Havendwell Beach Resort

It’s quite far from Mambajao and Benone port, but the hotel has only five or six rooms, and they’re spacious, with balconies facing the sea. It feels like an old villa, with a restaurant next door and direct access to the island’s black sand beach. You can also see White Island in the distance, the white sandy patch isolated in the sea about 2 km from Camiguin. The girl at reception was helpful and can fry some eggs, useful since there aren’t many food choices nearby. There’s a mini fridge and kettle, the bathroom is sufficient, and the Wi-Fi and AC were okay. Motorbike rental is 400php for 24 hours, pricier than on other islands, but one day is enough to go around Camiguin.

The best part was the customer service, easily the friendliest I’ve ever had at a hotel or resort. The views and comfort were wonderful, and morning swims were excellent. The beach is just steps from the bedroom door. I also got to meet the owner, Benjamin, who was personable and nice, and knew a lot about the island and where to go. I had an amazing stay at the Havendwell Beach Resort and will come back every time I visit Camiguin.

Rose and the staff did everything they could to make our stay comfortable, and breakfast was tasty and plentiful. The rooms were relatively comfortable for a short stay, even though they looked nothing like the listing photos. They’re old and worn, especially the bathrooms, and the chipboard furniture is tatty. Many places are still recovering from the pandemic and dealing with maintenance, but I think Havendwell had been neglected even before it. I’ve managed 3 to 5 star hotels and resorts for 30 years, so I should be clear: despite the name, this is not a resort. It’s a simple apartment-style building with one shared balcony overlooking the covered restaurant roof.

The room was just acceptable, and at night the balcony looked onto a plastic roof when the sea wasn’t visible. The beachfront was unclean, with dark brown sand that wasn’t inviting. I’m comparing it with another resort in Luzon, where the sand was immaculate and the view was great, just a few steps from my room. Prices here are higher for less value than in the cities. The island also seems to depend a lot on boat trips to nearby islands, since it doesn’t offer much itself.