Avery Ridge Resort: Private Villa in Pansol, Calamba, Laguna

Still in Laguna — we just wrapped up the Liliw part of the trip and Abby’s mom’s side of the family decided to go big. They booked out Avery Ridge Resort in Barangay Pansol, Calamba, Laguna, Philippines for the night, and showed up about 30 to 40 deep. I walked in, looked around, and immediately ran back outside to grab the camera.

First Look: The Entrance and Living Room

The resort is three stories with a parking garage at the ground floor. You take the stairs up to the main entrance and that’s where it hits you.

The first floor has a large flat screen TV with karaoke already set up (this is the Philippines, of course there’s karaoke), a sofa, a chess table, a long dining table, and a full kitchen — fridge, water dispenser, cooking stove, sink. One bedroom is on this floor too. But the real moment is when you step out to the balcony and see the pool.

The Pool

This thing is immaculate. Waterfall feature, water jets spraying from the edges, a seating area along the side. And behind it — a clear view of the hills of Laguna spreading out in every direction. I was sweating the moment we arrived and I immediately wanted in.

The Bedrooms

We rented five rooms. The building actually has nine total — the other four were locked off. Each room has:

• Two beds (twin or queen depending on the room)
• Its own bathroom
• Mini-split or wall-mounted air conditioning
• A balcony or window overlooking either the pool or the valley views

One of the rooms on the second floor has bunk beds, which is where the boys and the cousins ended up. No TV in that one, but there’s a cable connection. The third floor has two more rooms with balconies, and from up there you can see the whole valley laid out below you.

The whole place felt like an MTV Cribs set. Every floor had a different balcony angle. Every room smelled clean. The decor on the stairwell walls was actually thoughtful. I was genuinely impressed.

The Cost — and Why It Makes Sense for a Big Group

The rate for Avery Ridge Resort is ₱35,000 per night. That’s roughly $600 to $700 USD, depending on the exchange rate when you go.

For a solo traveler or a couple, that’s not a budget option. But for a family reunion of 40 people, you’re talking about less than $20 per person for the whole night — with a private pool, karaoke, a pool table, five bedrooms, and a kitchen. That math hits different. If you’re planning a big family gathering in Laguna and you’re splitting the bill, this is one of the better deals I’ve come across.

If you’re booking international travel like this and want to maximize your points and avoid foreign transaction fees while you’re in the Philippines, I’ve been using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Reserve® — no foreign transaction fees, no currency conversion fees, and you earn points on every peso you spend. (Referral link — I may earn points if you apply and are approved.)

Pool Day

The next morning, people were back in the pool before breakfast. Some were still asleep at 9am because they didn’t stop until 3. The waterfall was running, the jets were going, and there was no shortage of people jumping in.

I managed to catch a few jump shots too.

If you’re shooting a lot of pool or water action, the DJI Action Camera is what I had with me for this — waterproof, stabilized, and takes a beating without drama. (Affiliate link.)

The Morning After

One thing worth knowing about staying in the Philippines: housing is built with hollow concrete block, not drywall. These walls are solid. Wi-Fi signal does not go through them. The resort runs a mesh network — I spotted TP-Link extenders on each floor — but coverage was still spotty in the rooms. Not a dealbreaker when you’re there to be with family, but worth knowing if you’re planning to work remotely.

The heat that weekend was no joke — 93°F with thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon. Which meant we were rotating between the pool and the air conditioned rooms all morning.

The Bunk Room

I snuck into the bunk bedroom before we checked out just to show you how we roll. Five bedrooms, about 40 people. You do the math. The bunk room alone had more people in it than some hotel rooms have square footage. Nobody complained.

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The Group Photo

Before we left, we got everybody together for one shot out by the pool.

That’s the thing about renting a place like this for a big family gathering — it’s not really about the villa. It’s about having a space where everybody can just be together for a night. The pool helps. The karaoke helps. The ₱35,000 split 40 ways really helps.

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Next up, we’re leaving Laguna and heading to Palawan for my dad’s side of the family — different island, completely different vibe.

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This post is based on our travel vlog. Watch the full video above for the complete villa walkthrough, games, and the morning after.