Arena Island Resort

There were no other visitors when we went, which made for a really nice day. Getting there took about an hour by boat. We had our hotel arrange it, then shared the cost with a few other couples staying there. Bring your own food and drinks, since none are available on the island. I came to snorkel, but the woman who met us said the best spot was reserved for hotel guests, so we couldn't go there. That was disappointing. On our side, it was still decent, with a long swim out and a reasonable amount of fish and other things to see. I'd rate the snorkeling 6/10.

The food felt like comforting home cooking, nothing fancy, but it was casual and delicious. The staff were lovely too. There were only 16 of them, and our butler and the main guy, whose name I forgot, were so helpful and welcoming. They shared stories and made us feel at home instead of like visitors. I was worried the quiet and isolation might leave me bored. I found Arena Island on Deal Grocer and booked a chance to get away from my usual fast, distracted routine. I was completely wrong about getting bored. There were only six guests while we were there, and we barely crossed paths, so it felt like we had the island to ourselves. The island has no WIFI or TV, but the activities and being out in nature kept me busy. We snorkeled around the floater off the beach. Our kuya suggested holding a rope while he took us around in his flatboat, which made it easy to enjoy the corals and marine life without having to work at snorkeling. There was kayaking too. We went during amihan, so the wind and waves came from every direction. It made for a panoramic view of the waves unlike what I usually see at other beaches. I also liked how much thought had gone into sustainability. Electricity ran only from 7PM to 7AM and 11AM to 2PM, so air conditioning was available during those hours. The rest of the time, the fresh sea breeze kept things comfortable. Water could be plentiful but scarce on the island, so they had three large blue tanks outside our villa to collect rainwater, plus their own desalination facility for when the stored water ran out. Kudos to the owner for making the stay work with nature. You can have meals anywhere on the island if you ask. Over our last three days, we had lunch and dinner in two different tree houses. The best was our final dinner on the beach, set up just for the two of us with candles, improvised music, stars and moon overhead, pillows and drinks on a mat in the sand, and a bonfire nearby. They really went the extra mile to make us happy. Getting there took four flights, a two-hour drive, and a 30-minute boat trip, but the simple, secluded stay was a dream. I'd happily recommend Arena Island.

Four days without a worry. Getting there meant four flights, a two-hour drive, and a 30-minute boat trip, but it was well worth it. The staff were exceptional, the food was great, and we had a private butler.

The website looks out of date, with its last update in 2018, and I never got a reply to my email. I suspect the business may no longer be active. Google should remove its business profile.