Luxury Resorts in Panglao Island (Bohol) with Updated 2023 Prices and Short Reviews
For those who would like to stay in luxury resorts in Panglao, I have created a list of the premium accommodations offered in the island which are highly rated and recommended by previous guests. Obviously, the prices would be higher but it comes with it the convenience and comfort of staying in 5-star resorts. I'm sure some of you may have noticed but the pandemic has brought down the nightly rates of some of these resorts significantly so I have updated the range based on direct booking prices as of May 2023.
If you would like to compare rates, I have provided the links of Agoda.com, Booking.com as well as the official website of the resort where you can book. Based on my experience and the researches I do before booking, I find that Agoda offers the cheapest rates across most hotel booking websites, followed by Booking.com. However, there are times when booking directly with the hotel is cheaper than these third party booking apps, especially during the pandemic. So as I've always mentioned here in my website, it pays to do some research to compare rates before you book. Three (3) things I do before booking:
Call the resort and ask for ongoing promos at the time of my visit and how much the rate is of my preferred room per night
Go to the official website and if they have a direct booking facility, I would check how much the room rate is if I book online
Go to Agoda and Booking.com to check their rates for this particular hotel/resort
And then, of course, I would book via the option that offers me the best price. I don't always choose the lowest price because there are still other things to consider such as whether the rate includes free airport transfer or free breakfast. Sometimes, the other option is cheaper only because it doesn't have these perks so you just have to weigh each one and go with the option which gives you the best value.
A few more things to note before you go through the list:
I have tried to be as exhaustive as possible with the information I'm providing below to help you choose the best resort for you but these information are very fluid and may change rapidly without prior notice. It is still best to double-check with the resort if it's crucial for your trip.
Cost per night indicated for each resort below is based on direct booking prices.
I will be earning a small amount of commission every time you choose to book via an affiliate, but this will not affect the price that you pay.
In case there are luxury hotels which you think I might have missed to include, don't hesitate to add your feedback on the comment box below or contact me using the website contact form.
Photos posted below are not mine and were taken from the resort's official website or from the photos they've submitted in Agoda.com/Booking.com.
Amarela Resort
Amarela Resort is located along Libaong White Beach and is further away from Alona, which gives you a little more peace and privacy. They have different kinds of rooms: Superior Room, Deluxe Queen, Deluxe Twin and their specialty rooms (Antequera, Samia and Amarela). They also have Bohol House which has its own private pool and can accommodate up to 4 guests. The resort however, is not actively selling this type of room as of now (2023) due to the noise coming from the construction of the adjacent resort. The resort does not have a lot of guests based on the few days I've stayed there so it's really nice and quiet. They also have a mini-bar by the beach where you can order fruit shakes and cocktails. From pictures, they might also seem far away from the beach but the ocean is actually just a 2-minute walk down an exclusive pathway.
Budget: P7,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Airport transfer, breakfast buffet, welcome drinks, access to pool, library and art gallery, Wifi access and use of water sports/activities
Henann Resort is located right along Alona Beach but nestled towards the end of the beach where it's less crowded and less noisy. The resort stands on a 6.5-hectare property with 3 swimming pools, cafe and beach club, pool bars, spa, gym and fitness center, mini souvenir shop and a 120-meter beachfront. Although I would say the beachfront is not private and will be shared by other travelers in Alona Beach. And normally, the beach fronting Henann is where most people would swim because it's the only place with no boats parked. Henann has probably one of the resorts in Bohol with the most number of rooms and most number of room choices such as pool villas, rooms with pool access and your regular deluxe and premier rooms. Breakfast buffet and access to resort facilities are free but airport transfer will be an additional charge. Guests will have to pay P250 per person per way (prices as of April 2023).
Budget: P6,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, welcome drinks, access to the resort swimming pools, Wifi access and use of gym and fitness center
Bohol Beach Club is located along Dumaluan Beach right beside South Palms Resort. They only have 2 types of rooms -- Deluxe Room and Beachview Suite but they do offer several all-inclusive and half- or full-board packages. They also provide guests with different aquasports activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, pedal biking, fish feeding, among others. Guests can also book their island hopping and dolphin watching tours directly with the resort, which can be a bit more expensive but is private and more convenient as guests don't have to travel all the way to Alona Beach.
Budget: P11,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, airport transfers, welcome drinks, Wifi access and access to swimming pool and other resort facilities
Eskaya Beach Resort is the most exclusive and most expensive resort in Panglao. Interestingly, its name is derived from the indigenous tribe which can be found in the hinterlands of Duero, Pilar, Sierra Bullones and Guindulman. It is located in area in Panglao called Tawala, which is somewhere in between Alona Beach and Dumuluan Beach. This resort has its own small private beach and all its rooms have their own private pools -- the cheapest and smallest of all is the Deluxe Villa. Deal Grocer used to sell a promo package for this resort but it has been removed earlier in 2019 but you can always book for slightly cheaper rates through Agoda and the resort also offers promo packages on their website, especially during lean season.
Budget: P30,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, airport transfers, welcome drinks, Wifi access and access to swimming pool and other resort facilities
Donatela Hotel is also located in the Tawala area. Although they are known for their lush garden villas, they also have pool villas which are equally stunning. They offer 4 types of accommodations -- garden villa, family villa, honeymoon villa and pool villa. They also have 2 restaurants within the premises -- Paprika which is located at the highest point of the resort overlooking the ocean and Tropika which is by the poolside. And while portions of the resort offers a panoramic view of the ocean, they also have a small private beach which is only a few steps away. The beach is a bit rocky so don't forget to bring your aqua shoes. Alona Beach is also 10 minutes away and the resort provides free shuttle service going there starting at 6:30 AM until 10:00 PM. Airport transfers is not complimentary and you'll have to pay P600 for a car or P700 for a van.
Budget: P16,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, welcome drinks, Wifi access and access to swimming pool and other resort facilities, free shuttle transport going to and from Alona Beach
South Palms is located along Dumaluan Beach but on a very exclusive stretch beside Bohol Beach Club. Travelers have several room choices such as deluxe rooms, premium rooms and villas which are either by the pool or beachfront. They have 2 swimming pools -- one by the restaurant and one by the pool villas. They offer massages by the beach and they also have a gym, basketball court, tennis court and pool table within the premises. Last time we stayed here, we got a promo on the Deluxe Pool View room for P12,409 per night, which was cheaper than Agoda at that time (February 2019) then we got our massage with 10% discount at the SMX Travel Tour Expo along with some freebies! South Palm's beachfront is white sand but the ocean is a bit rocky so don't forget to bring your aqua shoes and booties. The mango shake at Coast Pool Bar is one of the best in the island! See my full review of the resort here: A Review of South Palms Beach Resort
Budget: P7,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, daily housekeeping, welcome drinks, Wifi access and access to swimming pool and other resort facilities
Amorita Resort is located at the quiet end of Alona Beach atop a limestone karst overlooking the famous stretch. It houses 82 suites (Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, One-Bedroom Suite and One-Bedroom Sea View Suite) and 16 villas (Pool Villa, Sea View Pool Villa and Two-Bedroom Pool Villa) along with 2 infinity pools, gym, playground, dive shop and spa. The resort has 2 restaurants -- Saffron Restaurants serving native Boholano dishes and Tomar Restaurant serving tapas, wine and other alcoholic drinks. The resort also provides complimentary yoga sessions by schedule, and free use of kayaks, paddle boards and bicycles. Amorita Resort is also a wonderful wedding location -- ceremonies are held at the Cliff Deck overlooking Alona Beach and with the sunset as the backdrop.
Budget: P7,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, welcome drinks, mini bar, nightly turn-down service, free use of coffee and tea making facilities in room, Wifi access and access to swimming pool and other resort facilities
Bluewater Panglao, sister company of the more famous Bluewater Resort Sumilon Island in Cebu, is located in Danao, 1.6 kms away to Alona Beach by road. All rooms have flat screen TVs, air conditioning, mini-bar and free WiFi. The resort, as with all the others, offers 24-hour front desk, concierge and room service. Apart from its swimming pool, it also has a restaurant called Aplaya (which serves both Filipino and Spanish dishes), a pool bar called Baroto (which means boat in Visayan), and a spa called Amuma (which means being royally pampered. The hotel offers its guests 5 types of rooms -- Deluxe Room, Premier Deluxe, Family Loft, One Bedroom Villa and Two-Bedroom Villa. Since I almost always travel with family in Bohol, my favorite of all their accommodations would be the Two-Bedroom Villa. It has a King Bed in the Master's Room and 2 Queen Beds in the other. The Villa has its own coffee machine and most importantly, it has a private pool and Netflix! Don't forget to check the promo offers in the resort's website to significantly save on nightly rates and other services.
Budget: P4,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, airport transfers, welcome drinks, Wifi access and access to swimming pool and other resort facilities
The Bellevue Resort is located right in front of Doljo Beach in Panglao Island spanning across a 250-meter sugary white sand stretch. The resort has 7 different rooms, ranging from simple Superior Rooms to Presidential Suites adding up to a total of 158 rooms. It offers a variety of activities and recreational facilities such as infinity pool, dive pool, spa, children's play area and gym. It also has 2 restaurants within its vicinity called Lamian World Cuisine and Marea Al Fresco Dining. Best available rates with breakfast and free airport transfers are anywhere between P8,000 to P35,000 but they sometimes run promos particularly during low season where you can get an additional 10% to 20% off on room rates. As of early 2020, the resort is running 2 promos -- B is for your Birthday where you can get a complimentary birthday cake plus 5% discount on nightly rates, and See You at Sunrise which comes with a discounted nightly rates, buffet breakfast, P3,000 worth of perks and a special gift.
Budget: P6,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast buffet, airport transfers, use of pool, gym and children activity center, free use of kayak and game room, WiFi access and welcome drinks
BE Grand Resort in Panglao is located near the ocean but on a cliffside. This might not be suitable for all especially kids but the resort has several pools in the premises. The guestrooms are located in 2 sections -- 189 rooms and suites in the 5-storey main pavilion and 19 luxury villas in the villa section. They offer 6 different kinds of accommodations -- Deluxe Room with forest view, Deluxe Aqua with pool view, Deluxe Oceana with sea view, Oceana Suite with seaview, Dream Villa with 1 bedroom and Grand Villa with 2 bedrooms. The resort has a gym, dive pool, a regular swimming pool, spa, water sport center and game room. This resort has the most number of restaurants compared to other luxury resorts in Panglao. Currently, it has 5 restaurants and bars -- The Food Hall where the buffet breakfast is served, Bridge serving both eastern and western food, Swim-Up Bar located by the pool, Monkey Bar located by the beach and Lune at the rooftop serving alcoholic beverages and tapas overlooking the Panglao skyline. BE Grand Resort is located a few minutes away from Alona Beach but the resort offers scheduled transfers throughout the day.
Budget: P5,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Buffet breakfast, free WiFi in room and select public areas, full use of resort facilities, use of kayak and paddleboard, scheduled shuttle service to Alona Beach; for villa guests, additional complimentary airport transfers and direct access to lagoon pool
Mithi Resort is located by the beachfront in the northern side of Panglao, farther away from Alona Beach but nearer Tagbilaran City. The resort is known for its Dream Islet, a small man-made island just a few meters from Mithi's shore. If guests are not up for swimming in the beach, the resort has two swimming pools and two tennis courts, plus a gym, a recreation room and a playground for kids. It offers guests with 3 types of rooms - Superior Room, Deluxe Villa and Seaview Villa. The last one has an outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the ocean and the Dream Islet. Mithi Resort is also known for its event venues and wedding packages with options of holding the event at the Dream Islet, Verdant Pavilion or Garden Square. See my full review of the resort here: A Review of Mithi Resort & Spa
Budget: P7,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Breakfast, welcome drink, welcome snacks, use of facilities, free visit at resort's underground Cambagat Cave and free airport/seaport transfer
Modala Beach Resort is the newest addition to Panglao's luxury list. This one is located along Doljo Beach at the farthest point of Panglao Island. They offer 3 types of rooms - Lantaw, Hayahay and Tawhay. Each room can accommodate 2 pax comfortably but can fit up to 3-4 pax at an additional cost. They also have a gym, adult and kiddie pools, a restaurant, a bar and spa. What's unique about this resort is they have a mini mall/commercial area right beside it called Moadto Strip lined up with shops and restaurants. Unlike most resorts, Modala Beach Resort has rooms at the upper floor which gives guests a good view of the sunset.
Budget: P9,000 and above per night per room (May 2023 prices) Package inclusion: Buffet breakfast, WiFi access in all rooms and public areas and access to pool and other facilities