Ready for a romantic escape this summer or fall? DEDON Island Resort is luxury at its best. This intimate boutique resort is tucked away on a pristine tropical island in the Philippines.
Dedon Island Resort is a magical tear drop shaped island in one of the Philippine’s 7,000 islands. The island is best known for its amazing surfing and the entire island can be explored in a day.
Dendon Island Resort makes for a great romantic getaway or as a wellness stay if you are not a surfer. Once you land and are greeted by the staff you will immediately know you have made the right decision to book this resort. You are whisked away into their private bus that has been retrofitted with comfy sofas and coffee table with chilled coconut water and snacks likes dried mango and pineapple.
Top notch service at the resort will tailor to your every need, from cocktails, island fare menus and surfing lessons, to glorious views, boating, and spa therapies. Everything is covered by the all-inclusive fee.
The owner, well know furniture designer Bobby Dekeyser of Dedon Furniture designed the entrance and the resort for what he calls “barefoot luxury” which is about pampering in an elegant but relaxed atmosphere.
Below, a simple but classy welcome to the resort.
You are given an extensive questionnaire when you book your trip as they want to make sure you have all items you would desire for your perfect getaway. For us it included Illy coffee for lattes each morning and our favorite tequila for whenever our lips and hearts desired it.
Champagne chilling in the villa awaited us next to the cell phone you are provided with so that if you want anything at any time of day (24/7), you simply give them a call.
The Villas
The four two-story Deluxe Villas have a master bedroom on the ground floor, additional sleeping areas upstairs, and full ocean views through their glass façades. The beautiful carved wooden headboards are made by local wood-artisans.
Every detail of the Villa is decorated thoughtfully executed — air conditioned, high thread-count sheets, hand carved headboard, music docking station, rain shower, beautiful glass doors leading to your porch overlooking the ocean. Oh, and you can watch the ocean from your bed as well.
The bathrooms have modern fixtures and furnishings with to die for showers and sunken floors made of local stone.
Outside on the veranda, there are relaxing swaying swings, built comfortably for two.
One view from a swing…
The bathrooms are so divine – they’re larger than most New York City apartments. Once refreshed, get ready for dinner with lighted torches and candles on the beach with a table dressed for two.
The Grounds
Pure serenity throughout the grounds! Our days started with lattes at our villa waiting for us as we awoke.
Then, we’d head to the beach for a yoga class, followed by breakfast of your dreams. You can go surfing, head off to the local market with the chief and take a cooking class, jump on the private boat, go diving or snorkeling and beyond.
It’s blissful taking tranquil walks through the grounds.
Yoga
Want a private yoga class on the Pergola in the middle of the water or a Margarita in one of the Dedon Nestrest overlooking the ocean, or breakfast at 1:00 am – simply call them. Imagine going a class with this sweeping view and sky porn?
The Spa
Each evening started with a two hour in Villa massage. Everything is always cleaned up and renewed. You never see anyone setting anything up or clearing anything away. Even your laundry each day would disappear and arrive washed, folded and smelling like wild flowers.
Their Spa & Fitness Village is sanctuary on the grounds where you can indulge in a range of beauty and wellness treatments, including manicures, pedicures, and Hilot, a traditional Filipino style of massage. There’s also a gym and a Bathtub Pavilion where you can take a dip. What’s great is that it’s all included in your daily fee.
Daniel Pouzet designed these huts to create an atmosphere of privacy and a connection with the environment — we love anything that incorporates nature with serenity, relaxation and rejuvenation. Nature can be a powerful healer.
The Beach
The beachfront is magical as well with sweeping palm trees in all directions.
There are also water activities such as paddle boarding.
You can also take a private yacht to explore the pristine waters at sea.
Fine Dining at the Resort
On-site, the food is exquisite and you an also dine right on the beach if you wish. Breakfast and lunch are served in the dining pavilion and a range of local and international breakfasts are offered as well as wellness-focused options.
Their head chef creates plates using seasonal ingredients available on the island, including micro-greens, edible flowers, and more from their kitchen garden on the premises.
A romantic set up on the beach.
Drinks by the pool.
Outdoor tables at dusk.
Juice straight from a coconut at sunset is hard to beat.
Lunch outside, as it should be… 
What a spread right?
From fresh-baked bread to ice cream, almost everything they serve is made from scratch. They also support local and source fresh seafood from local fisherman and foragers for the catch-of-the-day.
Local Food Outside the Resort
When you’re ready to explore some local food, there are plenty of places you can go to get a taste is island cuisine. Mouth watering, right?
Dedon Resort also has its own private bus.
Finally, when it is time to leave you are brought to the airport, with that tear in your eye and your shoes on, only to discover that the treatment is not over. Your luggage and check in are handled by the staff while you are escorted into a private air conditioned waiting room dedicated to Dedon guests where you’ll be given more food and drinks.
For a getaway your body and soul will never forget Dedon Island Resort is an unforgettable spot.
DETAILS:
Marcello Carrera-Forte started traveling as a newborn and hasn’t stopped. He has lived in Italy, Greece, Mexico, and Ecuador and has traveled throughout Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. He spent most of his adult life in New York City and has been living for in San Francisco for the last decade with his husband, H’erman, their dog, Romeo and their cats, Suave and Amore. Marcello has worked in the non-profit world as a marketer, branding, and fundraiser. For the Carrera-Forte household, traveling is not a luxury but a life necessity and a passion. Being foodies, experiencing local cuisine and learning to cook with local ingredients is one of their musts on each trip, having taken cooking classes across the globe. Both Marcello and H’erman have high stress helping professions and traveling is integral to their self-care.
