Out of the Blue Resort

We went in the off season and had the two pools mostly to ourselves, since we were the only family there for much of the week. The pools were great and had lovely views. Our top villa was clean and spacious, with comfortable patio chairs and excellent ocean views. We saw both sunrises and sunsets. There are plenty of stairs, but they weren’t too bad for us. The place was quiet, and when the power went out once, staff had it back within about an hour. They went above and beyond, and we really liked the food at the Verandah restaurant too. We had a fantastic week and highly recommend it.

On my last night, someone got into my room while I was asleep and took my phone and some cash. My luggage had been opened and items moved. The door was locked, and there was no sign of forced entry, so I still don’t know how they got in. When I told the staff, they were dismissive and suggested I’d been drunk or brought someone back. Neither was true. I’d gone to bed early, alone and sober. The corridor camera wasn’t working when I asked for footage, and staff waited more than an hour before trying to call my local SIM to help locate the phone. I had to go to the police station myself to report the theft. Only after I emailed the hotel did they say they’d also been robbed that night. Later they sent a CCTV screenshot of someone in the restaurant and a copy of their police report. The hotel said its insurance wouldn’t cover my stolen property. Since only my room was targeted, I suspect someone knew I was travelling alone and it was my last day. Losing my phone meant losing access to GPS, plane tickets, Grab, and other things while away from home, and it wasn’t cheap. The money was hard-earned too, and I had to buy a new phone. Being robbed in my sleep, with the risk I might wake up during it, was frightening and deeply disappointing. I want the hotel to improve security, fix the CCTV, and respond better instead of accusing guests of things that aren’t true. My reaction is mild given what happened. I’m not running a campaign or trying to harm the hotel. I could have encouraged others to post negative reviews, but I didn’t. When I asked about transport in advance, I was told to get a tuktuk from the port. I don’t know if that was a misunderstanding, but the hotel didn’t offer to arrange transport, and getting there with luggage was difficult. I was dropped at Laguna and had to carry everything over the beach and up stairs. I chose Out of the Blue because it was convenient for diving with Action Divers and had a good reputation. That convenience doesn’t feel worth it when rooms aren’t secure and the response to a crime is dismissive. I usually travel alone and know the dos and don’ts. The hotel’s reply said I had been targeted by people I met around Puerto Galera, but that’s pure speculation. I went to Sabang daily just for dinner and didn’t go out. The owner also said a police report had been filed immediately and another prepared later, but the theft happened on the 19th and their report is dated the 22nd. In the reply on Dec 27th, the owner claimed there was an unlocked balcony door. What was that based on?

The villas are spacious and comfortable, with beautiful ocean views that make it easy to sit back with a coffee and relax. The diving was a highlight of my stay at Out of the Blue. Through their partnership with Action Divers, getting geared up and into the water was quick and easy. I saw walls of colourful coral, lots of fish, and a turtle cruising by. The guides seemed very knowledgeable, and I felt safe throughout. After a long dive, I loved having a cold drink and a good meal at The Verandah while watching the sunset. It was a great mix of adventure and downtime.

Our stay in this hidden paradise was wonderful, and the scuba diving nearby was superb. It’s also just a scooter ride to waterfalls and pristine beaches. The Verandah serves delicious food, especially seafood, and the staff were friendly and went out of their way to make our holiday special. The accommodation and service were great, and we highly recommend it.