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MANILA, Philippines – Looking for a close, serene and relaxing place for your whole family, barkade, or team at work? The Bali-inspired Keluarga Villas in Bulacan might be just the thing for you!
Nestled in the town of Malolos, the villa takes its name from the Malay word keluarga, which translates to “family”. Family played a central role in the creation of the villa – host Patrick Roniel explained that the villa was intended to be a rest home for their family for their weekends, and where their grandparents could eventually s to settle and retire.
Patrick said the villa was a “decade under construction” as his family had owned the land for years but initially had no idea what to build on it. He shared that his family was inspired by other Airbnb features on Rappler and different parents worked together to design their new rest home.
“This place was a labor of love for our family where each of us has a stamp in every part of this project,” Patrick wrote on the villa’s Airbnb listing.
The drive to and from Metro Manila can take around an hour on good days, as guests can easily travel to the area via the Metro Manila Skyway. However, be prepared to stay in the car for around 2-3 hours during particularly busy periods. Arrival time is at 4:00 p.m., while departure time is at 1:00 p.m.
You will have to cross smaller streets to get to the villa, but you can easily find its exact location via Waze or Google Maps. Patrick said the location of the villa has been convenient for their family, as it is not as prone to harsh weather conditions compared to their home town of Hagonoy. (A guest who had previously rated the villa on his Airbnb listing also said he booked the place during a recent typhoon and still felt safe during his stay.)
Patrick added that their villa’s take on the modern Balinese style of architecture was to bring a piece of provincial Indonesia to the Philippines for their older relatives who can no longer travel. You will be immediately greeted with a taste of Bali once you enter the premises – the first things you will see are their outdoor basketball/badminton court, stunning views of the pool and jacuzzi, and the immaculate facade of the villa with wooden walls and large bay windows.
There is also plenty of space to park your cars once you arrive, as the driveway can accommodate a maximum of eight vehicles.
Next to the pool is an open-air space with wooden benches, rattan chairs and wooden swings to admire the outdoors while relaxing in the shade. We opted to eat our meals and play drinking games here, where the villa attendants can help set up extra tables and one-piece chairs. There’s even an outdoor fire pit where you can enjoy a private bonfire!
When you enter the villa pavilion, you will be greeted by their immaculate living room and dining room. One look inside the pavilion and you’ll know it was designed with lots of love – the area is adorned with more rattan furniture, paintings, wall decorations and beautiful patterns. We booked a stay in December so there was also a Christmas tree set up next to the TV as well as festive centerpieces sitting on the table runner in the dining room.
It is an ideal space to hold workshops for your team planning events or game nights with your family, as it is equipped with a TV and sound system. If your idea of a fun night out is singing along with your friends, the villa also has its own video machine that you can use until 10:00 p.m. Reliable Wi-Fi is also available and hosts change the password for each new reservation.
The pavilion has a small loft, perfect for taking nice group photos where everyone is leaning safely against the railing. However, there is no air conditioning in the lodge, so be sure to dress accordingly, especially if you are booking a stay during the summer.
The villa has a total of three bedrooms – a master bedroom with three queen-size beds and a daybed, as well as two smaller bedrooms with two queen-size beds each. Three additional sleeping pads are also provided to accommodate more guests, which won’t be a problem as each bedroom is spacious and comfortable with ample floor space. All bedrooms are also equipped with air conditioning and warm, soft blankets.
Each bedroom has its own bathroom, and there is another bathroom in the pavilion and another outside by the pool. The master bedroom bathroom even has two sinks, and its shower and toilet are separate, making it easier for multiple guests to take turns. And yes, the bathrooms are equipped with bidets! Just be sure to bring your own toiletries and towels.
All Keluarga guests are asked to follow their house rules, which include removing their shoes before entering the lodge or rooms (they provide slippers for indoor use!), not bring food into the rooms and turn off the air conditioning in rooms that are not equipped. ‘t currently used. Don’t forget to clean up after yourself too!
Guests are not permitted to cook inside the lodge, but there is an outdoor kitchen and grilling facilities that can be used, and food delivery via GrabFood and similar services has not been an issue for us. The villa also provides manuals where they list nearby restaurants and malls and other important information. A gallon of water is also provided per reservation and you can store your own drinks in the lodge fridge.
The place can accommodate up to 16 people, making it perfect for many types of large gatherings. We can attest that the hosts live up to their villa’s slogan, “Our villas were built for families”, because their willingness to welcome us and make us feel at home – or part of the family – was one of the best parts of our stay.
You can book a stay at Keluarga Villas here. – Rappler.com
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