Siargao's BEST Kept Secret: Your Dream Maui-Style Homestay Awaits!
Siargao's BEST Kept Secret: Your Dream Maui-Style Homestay Awaits! – A Messy, Honest Review (and Maybe My New Obsession!)
Okay, so I'm back from Siargao, sun-kissed and utterly wrecked – in the best possible way. And you know what? I think I've stumbled upon the holy grail of island escapes. I'm talkin' Siargao's BEST Kept Secret: Your Dream Maui-Style Homestay Awaits! And yeah, the official title is a mouthful, but trust me, it's worth the hype (and the website URL that's probably a mile long).
First off, let's be real: I'm a sucker for anything that vaguely resembles Maui. Blame it on the White Lotus effect. So, when I saw "Maui-style," I was already sold. But this place… this place is something else.
Accessibility & The Practical Stuff (Because Real Life Requires These Things)
Now, before I wax poetic about sunsets and surf, let's get the boring but essential stuff out of the way.
- Accessibility: Okay, here's the thing, and I'm being honest: the website says they have facilities for disabled guests. I didn’t personally check but they did say, however, if you have specific needs, call ahead. Just to be safe.
- Internet: Listen, I need Wi-Fi. I'm addicted. This place boasts Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and in public areas too, which is a godsend for posting Insta stories about how "zen" you are (while secretly scrolling through TikTok). I mean, the signal isn't super-fast, but hey, you're on an island! Embrace the slowness. It's part of the charm, right? Right… nervous laugh
- Other Services and Conveniences: They have everything you expect – daily housekeeping (thank god!), laundry, dry cleaning, a concierge (the sweetest guy ever), and even a convenience store. Cash withdrawal too, essential! And a few other niceties.
- Safety First: Anti-viral cleaning products, professional-grade sanitizing services. Honestly, I felt safe there. Rooms are sanitized between stays. They really nail this aspect.
The Room: My Tiny Oasis (and a Few Imperfections!)
My room? Oh, it was lovely. Really. I mean, picture this: a big, comfy bed with blackout curtains (bless you, whoever invented those!). Air conditioning that actually worked (a rare luxury in the Philippines, let me tell you). And a balcony with a view of… well, sometimes the pool, sometimes the lush greenery. But I didn't love the view, so I didn't spend much time there.
Here's the REALLY juicy part, the stuff you came for:
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges, Dining, drinking, and snacking:
- Restaurants: There are several restaurants on site (the website says it, and I believe it, hah). The biggest perk is the Poolside bar! I drank a lot of smoothies and a couple of pina coladas here.
- Food, Glorious Food: The Asian cuisine was top-notch. The A la carte in restaurant system works fine!
- Room service: This is a godsend for lazy days.
The "Things to Do" and "Ways to Relax" (Because, You Know, Vacations!)
This is where it gets really good. I mean, the whole point of Siargao is to unwind, right? And this place takes it seriously.
- The Pool: The swimming pool, is what you imagine, good!
- Spa/Sauna: Omg, the spa! I had a massage that was so good, I almost cried. Okay, I might have teared up a little. They have everything – massages, body scrubs, body wraps, the whole shebang.
- The Gym: I'm not a gym rat, but they have a fitness center if you are.
What I Loved (and Maybe Didn't Love So Much)
- LOVED: The staff. Seriously, every single person I encountered was genuinely friendly and helpful. They were like family. One time, I locked myself out of my room (don't judge!), and the front desk guy just chuckled and helped me out. No judgement, just instant assistance.
- LOVED: The overall vibe. It's chill, relaxed, and totally unpretentious. You can wear your swimsuit all day, every day, and no one bats an eye.
- LOVED: The breakfast! They have everything -- Western breakfast, Asian breakfast, you name it.
- Kinda Didn't Love: The road getting in and out of the place. But that's Siargao in a nutshell. The "imperfections" are part of the charm.
A Few Quirky Observations:
- They have a "proposal spot." I didn't see anyone propose, but I did witness a very intense game of volleyball.
- There's a shrine on the property. I'm not sure what it's for, but it's pretty.
- They have soundproof rooms, which is great because sometimes the roosters start their morning ritual early!
The Verdict: Book it. Seriously, Book It!
Listen, I'm not gonna lie. I’m already scheming how to get back. This isn’t just a place to stay; it’s an experience. It's the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and a healthy dose of island life. It's clean, it's comfortable, and the staff is incredible.
My unsolicited advice? Book this place. Now. Before everyone else discovers this BEST Kept Secret.
A Compelling Offer (aka My Pitch to You)
Stop Dreaming, Start Siargao-ing!
Tired of the same old boring vacations? Crave an escape that rejuvenates your soul and feeds your wanderlust? Then look no further than Siargao's BEST Kept Secret: Your Dream Maui-Style Homestay Awaits!
Here's what awaits you:
- Unforgettable Relaxation: Imagine yourself lounging by a sparkling pool, sipping a fresh smoothie, and letting the stress melt away with one of our amazing spa treatments – trust me, the massage is life-changing!
- Island Paradise at Your Fingertips: Experience the magic of Siargao, from world-class surf breaks to hidden lagoons, with our friendly staff ready to help you plan your perfect adventure.
- Comfort and Convenience: Enjoy spacious, air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, delicious dining options, and all the amenities you need for a seamless and stress-free stay.
- Safety and Peace of Mind: We prioritize your well-being with enhanced cleaning protocols and a dedicated team committed to your comfort and safety.
Exclusive Offer for My Readers:
Book your stay at Siargao's BEST Kept Secret now and receive a complimentary welcome cocktail plus a 10% discount on all spa treatments!
Don't wait! This offer won't last forever. Click here to book your dream getaway today! (Insert Link Here)
P.S. Seriously, book it. You won't regret it. Tell them [Your name] sent you! (Maybe they'll give me a discount next time… a girl can dream, right?)
Bogotá's Hidden Gem: The Grace Hotel's Unbelievable Luxury Awaits!
Maui Homestay Siargao: My Island Brain Dump Itinerary (aka, Pray for Me)
Okay, here we go. Siargao. Land of perfect waves, Instagram models with perfect tans (guilty of occasionally creeping on their feeds, don't @ me), and hopefully, some actual FUN. This isn't your glossy travel brochure, folks. This is my attempt to survive… and maybe even thrive.
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread (Plus Some Awesome Noodles)
- 10:00 AM: Landed in Sayak Airport. The humidity hit me like a wet, salty slap in the face. Immediately regretting my decision to wear a linen shirt. I hate linen. It wrinkles just by thinking about wrinkles.
- 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: The car ride to Maui Homestay. Roads are bumpy. Dogs are EVERYWHERE. Seriously, like a canine welcoming committee. Adorable, but also: where do they all sleep?! The scenery is unreal, though. Lush green everywhere, coconut trees swaying like they know a secret. Still, the existential dread is clinging to me like my wet linen shirt. Am I ready for this? Am I good enough for this?
- 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Check-in. Maui Homestay is… lovely. Simple, clean, breezy. The hammock on the porch is calling my name. I might just answer later. Right now, I need food.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch at Shaka Siargao. Holy mother of noodles. I ordered the Chicken Adobo Bowl and nearly inhaled it. So good I wanted to order another one. The little restaurant is like a tiny, sun-drenched box of pure joy. Feeling slightly less existential. Food cures all (almost all).
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Hammock time! (I told you). Reading, staring at the ocean, listening to the waves (they're so loud but in a good way). Did a little bit of journaling. Mostly just sketching terrible doodles of palm trees.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Walked to Cloud 9 boardwalk. OMG the waves! The surfers! I'm no surfer, unless you count my occasional disastrous attempts on a bodyboard. The sunset was ridiculous – oranges, pinks, purples mixed together like a celestial smoothie. Took a million photos. They won't do it justice. Nothing ever does.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at Harana Restaurant. A little fancier than Shaka. Had the grilled fish, which was… fine. Service slightly chaotic, which is part of the island charm, I guess. Definitely more Instagram worthy than the food, though I enjoyed it.
- 8:00 PM - ???: Trying to write this itinerary. Failing. Drinking a San Miguel. Mosquitoes are merciless. Feeling a little tipsy and a lot tired. Will probably pass out.
Day 2: Surfing (and the Humiliation of the Sea)
- 7:00 AM: Woke up. Slept terribly. Mosquitoes. Now regretting not purchasing a mosquito net. Coffee. Lots of coffee. Need to get up.
- 8:00 AM: Surfing lesson at Cloud 9. This is where the humble pie is served. I'm pretty sure I resembled a beached whale more than a surfer. Fell. A Lot. Ate a LOT of salt water. My guide, a ridiculously tanned dude named Kai, was super patient. Too patient. I think he felt sorry for me.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: More Surfing, more falling, more saltwater. Eventually, I managed to stand up for a glorious three seconds. Felt like I'd won an Olympic medal.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lunch at a little shack on the beach. Crispy fried fish and cold Red Horse beer. Pure bliss. Recovering from the humiliation of surfing. (I'm definitely NOT a surfer.)
- 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Beach time. Sunbathing. Attempting to read. The sound of the waves. Honestly, I just fell asleep under a palm tree. Woke up with a faint sunburn. Idiot.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Explored General Luna town. Cute shops. Touristy vibes. Bought a t-shirt that probably says something hilariously inappropriate in Tagalog. (Don't ask.)
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Found a place to do yoga. It did me good to stretch out my muscles and forget about all that salt water I took in earlier.
- 7:00 PM - ???: Dinner at Kermit Siargao. Pizza. Finally. My taste buds are fatigued by fish. Kermit. The pizza was fabulous. But so many flies. What is it with the flies here? Drinking, chatting, contemplating the meaning of life and also how I can avoid falling off the surfboard again tomorrow.
Day 3: Island Hopping & The Great Swim
- 8:00 AM: Wake Up + Breakfast at Maui Homestay to recover from all the things that have happened.
- 9:00 AM: Island hopping day! Booked a tour that promised "paradise." Well, they delivered.
- 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Naked Island. Pure, white sand. Crystal-clear water. No shade. Did I bring sunscreen? Nope. Idiot. Thankfully, the water was amazing. Swam. Didn't drown. Success!
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Daku Island. Lunch. Fresh grilled seafood. More perfect sand. More swimming. More sun. Thinking I am going to be crispier than a french fry.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Guyam Island. Tiny. Tropical. Beautiful. Did a lot of swimming. Really enjoying snorkeling. Saw some fish.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Got back. The boat ride back was a bit choppy. The waves made me a little sea sick.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Took a nap on the beach.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant on the beach near the waves. Fresh seafood. Good vibes. A little overpriced, though. But I guess that's what you get for paradise.
- 8:00 PM - ???: Drinking beer, listening to music. I'm starting to get used to the heat and the mosquitoes. And the humidity. And the lack of perfect Wi-Fi. Maybe I'm even starting to like it. Possibly. Don't tell anyone.
Day 4: Lagoon, Lazy Days & Doubt.
- 8:00 AM: A late morning. I slept in and barely got out of bed.
- 10:00 AM: Went and did a boat tour to the Sohoton Cove.
- 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Swimming through some caves
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Explored the rock formations and the lagoon.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Back at the hotel and just relaxing.
- 6:00 PM -??? The sun sets behind the clouds and I question all my decisions. I'm not sure I am cut out for this. I feel like I can't catch a break. Maybe I should just go home…
Day 5: Departure (and Emotional Fallout)
- 8:00 AM: Woke up. Feeling the melancholic dread of leaving. Spent a few minutes contemplating the meaning of life. (It's complicated.)
- 9:00 AM: Final breakfast at Shaka. One last Chicken Adobo Bowl. Cried a little. (Okay, maybe a lot.)
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Checked out of Maui Homestay. Said goodbye to the friendly staff. (Okay, teared up a bit more.)
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The airport. The same bumpy ride, the same cute dogs. This time, I did not feel as bad.
- 12:00 PM: On the plane. Looking out the window. Siargao is shrinking. I will miss it. The beauty, the chaos, the imperfections, the noodles, the surfing humiliation, and the fact that everything is beautiful and terrible all at once.
- ??? Back home. Still feeling a bit blue. Already planning my next trip.
Siargao's "Best Kept Secret" FAQ: Let's Get Real (and Maybe a Little Messy)
Is this place *actually* as dreamy as the name suggests? "Your Dream Maui-Style Homestay"? Come on...
Okay, so "dreamy" is subjective, right? And let's be honest, the marketing team probably had a field day with that name. Here's the deal: it's *amazing*. Is it a perfectly manicured, air-conditioned, concierge-at-your-beck-and-call Maui resort? Nope. Thank god. That's not why you're in Siargao.
The vibe? Think less glitz, more *genuine*. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves gently crashing, filtered sunlight, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee (the real good stuff, not the instant-bleh). You step outside, and BAM! That's the view you've been dreaming about. It's rustic, it's charming, it's got that whole "effortlessly cool" thing down pat. The open-air design? Genius. You feel connected to the island – wind in your hair, sand on your feet (mostly), and a sense of utter peace you didn't know you needed.
Look, I went with a bunch of friends. We got there, and Maria, the owner - who's totally a goddess by the way, like, always smiling and somehow simultaneously managing everything - greeted us. First thing, she offers you a fresh coconut. And you're already sold. Then, the rooms? Not perfectly symmetrical, maybe a bit rough around the edges in the most endearing way... but clean, comfortable, and overflowing with character. It's not Maui perfection, but it’s got soul. And honestly, that’s way better.
How do I get there? And is it a pain in the butt?
Getting to Siargao? Prep yourself for a little adventure! You'll likely fly into Sayak Airport (IAO). From there, it's a short tricycle ride – and by short, I mean relatively short, depending on where you are - to General Luna. Then, depending on *exactly* where this "secret" is located, it could be another tricycle ride, or maybe a scooter adventure - probably the latter, which is part of the fun, right?
The airport itself... let's just say it's charmingly chaotic. Flights can be delayed, things move at 'island time' (which is slower) and you *will* encounter people. But it's all part of the charm, honestly. Embrace the slower pace, the warmth of the locals, and the feeling that you're *really* getting away from it all.
I remember the first time I flew in. I was completely unprepared. Didn't bring enough cash, the place didn't have any ATM's, and my luggage smelled faintly of sea salt and mangoes (which, actually, wasn't a bad thing). But you roll with it. You learn. You *adapt*. And you eventually find that perfect little corner of paradise. The airport, the journey... it all adds to the experience. It's an initiation. A test to see if you're worthy of the magic that awaits. And trust me, it is.
What's the food situation? Do I need to bring my own stash of granola bars? (Asking for a friend... who's me.)
Okay, food. Deep breaths. You *will* eat. Probably more than you planned. The food in Siargao is incredible, and depending on the homestay, they might handle a lot of your meals. But even if they don't, General Luna is a hotbed of deliciousness.
Fresh seafood is the obvious winner. Think grilled fish, prawns swimming in garlic butter, and *the* freshest ceviche you'll ever taste. Local restaurants abound – from simple, home-style places to more upscale options with amazing views, you'll be spoiled for choice. Don't be afraid to try everything. Embrace the variety! And don't forget to try the mangoes. They are to *die* for.
I almost lost my MIND over the breakfast. Fresh fruits, pancakes, eggs cooked a dozen ways... it's fuel for your surf sessions. And honestly, the breakfasts alone are worth the trip! Pro tip: try to avoid eating too much. No, seriously. You'll be tempted. But you have to save room for the deliciousness that awaits around every corner! And the homestay itself often has options. It's like a secret culinary haven. It'll be a place where food is a love language.
Can I *actually* surf there? I'm a total newbie.
Yes! Absolutely! Siargao is a surfer’s paradise, but don't let that intimidate you if you're a beginner. Cloud 9 gets all the hype, but there are tons of beginner-friendly spots.
Lessons are readily available. You can rent boards everywhere. You'll feel awkward at first. You'll eat a lot of sand. You'll probably fall a *lot*. But the feeling of finally catching a wave and riding even just a few feet? That's pure magic. It's an experience that'll probably hook you for life, or at least until you're too sore to move the next day.
Even if you never touch a surfboard, the atmosphere is contagious. It's amazing to see surfers of all levels out there, and you'll feel the buzz of the surf culture. And really, is there anything better than relaxing on the beach, watching the pros do their thing, or watching your friends face plant? No, there isn't. It's pure entertainment.
What kind of "Maui-Style" are we talking about here? Luxury? Or more...basic?
Let's be clear: we're talking *inspired* by Maui, not a carbon copy. Don't go expecting five-star everything. This is a homestay, remember? So, you're getting a more authentic and laid-back experience. Think less polished perfection and more laid-back charm. Maybe the occasional gecko visitor.
The "Maui Style" comes through in the design – the open-air spaces, the use of natural materials like wood and bamboo, the emphasis on connecting with nature. It's about creating a tranquil space where you can unwind, breathe deep, and enjoy the simple pleasures. Think hammocks, sunset views, and conversation with fellow travelers, not in a pretentious way.
And honestly? The imperfections are part of the charm! Your shower might be a little leaky, your Wi-Fi might be spotty (welcome to paradise, buddy!), but that just adds to the character. You're not looking for perfect; you're looking for *real*. And that's what you'll find.
