Casavia Siargao

I spent more than a month here in a private room, and my GoPro was stolen in January. The hostel took no action. They even suggested I might have misplaced it or that a friend had taken it. On another day, I came into my room and found a housekeeper with his hands in my open bag, which I’d left on a piece of furniture. He said he’d finished cleaning and was looking for his supplies before leaving. The manager again did nothing, saying there wasn’t enough evidence. Afterward, staff treated me as if I were to blame. I was also told that in shared rooms there can be no fresh water, so you may have to shower with salt water, and most bathrooms are out of service. If you enjoy worrying about your belongings, I can definitely recommend staying here. I’m sharing a photo of the person I believe tried to steal from me.

The beds are really comfortable, and there are shelves and lockers at the end of each one. I also liked relaxing in the common area with its soft lighting. There’s a kitchen for cooking, and it’s easy to meet people since lots of guests stay longer to surf. I can’t think of a better hostel in the area.

I spent two months at Casavia and mostly had a lovely stay. It’s a beautiful place, close to the beach, with clean rooms, roomy shared spaces, and a welcoming feel. I made friends with guests and some staff, which is why I chose to stay for so long. Still, a few things in my last days left me uncomfortable and at times feeling disrespected. Clearer communication, more professionalism, and firmer boundaries could have prevented them. Two nights before my flight, I asked about booking a van transfer and whether I could pay the next day. I was told that was fine and that the pickup details would be confirmed. When I checked in the following evening, less than 12 hours before my early flight, I learned it hadn’t been booked because I hadn’t paid. The receptionist had sent no reminder or update. If I hadn’t followed up, I could have missed my flight. After checkout, someone contacted me through a staff member’s personal Instagram about a supposedly unpaid bill at Kafe Narra. They assumed I hadn’t paid without checking. I said I had paid and asked them to check the records and CCTV. They said the staff member had left and the phone couldn’t be found. The messages felt unprofessional and passive-aggressive, and I was made to feel guilty because another staff member might have to cover the amount. I asked several times for GCash or payment details so I could send the money immediately if needed, but got no reply. This could have been sorted out with a proper check and respectful communication. The dogs and puppies weren’t mine or my responsibility as a guest. I chose to feed and look after them because I love dogs, and staff and guests often interacted with them too. I understood that the peeing and pooping was frustrating and didn’t mind helping clean up, but eventually it felt like the whole responsibility had been put on me. One night, while I was asleep, a receptionist sent me a video of dog poop in the staff room. I apologized the next morning when I saw it. Later that day, I was called and rudely told to clean up what had been left overnight, along with “I can’t clean it.” I felt like I was being treated as staff instead of a paying guest. I cleaned it anyway to keep the peace. Soon after, the puppy was taken away without anyone telling me beforehand. If the dogs had become a serious problem, guests who staff thought were responsible should have been informed in advance. Casavia has a lot of potential as a lovely hostel with professional management. Friendliness matters, but it shouldn’t replace professionalism or blur guest and staff roles. Guests shouldn’t be left handling operational problems, spoken to like employees, or blamed for matters that haven’t been properly checked. I hope this feedback helps improve communication, staff training, and the guest experience.

Loved the open, bright feel of this cute place, and the location worked really well. The food was so good, the staff were lovely, and I felt safe there. Great vibe, and affordable too. Highly recommend!