Casa Simeon

The dining area was clean and the table was large, but that didn't help when we couldn't get a proper meal. We came from Polangui for a birthday, and my mom's guests had traveled from Legazpi. At around 3:30 PM, we were told they were only serving “meryenda,” with no rice or ulam. I had said we had a reservation because the person I was chatting with had CONFIRMED seats for 10 people. A quick heads-up that only snacks were available would have saved us the wasted trip and embarrassment. The communication was unbelievable, and the whole thing was nakakainis and unacceptable. 🥺🥺

The staff made us feel welcome, and everything was remarkably clean. Casa Simeon is a tourist attraction in its own right, beyond Bacacay's black sand beaches. It really does feel like a heritage hotel in the heart of Bacacay.

I’d still recommend this as the most decent place to stay in Bacacay, even with some frustrations around upkeep and service. The location is handy for the market and visiting our relatives, and the relaxed atmosphere made it nice just to wander around, especially in the rain. Our room felt like a 3-star hotel room and had towels and toiletries. We ran into drainage and air-conditioning issues and had to switch rooms twice, though we eventually got upgraded to a family room. Some staff were kind and accommodating. The manager/owner, though, didn’t always come across as welcoming and could have explained the policies better. Laundry cost ₱200 for less than 6 kilos, and the explanation sounded defensive instead of hospitable. Early check-in is ₱250 per hour, which seems steep when many guests have traveled a long way. They also wouldn’t let us drop our bags early or offer luggage storage, despite having plenty of space, which didn’t feel welcoming. The food was good but somewhat expensive, portions were small, and the menu didn’t feel especially local or distinctive. That’s understandable since it’s one of the main restaurants around.

I stayed here once in 2019 and came back in 2025. It feels grand and old-fashioned, and both the hotel and staff were excellent.