Review of Cecille Bertha Resort, Pansol Calamba City

Yogi seems to be enjoying the pool. Oh yes, that's my brother that bear head we made for Halloween last year. Last month our team decided to have a little get-together before summer started -- and the bears tagged along. Because Laiya in Batangas seemed too far, we settled for Pansol in Laguna. We decided it was the next best thing considering the rush hour traffic and all.

Pansol is that area in nearby Laguna where private pools for rent are just everywhere, many of which are adjacent to each other. These gated properties can be booked for anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. The facilities vary but there always seems to be a kitchen and a videoke machine. None of these places are designed for relaxation as noise is expected and tolerated no matter how horrendous the voice blaring from the videoke machine nearby.

Cecille Villas and Casas, Calamba, Laguna

We booked Cecille Bertha Resort, which had atleast two pools that was just right for our small group of ten. The difference from its adjacent resorts/private pools was stark. Whereas the others looked dark and old, this one was all bright with lights and looked really nice and new.

This Villa had a really tall gate and fence, which afforded guests a better degree of privacy. Its garage comfortably fit our two cars but I believe it can squeeze in two more. There was a two-storey building that housed four rooms on one side, and another one-level structure opposite it. Under this roof was another guest room, and a small hall that harbored a pool table, the omnipresent videoke machine, and the kitchen and dining area. There were also two grillers by the gate for some barbecue time.

The rooms

The rooms were very, very nice and clean, all of which are airconditioned. Because we arrived first, I got first dibs at this room that I had all to myself. It's got a queen bed and its own bathroom and toilet. The other three rooms each had single beds and one bed at the center. Don't expect too much from the mattress towels since this ain't no hotel. But I loved the blanket they provided; it was so soft and nice to the touch.

The pools

Like I said, there were two pools, the regular and the other one, which was small, and quite shallow, too. The deepest part would have to be only 4 feet, if I'm not mistaken. The water's heated, which makes for a good late-night dip when everyone's already drunk. There's also a really shallow part where two sun beds are propped.

It's a nice place actually and one that I recommend if you're planning on an overnighter in this area. Regardless of the weather, you can always enjoy your summer moments in Pansol. It was also quite funny when the resort finance officer, Al, called up my colleague (who took care of arrangements) to ask if there was anything wrong because we left earlier than our designated time. Nice gesture, which only means they care about their guests's experience.

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Bookings are done through their website, after which a contract is executed to lay down the terms and conditions. Payment is made via bank deposit, or gcash, and then an invoice is emailed to confirm your booking. As for directions, they provide instructions in their website. Be forewarned, though, of the heavy traffic towards the Calamba exit along SLEX all the way through the heart of the town, especially on Friday afternoons and evenings.

Overall, a great experience for a budgeted vacation in Laguna. You get your money's worth every minute you spent in their resort. The owner himself informed us that there were other resorts that they operated in Pansol. Too bad we were in a hurry and never got the chance to choose which one we preferred.