Cliffside Resort

Cliffside Resort is a small seafront resort on Panglao, built high on the cliff above the ocean. The setting gives you open views towards Pamilacan Island and partial views of Alona Beach, while the resort stays away from the cafés, bars and general traffic of the main strip.

That makes the place a sensible choice if your ideal evening involves a swim, a meal and a drink without having to join the full Alona Beach procession. The infinity pool, sea-facing restaurant and on-site spa keep the useful parts of a holiday close at hand. The resort also arranges island tours, transport and water activities, so you can make plans without turning the front desk into a second job.

You are in Panglao, Philippines, at Km 16 in Hoyohoy, Tawala, next to Donatela Resort. The resort sits on the seafront but high above the water, so this is a cliff setting rather than a hotel built directly on a sandy beach.

Alona Beach is about 2.4 miles away by road, around a five-minute drive in the surrounding directions, while the resort describes the trip as roughly ten minutes by motorbike or car. That is close enough for an evening out, but far enough to return to a quieter base. Dumaluan Beach is about 1.4 miles away by road, Danao Beach about 3.3 miles, and Libaong White Beach about 2.6 miles.

Bohol-Panglao International Airport is about 1.8 miles away, with a drive of roughly four minutes. The Chocolate Hills are around an hour away by car, and the resort can organise wider Bohol tours when you want a day away from the coast.

The rooms are built around the view, with the pool and sea visible from the accommodation. Tiled floors, a wardrobe, seating area and private shower room keep things straightforward, while soundproof rooms are available for anyone who would rather not share the evening soundtrack with the rest of Panglao.

For two, the Ocean View Aircon Room is the practical choice when reliable cooling matters at bedtime. Some rooms use a fan instead, while others have air conditioning, so check the selected room carefully if the thought of sleeping in tropical heat is less appealing than it sounds on a postcard. A refrigerator is useful for keeping drinking water cold, and the seating and dining areas give you somewhere to sit that is not the edge of the bed.

The Ocean View Suite gives a couple more room to spread out, and the Seaview Suites can connect to create a family suite for four guests. Daily housekeeping, WiFi throughout the resort, a flat-screen television and room service cover the quieter parts of the day. The resort also offers laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services, useful when several days of salt water have taken their toll on the wardrobe.

Cliffside Restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-air setting beside the sea. The menu is international, moving between Asian, European and fusion dishes, with produce sourced from the island. It is the sort of arrangement that works well when your appetite has been adjusted by several hours in the water: you can eat properly rather than negotiate with a packet of crisps.

Breakfast is à la carte and runs all day, with service from 06:00. Early departures therefore do not require you to choose between food and the first boat, assuming your dive arrangements fit the timing. Service runs from 06:00 until 22:00, with snacks available continuously between meals.

There is one named bar, Cliffside Bar, beside the pool. It serves cocktails and local drinks, with a happy hour also available. Poolside seating and sea views do the visual work; the bar does not need a motivational speech.

The infinity pool is the obvious place to spend the part of the afternoon when you have no interest in another timetable. It looks across the ocean towards neighbouring islands, and pool and beach towels are available. Sun loungers, a sun terrace, outdoor furniture, a terrace and a garden give you several places to stop without having to claim the same chair for an entire day.

For the more horizontal form of recovery, the spa offers massage, including full-body, couples, head, neck, back, hand and foot treatments. Body scrubs, body wraps, facial treatments and beauty services are also available. A couples massage gives you a reasonable plan for an afternoon when neither of you is prepared to discuss another excursion.

When staying still becomes too ambitious, the resort can arrange cycling, wildlife observation, cultural excursions and boat trips. Options include island hopping around Dolphin watching, Balicasag Island, Virgin Island and snorkelling, as well as Panglao and Bohol tours covering sites such as Hinagdanan Cave, the Chocolate Hills, the Loboc River, the Tarsier Monkey Sanctuary and the man-made forest. Motorbike rental, car hire and a tour desk make the practical side of those outings easier to arrange.

Check-in starts at 14:00, and check-out runs from 06:00 to 12:00. Airport shuttle services are available, as are transport services for the pier and local drop-offs; arrange the form of transfer directly with the resort. Car hire and motorbike rental are also available if you want to explore beyond Alona Beach under your own steam.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed. WiFi is free throughout the resort, and the concierge, tour desk, luggage storage, lockers and currency exchange cover the small logistical matters that tend to multiply during a dive trip. Room service, packed lunches and breakfast in the room are available when the day starts early or ends with more fatigue than planned.

Children of any age are welcome, and extra beds can be requested subject to availability. There is no age requirement for check-in. Payment is accepted in cash and by card, with the full reservation amount paid at check-in. Pets are not allowed.