could open the windows.
7. You can get anywhere on the island in about 5 minutes by bike or golf cart, both of which are supplied.
8. Avoid the windy side (except May/June when I am told it's very calm... but also quite hot).
9. Great tennis program... good pros...complimentary lessons.
10. Incredible diving. Very easy. Good safe program. If you come here and don't try diving, it would be like going somewhere blindfolded for the entire vacation. You can't believe what's under the water.
11. Very safe. Doctor always on the island. Heavy duty security force (which you will never see.)
12. Lot of monitor lizards. The staff recognize and have given names to all the big ones (five and six footers). Scared the p*ss out of me the first time I saw one.
Final thought -This is such a beautiful relaxing place, the resort itself seems pretty superfluous.