I’d been hunting for a new family getaway spot close to Tacloban. We’d already tried Caluwayan Resort in Marabut before, so this time I wanted something different. That’s how I stumbled on Layao Beach Resort. The big draw was their Barkadahan Room, which could fit our entire family in one space. Ten people, one room. Perfect for bonding, and maybe a little chaos too. LOL!
Funny thing is, when we booked this trip, we had no idea that the San Juanico Bridge was going to be closed soon for repairs. We just happened to go a week before the news broke. Looking back, it felt like lucky timing, like the universe gave us one last easy drive across before the long queues at the bridge began.
That said, this blog is my honest take, which means it's on the longer side. If you’re after the quick version, head straight to the TL;DR below or use the Table of Contents to skip to what interests you most. Otherwise, settle in and enjoy the full story of how our family trip to Marabut unfolded. Enjoy!
Some Practical Details and Honest Thoughts (TL;DR)
We paid around ₱18,000 for the overnight stay. ₱14,000 for the Barkadahan Room and another ₱4,000 for food. For what we got, I’d say it was worth it. Ten of us in one room, eating together, laughing together. You can’t really put a price on that kind of bonding. But still, it felt good knowing we didn’t have to split into separate rooms like we usually do at other resorts.
Transportation: We drove from Tacloban in two cars, a Toyota Innova and a Mitsubishi Adventure, both crammed with bags, snacks, and a few too many pillows. The trip took about an hour. Easy, straightforward driving with no traffic once you get past San Juanico (well that was before the bridge repair was announced).
Room: The Barkadahan Room is the star here if you’re coming with family or a big group. Spacious, cold air-conditioning, two bathrooms (lifesaver), and a balcony with an incredible view of the coast. Just note: it’s on the third floor and there’s no elevator.
Food: Portions were good, prices reasonable, and the blue rice was a fun surprise. Breakfast was plated and included in the room rate, while dinner had to be ordered earlier than we were used to. Don’t expect late-night meals here as Marabut winds down early.
Activities: Pools are a must, of course. They also offered free use of kayaks for about 30 minutes, which we didn’t get to try because, honestly, we spent too much time lounging and sleeping in. There were also cave and river tours available, but since we only stayed overnight, we skipped them. If you’re staying longer, it might be worth exploring. Marabut has a lot of natural beauty beyond the resorts.
What to skip: The ocean swim during jellyfish season. Trust me on this one. 😄
Getting to Layao Beach Resort
From our house in Tacloban to Layao Beach Resort in Marabut, it’s about 45 kilometers, roughly 1.5 hours away depending on traffic. The route takes you across the iconic San Juanico Bridge, then along Samar’s coastal highway with views of small fishing towns, coconut trees, and the Pacific shimmering on the horizon.
If you’re not from Tacloban, Layao is still accessible. Marabut sits in the western part of Samar, facing Leyte Gulf and the Pacific. It’s a popular weekend spot for locals because it’s far enough to feel like an escape, but close enough that you don’t waste half the day just traveling. For families, especially with kids and seniors in tow, that short drive makes all the difference.
First Impressions: The Barkadahan Room
Packed with bags and snacks, we rolled up in two cars. But we couldn’t check-in right away because we had food from Jollibee, which we bought all the way from Tacloban. The guard at the gate said they charge corkage for food brought from outside, so we had to finish it before we went inside.
Anyway, check-in was relatively quick. I already made a 50% downpayment via Gcash a few days prior to reserve the Barkadahan room. But we had a nice little workout going up to our room because the Barkadahan Room was on the third floor. There was no elevator. My parents in their late 60s huffed a little going up, but they made it. At least it counted as exercise before the vacation food binge. Haha!
The room itself was massive. Cold air-conditioning, enough beds for everyone, and so many outlets that our phones, tablets, and power banks could all charge at once without a fight. Small win, but with a big family, it matters.
Then came the little surprises: not one but two comfort rooms (goodbye, bathroom lines), plus a balcony overlooking the Marabut coastline and Tacloban right across. The view was stunning, you know, the kind that makes you pause for a moment just to take it in. Rugged rock formations out at sea, waves crashing in from the Pacific, endless horizon. It set the mood right away.
Even before we dipped a toe in the pools, I knew this trip was going to be worth it!
Check out these pictures of the room + our view from the balcony:
Pool Time and Family Chaos
The real highlight of Layao, at least for us, was the pool area. Marabut itself is known for its rugged coastline and dramatic rock formations sticking out of the Pacific. The beaches here aren’t your typical powdery-white-sand kind. The water was murky, and at summertime, was home to jellyfish. Beautiful to look at, but not always ideal for swimming. Which is why having 4-in-1 pools at the resort was such a blessing.
My son and youngest niece were in the middle of their 10-session summer swimming lessons, so the moment they saw the water, they lit up. They spent hours practicing kicks, holding their breath underwater, and showing off “moves” they’d just learned.
By the end of the day, they’d tried every pool. The adults, of course, noticed the unusual shape of the whole thing (let’s just say it was… interesting), but the kids didn’t care. To them it was just four different adventures waiting to be splashed in.
What I loved most was how relaxed it felt. The water was cool but not cold, just the right temperature for lounging. Every splash, every laugh, and every jump into the water echoed around the resort, mixing with the sound of waves crashing on the seawall a few meters away. It was summer distilled into a single soundscape.
Staff, Music, and the Not-Free Floaties
One thing I have to say: the staff were all warm and accommodating. I’d read some negative reviews online before we came, so I was bracing myself for possible rudeness or indifference. But from check-in to meals to my jellyfish mishap, everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful.
There was also live music in the afternoon, a talented singer who sang for hours, adding a relaxed, almost beach-party feel to the place. Guests could even go up and sing if they wanted, though none of us were brave enough. It was a nice surprise, a reminder that resorts like this often lean on simple but heartfelt entertainment.
And then came the floatie incident. Near the lifeguard stand, there was a pile of pool floaties. We thought they were free to use, so the kids grabbed some and spent the next hour floating around happily. Later, we learned they were actually for sale. Oops. Thankfully, no one scolded us. They just laughed it off and let the kids enjoy themselves. That little act of kindness went a long way in making us feel welcome.
By the end of the trip, it felt less like we were at a resort and more like we were being hosted by friendly neighbors.
Dinner Before Dark & Breakfast Surprises
Food-wise, Layao delivered more than I expected for the price. Our overnight package included breakfast, and it was plated with a few choices you could pick from. Nothing over the top, but tasty and filling.
Dinner had to be ordered early though as the restaurant closed around 8 PM, which felt strange to us city folk. Back in Cebu, 8PM onwards is when we usually have dinner. But here, in this quiet corner of Samar, it was lights out early.
The quiet hit me the most. No traffic noise, no karaoke blasting from neighbors, just the soft hum of the ocean waves and the leaves swaying in the breeze. I found it both eerie and refreshing. You don’t realize how noisy city life is until you’re forced to sit with silence.
Oh, and the rice. I have to mention the blue rice. At first, we thought it was some kind of food coloring experiment gone wrong. Turns out, it was made with a blue flower (the waiter explained, though I forgot the name). It tasted just like regular rice but looked like something out of a travel magazine. The kids were fascinated. It was one of those small, unexpected details that made the meal feel special.
By the time we finished eating, we were ready to roll ourselves back to our Barkadahan Room and collapse into bed. If I’m being honest with myself, sleeping in that cold, spacious room while listening to the faint crash of waves outside might have been my favorite part of the whole day (my age is showing here hahaha!).
Nights in Marabut: Eerie or Magical?
If Tacloban is noisy, Marabut is its opposite. By 8 or 9PM, the pools were closed, the restaurant was done for the day, and the resort settled into a deep quiet. For someone used to late-night city life, it felt odd to call it a night so early. We stepped into the balcony and we were amazed at how dark it was. There was almost no light pollution, just the darkness of the sea and a sky heavy with stars.
At first, it felt a little unsettling. You could hear the waves slapping against the seawall, the chirping of insects (crickets, I think?), and little else. But once I settled into it, I realized how rare that silence is. No honking cars, no blaring karaoke from neighbors, no buzz of city life. Just peace.
The only downside? Mosquitoes. They were relentless, and after a while, we had no choice but to retreat indoors. Still, lying in bed later, cooled by the aircon and lulled by the muffled sounds of nature outside, I couldn’t complain. The stillness of Marabut had its own kind of magic.
Family Fun Beyond the Pool
The next morning started with breakfast at the restaurant. Nothing fancy, just plated meals with choices, but it was filling enough to get us going. Afterward, the kids spotted the resort’s playground and made a beeline for it. The kid-friendly obstacle course and open grassy areas kept them busy while the rest of us enjoyed lingering over coffee.
Once they’d had their fill of running around (and collecting wet grass on their toes and slippers from the rain the night before), it was straight back to the pools. By now, my son and nieces had already memorized their favorites and spent hours diving, practicing strokes, and playing endless games. It felt like summer camp compressed into a single morning.
And then came the highlight for the kids: ice cream at the front desk. It became their “reward” after all the splashing around, and honestly, nothing beats a cold cone after hours under the Samar sun. Sometimes, it’s those small, simple treats that stick in the memory just as much as the big things.
The Jellyfish Incident
One of the first things the staff told us was that it was jellyfish season, so it wasn’t a great idea to swim in the open sea. Marabut sits right on the Pacific side of Samar, and while the coast is dramatic and beautiful, it can also be rough and unpredictable. The Pacific isn’t exactly gentle here.
Of course, some of us didn’t listen (my dad, one of my nieces, and me).
The water looked inviting, and I figured, how bad could it be? Less than 5 minutes later, I found out. Something stung me, sharp and hot against my leg, and I bolted out of the water laughing and cursing at the same time. Jellyfish: 1, Me: 0.
Thankfully, the staff were quick to help. Someone from the kitchen came out with vinegar, the tried-and-true local remedy. It worked well enough, and the sting became just another funny story to add to the trip.
Lesson learned: when the locals warn you about jellyfish, listen. 😄
Reflections: Why This Trip Mattered
When we finally packed up to leave Layao, I felt a little tug of sadness. One night just wasn’t enough. The kids were still buzzing from all the swimming, my parents seemed lighter and happier, and I found myself wishing we had just one more day.
Trips like this remind me why I push myself to work hard. My parents are in their late 60s now, and every chance we get to travel together feels precious. Time is moving fast, and weekends like this, even if it’s just an hour’s drive away, become the kind of memories you hold onto. Seeing my son laugh endlessly in the pool, my nieces running around the play area, my parents sitting on the balcony watching the sea… those are the images I carried home with me.
Layao didn’t “change” me in some dramatic way, but it gave me something just as valuable: another chapter in our family’s story. A reminder that bonding doesn’t always require big, expensive trips (another example is our budget-friendly stay at Port Royale Waterpark in Tacloban). Sometimes, all you need is the right place, the right company, and the willingness to pause life for a moment.
I left feeling grateful, a little sunburned, slightly itchy from that jellyfish sting. But above all, motivated. Motivated to keep finding ways to create more of these trips while my family can still enjoy them together.
Final Thoughts on Layao Beach Resort
If you’re looking for a place in Samar where you can bring the whole family under one roof, this is it. The Barkadahan Room alone makes it worth considering. Add in the pools, the friendly staff, the peaceful coastal setting, and it’s a solid choice for families or big groups. Just be prepared for early nights, possible mosquitoes, and maybe (if you’re as stubborn as I was) a jellyfish sting.
Would I go back? Absolutely. But next time, I’ll book at least two nights.
Have you ever been to Marabut, Samar? Or stayed at Layao Beach Resort yourself? I’d love to hear your stories. What stood out to you? Was it the coastline, the food, the pools, or maybe an unexpected adventure of your own? Share your experiences in the comments below!
And if you’re still planning your trip, what’s the one thing you’d want to know before booking a stay there? Drop your comments and questions below!