Isla Cabana Resort

This is a four-star resort in General Luna, on Siargao Island, built around the useful bits of a diving holiday: a beach, a pool, a restaurant, a bar and somewhere to slow down between outings. You can keep the day simple here, which is often exactly what tired legs and salt-stiff hair require.

The resort is geared towards English-speaking guests, with its website available in English. That makes the practical side of your stay easier to navigate, from arranging services to sorting out the next day. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, so you can send the usual post-dive message without having to chase a signal around the grounds.

You are in General Luna, Philippines, with the town centre only a short walk away. That puts restaurants, local life and everyday conveniences within reach, while the resort itself sits directly on the seafront rather than making you cross a road to find the water.

The beach is private, with white sand, sun loungers and parasols. General Luna Beach is nearby too. In practical terms, you can choose between the resort’s own stretch of coast and the town when you fancy a change of scenery; no expedition planning required, which leaves more energy for the things that actually deserve planning.

There is a wide spread of room categories, from single rooms through double and triple options to quadruple rooms, suites, villas and cottages. That makes the choice less about finding a decorative label and more about matching the room to your trip: a single room for solo travel, a double room for two, or a larger category when sharing with family or friends. Several options bring a garden, street, pool, water or sea view into the decision.

The practical equipment varies by category. Selected standard double rooms and villas include air conditioning, a coffee facility, a fridge, a hairdryer, a safe and a television, while private bathrooms are a recurring feature across the range. Suites add a safe, telephone, toiletries, towels and a mirror. The fridge is the useful detail when you return wanting cold water rather than conversation; the safe is equally handy for keeping the important bits together while you are out.

For a couple, a double room or double villa keeps the choice uncomplicated, while a suite gives you the more comprehensive in-room set-up. Solo travellers have dedicated single options, and larger categories cover groups without forcing everyone into separate rooms. Room service is available, and the resort also offers air conditioning at property level for the warm hours when opening the windows is not quite enough.

Isla Cusina Restaurant handles breakfast, lunch and dinner, with Asian cuisine and Italian dishes on the menu. It faces the street, so the meal comes with a view of General Luna rather than a sealed-off dining room. Breakfast is included in the board arrangement, with service from 6am — an hour that should work for an early departure, assuming your dive plans allow it.

The Beach Bar sits beside the infinity pool and covers the important transition from wet gear to dry clothes. You can order buko juice, espresso or signature cocktails while looking towards the Pacific, with sunrise and moonrise both part of the setting. There is also a pool bar, a snack bar and room service, giving you alternatives when a full restaurant meal feels like an unnecessary formal event.

A buffet restaurant, breakfast in the room, bottled water, a picnic lunch and dietary menus on request are also available among the resort’s dining services. The overall formula is breakfast included rather than all-inclusive, so the details of any other included meals depend on the arrangement attached to your booking.

The infinity pool is the obvious place to let the day drain away, with the beach close at hand when you want sand instead of tiles. The resort also lists indoor and outdoor pools, beach equipment, pool and beach towels, a jacuzzi, a sun terrace and outdoor furniture. Sun loungers and parasols are available on the private beach, so you can claim a spot and remain there with admirable lack of ambition.

For a little more movement, the resort offers a fitness area, billiards, cycling, hiking and fishing. There is also a picnic area, which gives you somewhere other than the restaurant or the bar for a slower meal. These are straightforward options for a non-diving afternoon, particularly if one of you wants to move and the other has already made a firm commitment to doing absolutely nothing.

A spa and massage service are available for those who prefer recovery by appointment rather than recovery by horizontal drift. The concierge and excursion assistance can help with organising outings, while vehicle hire and bicycle hire give you ways to explore beyond the resort at your own pace.

The resort can arrange an airport transfer, and it also offers general transfer services. Contact the hotel with your arrival details so the journey from the airport can be organised before you set off. Vehicle hire is available, and parking is provided if you are travelling with your own transport.

Check-out is at noon. The hotel also offers private and express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, concierge assistance, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing. An elevator and wheelchair-accessible facilities support easier movement around the property, while a currency exchange service is available on site.

Air conditioning is part of the resort’s facilities, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Payment can be made with cash, GCash or cards. The property includes smoking areas, while the accommodation is non-smoking. For the small practical matters that tend to appear after a flight or a long day outside, there is also a souvenir shop, ticket assistance and room service.