Must-see hotels in Mindanao

  • Kermit Surf Resort

    Siargao

    Located down a quiet road just northeast and inland from the centre of GL, Swiss-Italian-owned Kermit is a deservedly popular choice. The 10 rooms include…

  • Bravo Surf Resort

    Siargao

    Young, Spanish-owned Bravo has become one of GL's happening spots. This is thanks in part to its attractive, closely spaced nipa-roofed cottages with…

  • Balai sa Baibai

    Camiguin

    Meticulously manicured oasis of style and sophistication, created by a Filipino-British couple whose finely calibrated taste is evident in every feature,…

  • Kalinaw Resort

    Siargao

    The five villas of this French–owned resort could make the centrefold of any contemporary design magazine. Massive and whimsical bathrooms are the…

  • Ponce Suites Art Hotel

    Davao

    Practically every inch of this mother-and-son-run hotel, inside and out, is covered with art – sculptures, poetry, photographs and paintings – all of it…

  • Siargao Island Emerald House

    Siargao

    This large, leafy property on the inland side of the road, with a mix of attractively designed and stylishly furnished cottages, is great value. From a…

  • Buddha's Surf Resort

    Siargao

    This spacious property has a sophisticated and contemporary island vibe. The five rooms are sparely furnished with flat-screen TVs and nice bathrooms. The…

  • Casa Roca Inn

    Camiguin

    Gnarly tree branches serve as pillars holding up this two-storey home perched on a rocky headland with waves breaking below. Just three rooms here. The…

  • Hotel Tavern

    Northern Mindanao

    The most upscale place in Surigao, and the only hotel to take advantage of the city’s waterfront location. More sophisticated sea-view rooms are worth the…

  • SomeWhere Else Boutique Resort

    Camiguin

    European modernism with a tropical twist describes these two large villas set back from the beach on a lush lawn. Each is stylishly furnished with…

  • Marco Polo Hotel

    Davao

    The city’s most luxurious hotel couldn’t be more centrally located. Has several recommended restaurants.

  • La Mari

    Siargao

    Contemporary meets traditional at this architectural gem just south of Cloud Nine. Owned by a pair of furniture makers, rooms have sliding glass doors,…

  • Lampara

    Siargao

    Lampara offers a mix of posh eight-bed dorms and striking oceanfront glamping tents on a hip slice of beach just south of Cloud Nine. There's no…

  • Pacifico Beach Resort

    Siargao

    If the bright lights and big barangay of southern Siargao are too much, head to this peaceful resort just south of the village of Pacifico. Good surf and…

  • Sagana Beach Resort

    Siargao

    This low-key, high-end resort occupies prime beachfront steps away from the Cloud Nine pavilion. Each of the Balinese–inspired cottages features dark-wood…

  • Harana

    Siargao

    Boasting typical Filipino uses of wood with contemporary architectural flourishes, Harana's aesthetic is a sophisticated combination of traditional and…

  • Ocean 101 Beach Resort

    Siargao

    No longer the backpacking surfer's HQ, Ocean 101, spread over a manicured lawn facing a sea wall just north of the Cloud Nine break, has evolved over the…

  • Villa Maya Resort

    Siargao

    Perched on a hill overlooking the golf course is this large villa, which resembles a suburban McMansion. The three large rooms, more like apartments, are…

  • Guerrera Rice Paddy Villas

    Camiguin

    Attached to the renowned restaurant, the rooms here are equally tasteful, decorated with hardwood furniture and Vietnamese–style antique lamps. Three…

  • Nypa Style Resort

    Camiguin

    If sea views aren't a priority, the tranquil garden ones at this meticulously maintained property 500m inland from the highway are an alternative. Each of…

  • Volcan Beach Eco Retreat & Dive Resort

    Camiguin

    A line of well-constructed thatch-roofed cottages with sliding glass doors ends on a rocky shore battered by waves – there's a neat bamboo platform for…

  • Turtle Surf Camp

    Siargao

    Intimate and cool, this small spot with only four rooms is especially good for groups of surfing friends. Minimally designed concrete rooms have modern…

  • Bahay-Bakasyunan sa Camiguin

    Camiguin

    No longer the classiest of Camiguin's resorts, this property stretching from the highway to the water could use some attention. More modern A-frame…

  • Kawayan Resort

    Siargao

    Just behind the highly recommended restaurant of the same name are a few beautifully crafted, sophisticated wood cottages, with stone-lined outdoor…

  • Siargao Inn Beach Resort

    Siargao

    Owned and operated by a friendly young couple, one of whom is a top surfer and can school you on the basics, this laid-back place has a number of simple…

  • Isla Cabana

    Siargao

    High marks go to the design of these large hardwood-floored cabanas at this meticulously cared for upscale development. Several suites face the water with…

  • Legaspi Suites

    Davao

    One of downtown's best midrange options and one of the few anywhere in the city to be housed in a building with colonial-era architectural features. The…

  • Paglaom Hostel

    Siargao

    At this price, it's the vibe not the creature comforts that matters. And Paglaom gets it right. It is laid-back but socially inclined, with an open lounge…

  • Manor Hotel

    Davao

    The pleasant ground-floor coffee shop and in-room massage are bonuses at this small, professionally run downtown place. Some of the cosy – read, small –…

  • YSLA Beach Camp

    Camiguin

    Leave the comfort of your glamorous, air-conditioned safari tent and saunter through a grove of palm trees to the pool bar or beyond to a black-sand beach…

  • Hangout Siargao

    Siargao

    At this tiny hostel with a warm and relaxed vibe, you bunk down in hammock-like mesh beds suspended 3m above the floor, a unique sleeping arrangement…

  • Malijon Siargao

    Siargao

    The three stand-alone huts at Swedish–run Malijon, just off the main road about halfway between GL and Cloud Nine, are justifiably coveted. They are…

  • Kurma Freedive & Yoga

    Camiguin

    Small, cramped waterfront spot with brightly painted rooms, each with its own porch. Warm and friendly, with a familial vibe created by the German…

  • Malagos Garden Resort

    Davao

    The Malagos Garden Resort has a collection of cottages set in a beautifully landscaped property with gardens, walking paths, a bird park, a butterfly…

  • Sea Green Boutique Rooms

    Davao

    Essentially, a boutique homestay on a quiet residential street attached to a pleasant cafe. Three stylish rooms (Rosemary is the nicest) with a black-and…

  • Green Windows Dormitel

    Davao

    A centrally located large high-rise with a wide range of accommodation options, including good-value dorm rooms – many have flat-screen TVs and all have…

  • EY Miner Suites (Borromeo St)

    Northern Mindanao

    Centrally located with comfortable if cramped rooms. Has a shiny, slightly kitschy lobby and no elevator – so best to request a lower-floor room.

  • Waterfront Insular Hotel

    Davao

    If you want some breathing room, try this sprawling complex with gardens and a small private beach, 8km northeast of the city centre.

  • Annex Hotel Tavern

    Northern Mindanao

    Nondescript, simply furnished rooms a short walk from the main pier. Professionally managed with a convenience store at street level.

  • LA Interline Hotel

    Davao

    This gleaming multistorey hotel has a large lobby and a nice cafe. F Torres St restaurants are within walking distance.