This tropical-island resort has to be seen to be believed. You’ll feel as if you’ve just set foot in paradise every minute of your stay at Panglao Island Nature Resort. The resort features a restaurant serving both Filipino and Western specialties in a laid-back environment. Take a dip in the pool overlooking the sea and grab a drink at the Seahorse Pool Bar while relaxing to the sound of the gently-lapping waves. You’ll never be short of things to do. Play a game of pool at the resort or go diving in the clear water of the island. This is a typical beach haven.

The Seaview bungalow has a veranda, with a relaxing view of the sea (Seaview nga, ano?) and it also has a jacuzzi which takes about 15-30 minutes to warm up. Room colors are heavy on yellows, greens, and orange — making it look sunny and cheery. The bed is huge! There are also large glass windows all around (even in the bathroom!) so even while in the bathroom, you can look out and see what the sea looks like outside. Comparing the room at Panglao Island Nature Resort and at Alona Palm, the rooms at Alona Palm are more spacious but the Seaview Bungalow in Panglao Island is much more attractive. The flooring at Panglao is also safer — wood — and is less slippery when wet. It’s more ideal for families with smaller kids.

You can walk around the resort to get to the different facilities and activities available. You can also ask the resort staff to bring you around using their golf carts. When you arrive in the resort, you will be given a resort map, as well as a list of available resort activities.

Being a nature resort, there are more trees/greens at Panglao Island than at Alona Palm. You also hear the sound of more crickets, birds, etc. While at Panglao Island, it was interesting to see boats of fishermen with lights at 4:30am in the morning (still very dark) and to look up and see lots of stars (and I mean lots!). There were tiny birds which kept flying by — and Michael, one of the resort staff there said they are called “sayaw sayaw” (which literally translates to dance dance) as when the birds fly, they do look like they are dancing.The Seaview bungalow has a veranda, with a relaxing view of the sea (Seaview nga, ano?) and it also has a jacuzzi which takes about 15-30 minutes to warm up. Room colors are heavy on yellows, greens, and orange — making it look sunny and cheery. The bed is huge! There are also large glass windows all around (even in the bathroom!) so even while in the bathroom, you can look out and see what the sea looks like outside. Comparing the room at Panglao Island Nature Resort and at Alona Palm, the rooms at Alona Palm are more spacious but the Seaview Bungalow in Panglao Island is much more attractive. The flooring at Panglao is also safer — wood — and is less slippery when wet. It’s more ideal for families with smaller kids.

You can walk around the resort to get to the different facilities and activities available. You can also ask the resort staff to bring you around using their golf carts. When you arrive in the resort, you will be given a resort map, as well as a list of available resort activities.

Being a nature resort, there are more trees/greens at Panglao Island than at Alona Palm. You also hear the sound of more crickets, birds, etc. While at Panglao Island, it was interesting to see boats of fishermen with lights at 4:30am in the morning (still very dark) and to look up and see lots of stars (and I mean lots!). There were tiny birds which kept flying by — and Michael, one of the resort staff there said they are called “sayaw sayaw” (which literally translates to dance dance) as when the birds fly, they do look like they are dancing.

Superb service and exquisite cuisine are natural complements to the paradise that is Panglao Island. Starting with a pristine white sand beach, we built around the natural contour of the premises and dotted the resort with high-ceiling, thatched roof huts.

Guest Room Amenities: Cable TV, Mini Bar, Private Hot & Cold Bath, Key Card Security Lock System, Safety Deposit Boxes. Each guest room has a veranda with drying rack, coffee table & chairs and is equipped with individually remote controlled air-conditioning, satellite cabled TV, IDD/NDD telephone facility, refrigerator, in-room coffee & tea, private bathroom with hot & cold shower, (bathtub in De Luxe rooms, outdoor jacuzzi in bungalow) hairdryer, personal cafe, 220-volt electrical points, key-card security lock system.

Services And Facilities: Room Service, Health Spa, Laundry & Dry Cleaning, Foreign Currency Exchange, Bar & Grill, Swimming Pool, Tour & Car Rental, Ample Parking Area.

The package at Panglao Island Nature Resort (you can check their website www.panglaoisland.com for their pricing) includes transfers, as well as breakfast and dinner which are usually served buffet-style if resort occupancy is high — which was the case when we were there. When you reach the resort, you are given a welcome drink and a cold towel to freshen up.

Panglao Island is a fifteen-minute trip by land from downtown Tagbilaran, and an hour and a half by fast ferry from Cebu City.

More photos here