Bernese Resort Hotel Review: What to Expect + Our Experience
After welcoming 2026 at PROXY by The Oriental Albay, our South Luzon Loop adventure continued on New Year’s Day. Instead of heading home right away after our Cagsawa adventure, we decided to stay one more night in Albay and make the most of our time in the province.
We initially planned to look for a simple budget hotel, but after realizing that we would be spending the evening in a small four-square room with not much else to do, we decided to find a place where we could actually relax and enjoy our last night in Albay. That’s when we found Bernese Resort Hotel in Ligao City.
With its spacious rooms and resort-like atmosphere, Bernese turned out to be a fun and unexpected way to spend the first day of 2026. In this post, I’ll share our experience, what we liked about the hotel, and whether I think it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a place to stay in Ligao, Albay.
Quick Stay Information
Hotel: Bernese Resort Hotel powered by Cocotel
Location: Purok 5, Barangay Paulog, Ligao City, Albay, Philippines
Stayed: January 1–2, 2026
Purpose: 2nd Overnight stay during our South Luzon Loop road trip
Bernese Resort Hotel is located in Ligao City, about 23 kilometers from Cagsawa Ruins. The distance gave me plenty of time to search for a good hotel or resort nearby. Since it was already way past the usual check-in time for most hotels, I tried looking for available rooms through a booking app, but I was out of luck. Most of the hotels listed were already sold out.
The room rates at Bernese Resort Hotel were very affordable, and the fact that they had a swimming pool made me eager to look for their contact number, even though the booking apps showed that they were fully booked.
Luckily, the hotel reservation officer who answered my call was very nice and accommodating. I asked if they still had an available room for a family of five adults and two kids. And yes—there was still one Family Room available!
I asked her to hold the room for us and reserve it under our name since we were already on our way to the hotel. Because if there wasn’t one available, we were honestly preparing ourselves to stay in a four-walled motel room somewhere in Albay, especially since the night was already approaching.
But we got lucky. 😂
First Impressions
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the Santorini vibes of the hotel’s exterior. Its blue-and-white theme gave off a cozy yet luxurious feel, which was a refreshing contrast after our short drive through the forested roads of Ligao City.
The entrance, however, was a bit narrow and could only accommodate one or two vehicles at a time for loading and unloading luggage. The good thing is that the hotel has its own spacious parking area exclusively for guests, so we knew our vehicle would be safe throughout our stay.
It was still the holiday season, and the Christmas decorations were still up, adding a festive and welcoming vibe as we entered the hotel. They also have an al fresco area right in front of the reception area, which could be a great spot for hosting birthday parties or other events in the future.
The Reception Area
The hotel’s reception area was wide, clean, and spacious enough to accommodate more than ten people at a time. It had a nice ambiance, and the air-conditioning was also good, which made the area feel comfortable and welcoming.
The staff member we spoke to on the phone earlier was just as accommodating in person as she was during our call. Our requests were gladly accommodated, and we had a quick and hassle-free check-in despite our last-minute booking.
The Access and Hallway
We were given a very cute key card for our room, complete with the hotel’s engraved logo on it. Since the hotel was only three stories tall, there were no elevators, so we had to take the stairs. Thankfully, my father was still able to climb the stairs despite his condition.
The hallway was wide and clean, and it even had a cute mirror that I couldn’t resist taking a selfie with as we made our way to our designated room. 😂
The Family Room
We stayed in Family Room 2, which has two double beds and is intended to accommodate up to four guests. Since we were a family of five adults and two kids, we rented an additional mattress for my youngest brother while the kids shared the bed with us. It was a short-notice booking, and we couldn’t afford to get an additional room just for him, so we made the most of the available space and were happy that the hotel was able to accommodate our request.
The bathroom has a very spacious shower area that can comfortably fit two people at once. It also comes with a hot-and-cold shower, which was perfect for the chilly weather during our stay.
The Swimming Pool Area
Since this was the main reason we chose this hotel, we had to make our stay worthwhile. So, even though it was a little rainy and misty when we arrived at the pool area, we put on the swimsuits we had prepared beforehand.
Thankfully, despite the rushed packing, I was still able to pack enough swimwear for the kids since we had another swimming activity planned at a different resort during the last parts of our trip.
We started swimming at around 5:30 PM. The resort has three different pools available: a Jacuzzi, where we mostly stayed with the kids; a kiddie pool with slides; and an adult pool. Since it was already nearing nighttime and the weather was quite cold, we mostly stayed in the Jacuzzi with the kids. They played there until well past 8:00 PM and even got to meet some new friends along the way. One very pretty little girl particularly stood out to me, mainly because it seemed like she and my son actually became quite close. 😂
We didn’t get to explore the other pools because of the cold weather. Instead, we had our dinner by the poolside, where they served some sumptuous and delicious meals! They also had these huge serving pots that my mom and I jokingly considered taking home. 😂
The cake we had from New Year’s Eve also made it all the way here and became our dessert for the night. 😂
We eventually decided to wash up and get out of the pool at around 8:30 PM. The air had started to smell like ashes, and I became worried that the kids might inhale something harmful. I’m not sure if the smell was related to volcanic activity or if it was caused by something else entirely, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
Note: One drawback we experienced during our stay was that the electricity seemed to go out a few times. Thankfully, the resort had generators that kept the lights running, so the interruptions weren’t too much of a problem.
Breakfast at Belissima by Bernese
The next morning, we had our silog breakfast at Belissima by Bernese. The interior was so posh and had plenty of Instagram-worthy corners that were perfect for taking photos. The holiday decorations were also still up, adding to the cozy and comfortable atmosphere as we enjoyed our breakfast.
They also had a coffee station, which all of us needed as the perfect pair for our silog meals. Although the breakfast wasn’t served buffet-style, the portions were more than enough, and we were all full and satisfied before embarking on the next part of our spontaneous journey.
Other Details
One thing that caught my attention during our stay was this little brass statue. It may be small, but there was something about its presence that made it stand out to me. It seemed to carry a strong and powerful energy, so naturally, I got curious and decided to look it up on Google. 😂
I found out that the statue depicts Guan Yu, also known as Guan Gong or Kwan Kung, a legendary Chinese military general from the Three Kingdoms period who was later revered as a powerful cultural and spiritual figure. He is often associated with the God of War and, in Feng Shui, the Martial God of Wealth. More than that, however, Guan Yu is widely regarded as a symbol of loyalty, righteousness, courage, and protection.
The statue itself has several interesting details. He is holding his iconic Green Dragon Crescent Blade (Guandao), which represents strength, justice, and power. His firm stance and fierce expression, along with the dragons surrounding the base, are said to symbolize protection, vigilance, and the ability to ward off negative energy.
I also noticed the five flags behind him, which are associated with the Five Elements and are believed to represent victory, leadership, and authority. Because of these symbolic meanings, statues like this are often considered particularly auspicious for businesses and establishments.
According to traditional Feng Shui practices, Guan Yu statues are commonly placed near the main entrance or reception area, facing outward as a form of protection for the premises. There are also certain placements that are traditionally avoided, such as putting the statue directly on the floor, inside a bedroom, facing a toilet, or inside a kitchen.
I found all of this fascinating because, before researching it, I simply thought it was a beautiful little brass statue that caught my eye. 😂 Now, knowing its symbolism, I couldn’t help but wonder if its presence at the hotel was also intentional.
If you’re interested in learning more about Guan Yu statues and their symbolism, you can check out Art Sculpture and Gallery for more information.
Final Thoughts
Our stay at Bernese Resort Hotel turned out to be a pleasant surprise and a great way to spend our first day of 2026. What started as a last-minute search for an available room ended with a fun family stay where we got to enjoy the swimming pools, have dinner by the poolside, and simply relax after a long day of exploring Albay.
I especially appreciated how accommodating the staff were, from my first phone call to our check-in the next morning. The affordable rates, spacious family room, swimming pools, ample parking, and cozy atmosphere made it a great choice for our family, especially considering how rushed our booking was.
Overall, Bernese Resort Hotel became an unexpected highlight of our South Luzon Loop adventure. If you’re looking for an affordable and relaxing place to stay in Ligao City with swimming pools, this resort is definitely worth considering. For us, finding a comfortable place to stay at the last minute was definitely a win! 😂
Have you stayed at Bernese Resort Hotel or visited Ligao City before? What other places would you recommend exploring in the area? Let me know in the comment section below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
For More Information:
Waze Driving Directions: Click Here
Bernese Resort Hotel Powered by Cocotel: FB Page
Phone: 0927 603 8889
Email: bookingsatberneseresorthotel@gmail.com
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