We had a magical day trip to Balai Anilao in Batangas. The resort is about 2.5 hours drive from Manila, easy driving, 130kms, along provincial roads in the south of Luzon. We left the house at 6 and were at the resort by 8:30 in the morning. The directions from the website are pretty clear, we had to ask a... More

love this resort because it is like a home. food is excellent and dives are cheap! staff are friendly. it is nice because it is quiet (they do not allow karaoke!) and you have enough space to fix your dive gear, and relax afterwards. the deck by the dining area is the best place to sit, hang out and have... More

If you want to take some time off work/ school and diving is your kind of sport, then take a trip to Anilao, Batangas where there is an abundance of reefs to explore. And while you're there, check-in at Balai. The food is great with various choices and all complementing one another. In addition to that, the staff are friendly... More

Awesome inclusive buffet meals makes your stay all worth it! Wooden rooms are cozy and clean but could be tidier. There are insects in the bathroom roof sometimes from trees outside. Excellent service from friendly staff and divemasters. Location is central to diving spots but an hour from the Anilao pier main road.

Nothing beats Balai Anilao and Laiya. I miss diving there with Lito and Mona. I miss the good food and drinks. Now, the waters here in the U.S. is too cold. If you guys wanna dive there, try to get in touch with Mel and Casty of Sea-cid. They're damn good dive instructors. They certified me few years back.

Great service and food but very shabby rooms and the beach is awful. Rough sand, filthy water, very few activities, snorkelling on the nearby reefs was very disappointing. It may be better in Winter (we stayed in Summer) and may be acceptable to Manila residents fleeing the noise, dirt, crowds and pollution for a weekend. I'm an expat having lived... More

Reservation is easy with a Manila number you can call. Going to Laiya is a breeze, compared to 2 years ago, when the roads were rough. Travel time is about 2.5 hours from Manila. Staff - courteous and friendly. Food - the buffet is yummy. Their tuna sashimi has not gone through refrigeration and is very fresh. The desert, mango... More

Our stay at Balai was wonderful. It definitely exceeded our expectations! The resort's theme is native and back-to-basics. I love the nipa huts! The rooms were small but they were very clean. Smelled like fabric softener. There were two double beds and they also provided clean towels. The bathroom was nice. Spacious, clean and has hot and cold water. They... More

Enjoyed our stay at Balai. Went for diving and the boat guys were great. Location is a bit isolated so if you crave snacks, make sure you bring some on your trip and keep them in a bag so that the bugs don't try to get them. You can get soft drinks n beer n such but there are no... More