Shoreline Beach Resort & Resto, Donsol, Philippines

Inquiries:

This resort did not have a website at time of writing, but you can search Hotels.com for the best deals on accommodations in Donsol, Philippines.

Location:

This budget accommodation is situated on a large property, within a 5-minute walk from the visitor center, where you arrange for the whale shark (locally known as "Butanding") watching tours. The resort is also located closer to town than Vitton Beach Resort, Woodlands Beach Resort and the more upscale Elysia Beach Resort. The walk to town takes about 20 minutes. We also walked to and from the departure or meeting point for the Firefly watching tours, which is located at the base of the bridge by Lola Erna’s Guesthouse on the way to town. Although this resort is on a beach, the beach in this area isn't ideal for swimming or sunbathing, so don't expect to spend anytime on the beach in this area. 

Room Comfort:

The local family taking care of the resort owns three rooms and leases the rest on the behalf of the landowners. We stayed in a room that is owned by the family. The room had a spacious private CR ("comfort room" or bathroom), hot water, A/C and electricity. The room was basic, the A/C was loud and the green wall colour wasn't that appealing, but the room was sufficient for a couple of nights rest. Our room had 2 double beds, one that we used for our luggage and the other for sleeping. All rooms had a nice porch with a couple of bamboo chairs and table. There was a handy clothes line on the porch where we hung our wet clothes to dry. For a budget accommodation, the room was more than sufficient for the price.

Cleanliness:

The room was clean. We did have small ants get into our room near the door, but they didn't bother us. We just had to make sure that our food and snacks were securely packed in plastic sealer bags.

Service:

The owner of the rooms was really friendly and nice. She was the kind of women who went out of her way to make our stay enjoyable. It's a not a 5-star resort, so don't expect the "royal" treatment, but for a budget accommodation she did make a good effort to provide the best service she could. When we first checked in we had trouble with our water heater, but as soon as we made her aware of it, she sent someone, who was able to fix it quickly, to have a look at it.

Food:

There is a restaurant on site. We had a mango shake which was good but small. Although there is a variety of food on the menu, not everything is available at all times. We didn't eat anything else at the restaurant, so we really can't comment further on the food.

Overall Value:

This is a good budget accommodation in Donsol, conveniently located near the departure point to the whale shark tours. Although the rooms are basic, they are more than sufficient. In terms of budget accommodations in Donsol, this is a good option. If you want to spend more than two or three times the cost of this place and stay at a more luxurious place, stay at Elysia Beach Resort down the road from this place. 

Other Notes:

• There is a nice view point of the beach adjacent to this one. Walk towards and past Elysia Beach Resort. A few minutes past the resort, you will reach a point where the road forks into two directions. There is a dirt path on the left at the fork that you will take. It's a few steps up a hill on the dirt path. If you take the fork on the left, you will reach the adjacent beach below. If you take the path on the right, you will be walking through some beautiful country hills.
• There is also a nice view point of Mount Mayon in the distance. It's located about a 20-minute jog (or 40-minute walk) on the path that forks to the right. Mount Mayon is located on the left side after about a 20-minute jog or 40-miute walk.

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