Balai LaHi (by the sea)

PORTO is the guesthouse of Balai LaHi, a private beach house by the sea in the heart of the Philippines, Marinduque. It has 3-bedrooms, a living/dining lanai, a full kitchen, and a seaside lounge. There is nothing here except the sound of lapping waves, chirping birds, and rustling leaves. Everything in this place is natural, weathered, and laid back. The space Balai LaHi is in the province of Marinduque, a 6-hour drive from Manila (3 hrs. to Dalahican Ferry terminal in Lucena + 3 hrs. on a RoRo ferry to the island) The trip is safe, simple, and quite interesting for travelers. Do you want to spend quality time with your loved ones? or hang loose with your friends in a very homey atmosphere? or maybe you need a workshop venue that is conducive to creative ideas? Come home to Balai. To preserve the tranquility of the place, we have a "COMFORT CAPACITY" limit - NO MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE may occupy the guesthouse. This is to make sure that each guest gets more than ample personal space for sleeping, lounging and dining. If you need more rooms, there's also the Sunrise room, and the Traveler's cottage which are in the same property (check out their separate listings) WE HAVE NO FOOD SERVICE but coffee and filtered drinking water are provided. For a most stress-free homestay, you may opt to hire trusted "kusineras" - cook & helper teams, who can market - cook - serve meals for an affordable daily service fee, paid directly to them. These freelance service providers need to be booked way ahead of time so please inform us early so we can put them in touch with you. Alternatively, There are also local restaurants that deliver. Check our guide book for details :) There is a self-service LAUNDRY machine available at all times in the property. You may also opt to hire a laundry lady for a minimal fee. Alternatively, There is a laundromat in Boac town. There is WIFI with a basic load of 24gb for your stay. You may top-up if you require more. For EXTENDED HOMESTAY guests (more than 3 nights), bedsheets and towels are refreshed once every 3 nights. Please know that the standard cleaning fee only covers a thorough sanitation and setting up once before you arrive, as well as laundry after you leave. If you wish to have your rooms refreshed on a daily basis, please let us know upon booking so we can hire extra cleaning service providers. Delightfully, Balai La-Hi is not all there is to the island province of Marinduque. It is also a historic province whose towns date back to the Spanish era. For mountain lovers, there's a majestic Volcano called Malindig you can climb, and wild forests you can hike. For bikers, there are well-paved roads running along pristine coastlines as well as unbeaten paths into the "ilayas" of each barrio. Marinduque is called the "heart of the Philippines" because it is indeed geographically at the heart of the archipelago, and shaped like one. Maybe thats why it is also consistently awarded the most peaceful province in the Philippines. Guest access Garden entrance Beach entrance Other things to note ⏱️ Quick Guide • Regular Staff Hours: The home keeper is in the property by 8am and leaves by 4pm. • Kitchen staff : If you engage kusineras, they start food service at your desired time and head back to their homes after dinner service. Should you wish to seek their help after 8pm, please let them know. Rates are to be discussed between you and the kusineras. • Quiet Hours: 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Please keep music and voices low. • Videoke and loud music : Not allowed outside of rooms at any time. • Night Guard: On duty from 4:00 PM to morning. • Garden lights : On by sunset and off by 10pm House Rules & Security • Guest Policy: Day visitors are welcome, but overnight stays are strictly for registered guests. • Smoking: We have thatched awnings. Smoking is not allowed in the house. Ashtrays are provided in the beach lounge and gardens. • Drugs: Zero tolerance for illegal substances. • Our Dogs: Free-range and protective. They will bark at first but are completely friendly once they recognize you. Eco & Facility Guidelines • Plumbing: Do not flush toilet paper, sanitary napkins, or trash down the drains. • Utilities: Please turn off the AC when leaving the room for more than an hour. • In Case of a Power Outage: Our backup generator will kick in to keep the lights and essential outlets running. While powered by the generator, we kindly ask that you do not use the air conditioning or water heaters, as they will overload the system. • Beach Cleanup: Kindly bring back all trash and bottles from your beach parties. • Lights: Please leave a light on in the kitchen and living lanai when you go to sleep. Services & Amenities • Wifi ⁃The Porto villa has unit wifi on each floor. Each unit is loaded with 63GB free data upon arrival. Once used up, you may purchase additional data through the innkeeper. • Linens - for regular stays (3-7 days), bedsheets and towels are refreshed every 3-4 days. Should you need more towels, you may rent. For long term rentals (more than 10 days) linens are changed once a week.