1949 Dreamy Home

The pool ended up being the highlight for me. I swim laps, and I expected a little 10-metre pool, but it was actually 25 metres with a deep end. Harry let me swim before opening time so I wouldn't interrupt people using it for fun. The water felt just right, not freezing like pools at other places in the Philippines. I was also surprised by the apartment. I thought I'd booked a small room, but it was a spacious, bright, nicely decorated place, very clean, with a big sofa, blackout curtains, a living room fan and bedroom AC that worked well. I'm not usually keen on air conditioning, but I get hot at night, so that setup suited me. The bathroom had a hair dryer and a heater that gave me properly hot shower water. It was my first time in the Philippines with hot water that actually worked. The kitchen had a kettle, stovetop, rice cooker and other good quality appliances made in China. The fridge was very cold and quiet, and Harry left a big jug of drinking water, which I really appreciated because hauling water is stressful for me. I was so glad to be able to cook for myself. I arrived at night and had arranged things with Harry through Agoda. He was there to welcome me and show me around. Panglao is a small island, and the apartment is just off the main road. I walked to most places: Alona beach took 30 minutes, a small cash-only shop for bread and vegetables was 5 minutes away, 7eleven was 10 minutes, and Alturas, a big supermarket, took 34 minutes. Grab also works on the island, so those places are easy to reach by car. It's such a peaceful, quiet spot. I've spent three weeks travelling around the Philippines, and this was my favourite place so far. I'm pretty sure I'll come back. Thanks, Harry, for letting me stay in your dreamy home. Places like this are hard to find in the Philippines, and I'd happily book here again.