While we spent the first few nights of our visit to Siargao at a decidedly more budget Little Nap Inn, we decided to spend our last two nights at Siargao Island Villas. Also located in General Luna, the property is one of the more premium places to stay on the island that has traditionally attracted budget travellers.  

Effectively an independent medium-sized resort, it consists of a mix of villas and newly added double rooms. During this visit, we had the upper floor of a villa.  

The villa 

Despite only having the second floor, the space felt huge and immediately we felt the effectiveness of the air conditioning installed. To the right, is the sleeping area with a comfortable double bed.  

Adjacent to this was a large desk where I spent a few hours taking meetings while on the island. The chair wasn’t particularly comfortable and internet was a little patchy for Zoom calls, making it less than ideal for remote working.  

Opposite is a large corner sofa that was cleverly designed but the position of the back rest meant it wasn’t a suitable place to relax. There’s a small refrigerator in this half of the room. 

Separated by a sliding door is the stylish and large bathroom. With frosted glass cubes on one side, the space felt open while the shower had excellent pressure and heat – an excellent job from the hotel.  

The real place to rest and relax is outside on the terrace. Our villa was located close to the pool which meant we overlooked towards the sea. This terrace spans the width of the villa and at the centre has a comfortable mattress to lay on in the shade.  

The grounds and amenities 

I found Siargao Island Villas to be a very welcoming place to stay and easy to get around thanks to its small size. Most of the key facilities are located next to the beachside.  

Here is the pool which is only suitable for dipping into, as opposed for any Olympic competition laps. Beside this is the Indonesian restaurant, Warung, where the inclusive breakfast is served. The restaurant is Indonesian cuisine as the whole resort is supposedly ‘Bali-inspired'. 

We did not try the evening meal at Warung, as prices were on the expensive side. Breakfast was served as a small buffet on South East Asian essentials – think of rice, eggs and greens for the main portion followed by fresh fruits.  The flavour was okay although the food was not kept heated, meaning most of the food was cold.  

You will likely be joined by stray dogs during your breakfast, although like most of this island’s residents or visitors they are extremely friendly and chilled. You will often spot them at various points throughout the day on the sun loungers or on the beachfront – a great spot to relax at.  

Final thoughts 

This is not a Boracay style resort, nor is it close to the big resorts in Bali this hotel is inspired by – however that’s what makes it great. Siargao Island Villas are offering a more upmarket experience for travellers while island itself is still less popular than other Philippine destinations. This makes it a great all-round place to visit and stay at while on this beautiful island.