One of the best ways to appreciate beautiful architecture and interiors is to get up close and personal. With the emergence of homestays and bed & breakfast sites like Airbnb, you find one of a kind spaces that you can only dream about. Secluded cabins, tiny homes, private islands, treehouses (and yes, even a castle), have become attractions themselves. Travel is not anymore just about the destination, it’s about where you stay as well.
So, we compiled secluded and amazing Airbnbs in Batangas. These use interesting interior styles and architectural designs to create a feeling of tranquility to make your stay by the beach even more comfortable.
Batangas, only a few hours away from Manila, is a great location to get away from the hectic city life and get close to nature. It is a favorite destination for travelers near and far for its beaches, marine life, and biodiversity.
As it is so close to nature and blue spaces, the architecture tends to have more open spaces, greenery, and natural materials. These are all elements of biophilic design, an architectural framework that enhances our connection with nature to improve our well-being and reduce stress.
1. The Den (Alitagtag, Batangas)
Photo source: The Den Airbnb Page
Details : 10 Guests, 2 Bedrooms, 4 Beds, 3 Baths totaling to P24,563/night, Rating : 4.91 Stars (22 Reviews), Ranking highest in Location and Check-in Process
Truly a gem that combines modern design with rustic Filipino style, The Den, creates a cozy space nestled in the heart of lush greenery. Loved for its cottage charm (coined as ‘upgraded bahay kubo’) by one of its guests, the Den is a good example of incorporating nature into your space.
Some of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass windows that bring in natural lighting and a feeling of openness. Consequently, it also creates an illusion of space and depth as the room extends to its outer surroundings. Here, you can look out to a serene view that brings about a feeling of peacefulness and awe. All these create a sense of expansiveness which can spark new ideas and fresh perspectives.
Adding to the space, the use of wooden materials also invokes calm and being grounded while the combination of dark and light wood flooring creates depth in the room. It is not only visually pleasing, but it also makes a space feel bigger than it actually is.
The Bahay Kubo-like exterior, the use of natural local materials like rattan, and capiz windows shows the re-emergence of traditional Filipino style motifs typically seen in old ancestral homes. This beautiful combination of the Filipino style and modern straight lines creates a cozy cabin vibe to give you a unique and multi-layered space to relax and have fun.
2. Batalang Bato Villa (Mabini, Batangas)
Photo source: Batalang Bato Villa Airbnb Page
Details : 12 Guests, 2 Bedrooms, 12 Beds, 3 Baths totaling to P10,000/night, Rating : 4.92 Stars (89 Reviews), Ranking highest in Cleanliness, Communication, and Check-in Process
This place feels like a safe haven, a refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. The entire structure uses a lot of natural elements like wood in its build and furniture giving vacationers a serene and restorative feeling. Located within a marine sanctuary, this Airbnb is a sanctuary to exotic birds, fireflies, and sea turtles.
On top of its natural finishes, this space also makes use of bohemian design elements like textured rugs, ottomans, and swing chairs making it cozier and snug. All around you’ll see natural color palettes and floor pillows to create a welcoming atmosphere where people can lounge and unwind through the day. Plus, one of its best features is the incorporation of sustainable design through its use of reclaimed wood and anahaw leaves for its roof.
While you’re enjoying its interiors, the villa’s architecture also invites you to explore the outdoor area. Benches under the shade of trees, access to the garden, and a view of the wide expanse of land and sea can soothe you and lower stress levels.
You’ll probably feel its purpose of helping you connect with nature and each other as you lounge on its verandas, alfresco dining areas, and wide open spaces. While enjoying the warm sun and soft breeze, their handmade hammocks add an easy-going atmosphere and a private space for sleeping or reading.
Inside, the interior space uses recessed lighting to create a warm glow. Combining that with the generous use of natural material and serene landscape, you get a relaxing and intimate space.
3. Dome Houses (Nasugbu, Batangas)
Photo source: Domescape Airbnb Page / Facebook Page
Details : 4 Guests, 2 Beds, 1 Bath totaling to P10,168/night, Rating : 4.74 Stars (213 Reviews), Ranking highest in Check-in Process, Communication, and Accuracy
Glamorous camping, otherwise known as glamping, combines comfort and luxury to create a best-of-both-worlds type of experience. It’s like camping without the strain of pitching your own tent while retaining the feeling of sleeping under the stars. Glamping is known for its variety of unique and unusual spaces at incredible locations (pods, treehouses, lodges, tipis). The Domescape at Batangas is no different.
Its white dome structure is called a Geodesic Dome. From afar, it seems out of place within the lush greenery that surrounds it. Resembling an igloo more than a straw or nipa hut that you’re used to seeing in these secluded B&Bs in Batangas, you’ll probably think ‘what is that thing?’. With its futuristic architecture, your curiosity will be piqued, making it an eye candy for folks who seek to have a unique travel experience.
Geodesic domes were designed back in the 1950’s by R. Buckminster Fuller. It’s meant to resemble half a sphere, and consists of a network of triangles serving as a self-balancing structural framework using minimal materials. These geodesic domes also have a light implantation that gives it a unique landscape while being able to preserve surrounding nature. No wonder these structures make perfect glamping homes – with panoramic windows for easy access to the outdoors while keeping one cozy and snuggled indoors.
The Domescape has a chic and calming contemporary design with minimalist interiors. It uses Scandinavian design elements – relying heavily on neutrals while using pastel colors as accents. Furniture made with natural materials, splashes of indoor greenery, and blankets and rugs create a feeling of hygge that adds to the cozy appeal of the dome.
Outside, there’s a resting space featuring a natural swimming pool. This adds another element in its sustainable approaches as the water from the pool comes directly from the stream and deep well.
4. Vintage Airstream Suite on Top of a Hill (Calaca, Batangas)
Photo source: Camper And Cabin Airbnb Page
Details : 2 Guests, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath totaling to P12,500/night, Rating : 4.91 Stars (144 Reviews), Ranking highest in Check-in Process, Communication, Accuracy, and Location.
The first Airstream accommodation in the Philippines is parked in Calacas, Batangas. Nestled on a hilltop, it boasts a beautiful view of the outdoors and a cozy feel indoors. It’s another glamping spot that offers a unique travel experience of living in a retro trailer and experiencing the “van life”.
An iconic 1950’s caravan, the Airstream is known for its durable design and sleek aluminum exterior. It has a long history that has made it synonymous with the love for the open road. Now, in the 21st century, you can still see the Airstream becoming a popular choice for people to remodel into a chic mobile home. A perfect mobile tiny home due to its 25-feet long, curved, and spacious build. With a daybed and clean interiors, this trailer can be transformed into a simple yet functional home.
The design of this Airstream B&B makes use of a lot of light colors to reflect the natural light that enters the space through its many windows, creating a spacious and clutter free environment. As such, you’ll see light natural wood for its dividers and countertops with touches of matte blacks as accents for a modern and minimalist look in a quiet and calm space.
For added warmth, the space makes use of boho chic decor. By layering pillows and blankets, it gives you a cozy atmosphere inside the otherwise steel cold look of its exteriors. Nevertheless, its best design is the beautiful views of the sunrise and sunset, easily seen from the hillside, casting a warm glow on the aluminum trailer.
Living comfortably inside the airstream while being close to nature gives this gem another off-the-grid feeling that many have come to associate with unique glamping experiences.
5. Tree House by the Ocean (Calatagan, Batangas)
Photo source: Treehouse Airbnb Page
Details : 2 Guests, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bed, 1 Bath totaling to P5000/night, Rating : 4.87 Stars (83 Reviews), Ranking highest in Check-in Process, Communication, Cleanliness
This last space in our list is called the “Tree House”, a quaint, quiet, and secluded place your inner child will love. Located at the very top of the Calatagan Peninsula, the Tree House offers a picturesque stay by the beach.
It is essentially a bahay kubo, an iconic symbol of the simple yet resilient Filipino architecture. As Ronald de Jong says, it is a humble abode that ‘embodies the character of the provincial landscape in the Philippines and reflects the Filipino identity as well as the heart and soul of Filipino country life’.
This bahay kubo is made from indigenous, sustainable materials from the ocean such as bamboo, hardwood tree trunks, and cogon grass. By design, it is made to adapt to the tropical climate. High ceilings and use of bamboo for its walls and floors allows for cool air flow; simultaneously, its wide sloping roof and overhang eaves provide protection from the hot sun and pouring rain.
The Tree House also has a staircase that connects the shared room to the patio where the kitchen and dining area are located. Here, you see a unique fusion of Filipino architecture and Mediterranean design. These styles complement each other very well since both originate from warm, sunny climates where houses were built near the coast.
The Mediterranean influence is specifically from the Santorini-inspired elements in the kitchen. It features whitewashed walls and uses shades of blue for the cool ocean and yellow for the warm sun. You’ll also observe a light color palette, using more matte sand and beige tones. This is contrasted with the rustic wooden furniture to add warmth to the space.
And to top it all off, there’s a Mediterranean-inspired swimming pool. Bright blue tiles for the pool’s interior gives it a spa-like appeal and the ornate, vivid, and colorful ceramic tile design on symmetrically-arranged fountains frame it perfectly. This combination of natural materials and light creates an inviting space for you to feel comfortable in.
