Palo Alto Falls

I always wanted to see waterfalls and when I came across an article about a waterfalls in Baras, Rizal,  I immediately checked it online. I read reviews and get directions.

 

Palo Alto falls is  near the metro. It is around 58km from our place and less than 2 hour drive on a regular day. The falls is located in Brgy. Pinugay, Baras, Rizal specifically inside Palo Alto Subdivision which is being developed as a residential area. Isn’t it thrilling to live in a subdivision with a falls nearby !

The roads are fully paved and driving is relaxed with a little traffic along intersections. As you go further from the metro,  you will see Sierra Madre mountain ranges, some scenic spots and interesting activities. There will be portion where roads zigzagged. Palo Alto gate will be on the right side. The entrance is very nice with lots of colourful bougainvillas. The guard will ask you to leave an ID. You then proceed downhill and turn left at the rotunda. There is a sign where the falls is located. The entrance to the falls is on your left so drive slowly as you may miss the turn.

 

 There is ample parking space. There is a reception area where you can pay the entrance fee and use the toilets. The entrance fee is Php100 pesos each and Php300 for table and chairs. You can bring food and drinks and even cook BBQ.  I learned that it is free if you will just stay for 15 minutes to check the waterfalls and take pictures. Since there are 256 steps to take before reaching the falls , 15 minutes are not enough. Wearing  a comfy footwear is advisable to support your feet and legs during the trek.

 

The realty developer has built concrete stairways with some hand railings for easier climb especially for senior citizens. The way the stairways were built adapted to the environment wherein stones and cement used blended with the rock formations. The ascent is very scenic with lots of trees giving shade. 

Concrete benches are  provided along the stairway should you need to rest and catch your breath. There are small cascades in between boulders. One can stop every now and then to take photos. Upon reaching the falls, there is  a cemented clearing with tables and chairs. The area surrounding the waterfalls has been developed. Although it is safer to move around, the natural beauty of the area has been altered. 

The major catch basin has been cemented forming a swimming pool which is about 6 foot deep. The smaller catch basin is about 3 feet making it suitable for children to swim. The water is cold but refreshing.

 

 A BBQ area was also built at one side . Roofless toilet and bathroom are also available. Water used for shower and flushing comes from the hills via plastic pipes. 

Sadly, there are irresponsible visitors who left their plastic bottles and other trash. Please bring plastic bags and take your trash with you when you leave. 

How to get there: From C-5 , drive pass Eastwood City and stay on the left lane  to take the flyover in the direction of Marikina. Drive straight passing thru Masinag, Cogeo and Antipolo. After a long winding road, Palo Alto gate will be on the right.

 

Club Balai Isabel

Club Balai Isabel is less than 2 hours away from Manila. We got 2 rooms, one with 2 queen size beds and one room with a loft at the Agoncillo building .It is an expensive 2 night accommodation and we expect good quality service and nice facility.

Positive
1-We found the bed comfortable ; linens , towels are clean and smelled good.
2-Aircon, ref, and tv were working fine. However, the cable reception was bad.
3- Staff were cheerful and courteous.
4-nice view of taal lake and volcano from the veranda
5-The place is quite big. It has 3 swimming pools. Lots of trees and paved walkways. Most of the villas are nice and some are newly built. You can go biking or running. (Bike rental is not cheap though, rates vary according to the type of bike -the minimum is P200 per hour for the regular bike)

Negative:
1- service was very slow at the Cafe, vegetable no longer fresh; waiters were inattentive
Since we arrived about 30 minutes before check in time, we decided to have lunch at the resort's Terraza Cafe. We ordered 2 club sandwiches . The first sandwich arrived after 20 minutes and the second was nowhere in sight. We asked the waiter why it was only one when we order 2. The second sandwich arrived 15 minutes after our follow up. We were very disappointed with the service. How come 2 orders of the same item arrived separately. The vegetable that went with the clubhouse is noticeably not fresh anymore, the sides where the cabbage was cut was visibly black already.

2-facility/room maintenance and security were poor
When we checked in in our room and the door was hard to open because the wood has swollen probably due to rain. The door knob was ordinary and we have this feeling that it can be easily opened. Management could have added a dead lock for additional security. Also, there was no sliding chain lock from the inside which most resorts have in their rooms.

We checked the the bathroom and found that water has low or no pressure at all making it hard to take a shower. We did not inform the reception of this.

The coffee maker was not well cleaned. There were residue inside that maybe something like noodles were cooked in there. We washed it thoroughly instead.

There was no instruction on how to use the telephone. I have to ask a family member occupying the other room on how to call the reception.

It was nice that there's an elevator which can used by the elderly, handicapped, pregnant women and children. However, it was very slow and at times it did not open at the 1st floor. Maybe it needed oil change or have the elevator company checked it out.

Wi-fi is slow or non at all.

No bidet.

3- We called the reception and asked for additional towels. Receptionist told us that it would be delivered to our room. After 2 hours , still no towels and we have to follow up.

4- worse customer service as the Cafe (again!)Our orders were delayed by more than 1 hour; kitchen needs more cook and Manager needs seminar on customer service

We waited more than 1 hour before our food were delivered. The soft drinks we ordered came in after 30 minutes , the mango shake after 40 minutes. To our dismay, the soft drinks dont need cooking as well as the mango shake. I dont understand what took them so long to serve the drinks. After an hour our food still were not served and I was furious that I stood up and searched for the manager. The manager was so clueless as to what was happening to his area of responsibility. He should have been on the floor checking on his staff and guests. The manager as well as the waiters did not show sincere apology for the delay. A simple boiled vegetable salad came in after 50 minutes! Pizza after an hour. We waited for a pasta only to find out that it was cancelled. We asked who cancelled it and the waiter cant even support that we cancelled the order. It was horrible customer service. We lost our appetite and vowed not to eat dinner at this cafe.

Had we known this very slow service, we should have ordered our food 2 hours in advance with lots of reminder to the cafe staff.

Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the positives. I regret that I will not want to return to this place again.  For me , this is not the #1 resort in Talisay as indicated by Tripadvisor.

How to get there by private car

1. On South Luzon Expressway, simply go straight up to the STAR Tollway.
2. Exit at Tanauan City  and turn right.
3. Follow the road going to Talisay. Pass Flying V gasoline station and the town proper.
4. Club Balai Isabel is on your left side.