Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa Bohol

I truly believe that this was once THE spot in Panglao. However, we are terribly dissatisfied with our stay. The contact number they provided was not reachable until the day of our arrival. The van that was supposed to pick-up guests left without the remaining passengers, therefore us. Upon our arrival we were greeted by overgrown grass, dead trees, poorly maintained facade. The main lobby was closed and we were directed to a make shift office in one of the villas. The person who greeted us did not know how to speak English and could not assist us with our inquiry about the resort facilities and spa services. She was not wearing a uniform or a name tag therefore we cannot determine if she was a staff. Finally, another person came in and informed us that check-in is not until 2PM, so we gladly proceeded to the restaurant. From our time of arrival, there was another family that came before us. We ordered lunch but it took an hour and a half for our food to come out. Mentioning again, that there’s only one other family with us. There were no servers on site and if there were they look very unhappy to be working. Check-in time. Although the room is spacious it lacked the vibe. The curtains were heavy and dusty. The ceiling had several watermarks from poor AC piping. The fridge was moldy. An open bottle wine from previous guest. Ugh! I think this entire place was just a missed. It was one issue after another. But there were some serious hazardous things at the resort.

I had high hopes for Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, but unfortunately, my experience was nothing short of appalling. What was once likely a beautiful property has clearly been neglected, and the reality was far from the luxurious retreat they promote. Upon arrival, it became evident that the resort was in disrepair. The facilities were rundown, dirty, and felt completely abandoned. The pool bar was covered in bird droppings, and nearly everything seemed to be broken or half-repaired (including tractors parked on the beach). Despite advertising cable TV, it wasn’t available. The restaurant had limited food options, and when I ordered room service, I was handed a tray and expected to carry it to my room myself. Cleanliness was a major concern — there were ants crawling on the bread rolls, and much of the food seemed stale or old. The lakes and ponds were murky and polluted, adding to the overall feeling of neglect. The most unsettling part of my stay was the bizarre and uncomfortable encounter with security. When I attempted to leave the property for a simple walk on the beach, I was aggressively stopped by security guards — accompanied by a vicious German Shepherd. The owner later claimed this was due to a recent ****** nearby and that a police surveillance plane was monitoring the area — a highly suspicious and frankly unbelievable excuse. The whole resort felt deserted, and the staff, rather than being welcoming or helpful, seemed to spend their time staring at guests in an unsettling way. To top it off, my checkout experience added frustration to an already disappointing stay. I had a two-hour window between the resort’s noon checkout time and when I needed to leave for the airport. Despite the fact that we were clearly the only guests at the property — and no one was checking in that day — I was told a late checkout would cost $40 per hour. It felt petty and exploitative, especially given the overall condition of the resort. What’s most frustrating is that it’s clear this place was once something special. The property itself has great potential, but it’s obvious that the owners — who conveniently live in the main villa on the beach — have stopped investing in the resort while still profiting from guests. It felt as though we were subsidizing their lifestyle while they neglected the very place that should be their responsibility to maintain. I would strongly advise anyone considering Eskaya to avoid it. The photos online do not reflect the current reality. This place is in serious decline, and sadly, what could have been a memorable vacation turned into a stressful, uncomfortable experience.

This property has a certain charm, is very atmospheric with pretty gardens, but seems passed its prime. The room we were given smelled strongly of mold, the private pool was too gross to swim in, the small beach was not inviting and everything generally felt decrepit, dirty and in poor condition. After complaining and showing staff our issues with the room, we were eventually moved to another one which was much better. Our experience wasn't great but some may like it and staff was responsive. Seemed very over priced despite private pool.

Upon Arrival
We arrived early because we took the earliest flight from Manila to Bohol. We were welcomed by the owner, who rudely asked, “Oh, you’re three people?” Yes, it’s indicated in our booking and then said, “You’re too early to check in.” We explained that we were aware of this and were only there to leave our luggage, as is customary at other hotels. Her staff began asking for our IDs, but the owner interrupted and said, “No, no, no! Later at 2 PM. Check-in is at 2 PM. Just come back.” We responded politely, saying, “Yes, we know. No problem.” Check-In
When we returned to check in, the staff member assisting us was pleasant, unlike the owner. Our booking was for December 23-26. Swimming Pool
While swimming, I experienced itchy skin and discovered algae in both the villa and common swimming pools. (See attached photos.) Sun Bed Foam
The sunbed foam was full of mold and clearly hadn’t been cleaned.( see attached photos) Housekeeping
On our second day, we placed the “Please make up room” sign outside and also informed the front desk to clean our room. However, no one came. When we returned to our villa at 3 AM, we noticed a housekeeping cart outside our door. We called the front desk to ask why the room hadn’t been cleaned, and they claimed they didn’t have an extra key to enter. Towels We used the gym and asked for towels, but they gave us floor mat towels that are meant for feet. Guards and Cart Drivers
The staff, including guards and cart drivers, were inattentive. Guests are supposed to park in the designated parking area and request a golf cart to the villa, which is fine. However, there were times when it took a long time for the cart to arrive. Breakfast
It was just okay. 3rd day breakfast we noticed ants all over the ladle for the pumpkin soup. See attached photo Beach Tracks of a tractor on the shore? What is this, a construction site? And also full of algae in the water too Phone Inquiry
No proper phone etiquette. Even the owner sounds like she’s answering her personal mobile phone. No “Good morning,” “Good day,” or “Good evening.” Villa Key Is this what you call luxury??? See photo And to the owners of this Resort The lady owner was illogical, rude, lacked emotional intelligence, and clearly did not understand the meaning of "customer service” The Worst Part: Christmas Day
We went out for a family dinner on Christmas Eve and returned to the hotel at 3 AM. At 7 AM, our phone rang. My husband answered, irritated, and I overheard the conversation. A staff member rudely told us we had to leave because someone else would be checking into our villa. The guy on the other end of the line was very rude, not even apologetic or pleasant to talk to. We were shocked at how insensitive they were, especially calling so early in the morning. Frustrated, I went to the front desk and confronted them. I asked, “Do you know what time it is? It’s 7 AM on Christmas Day! Is this how you treat your guests?” After a few minutes, the ow

Definitely NOT recommending this resort to anyone. We feel pitty for the staff who have not been supervised and managed well because they receive all the complaints and frustrations from guests. The facilities were not maintained, showers, bidet, and restrooms don't give you such comfort. Another terrible experience was when we were told we can order in-room dining, but later, another staff refused to grant our request because we can only eat in the dinner buffet where the options are not our preference. So we had to ride a toktok (public transpo in bohol) to go to the city and buy food. Breakfast food were so-so. Few options. Even had a small strand of hair on the egg, told the staff, but no action was made. Staff do not coordinate with guests requests. Unless the management does something to improve the facilities and services, train their staff on how to handle guest requests, I don't think this resort will stand another year.