South Palms Panglao Mgallery

The sea view and the sound of the waves made it easy to slow down and relax at Oceanica Panglao. It's a calm, clean place by the beach, with open areas and fresh air to enjoy. The grounds are well kept, and the layout and little details feel inviting. The food was good, especially with a table by the water. We had a wonderful, memorable stay and really enjoyed the peaceful setting.

Anne, the Food and Beverage Manager, deserves a special mention. With my years in hospitality and management, I can recognize strong leadership. She's professional, visible, supportive of the team, and leads by example. A real gem, and worth every penny. The beach was immaculate, and the team clearly works hard to keep it that way. Housekeeping also did a fantastic job: the beds were turned down each evening and tea, coffee, and amenities were replenished. The rooms, food, and staff were exceptional. Jan on the evening shift was always moving around the restaurant, clearing plates and spotting guests who needed help. Her attention to detail stood out. Breakfast staff were amazing too, attentive without hovering, and Jasper's smile made every morning a pleasure. The front-of-house team were friendly, welcoming, and always smiling. A couple of little things could be improved. Mosquitoes found me during both massages. Maybe ceiling fans like those in the breakfast area would help keep them away and make things easier for the staff. The evening bar playlist could also use more variety. The songs are good, but after several nights on repeat, they'll probably be in my dreams along with the resort. And the pizza was spot on, thin and crispy. Much better than a thick pan base that feels like it could sink you to the bottom of the pool. Thanks to the whole team for a wonderful stay. We'd gladly return and recommend it to everyone.

The beach itself is beautiful, and service from the other employees was great. But ordering food and drinks on the beach was a different story. The food and drinks were average at best, and the prices were the highest we'd seen since arriving in the Philippines. Beach access cost 500₽, which became a 500₽ credit for food and drinks, and they brought orders to us. Once ours arrived, we waited an hour and a half just to get someone's attention to pay the rest of the bill. The beach wasn't busy, and I saw 8-10 waiters chatting at the bar. That service was pretty abysmal.

I didn't stay at the hotel, so I can't comment on the rooms. For beach and pool access, you can pay 500 pesos for selected loungers, the beach, and credit toward the buffet, or 888 pesos for all loungers, the pool and beach, plus a 30-minute kayak ride. The fine white sand was lovely. Every so often a cleaning tractor went by to clear washed-up seaweed, and there's a cute hammock and swing for photos. I had fries and a panini, both delicious, and the drinks hit the spot. I'd recommend the fruit shakes.