E L Westensee Resort

The owners welcomed us personally and were around whenever we had questions or wanted recommendations. The staff were attentive and so friendly that we felt valued, not like just another booking. We stayed at E L Westensee Resort in Dauis, Bohol, and had a great experience from beginning to end. It's in a peaceful spot that's still convenient for exploring Panglao and Bohol. The airport is about 15 minutes away, and Alona Beach is a short ride. Our room was spacious, spotless, modern, and cozy, with a comfortable bed. Everything felt new and well maintained, and the quiet surroundings made it easy to rest. It's a calm, stylish place to relax, whether you're traveling solo or as a couple. I'll definitely return and recommend E L Westensee Resort.

Thanks to the resort staff for making the place feel so cozy and comfortable.

We had all the space and quiet we needed since the resort was empty, but I imagine it would feel different when fully booked. The rooms aren't very soundproof: we heard cicadas, people talking, and our family in the other room. The curtains also let in too much light, and by 5 in the morning the room was already very bright. One bathroom exhaust smelled bad, which defeated the point of having it. We saw two cockroaches, one in our bathroom and one on the wall outside. I'm afraid of lizards, so I was glad we saw only a few. Maybe a stray cat or two could help with pests. Our group of five booked a standard king room and a family room. Both were quaint and clean, with big beds, plenty of light, cabinet and table space, small fridges, toiletry kits, complimentary water bottles, and safes. There's also a lobby dispenser if you want to use less plastic. The bathrooms have bidets and hairdryers. I wish management would replace the tiny shampoo, conditioner, and soap items with larger dispensers, as other hotels do. That seems more eco-friendly and might cost less over time. Breakfast is complimentary from 7 to 10 a.m. The menu is the usual American and English breakfasts and silog meals, with coffee, tea, and juice. Hot chocolate is available if you ask. Ordering the night before made things smoother, especially with an early tour or schedule. The location is the main drawback. It's quite remote, with Bohol Bee Farm less than a kilometer away. It's a good choice if you want a quiet stay by the pool, away from crowds, but going out often means extra transport costs. The staff called a tricycle to Alona Beach for 300 pesos, and the return trip also cost 300. GrabCar is cheaper and more comfortable when you can get one, but it's unreliable: I tried five times before finding a ride once. Taxis are rare too. We were with our senior mother and couldn't wait around long. A taxi from Island City Mall asked 700 pesos; we negotiated it down to 600, while GrabCar would have been under 300. If you're not in a hurry, I'd try booking a Grab. GrabFood is available but hit or miss, and the restaurant beside the hotel, Heliconia, was closed throughout our stay. Staff said we might need to reserve. I called the number listed on Google and learned it would be closed until Friday, so don't count on it for food. On our last day, it was so hot that we asked for a ride in the resort's multicab to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch. They took us for free and picked us up afterward. We gave them a nice tip because their helpful, professional service really made our stay better.

It's a brand-new place, and the rooms and surroundings are still very clean. The staff were helpful and arranged a port transfer, laundry, and motorbike rental.