Hubby and I went to Island Cove Hotel & Leisure Park because we were suddenly too tired to drive as far as Tagaytay. Coming from our place in the south, this resort near Bacoor, Cavite was only an hour away. First impressions: the place was really huge! It was also a good deal that we got a two-bedroom cottage for P4,500, although it seemed strange that it didn’t go with free buffet breakfast. Anyway, more on that later. 😀 Here are some pictures of the place I unearthed from my archives.
The giant chessboard in Island Cove is a bit of a landmark. The kids would also be delighted with their Oceania water park and the zoo called Animal island. That is, if they’re the types who prefer to commune with nature, and not electronic games 😀
It was a good enough location, so much so that we chose it as the site of our prenuptial photo shoot last January. Here’s one taken by their wharf….. (photo courtesy of our wedding photographer, RedSheep)
It seemed obvious during our visit that the Cove is a popular place for seminars, weddings and other special functions. One thing that this place really failed in was the FOOD. It seemed to be the consensus of my friends from Manila who’s been there too. The average cost of our family meal while we stayed there was $60, P2,500 or so and there was nothing outstanding about it. This place needs to overhaul their F & B asap, or at least make the items in the menu palatable, if they are to remain expensive. It was nothing to crow about, and it is for this reason that we will probably take a long time to go back here again.
And this ends my (belated) review 😀
Island Cove Hotel & Leisure Park
Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite
Tel. no. (632) 810 7878
Island Cove does have something to offer guests, but cuisine definitely wasn’t their strong point, on that visit. Our photog concurred, as he’s visited Island Cove as well.
How was the food? Let me put it this way – the trike drivers make bank whisking guests back and forth to Jollibee and KFC. When you can’t top Jollibee or KFC, in a sit-down resto, you’ve got some work to do 😀
I enjoyed the grounds and the water park, but some details really surprised me – how does a water park not offer its guests TOWELS? Strange.
No towels?? LOL. Didn’t notice that, or Ms. Amnesia can’t remember. Maybe they want their guests nekkid 😛
They allowed you to take these photos? Did you need a permit to do so? I just wanna share what I experienced with my friends.
I was there with my friend who’s about to get married to take prenuptial videos. It was actually a gift that I would like to give them for their wedding.
We went to their Fishing Village restaurant to prepare there and take some shots. Of course we ordered some food from there. As a matter of fact, our bill summed up to more than a thousand pesos just for the food so that we could be considered as significant customers. We made it a point that we ordered every once in a while. We even rented their bike for an hour. The staff at the fishing village watched us in amusement as we shot each funny scene, they were in fact pretty accommodating.
After that we went to their hotel coffee shop to take shots there as well and the same as what we did at the Fishing Village, we ordered some food, pastries and coffee. I even planned to book my family vacation there because the staff seemed friendly and accommodating. I was as a matter of fact already preparing my card to pay for the booking. I can’t believe my friend and I even discussed having their wedding reception there! It would’ve been a total disaster given the character of their staff.
They let us shoot there until our video was almost finished. Right at the very last part of our shoot (while shooting the last scenes) the bellboy approached us and asked us if we had a permit. That caught me by surprise… they never asked us for any permit when we started and besides it was a personal video that we’re shooting. As a matter of fact, we just brought entry level dslr’s. All of a sudden, everybody was stopping us from taking pictures or videos. The front desk officer, the bellboy… etc. It was very embarrassing because it was very much unexpected. They are a resort, why would they stop customers from taking personal videos?? And that isn’t the worst part, after all the embarrassment, we all just decided to leave unable to finish our meals.
We weren’t even able to wait for our service to arrive as we felt we had to leave before our expected time. Who would want to stay if you’re already being embarrassed and demeaned by their staff?? Imagine having to walk out of that place!
WORST PART: On our way out, we decided to stop by the bridge and take a bit more shots. I can’t believe that the staff at the hotel actually had this security guard named JOHN go after us to tell us not to take pictures at the bridge. My brother got frustrated and asked him since when did they stop allowing customers to take pictures within the resort and he said that EVERYONE who took pictures in the resort should have a permit! He was extremely rude! He was actually asking us to leave already! It was the most embarrassing day of my life! I’ve been to the some of the finest hotels in the country and been to many of the best resorts and this was the WORST and I mean THE WORST treatment that I have ever received so far.
The guard actually acted like he’d have no hesitation in hurting us physically. His leaned towards my brother as if to show that he’s boss and this was just a SECURITY GUARD versus my brother who’s already a businessman and myself that is an event management officer who could’ve given them tons of business! I have already been interviewed by event magazines regarding venues in manila and Cavite and right now, I think I know what I’ll say about this resort.
Well, all I can say is that they have infuriated and embarrassed us enough to say that they are idiots! We’ll spread the word about how they treat their guests and I will make sure that all of my current clients and future clients NEVER book an event here in Island Cove.
well i was so disappointed to have my wedding in islandcove coz of not so good in service and they are not organized!we are so disappointed coz of lack of man power dats why they ddnt give a good service especially for the vip..and the food was so delicious on our foodtasting but on my wedding day it was taste cheap even though we upgrade it!the place was nice for taking a pictures but not good in wedding event coz u will be disappointed,the rooms seems old type and not really clean.