Potipot Gateway Resort

Great food and ambiance

I DO NOT recommend Potipot Gateway Resort. Our stay from June 14th was a series of disappointments and safety concerns that made for an unpleasant experience. Upon arrival between 4-5 PM, we were assigned an old, two-story villa near the basketball court. The villa was in terrible condition: blinds were broken, ceilings needed repairs, the doors didn't fit their frames properly and were hard to close, and the wooden floors were creaky and felt unstable, especially on the second floor near the stairs. It was unsettling, particularly with infants and kids in our group. The kitchen area amenities on the second floor are all dirty and worn out. There is a microwave, toaster, fridge and lots of cabinets but they are all worn out and so dirty. We did not end up using it. The villa was infested with mosquitoes, and there were hardly any lights at night outside, making it extremely dingy. Worse, there were no mosquito nets provided, which is a big issue considering the health risks, especially for young children. The lack of strong locks in the room added to our anxiety, as we had important work equipment with us. The bedding, sheets, and towels were dusty, suggesting that the villa had not been occupied or properly cleaned in a long time. This added to the discomfort and overall feeling of neglect. The resort's guest parking lacks basic security measures; there is no CCTV or security guard, so you have to park at your own risk. When we were about to leave on June 16th, we discovered that our car wouldn’t unlock or start. A man staying in the parking area informed us that our car alarm had been blinking all night, which drained the battery. Given that we had recently replaced the battery, it seemed improbable for it to die without warning. The same man offered to jumpstart our car, but even after the jumpstart, the alarm continued to sound. This indicated that someone had tried to tamper with our car overnight, either to steal something or intentionally drain the battery. 😡 This entire situation was extremely distressing and unsafe, especially since we had infants and kids with us on a long drive. The lack of car facilities in the area added to our anxiety about safety. Upon returning home in the evening, I fell ill with severe muscle and joint aches, fever, headache, dizziness, and diarrhea, the next morning. This also happened to 4 people in our group. We all had to seek medical attention and am still undergoing treatment for these symptoms. 🤒 Overall, our experience at Potipot Gateway Resort was highly disappointing and unsafe. We will never return and strongly advise others to avoid this place!!!

For a resort located in Zambales, it's quite far coming from Manila. More or less, you'll spend around 5-6 hours driving. There are a lot of things to see upon entering the premises, like a bridge walkway, a nearby river and lots of plants and animals. It's definitely "Instagrammable", especially if you like to post a lot in social media. Rooms are divided into separate cabins, depending on how many you are as a group. The rooms have an old-school house vibe, but are clean and cozy. Unfortunately, we were booked in rooms that had very limited wifi and signal. We had to go to the main dining area to make use of the wifi. The food in the resort was under-the-radar good. Nothing stood out but everything we ordered was consistently well-cooked. The beachside area was okay, though you take a boat ride going to the more beautiful Potipot island. There are other things to do in the resort like a swimming pool, pool table and karaoke, as well as musical acts depending on the day. Overall, the resort is perfect if 1.) you're a group of friends who don't like crowded resorts, 2.) you're a family with small kids or 3.) an office department planning a team building since the resort is quite spacious for physical activities and fellowship activities.