The Perfect Escape

Where in the world would you go to escape? It may seem like a hypothetical question, but when Jordan and I lost our sweet Madison, our beloved doggie of 14 years, we were heartbroken and decided we needed to "escape" our now very quiet and very empty house. The first place that came to mind - for both of us - a little Airbnb destination on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines: Necarita's Tropical Retreat.

What makes this place so special? Well, with 45+ countries under our belt, and a dozens of Airbnbs, we have never stayed in a place that suited us quite so well. Of course, the surroundings were beautiful. The view of t he South China Sea from the huge upstairs studio apartment was breathtaking. But that's not all. It's the experience that won our hearts.

We stumbled upon the listing when looking for an island retreat in the Philippines (We were trying to take advantage of China's 72 hour Visa Free program and needed to find an inexpensive place to hangout for a few days outside of China). Of course, we closely examined the photos and poured through every review (an absolute MUST for the best Airbnb experience). It sounded too good to be true! A tropical tree house, plus a full upstairs apartment with a gourmet cook, laundry service, tour guide, snorkeling expeditions, diving, the list went on and on. We had to know more. From our first contact, we could tell things were going to go smoothly. Rod, one of the owners of the listing, was very quick and very thoughtful in his responses. He provided extensive information, including pricing and details of the awesome services they offered, and help us set an itinerary. All we had to do was show up (which was actually quite an extensive process, but totally worth it)!

Rod helped us coordinate the complicated trip from MNL to their local beach with very specific details. This process included a taxi, a bus, a banca, a water taxi, then they met us a nearby beach bar where Nelly's brother brought us home in his tricycle. We could have probably pieced it together on our own, but having Rod's knowledgeable and concise instructions certainly made the process easier!

Our first impression of Peurto Galera was of the absolutely gorgeous beach and surrounding islands. After the long trip, beginning our relaxing getaway with that view, chilling out, with fresh squeezed juice, at the Hangout bar really set the tone. When we arrived at Rod and Nelly's, we were surrounded by lush gardens and immediately welcomed into their home. Nelly's nephews carried our bags to our room while Nelly gave us the tour. Our studio was charming; filled with locally handmade furniture. The fridge was full, accompanied by a handy list, showing us which items were complimentary and which items required a small fee. Wonderful local items were provided for a lovely DIY breakfast. But for just a few dollars, Nelly made us an amazing breakfast, served on the veranda, surrounded by panoramic views of the South China Sea. A simple description cannot capture the surreal feeling of being surrounding by lush, beautiful jungle with amazing views of the sea. It was like a being in a movie, or pulled inside a National Geographic documentary. The sounds of the jungle soothed us to sleep at night, as the gentle breeze drifted in the windows. It was such an unforgettable experience. The photos don't do it justice either.

The BnB is truly a family owned and operated business. The BnB is owned by Canada native Rod and his Filipina wife Necerita (Nelly). Rod typically serves as the guide and takes care of the Airbnb communication, and Nelly takes care of most of the daily operations like meals, cleaning, laundry service, etc... The land has been owned by Nelly's family for generations. All of the neighbors are her relation. Nelly arranged for a very relaxing in room massage, done by her close friend. Her son taught us how to ride motorbikes (which they provided for a very reasonable rental fee). As I mentioned, her brother provided door to door tricycle service. Most of her grandkids helped out in some capacity. As Rod was out of town, her grandson John John served as our guide for numerous outings. We couldn't have asked for a better guide!

John John took us on a tour of nearby Anunan Falls, and even took photos for us - good photos! He oversaw our snorkeling expedition, then prepared an amazing beach BBQ for us. He was an amazing chef. He grilled our chicken, pork and potatoes over a pit on the beach. Literally, the best BBQ either of us have ever had. The snorkeling, boat ride and romantic, private beach BBQ, including pick up and drop of service, was around $40. John John was a very knowledgeable guide and also taught us a lot about local culture. He was very thoughtful, flexible and helpful. He quickly learned our likes and dislikes and tailored our tour accordingly. We wished we could take him home with us!

The constant theme during our entire stay was that no request was denied. Anything we could want (if they hadn't already anticipated it), all we had to do was ask. They spoiled us! It's no wonder, when we needed and escape, and could choose from literally anywhere on the planet, we immediately thought of Necerita's Tropical Retreat! If you'd love to experience it for yourself, Click here to check out their listing. If you're new to Airbnb, sign up using our referral link (click here), and score a discount!

#reviews #recommendations #wheretostay #Philippines #Getaway #Tropical