Gustavs Place

The room was neat and clean, though the walls had visible dirt stains and needed repainting. The staff made our stay good through their professionalism. They were helpful from first contact through departure, and special thanks to Cyra for handling planning, reservations, reliable updates, and hosting us. Cyra, who works in the office, also did housekeeping, and the kitchen staff took on housekeeping too. They seemed understaffed, but everyone worked professionally. Aiza in the kitchen was kind and offered to prepare food if we ordered ahead. The menu had limited choices, and most items were unavailable when we arrived, with only chicken on offer, so we chose to buy food and fruit in town. The food we did have was tasty. My suggestion to management is to invest in staffing. Saving on salaries with too few people can lead to delays and service lapses.

The reef sites were great, and the crew made an effort to vary them. The boat food was really good, and cold beers were available. I went on a 3-day Apo Reef liveaboard with Gustavs Place in November. The dive masters were great, though a little grumpy on days 2 and 3. Sleeping on the top deck was incredibly basic, just as advertised. The compressor broke on the first day and was repaired quickly. The air was fine for all 9 dives, but seeing how old and rusty the compressor engine was felt unsettling. Some safety measures also seemed questionable, including batteries under the water dispenser, and the old compressor should be replaced. The equipment was actually pretty good, with new wetsuits and booties. The BCDs and regulators were older and could use replacing, but were still okay. All in all, it was a good trip and good value for money, as described, but don't expect more than that.

The dives were really good, and the guides did a good job. The reef was quiet, with no other boats around, and had the most intact coral and sea life I’d seen in the Philippines so far. That made up for some of the tour’s flaws. I’d describe it as a “normal philippino dive trip.” I took the 2D 1N Apo Reef tour with Gustavs Place. Communication beforehand was good, and the staff were friendly and helpful both on the boat and at the resort. The boat was pretty worn down; its engine didn't inspire confidence, and it was a miracle the compressor was still running. Don’t expect much comfort, though they had everything needed. The equipment was okay and a bit worn, but we had no problems. Still, maintenance and safety could be better, including a pre-dive buddy check. Things on the boat could have been more organized. The food was basic, and drinks were limited to water, coffee, and some coke. Tea would have been nice for people who don't drink coffee. The resort was basic too, but its location on a quiet beach was superb. You need a boat to get there.

The stay was very disappointing. We gave notice about arriving late, contacted them through Agoda, texted, and called several times, but got no response. After travelling for hours, we found no staff at the property, and the Agoda contact number couldn't be reached. It was very dark and felt unsafe, and nobody helped us when we were stranded late at night. We eventually found somewhere else to stay. We also got conflicting information about our refund. Communication was poor, the contact details were inaccurate, and the customer service was completely lacking.