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…
Must-see hotels in Mindanao
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…
Camiguin
Meticulously manicured oasis of style and sophistication, created by a Filipino-British couple whose finely calibrated taste is evident in every feature,…
Siargao
The five villas of this French–owned resort could make the centrefold of any contemporary design magazine. Massive and whimsical bathrooms are the…
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
Davao
The city’s most luxurious hotel couldn’t be more centrally located. Has several recommended restaurants.
Southern Mindanao
This exquisite property on the eastern side of the island (the same owners as Casa Leticia in Davao) combines rustic, native-style touches with…
Southern Mindanao
The relatively intimate Chema’s has large, beautifully furnished upscale native-style cottages with Balinese influences. The property is on a leafy…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Siargao
Boasting typical Filipino uses of wood with contemporary architectural flourishes, Harana's aesthetic is a sophisticated combination of traditional and…
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…
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…
Camiguin
Attached to the renowned restaurant, the rooms here are equally tasteful, decorated with hardwood furniture and Vietnamese–style antique lamps. Three…
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…
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…
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…
Siargao
Just behind the highly recommended restaurant of the same name are a few beautifully crafted, sophisticated wood cottages, with stone-lined outdoor…
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…
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…
Cagayan de Oro
The seven-storey New Dawn has compact and efficiently designed rooms – green and white is the prevailing colour scheme – and professional and responsive…
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…
Cagayan de Oro
Occupying the 4th and 5th floors of a mini-mall with several restaurants, GC Suites is a welcome low-cost addition to this part of town. All rooms have…
Cagayan de Oro
Something of a fish out of water, this towering building looks like a Trump casino with flashy gold-coloured windows. It offers international business…
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…
Cagayan de Oro
There's no more convenient top-end address than this high-rise attached to one of Cagayan's premier malls and above the fray of one of the city's busiest…
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 –…
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…
Southern Mindanao
This large complex near Maragusan has absolutely stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Cottages vary in size and quality, but all have private…
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…
Southern Mindanao
The Toyozu Inland Resort in Nabunturan, the capital of Compostela Valley, has spas filled with water from a nearby spring. A small 1.5m-high mini-volcano…
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…
