Island Palace Bungalows Resort

The ferry pier is right in front, making everything very accessible. The bungalows sit uphill, so you may get an ocean view. Rooms come with either air conditioning or a fan. Bring insect repellent, especially if your skin is sensitive.

We saw a large room with two queen beds that could fit four people, and the bathroom seemed okay. The receptionist first quoted $20 a night and said the Wi-Fi was strong, so we agreed to move from our other hotel. At payment, he charged $30 and said I might have misheard. My friend confirmed he’d heard $20 too, but I didn’t want to argue after checking out of the previous place and taking our luggage. The Wi-Fi was very weak and lost its signal for two days. I won’t come back.

We’d read the negative reviews, but left our booking late and didn’t have many options. Some people need to loosen up about dim rooms or chickens crowing in the morning. You’re on an island! The place was basic, but we loved relaxing in the hammock on our balcony at night. That was the best.

The owners are nice, and the bungalows are built in a traditional style. They’re a little run down, but that’s understandable given the difficulties of the island. We paid $28 a night on Agoda and thought it was well worth it.