Chill by the beach in this artsy condo in Pico de Loro Cove, Batangas

One of the Airbnbs you can book within the coastal enclave of Pico de Loro Cove is a luxurious lagoon view condo with abstract art interiors. This Instagram-worthy room with unique interiors is designed with local materials sourced from different parts of the country.

In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Airbnb proprietor Marlon de Mesa shared that the unit, which he renovated in just four months and opened to the public in December 2016, was initially intended for personal use. 

“I am a beach lover and wanted a place I could escape to that does not entail traveling by airplane when life in Manila gets hectic. I am also a lover of nice things, that is why I decided to fix up the place," he said.

Because of his busy schedule, he decided to list it on Airbnb temporarily but “due to the overwhelming demand,” he decided to make the listing permanent and purchase a second unit with a mountain view that is currently undergoing renovation. 

The Airbnb superhost shared the inspiration behind the room’s artsy interiors.

“One interior designer recommended a cocoon weaving made of plastic rattan in metal foundation to be placed in the bedroom ceiling inspired by this restaurant he saw in Cebu, Some designer friends and I complemented it with the light fixtures, furniture and bar set-up to give the unit an exotic, luxurious, Filipino resort feel,” he told PhilSTAR L!fe. 

The well-designed unit comes with one bedroom, with a queen-size bed and airbed available for additional guests with two foldable sleeping mats. The unit is ideal for two guests but can accommodate a maximum of six guests using the airbed and sleeping mats. 

The craftsmanship and attention to details are evident, with the woven design mimicking trees climbing up to the ceiling and forest scenes on the wallpaper lining the hallway. A rattan swing in the balcony gives guests a relaxing spot to view the lake and hills and let them ease their stress from the busy life of the metro

Guests booked here can make use of the kitchen and cook as an alternative to dining in the country club and restaurants in the area, provided they bring their own ingredients/food and drinking water. The unit also provides the usual bathroom toiletries, house cleaning materials for the bathroom and kitchen, and bath towels which can only be used indoors.

According to the Airbnb proprietor, because of its geographic location, Pico de Loro offers the perfect getaway home. The unit is listed by one of the few Super Hosts in Pico de Loro since 2016, with 90% of recent guests gave the location a 5-star rating.

De Mesa also shared that he wants his guests to feel special and "feel that they get more than their money’s worth," so he makes sure to keep the unit well-maintained, clean and well-stocked up.

“Everyone who has seen and stayed in my property agrees that the moment you step inside, you instantly feel that you are transported to another world, a different, beautiful world,” he said.

The unit is located in Carola A building, one of the newest buildings in the middle of the 1.5 km long beachfront and the country club close to Pico Sands Hotel.

For a one time entrance fee, visitors can also get easy access to the beach, infinity pool and country club facilities for the duration of their stay. Guests can just chill out and enjoy being close to nature, take a walk around the lagoon and gardens, take leisurely strolls to the beach, and make use the free golf cart-shuttle service that goes around the grounds regularly. 

The leisure resort also has several restaurants, swimming pools, a spa, and water sports like kayaks, banana boats, water taxis, jet skis, for rent with an additional fee. There’s also a church also accessible with a 360 view of the entire cove on the premises. Cove tours and nature hiking tours are also available.

To maximize the road trip and weekend getaways, guests can also stop over in Tagaytay to have a peek of the Taal Volcano on the way to Pico de Loro. 

Check out their listing below.

Rates:

•  Room rates start at P5,000/night on weekdays and P6,000/night on weekends.

Travel tips:

• The property is a two and half hour drive from Manila/ Makati and only 2 hours drive from the Domestic and International airport via NAIAX, coastal road, and CAVITEX.
• The property has a high occupancy rate on weekends, so it's best to book from Friday to Monday.
• There is no ATM inside Pico de Loro, and guests can only use credit and debit cards plus cash in the restaurants.
• An entrance fee per head must be settled upon arrival and registration.
• Pico de Loro requires a one-time fee/entrance fee of: Mon-Thur P800/adult P300/4-12yrs old Fri-Sun P1200/adult P400/4-12yrs old