Chema's by the Sea

After a stay in Davao in September, we wanted a break from the busy city and booked cabin 1 at the last minute. It turned out to be the best stay we've had in the Philippines. The cabin was great, the staff were amazing, and the water was crystal clear. You can have meals served at your cabin or anywhere on the immaculate grounds. We want to come back!

The property was beautiful and the service excellent, and we loved getting to and from it by speedboat. Our two-bedroom suite was relatively spacious, with a fantastic view from one of the bedrooms. Food took a while to arrive. We only spent one night there and wished we could have stayed longer, though we didn't get to explore the surrounding area.

My overnight stay was a very different experience from the day tour. During the overnight visit, we were welcomed with drinks and received great service. On the day tour, the staff didn't seem to know what was in the food, the cashier took her frustration out on me when a crowd arrived, and there weren't enough bathrooms even on a busy weekend. I think that was my last visit.

We'd had a good previous experience here, so I chose the resort for family visiting from abroad. We called ahead to reserve Deck 2 and were told clearly that it was available. They asked us to text our details, which I did right away, then I called and texted again the night before to confirm. When we arrived, another group was already using Deck 2. Staff said they hadn't recorded our reservation and apologized, but offered no compensation, alternative, or real fix. They simply said nothing could be done. If we'd known sooner, we'd have booked somewhere else, especially since other Samal resorts are cheaper and more reliable. This has seriously damaged our trust, and we won't return.