The famous chanteuse Billie Holiday once sang,
Summer time/and the living is easy.
Given it’s the height of summer, it would be great if we could find the place–and the time off from work–for such a description.
If city life and your work has made you consider the idea of resort living in an urban setting—the most prominent example being the celebrity icon Paris Hilton-endorsed Azure Urban Resort Residences–you can’t blame yourself for being tempted. After all, it’s the best of both worlds: your residence as a vacation spot after coming home from the office.
However, have you ever considered the reverse: urban living in a resort setting? Imagine a place where you can enjoy nature and dusting off beach sand from your feet– but with all the comforts of your own home. In other words, why leave the city to go to the beach when you can bring the city with you?
You’re probably thinking you have to be rich to buy an island, or else settle for a property in a crowded beachfront in order to realize this dream. Fortunately, there are now resort residences located throughout the Philippines that offer the same experience but without the hefty price tag.
Combining the best of both worlds (resort living with a property that you can own), resort residences can be defined as wholly owned private properties located within a full-service resort. With that in mind, we went looking around for resort residences that are either in operation or are being developed, to find what’s currently available out there.
We intentionally didn’t include those urban resort residences (like Azure) because the idea here is that resort residences offer urban living in a resort setting, not keep you in an urban setting. So if it gets you out of the city and somewhere near the beach, it fits our criteria.
With that said, here’s our top 9 luxurious residential resorts in the Philippines:
1. Pico de Loro Cove
Where it’s at: Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas
What’s so great about it: Pico de Loro Cove is one of 13 coves in Hamilo Coast and is also SM Land’s premier maiden residential community in Hamilo Coast. It is located in a 40-hectare valley within Hamilo Coast, has an extensive 31-kilometer coastline, and 5,900 hectares of lush terrain. It also has a country club, a boutique hotel, and eight low-impact mid-rise residential condominium buildings set around a lagoon. Developed by Costa del Hamilo (a subsidiary of SM Land Inc.), Pico de Loro Cove is their large-scale ecotourism and leisure project, what they call “a sustainable beach resort town.”
Property types available: Condominiums
Unit sizes: 1-BR, 2-BR, 3-BR (flats, ground floor garden units, corner units, lofts/bi-level units, and penthouse lofts)
Price range: Starts at Php 4 million per unit
2. Anvaya Cove
Where it’s at: Morong, Bataan
What’s so great about it: Anvaya Cove is a seaside residential community developed by Ayala Land Premier and their first venture in leisure development. It sits on 320 hectares and has a 3.5-kilometer coastline. Being cradled between the mountains of the Bataan range and the waters of Subic Bay, a stay at Anvaya Cove promises a combination of being at a mountain retreat and a seaside resort. Aside from a beach club, it also offers a golf and sports club, complete with an 18-hole all-weather golf course.
Property types available: Residential houses & condominiums
Unit sizes: 2-3 BR homes; 1-2 BR condo units
Price range: Php 5 million – Php 20 million all-in per lot/house and lot; Php 8 million all-in per unit (Membership in the Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club is a prerequisite to acquiring a residential lot or seaside villa. Price range per individual membership starts at Php 555,000.)
3. Boracay Newcoast
Where it’s at: Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
What’s so great about it: Boracay Newcoast is a modern master-planned community in the country’s famous island paradise of Boracay. Comprising 140 hectares and located at the northeastern part of the island, Boracay Newcoast will be a mixed-use development consisting of residential areas, a massive commercial center called Newcoast Station, boutique and international brand hotels, and sports facilities–including an 18-hole golf course. It is developed by Global Estate Resorts, Inc., a sister company of Megaworld Corporation.
Property types available: Residential houses & condominiums
Unit sizes: Lot sizes start at 250 sqm and up; studio & 1-3 BR condo units
Price range: Starts at Php 6 million for homes; starts at Php 5 million for units
4. Playa Calatagan Residences
Where it’s at: Calatagan, Batangas
What’s so great about it: Developed by Landco Pacific Corp., Playa Catalagan Residences is a seaside project located at the northwestern side of the Playa Calatagan estates. With its 525 meters beachfront, Playa Calatagan will be composed of residential lots, a commercial area, and a condo development consisting of four mid-rise condominium buildings (the first being Nautilus). Holding central spot amid the project’s 1.2 hectares is the anchor amenity Aquaria, which will have pools and lounge areas.
Property types available: Condominiums
Unit sizes: Studio, 1-BR and Special 1-BR units
Price range: Php 3.3 million – Php 5.5 million per unit
5. Camaya Coast
Where it’s at: Mariveles, Bataan
What’s so great about it: The Camaya Coast is a 450-hectare beach resort/ residential development, which includes six subdivisions with different views of the coast. Owned and developed by Earth and Shore Leisure Communities, the beach resort has a coastal length of 3.2 kilometers that includes two coves. It also has a view of South China Sea, cliffs and coves, and a nearby waterfall and river.
Property types available: Residential houses & condominiums
Unit sizes: 1-3 BR for homes; studio & 1-2 BR for units
Price range: Php 6 million – Php 9 million for a house and lot; Php 3 million – Php 6 million per unit
6. Kawayan Cove
Where it’s at: Nasugbu, Batangas
What’s so great about it: A private seaside residential community developed by Edge Properties Development Corp. (EPDC), the 68-hectare Kawayan Cove has the 650-meter Bamboo Beach, considered the best swimming beach in Nasugbu with its white sand and blue waters. Likewise, its prime lots offer a panorama of the Western Batangas coastline and lots of space (occupying only 30 of the 68 hectares). It also has the Bamboo Beach Club, a private membership club with world-class facilities.
Property types available: Residential houses
Unit sizes: 300 prime view lots, ranging from 500 sqm-2000 sqm
Price range: Starts at Php 5 million upward
7. Terrazas de Punta Fuego
Where it’s at: Nasugbu, Batangas
What’s so great about it: Terrazas de Punta Fuego is a 61-hectare exclusive residential development comprising of seaside residences, first-class amenities, a 9-hole golf course, and the Club Punta Fuego beach club. It has an 800-meter stretch of white sand beach, clear and pristine waters, and a scenic view of both the Batangas mountain range and the South China Sea. It was developed by Landco Pacific Corporation and Roxaco Land Corporation.
Property types available: Residential houses
Unit sizes: Lot areas range from 324 sqm up to 720 sqm
Price range: Starts at Php 3 million upward
8. Amara
Where it’s at: Liloan, Cebu
What’s so great about it: A major landmark residential project in Cebu by the Coastal Highpoint Ventures Inc. and Ayala-affiliate Cebu Holdings Inc., Amara is a resort-inspired residential enclave with the Ayala trademark. Aside from the residences, it has world-class facilities and amenities like a clubhouse and sports club, a picnic grove in the middle of a forest, open parks, a seaside esplanade and boardwalk, a historic lighthouse marking one end of the development, and its own wharf beside the Mactan Channel and Camotes Sea.
Property types available: Residential houses
Unit sizes: Lot areas range from 405 sqm up to 779 sqm
Price range: PhpP5.8 million – Php14.4 million
9. Tambuli Seaside Living
Where it’s at: Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
What’s so great about it: Developed by Tytans Properties and Development Inc., the Tambuli Seaside Living (formerly known as the Cebu Beach Club & Tambuli West) is an 11-hectare residential resort development with a 200-meter beach fronting the Hilutungan Channel. It also has a 4-hectare amenity area that includes the following facilities: a clubhouse, a commercial complex, and swimming pools.
Property types available: Condominiums
Unit sizes: Studio, 1-2 BR units
Price range: Php 3 million – Php 7 million
So the next time you consider planning your vacation, why not save your money instead so that you can buy a residence beside the beach? This way, every day will be always be a vacation.
