Apo Island Lodges, Homestays and Resorts
Although it is doable as a day trip, Apo Island is a good place to get acquainted to at a slow pace. We recommend staying a night or two to explore the the island at leisure and avoid the circus when day trippers arrive. If you heed our advice though, make sure to book months in advance as there's only a handful of accommodations in the island.
Budget
Considering that the transfer to the island along with other expenses are already quite steep, it is a welcome surprise that accommodations don't cost an arm and a leg. You can even haggle if you've feel like you've bonded pretty well with the owner right from the start.
Mary's Homestay is a popular budget option here. We were able to get our private double occupancy room for only PHP600 per night which is inclusive of basic bathroom and breakfast. There's a shared kitchen too if you wish to stretch your pocket money some more. It's a humble, no-frills abode that is both quaint and cosy. They also have their own boats for your transfer, snorkelling, and diving needs.
Ronor's Lodging House is another homestay offering a private room for 2 with free breakfast at PHP500. Don't expect anything fancy for brekkie. They have a restaurant though where you can get the rest of your meals. Tasty, but not exactly a bargain. The rooms are clean and basic and come with a fan. Windows are quite wide too so it's airy even when the electricity is out. Mosquito nets are also provided. However, walls are thin and bathrooms are shared.
Mid-Range
Striking the perfect balance between affordability and comfort is Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay. They're not exactly beachfront but their elevated location affords the guests a gorgeous view of the sea and the sunset. Rates start at PHP300 for a dorm bed with private rooms available from PHP500 to PHP1000. Extra beds cost only PHP200. We really liked our room which was while spartan, but very spacious and comfortable. The meals were filling and delicious and with some degree of variety. We also loved that there's inexpensive water refills and solar powered fans.
If we have just one gripe during our stay here, it's just that we wish the owner were more warm and welcoming. But maybe, it's just one of those days. And oh, their scuba diving services and rates were excellent!
Top End
Although the Liberty Lodge and Dive might be considered a luxury in the island, do not expect Michelin starred on-site restaurant and 5-star amenities. Like everywhere else on the island, there is no running water and electricity is sporadic. However, we loved staying in our sea view room and it was nice chilling out in the balcony as the sun sank in the horizon.
The few things we were disappointed with though were the worn out dive equipment and the fact that we had to step out of the room to access our bathroom. Private room rates are between PHP2100 and PHP3100 inclusive of three meals per day. They also have a mixed dormitory room at the back of the building targeted towards backpackers and budget travellers.
Perhaps the most exclusive but also the most pricey accommodation on the island is the Apo Island Beach Resort. Private rooms are available from PHP2700 to PHP3400 although they also offer dorm beds at PHP800 per pax. What's special about it is that it's hidden away in a cove.
The only drawback of this resort is that you have to wade your way through seawater going to or from the village during high tide. Other than this, we loved everything about our stay: the pebble covered beach, the hammocks, the view, the privacy, the sun lounges beneath the coconut trees, and our clean and comfortable room. In conclusion, this was our most favourite stay in the island.
