Villa Maya Siargao

Villa Maya sits in the sweet spot between Cloud 9 and General Luna – close enough to walk to the surf at sunrise, far enough from the main drag that you won’t hear drunk backpackers at 2am. The infinity pool looks out over the water, there’s a small golf course with free club access (yes, really), and the whole setup has a genuine home-feel that most hotels on the island fail to fake.

The rooms are clean and properly air-conditioned, the wifi works, and breakfast comes with actual options – the shakshuka gets mentioned by name in multiple reviews, which tells you something. Staff are consistently described as attentive without being in your face.

Scooter rental sits directly across the road at 350 pesos a day, which solves any distance concerns immediately. This is a relaxed base for people who want to surf, eat well, and not feel like they’re in a hostel.