If the question is ‘should we stay at the best private beach villa in Negros Oriental?’ then the answer is most definitely ‘heck yes!’ Whatever the occasion, a night or two spent at Villa Amani in Zamboanguita is always a good idea. Whether you want to base yourself somewhere nice before a day trip to Apo Island or you’re just looking for a peaceful place to relax, it doesn’t get much better than this. Keep reading for our review of this beautiful holiday home and to see more photos of the property!
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES
WHERE IS VILLA AMANI
Villa Amani is in Zamboanguita, just past the popular dive town of Dauin. If you’re coming from Dumaguete City, it’s around 30 minutes if you have your own transport, which we recommend. You can rent a scooter for $8 USD a day or if you’re not comfortable driving a scooter, you can rent a car for $40.
OUR EXPERIENCE AT VILLA AMANI
We’ve been lucky enough to stay at Villa Amani twice now, but we hope to make that a third, a fourth and a fifth time soon. It’s the very definition of understated elegance, luxurious without being in your face opulent. The owners, a lovely Filipina and German couple (who also happen to be our landlords in Dumaguete), built Villa Amani in the 90s as their family home, but when their children started school, they relocated closer to the city and kept Villa Amani as their holiday house. Today, it’s a favourite on airbnb for weekend getaways, celebrations and beachside retreats.
INSIDE VILLA AMANI
Villa Amani is a spacious two-bedroom home decked out with all the modern amenities you could need. The lounge room and additional sofa bed makes it easy to fit up to 6 comfortably, and the large kitchen is big enough to feed the whole family.
THE MASTER BEDROOM
What stood out the most for us was the truly enormous bathroom in the master bedroom. Like, seriously huge. A giant bathtub was built into the expensive marble, an elegant dresser sat in the corner, and the curved arch of the shower was the architectural cherry on top.
The bedroom itself was also plenty spacious with an ultra-comfy queen size bed overlooking views of the manicured gardens and ocean. Our tip: sleep with the curtains open. You’ll wake up to a glorious sunrise (weather permitting) to start your day off on the right foot. The room also has a fold out sofa bed which is big enough for your little ones if you’re travelling in a big group.
GUEST ACCOMMODATION
A modest guest room is the perfect den for your young ones or friends if you’re in a group. But, if you really need the extra space, Villa Amani also has a guest cottage equipped with its own bathroom and balcony. This is where we stayed the first time we visited, and it was comfortable enough for an overnight stay.
THE GROUNDS AT VILLA AMANI
Villa Amani sits right on the black sand beach of Zamboanguita, with an unbeatable view of Apo Island. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to swim, when the water is calm and the inviting. If you take the kayaks out far enough, you’ll get a good look of Mt Talinis looking back at the mainland. Don’t fancy getting salty? No worries, there’s a picture perfect pool to take a dip and sunbathe by.
There’s so much space here for entertaining, with outdoor dining and a huge lawn area for events. It even comes with a grill for beachside barbecues. If you’re looking for somewhere to throw a birthday bash, Villa Amani is hard to overlook.
INSTAGRAM INSPO
Even though it was built in the 90s, before the dawn of Instagram, Villa Amani has been decorated with Instagram in mind. Here’s a few IG shots to inspire you before your trip.
READ: 26 BEST TOURIST SPOTS IN DUMAGUETE
We’ll be going back to Villa Amani for my birthday, so we’ll be updating this post with even more photos then! Interested in booking your own escape? You can book Villa Amani on Airbnb.
MORE NEGROS ORIENTAL GUIDES:
Swimming with Turtles, Apo Island
Rock Point View Deck, Apo Island
Secret Hot Spring & Waterfall, Dauin
Baslay Hot Spring & Waterfall, Dauin
Baslay Highland Brew Coffee, Dauin
Casaroro Falls, Valencia
Pulangbato Falls, Valencia
Hidden Beach, Siaton
