Fat Monkey Hostel

It's a nice distance from the constant tuk tuk noise in town, about 5-10 minutes away, and the ride in costs 15 pesos per person. I spent time relaxing in the shaded hammock area, and the big shared table was great for eating home-cooked meals and meeting people. Facilities are basic but well maintained, and the family are nice.

Mobile reception went from one bar to none, though the Wi-Fi signal was good. The owners were accommodating, and the food was okay. I checked into one of the private upstairs rooms. It had AC, but that cost an extra Php200 on top of the daily room rate.

The location is a bit far out, and getting back can be difficult if you're in town late. The place itself isn't too bad, but my main problem was the owner, Don. He arranged an overnight trip to an uninhabited island that started out really well. Then he began drinking, started shouting at us and calling us names, and eventually directed all his anger at two women and one man. He hit the man twice. Avoid the place, or at least stay away from the owner when he's drunk. When sober, he's mostly okay.

It's a simple place, and I met plenty of other solo travellers there. The rooms were okay, with several fans, and the toilets were fine too. Breakfast came with two eggs, two pieces of bread, butter and jam. It worked well for my stay.