Camotes Ocean Heaven Resort

We gave up and cancelled our order. I’d rather go hungry than wait any longer, and I hope the restaurant improves how it handles orders and prepares food. Staff should also be trained to respond properly when customers raise a concern. We waited nearly 90 minutes and never got our food. People who ordered 30 to 40 minutes after us had already eaten and left. During the wait, we checked at the counter three times and were told each time that our order was still being prepared. When we finally asked why it was taking so long, the staff member first said earlier orders were ahead of ours. Once she realized we’d ordered much earlier, she changed her explanation to say the staff were overwhelmed and had mixed up orders. Then she impatiently said, “I don’t want to argue with you right now. Either you wait, or you cancel the order.” That response did nothing to solve the problem. I could have gone home, showered, and come back, and the food still wouldn’t have been ready.

Breakfast had a good range of choices, and the staff were amazing, polite, and welcoming. The resort is very nice, with lovely pools and rooms, and you can rent a scooter at the hotel. The WiFi wasn’t steady, so it’s not ideal if you need to work on a laptop. There wasn’t much hot water in the shower, either, and it tasted slightly salty. Even so, I highly recommend the place and would stay again.

Camotes Ocean Heaven Resort is where I’d choose to stay if I had the time again. It’s quiet and peaceful, with comfy beds, quiet air con, clean spacious rooms, a fridge, and decent TV channels. The gardens are nicely landscaped, the place is very well kept, and there are two pools. The staff were professional and pleasant, and free pickup from the pier was a bonus, with a truck big enough for luggage. The terrace chairs and sun loungers could be more comfortable. The restaurant menu is decent, while breakfast is basic, though better than what we had at a newer nearby hotel. A well-known resort just down the road charges a small entry fee, though it might be free if you eat there. It’s a bit dated but nice for a walk and sunset views around its famous landmark. There are also lots of dogs roaming around, and they urinate on the nice beach furniture. Across the road, a small kiosk rents scooters at a fair price, with discounts for a few days, and also arranges tours.

I went in January, when it wasn’t busy, and really liked the place. The indoor pools for kids and adults, plus the man-made cave system and slides, were especially cool for families. They also rent scooters for 500 pesos per 24 hours, which is a nice touch. At $19 a night, the price was good. They were out of a lot of things I tried to order from the menu. That seems to happen a lot in the Philippines, so it wasn’t a big deal.