Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Kahuna in San Juan, La Union is where you experience resort-living unlike anywhere else in the Philippines. Here, you can celebrate life with adventure through surfing, scuba diving, other water sports, golf, biking, mountain and hiking tours and more. You can relax in our famous Filipino-Balinese inspired rooms situated across the property to give you the space you need to be worry-free. Enjoy an amazing view of the sunset as you wind down at the restaurant where you can have your choice of local and international cuisine, cocktails, coolers and a collection of international liquor. Put your mind at ease with great customer service that puts cleanliness, your safety and security first. Together with our staff and duly accredited professionals, let us prepare for you, your family and friends, a memorable experience at Kahuna. See you at Kahuna in San Juan, La Union!
National Highway, San Juan, Luzon 2514 Philippines
Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa
4 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Kahuna has a great location with easy beach access. We loved being able to wake up and do early morning surf lessons. The break is perfect for beginning surfers (including older kids). We really liked the instructors from the San Juan surf resort.
The grounds of Kahuna are well kept and the pools appear to be well maintained - with daily cleanings. The rooms are basic but fine. Daily cleaning was decent, but as noted by other reviewers the showers are moldy and require regrouting.
Noise was a definite issue for us, particularly due to the ocean villa room being situated right next to two bars who played competing music on a nightly basis. Usually music was done around midnight, but evenings were not peaceful and noise carried through to the room. For us, the bar noise was the biggest drawback of Kahuna.
Food and service at the restaurant were average. We preferred going to the San Juan surf resort for lunch and dinner.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Avoid ocean villa 2 - due to noise issues. I’d recommend the ocean villa rooms closer to the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good location. Decent rooms and food. However, they have a band that plays during dinner and beyond 10pm. Extremely loud. You can barely talk to each other during dinner and they kept playing til late. Not relaxing at all during dinner and when you want to have some quiet down time at night especially for those staying in their premiere rooms. Not recommended at all for those who want to
Read more
Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There was a total of 10 adults that came as a group to celebrate the 2nd wedding anniversary of the hosts. We booked the Rest House where 6 adults shared it and the other 4 had adjacent double rooms. We used the Rest House as our Hangout place as it had the facilities of a kitchen, dining table, a swimming pool right outside on the terrace (shared with the other Rest House adjacent). The Rest House looked quite impressive for this kind of a hotel; it's laid out perfectly for a nice weekend getaway with the family. 😒Unfortunately, the condition of the 2 standard rooms were way below standard in terms of hygiene and cleanliness, quality of sheets and with no appropriate blanket. 👌I guess since I had communicated with the hotel staff before we arrived to arrange for the bonfire and the beach dinner, the staff kindda knew of the high standards we expected. Although I needed to be on top of the arrangements that the staff were doing as their standards were a bit of a hit and miss. 😊 The response we received from the staff was always genuinely nice and helpful. And because of this, the host had tipped them extra. ❤ Loved the In Room Dining service they provided; the variety was quite good as well, specially choices of the Filipino breakfast. We ordered our breakfast and had it all delivered to the Rest House. And as people had different time schedules to wake up and have breakfast, the service staff was in and out all morning (partly because they have forgotten something). ✨ The arrangements they did for the bonfire on our arrival night and the dinner on the beach the next night were quite nice. They were even able to fulfill a request from the host to hire some sort of entertainment for the beach dinner. 🤷♂️Although the supervisors were ready to help when asked to do something. Unfortunately, there was no WOW that came naturally from them. Given that business during the pandemic must be not as good, they should have done everything they can to WOW their guests so that word of mouth would be 5✨rather than the average rating they are receiving. If I were the General Manager of this resort, I would make sure I met all the guests to wish them an enjoyable stay. Unfortunately, he hid himself and the quality of standards are below what is expected for the price paid.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:If you're a group, book the rest house. Good - party central. Bad - only master bedroom has...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tina Relampagos, Marketing at Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa
Responded Apr 14, 2021
Thank you for your feedback! It is saddening to see that the preparations we made were underwhelming. You are right, the effects of the pandemic to our team and with significantly reduced staff, it has been quite tough. But we are humbled that your party still appreciated the effort we made. We hope that you do find our way back once we are allowed to travel again, and we will do our best to up our standards. Stay safe!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
we got there and we did not feel the enthusiam in recieving us. rooms were ok, they were clean, they tried to accommodate our requests like putting up umbrellas on the beach since we lacked space for a big group but they just couldn't without additional charges which was ok we understood at least they tried however the experience at the restaurant was not what we expected from an expensive accommodation. we were 37, all with complimentary breakfast, we went for breakfast @ 8:30 and by that time only 27 were left from us so we orderd 5 more breakfast which should leave us 5 more extras, they gave us the bill and we were charged the extra 5 orders we got when it was still part of what was already paid.we said thought never mind let's just pay since the orders are taking too long.. they were all confused in serving our orders, we ended up waiting for 2 hrs, after the 3rd follow up they said they already served all orders, we complained and what we got were excuses and accusations they said since we're a large group we should've had just one person taking the orders, we thought they were right we should've done that,we get it we learned pur lesson too, but for them to say that to a their customers who's been waiting for 2 hours without any apology was outrageous. they kept on walking right pass us, they knew we sat there for long without eating anything yet and they haven't even proactively ask if our orders were already served. thier cook was even saying "eto na nga ma'am!" while we were complaining politely. we said we understand you are also upset but this is just not the service we are expecting.." and they continued to say "and nangyare kasi ma'am..." instead of apologizing. out 3 times i was there this is the first time, both parties had opportunities but i know atleast when to apologize and i know not to teach my customers what they should be doing when ordering.i should be the one adjusting if it were me. without the breakfast experience everything is ok, i wud still go back there, i know this doesnt happen all the time anyway and both sides learned their lessons.. :)
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tina Relampagos, Marketing at Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa
Responded May 18, 2021
We appreciate the candid review and saddened that your overall stay was not the ideal Kahuna experience we aim for. We will do our best to improve and be consistent with our guest relations and handling of transactions. We are pleased that we will see you again. stay safe!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very Unpleasant stay due to loud music from resort nextdoor (Fatwaves). Kahuna apparently was aware of this issue but did not inform us that this resort gets loud. Our 90 year old Mom was with us. She and the rest of us did not have a good night's rest bc of this disturbance. Very disappointed. We complained but they really did nothing. They kept telling us that it would stop at 10pm. But by midnight it was still going on. At $236 per night they can treat their guests better. We found them insensitive and callous. No offense but I do not understand some of the high ratings of this place. Having been to better resorts costing much less per night I would not be coming back here.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Avoid this place because the adjacent resort is loud especially at bedtime.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family room is located near the construction site...which disappointted us. Then as we entered, smell of newly cleaned room. But the bathroom was not expected. Floor is wet, shower area looks moldy. Didn't complain as they are fully booked. And thought will be staying only for 2nights. If someone smokes from the outside, it will smell inside the room as well. If you are particular with noise during the night, u can hear noise from highway and near establishments. Few lounge chairs are only available by the pool. But staff are very attentive to offer extra chairs. Service at the Malana are very attentive and helpful.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Limited parking.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The biggest asset of Kahuna is that it is the only resort (I believe) in the middle of everything that has a pool overlooking the Urbiztondo, San Juan beach. So it is literally just one step away if you want to learn how to surf, and just walking distance from the hot spots and restaurants in San Juan.
Rooms: A little outdated, but I do not mind since I found it clean enough. Toiletries also provided.
Restaurant: Breakfast was okay, just plated, not buffet style
Service: Nothing superb, but I have no complains as well
Overall, I can still recommend this resort and come back mainly for its location! I hope the old rooms get a face lift and renovation.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family of 6 stayed for 3 nights at the 2 bedroom ocean view suite.
Location is excellent. Beach was a stair case down from our cottage and the pool was right next to it. All along the beach you can hire boards and instructors, and pass various eateries some of which were really excellent (Barefoot for brunch!). This pocket of La Union has a distinct surf/hipster/eco culture that is very charming. I have not seen it except as an overpriced version in Siargao. That alone makes it worthwhile.
The cottage is roomy enough consisting of 2 rooms with a shared bathroom in between. What was disappointing were the extra persons accommodation - mattress on the floor with very thin sheets as blankets. Since the resort charges for the extra person, they should improve this.
Breakfast was ok with a good selection of set meals. We dined at their restaurant which was ok too but slightly pricier. Better go out and explore other options.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tina Relampagos, Marketing at Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa
Responded May 18, 2021
Thank you for your review Kimberly! You're right though, while we are very proud of our Kahuna restaurant, there are a number of options to choose from in the town that we are proud to be a part of as well. We hope to see you again once it's safe to travel. Thank you!
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I had an extremely unpleasant experience in this hotel that left me in distress. I strongly advise against staying in this hotel, especially for women.
For a 4-star hotel, you’d expect that employees are disciplined and abides by the rules. However, how can a hotel claim to be reputable when its employees can’t even follow basic protocols?
A male staff entered the public ladies’ restroom seconds after I entered (Note: CCTV Footage shows he came from the same area I was in). As I exited my cubicle, I saw him standing on the sink next to the cubicle I was in. He went down then went back up and frantically tried to act as if he was cleaning the mirrors. He wouldn’t leave the restroom until I asked him to do so. I felt deeply disturbed and unsafe from this experience.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kahuna Marketing, Agency / Consultant at Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa
Responded May 28, 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience at Kahuna. We deeply regret that you felt unsafe during your stay, and we take such concerns very seriously. Upon receiving your review, we immediately conducted a thorough investigation. Our findings did not corroborate the sequence of events as described. However, we understand that your distress and discomfort are valid, and for that, we sincerely apologize. At Kahuna, the safety and comfort of our guests is our top priority. We have stringent protocols in place to ensure that all guests feel secure. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we hope to regain your trust and welcome you back in the future. .
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very Unpleasant stay due to loud music from resort nextdoor (Fatwaves). Kahuna apparently was aware of this issue but did not inform us that this resort gets loud. Our 90 year old Mom was with us. She and the rest of us did not have a good night's rest bc of this disturbance. Very disappointed.
We complained but they really did nothing. They kept telling us that it would stop at 10pm. But by midnight it was still going on. At $236 per night they can treat their guests better. We found them insensitive and callous.
No offense but I do not understand some of the high ratings of this place. Having been to better resorts costing much less per night I would not be coming back here.
It's time to call my credit card company and ask them not to pay this business. That's an option available to everyone who uses a reputable card.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Stay away from the Fat Waves side of the hotel if you want to be able to sleep.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It varies on the type of room and day(weekday/weekend) it can range from 5,765php to 30K php. text/call them to get accurate rates. 69178300363. I just happen to still have there info. Have fun on your vacay!
There is no public transport for the 220+ km trip. I recommend: 1) rental car, 2) Taxi (up to EUR 100 or even more) or public bus (around EUR 10)
Option 1) is the best if you like to explore the area.
There are more places to choose from in the San Juan area.
PRICE RANGE
C$169 - C$212 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
kahuna beach hotel san juan
LOCATION
PhilippinesLuzonIlocos RegionLa Union ProvinceSan Juan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
40
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
