i Heart PH
  • Home
  • Explore Philippines
    • Luzon >
      • Metro Manila >
        • 15 Best Luxury Hotels in Metro Manila
        • Staycation at Shangri-La at the Fort
      • Benguet >
        • Baguio >
          • 10 Cozy and Instagrammable Airbnbs and Hotels in Baguio in 2023
          • Best Hotels Near Session Road and Burnham Park
      • Mountain Province >
        • Sagada >
          • Blue Soil Hills
      • Batangas >
        • Vivere Azure Resort
      • Cavite >
        • Tagaytay >
          • Vineyard in Tagaytay
          • Twin Lakes Hotel Review
          • Harry Potter Themed Airbnb
          • Relaxing at Nurture Wellness Village
          • 10 Things to Do and Tourist Spots to Visit
      • La Union >
        • Best Hostels and Resorts
      • Albay >
        • Cagsawa Ruins
        • Daraga Church
        • Tabaco Church
        • Where to Stay in Tabaco City: A List of Hotels and Apartelles
        • IshiAya Garden Bistro
        • Cheap Accommodations in Legazpi City
        • Mayon Volcano
        • Mid-Priced to Premier Hotels in Legazpi City
      • Sorsogon >
        • Subic Beach
        • Tikling Island
        • Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary
        • Calintaan Cave
        • Sorsogon - More than just the Butandings
        • Pink Sand Beach
        • Cheap Accommodations in Sorsogon City
      • Quezon >
        • Cagbalete Island >
          • Cagbalete Island: A Travel Guide
          • Cagbalete Island: Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Cagbalete Island: How to Get There
          • Cagbalete Island Beach Resorts
          • A Review of Dona Choleng Camping Resort
          • Cagbalete Fish Sanctuary
          • Yang-In Sand Bar
          • Ilog Bukana at San Jose River
          • Cagbalete White Sand Beach
        • Budget and Itinerary | Padre Burgos and Pagbilao
        • Borawan Island
        • Where to Stay and Eat in Mauban
        • How to Get to Mauban from Manila or Lucena
        • Tips and Suggested Itinerary for Pahiyas Festival 2015
        • Things to Do (or Eat) in Lucban, Quezon
      • Palawan >
        • El Nido >
          • Small Lagoon
          • Top 5 Spots in El Nido
          • Cheap Accommodations in El Nido
          • Mid-Priced to Premier Hotels in El Nido
        • Coron >
          • Giraffes and Zebras at Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary
          • Review of Vienna Hotel Coron Palawan
    • Visayas >
      • Iloilo >
        • Budget Accommodations in Iloilo City
        • Isla de Gigantes >
          • How to Get to Isla de Gigantes
          • Tangke Salt Water Lagoon
          • Cabugao Gamay
          • Cabugao Dako or Cabugao Grande
          • Antonia Beach
          • Bantigue Sandbar
      • Bohol >
        • Panglao >
          • Dolphin Watching and Island Hopping
          • Top Things to Do for Overnighters and Daytrippers
          • Coco Vida Bar and Restaurant
          • South Palms Resort
          • Mithi Resort and Spa
          • Halamanan Residences
          • Buzzz Cafe of Bohol Bee Farm
          • Bohol Bee Farm Resort
          • Alona Vida Beach Resort
          • New Panglao International Airport
          • Luxury Resorts in Panglao
          • Affordable Beachfront Resorts in Panglao
        • Loboc >
          • Loboc River Cruise and Floating Restaurant
          • Tarsier Conservation Center
        • Bohol Day Trip Travel Guide from Cebu
        • Bohol Chocolate Hills
        • Bilar Man-Made Forest
        • Day Tour | Countryside Tour
        • The Mangrove Forests of Maribojoc
        • Cheap Accommodations in Tagbilaran City
      • Cebu >
        • Oslob >
          • Travel Guide to Oslob
          • 6 Things to Do in Oslob
          • How to Go to Oslob from Dumaguete
          • Oslob Whale Watching
          • Tumalog Falls
          • Sumilon Sandbar
          • Oslob Church and Cuartel
          • Cheap Accommodations in Oslob
        • Malapascua >
          • How to Get to Malapascua Island
          • Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Ocean Vida Resort
          • Travel Guide
          • Where to Stay
          • Where to Stay near Maya Port
        • Samboan | Aguinid Falls
        • Cebu City | Bayfront Hotel Review
      • Dumaguete >
        • Apo Island >
          • Apo Island: A Travel Guide
          • Apo Island: Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Cheapest Way to Experience Apo Island
          • Resorts and Homestays in Apo Island
          • Oslob-Apo-Bais-Siquijor in 6 Days
          • Apo Island: A Photo Gallery
          • Ronor's Lodging: A Homestay Review
        • Cheap Accommodations in Dumaguete City
      • Siquijor >
        • Siquijor Travel Guide
        • 7 Must-Do and Must-See in Siquijor
        • A Review of Islandia Beach Resort
        • Kagusuan Beach
        • Salagdoong Beach
        • Lazi Church and Convent
        • Cambugahay Falls
        • St. Francis of Assisi Parish
        • Santa Maria Church
        • Enchanted Balete Tree
        • Cheap Accommodations in Siquijor
        • Mid-Priced to Premier Resorts in Siquijor
    • Mindanao >
      • South Cotabato >
        • One Night Travel Guide to Lake Sebu
        • Dolores Lake Resort
  • Discover the World
    • 15 Beautiful Places in France
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Cancel Agoda Bookings
    • 8 Most Beautiful Islands and Beaches in the Philippines
  • Contact Me

Malapascua | Review of Ocean Vida Resort

Entry Date: June 19, 2018
Follow @iheartph2014

Location, good reviews and being at the beachfront were the main reasons why I had decided to book with Ocean Vida Resort but sometimes, the actual experience doesn’t match your expectations. I would start with the negative items first then on to the positive.

​Con #1 Internet in Room #1 was not very good although it was already the nearest one to the restaurant and bar. The Wi-Fi router must have been placed somewhere nearer the center of the guest room building and since we were at the farthest side of it, the signal couldn’t reach us. Solution: If Wi-Fi is important for you, stay in rooms somewhere in the middle of the building or ask the staff to put you in a room with the strongest signal. I also used my mobile LTE (Globe) as back-up. 

​Con #2 They are not responsive in Facebook or text messaging. Solution: You have to call them up so they can answer your queries.

Picture
The guest room building

​Con #3
The manager wanted to give us a briefing of the room and about other things pertaining to our stay in the resort before giving us our welcome drinks. She did give us a short briefing about the room (as if we won’t be able to figure these out by ourselves) but since we were soaking wet from the rain and quite tired, I told her that we just need some time to take a shower, rest then we’ll continue the briefing in about an hour or two. I don’t know how long the briefing will take but eventually, she forgot about it and forgot giving us our welcome drinks. I no longer bothered asking as I really wanted to rest. Solution: Bother asking.

Picture
The beach right in front of Ocean Vida

​Con #4
Nothing to do with the hotel but Bounty Beach is really dirty. Don’t bother swimming in the area or you’ll just get all kinds of rashes and your body will itch in places you never knew existed. LOL! Solution: Bounty Beach is just a place you can lounge in while appreciating the sunrise or reading a book but for God’s sake, don’t swim. You have a lot of other chances to go swimming during the island hopping tours.

Picture
Interior of Room #1

So now, we talk about the good bit.
​ 
Pro #1 Breakfast buffet menu never changes, at least not for the past 3 mornings that we were there but the food was good. Nothing special -- just sufficient for the palette. The food choices for breakfast was just right relative to the price we paid. I particularly loved the ice cream they sell along the beach and the bamboo straws they use for the drinks and fruit shakes. 

From L to R (upper photos) - Mango shake they served with a bamboo straw; the interior of the restaurant where they serve breakfast buffet; buffet area.
From L to R (lower photos) - Spreads they serve during breakfast buffet; drinks and fruits available during breakfast; exterior of the restaurant coming from our room.

​Pro #2 The restaurant staffs are really nice. Not everyone but most of them especially those stationed there in the evening. During one of those nights, my husband caught fever and wanted hot soup in the middle of the night. That was nearly 10:00 PM, I think. So I headed straight for the restaurant to find them almost closing up. I told them about our situation and they politely turned down my request since the cook will be leaving soon. I rested my case and headed back to the room. After a few minutes, one of their staff knocked on our door to tell me that he will be cooking hot soup for us and asking us what kind we wanted. It was a gesture we can never forget. 
​
Picture
View from our balcony
​
​Pro #3
The room we stayed in (Room #1) is very well-maintained and always very well-made every time we come back from our island hopping tours. The room was very homey and comfortable and has a nice view of the beach. No obstructions whatsoever except for a few coconut trees. It is also very near the restaurant and the reception.
 
Pro #4 Every end of the day, they would give us some sweet pastries for free along with an inspiring quote they’d write down on a piece of floral stationary with our names on it. It was a very nice thing to do which made us feel at home and feel valued as customers. This simple but sweet gesture is something that I have never experienced with other resorts.
Picture
The free pastries they give us every day along a sweet note

Pro #5 The resort is also very near the booth where we registered for a boat ride back to the mainland, practically in front of the resort. It was a relatively a long walk to the dock but the boat crew helped us with our luggage.
 
Pro #6 If you are up for a massage, their sister resort Buena Vida offers the best spa services in the island. You can simply approach the reception of Ocean Vida to book their service. You have to go to the resort itself to avail of the massage but I am sure they also offer room service. They do not offer any discount for Ocean Vida guests, though, if that is what you are expecting, which I did. 
​
Picture
Free ginger tea (salabat) after massage

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

  • Malapascua Island | How to Get There
  • Malapascua Island Travel Guide
  • Malapascua Island | Where to Stay
  • Malapascua | Where to Stay near Maya Port
  • A Review of Ocean Vida Beach Resort

WHERE TO STAY IN MALAPASCUA

  • ​​Malapascua Garden Resort
  • Blue Corals Beach Resorts
  • Thresher Cove Dive Resort
  • Hippocampus Beach Resort
  • Tepanee Beach Resort

OTHER DESTINATIONS IN CEBU

  • Oslob Whale Watching
  • Aguinid Falls
  • Sumilon Sandbar
  • Tumalog Falls

KEY CONTACTS

To book your island hopping tours in Malapascua, you may contact Kuya Nonoy at 0916-388-7801.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post them here:
Follow me on Instagram [i.heart.ph]
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Explore Philippines
    • Luzon >
      • Metro Manila >
        • 15 Best Luxury Hotels in Metro Manila
        • Staycation at Shangri-La at the Fort
      • Benguet >
        • Baguio >
          • 10 Cozy and Instagrammable Airbnbs and Hotels in Baguio in 2023
          • Best Hotels Near Session Road and Burnham Park
      • Mountain Province >
        • Sagada >
          • Blue Soil Hills
      • Batangas >
        • Vivere Azure Resort
      • Cavite >
        • Tagaytay >
          • Vineyard in Tagaytay
          • Twin Lakes Hotel Review
          • Harry Potter Themed Airbnb
          • Relaxing at Nurture Wellness Village
          • 10 Things to Do and Tourist Spots to Visit
      • La Union >
        • Best Hostels and Resorts
      • Albay >
        • Cagsawa Ruins
        • Daraga Church
        • Tabaco Church
        • Where to Stay in Tabaco City: A List of Hotels and Apartelles
        • IshiAya Garden Bistro
        • Cheap Accommodations in Legazpi City
        • Mayon Volcano
        • Mid-Priced to Premier Hotels in Legazpi City
      • Sorsogon >
        • Subic Beach
        • Tikling Island
        • Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary
        • Calintaan Cave
        • Sorsogon - More than just the Butandings
        • Pink Sand Beach
        • Cheap Accommodations in Sorsogon City
      • Quezon >
        • Cagbalete Island >
          • Cagbalete Island: A Travel Guide
          • Cagbalete Island: Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Cagbalete Island: How to Get There
          • Cagbalete Island Beach Resorts
          • A Review of Dona Choleng Camping Resort
          • Cagbalete Fish Sanctuary
          • Yang-In Sand Bar
          • Ilog Bukana at San Jose River
          • Cagbalete White Sand Beach
        • Budget and Itinerary | Padre Burgos and Pagbilao
        • Borawan Island
        • Where to Stay and Eat in Mauban
        • How to Get to Mauban from Manila or Lucena
        • Tips and Suggested Itinerary for Pahiyas Festival 2015
        • Things to Do (or Eat) in Lucban, Quezon
      • Palawan >
        • El Nido >
          • Small Lagoon
          • Top 5 Spots in El Nido
          • Cheap Accommodations in El Nido
          • Mid-Priced to Premier Hotels in El Nido
        • Coron >
          • Giraffes and Zebras at Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary
          • Review of Vienna Hotel Coron Palawan
    • Visayas >
      • Iloilo >
        • Budget Accommodations in Iloilo City
        • Isla de Gigantes >
          • How to Get to Isla de Gigantes
          • Tangke Salt Water Lagoon
          • Cabugao Gamay
          • Cabugao Dako or Cabugao Grande
          • Antonia Beach
          • Bantigue Sandbar
      • Bohol >
        • Panglao >
          • Dolphin Watching and Island Hopping
          • Top Things to Do for Overnighters and Daytrippers
          • Coco Vida Bar and Restaurant
          • South Palms Resort
          • Mithi Resort and Spa
          • Halamanan Residences
          • Buzzz Cafe of Bohol Bee Farm
          • Bohol Bee Farm Resort
          • Alona Vida Beach Resort
          • New Panglao International Airport
          • Luxury Resorts in Panglao
          • Affordable Beachfront Resorts in Panglao
        • Loboc >
          • Loboc River Cruise and Floating Restaurant
          • Tarsier Conservation Center
        • Bohol Day Trip Travel Guide from Cebu
        • Bohol Chocolate Hills
        • Bilar Man-Made Forest
        • Day Tour | Countryside Tour
        • The Mangrove Forests of Maribojoc
        • Cheap Accommodations in Tagbilaran City
      • Cebu >
        • Oslob >
          • Travel Guide to Oslob
          • 6 Things to Do in Oslob
          • How to Go to Oslob from Dumaguete
          • Oslob Whale Watching
          • Tumalog Falls
          • Sumilon Sandbar
          • Oslob Church and Cuartel
          • Cheap Accommodations in Oslob
        • Malapascua >
          • How to Get to Malapascua Island
          • Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Ocean Vida Resort
          • Travel Guide
          • Where to Stay
          • Where to Stay near Maya Port
        • Samboan | Aguinid Falls
        • Cebu City | Bayfront Hotel Review
      • Dumaguete >
        • Apo Island >
          • Apo Island: A Travel Guide
          • Apo Island: Budget and Suggested Itinerary
          • Cheapest Way to Experience Apo Island
          • Resorts and Homestays in Apo Island
          • Oslob-Apo-Bais-Siquijor in 6 Days
          • Apo Island: A Photo Gallery
          • Ronor's Lodging: A Homestay Review
        • Cheap Accommodations in Dumaguete City
      • Siquijor >
        • Siquijor Travel Guide
        • 7 Must-Do and Must-See in Siquijor
        • A Review of Islandia Beach Resort
        • Kagusuan Beach
        • Salagdoong Beach
        • Lazi Church and Convent
        • Cambugahay Falls
        • St. Francis of Assisi Parish
        • Santa Maria Church
        • Enchanted Balete Tree
        • Cheap Accommodations in Siquijor
        • Mid-Priced to Premier Resorts in Siquijor
    • Mindanao >
      • South Cotabato >
        • One Night Travel Guide to Lake Sebu
        • Dolores Lake Resort
  • Discover the World
    • 15 Beautiful Places in France
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Cancel Agoda Bookings
    • 8 Most Beautiful Islands and Beaches in the Philippines
  • Contact Me