Hippocampus Beach Resort Restaurant
Hippocampus Beach Resort Restaurant Pictures & Reviews (Malapascua Island, Philippines)
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Hippocampus resort is at the cheaper end of the resorts on the beach…so you tend to get what you pay for. (Not always…you can pay…and not get!). It's not a five star resort...however, read on........
It is effectively co-located with Devocean dive centre…and that is very convenient if you are diving.
The staff…all the staff…were very helpful and friendly. (I have read a few comments to the contrary…all I can say is everyone, housekeeping, gardening, reception, bar/restaurant were really fine).
The bar is nice…prices fair, girls lovely. The food is also OK and the ‘free’ breakfast was good too. No complaints there at all. Variety of food…everything I had was fine…except for the coffee! (I see others have commented on that…they really should change their coffee!!)
I took a room with aircon and hot shower. That may have been an error ! The aircon’s are small window mounted ‘combi’ units and these are rarely much good. I think it may have dropped the temperature in the room by 2 degrees, but that was about it. The wall mounted fan was fine…and let’s face it, hopefully you will not be in your room that much…and the fan was just fine for sleeping. Hot shower? Well again this is a problem with most places and I doubt the more expensive resorts would be any better unless they used pumped showers…low water pressure/flow rate…but sufficient.
The room was OK…and the housekeeping will clean each day if you wish…most places don’t. Clean…with enough storage ‘racking’. (Again..,this is often NOT the case). Nice balcony to sit late evenings.
Room locations…it’s always asked…and it’s a very personal thing. Some reviewers have said pay for the beach front rooms. I would say go to the back of the garden. If you are a late-night person and don’t mind ‘bar noise’, then maybe the beach front…but they are near the bar…and that can (and did) get noisy. My place right at the back (No 4) was nice and quiet. Depends what you want.
If you want ‘luxury’ and are happy to pay for it there are some very smart looking places…but they are pricy. This place is fine…and if you are diving at Devocean then it’s very convenient as the two are co-located.
No complaints at all…it’s a very friendly value-for-money place. (Actually, I do wish they would get better pillows!!)
It is effectively co-located with Devocean dive centre…and that is very convenient if you are diving.
The staff…all the staff…were very helpful and friendly. (I have read a few comments to the contrary…all I can say is everyone, housekeeping, gardening, reception, bar/restaurant were really fine).
The bar is nice…prices fair, girls lovely. The food is also OK and the ‘free’ breakfast was good too. No complaints there at all. Variety of food…everything I had was fine…except for the coffee! (I see others have commented on that…they really should change their coffee!!)
I took a room with aircon and hot shower. That may have been an error ! The aircon’s are small window mounted ‘combi’ units and these are rarely much good. I think it may have dropped the temperature in the room by 2 degrees, but that was about it. The wall mounted fan was fine…and let’s face it, hopefully you will not be in your room that much…and the fan was just fine for sleeping. Hot shower? Well again this is a problem with most places and I doubt the more expensive resorts would be any better unless they used pumped showers…low water pressure/flow rate…but sufficient.
The room was OK…and the housekeeping will clean each day if you wish…most places don’t. Clean…with enough storage ‘racking’. (Again..,this is often NOT the case). Nice balcony to sit late evenings.
Room locations…it’s always asked…and it’s a very personal thing. Some reviewers have said pay for the beach front rooms. I would say go to the back of the garden. If you are a late-night person and don’t mind ‘bar noise’, then maybe the beach front…but they are near the bar…and that can (and did) get noisy. My place right at the back (No 4) was nice and quiet. Depends what you want.
If you want ‘luxury’ and are happy to pay for it there are some very smart looking places…but they are pricy. This place is fine…and if you are diving at Devocean then it’s very convenient as the two are co-located.
No complaints at all…it’s a very friendly value-for-money place. (Actually, I do wish they would get better pillows!!)
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Room Tip: Beach front rooms nice but near the bar/noise. Back of garden much quiter
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Responded Oct 8, 2016
Hello Nick - sorry we had you confused with the other large group from Malaysia!
Sorry about the water pressure, etc., but as you already mentioned it is like that in almost all hotels here on the island... difficult to get the pressure up!
As for the air-con, we regularly service, clean, and check up our air con units here, so we will have someone checkup the room number 4 air conditioning unit. We apologize that it was not taken care of in advance. This room is generally rented as a fan room, so the air con is not usually being used... this could be the problem. Thanks for the note.
We appreciate the kind comments about the staff and are very happy we could serve you to your standards. The bar can get noisy in the evenings, but generally does not have an effect on the beachfront rooms due to the new soundproof windows and doors. This guest was staying very far away from the bar in the standard rooms at the back and did not spend one night in the beachfront deluxe rooms, so he cannot fairly judge noise in the beachfront rooms!
Thanks again for your stay and your comments - we hope to see you back again soon!
Sorry about the water pressure, etc., but as you already mentioned it is like that in almost all hotels here on the island... difficult to get the pressure up!
As for the air-con, we regularly service, clean, and check up our air con units here, so we will have someone checkup the room number 4 air conditioning unit. We apologize that it was not taken care of in advance. This room is generally rented as a fan room, so the air con is not usually being used... this could be the problem. Thanks for the note.
We appreciate the kind comments about the staff and are very happy we could serve you to your standards. The bar can get noisy in the evenings, but generally does not have an effect on the beachfront rooms due to the new soundproof windows and doors. This guest was staying very far away from the bar in the standard rooms at the back and did not spend one night in the beachfront deluxe rooms, so he cannot fairly judge noise in the beachfront rooms!
Thanks again for your stay and your comments - we hope to see you back again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We spent 10 days during Holy Week in the north of Cebu on Malapscua Island ,
staying in Hippocampus Beach Resort
This small resort is situated directly on the fine white sand of the main beach,
There are many trees on the beach and inside the resort and atmosphere is personal and laid back. The small size (you can walk around it in 2-3 hours) and pace of the island contribute to create a feeling of tranquility and relaxation.
We stayed in the standard room, which has only electrifan and small but comfortable enough. More costly room have aircon and hot shower, some are located right on the beach. Restaurant and bar provide a perfect area to relax. Meals are good size and tasty and there is a wide range of snacks. Service is friendly although not always very fast and the German owner usually opens for a chat in the evening. With the dive centre and their fantastic team, which is conveniently located next to the reception, Hippocampus for divers like us looking to get away from it all. We have been lucky enough to see Tresher sharks and Mantas in a single dive and there is always a lot of makro stuff to spot. I think non-divers will also like the place, you can spend the day at the beach and enjoy the sea or order the cocktail from the beach bar. They even have the draft beer and don’t be surprise two cocktails when you order one at the Happy Hour.
We will comeback for another Holiday.
staying in Hippocampus Beach Resort
This small resort is situated directly on the fine white sand of the main beach,
There are many trees on the beach and inside the resort and atmosphere is personal and laid back. The small size (you can walk around it in 2-3 hours) and pace of the island contribute to create a feeling of tranquility and relaxation.
We stayed in the standard room, which has only electrifan and small but comfortable enough. More costly room have aircon and hot shower, some are located right on the beach. Restaurant and bar provide a perfect area to relax. Meals are good size and tasty and there is a wide range of snacks. Service is friendly although not always very fast and the German owner usually opens for a chat in the evening. With the dive centre and their fantastic team, which is conveniently located next to the reception, Hippocampus for divers like us looking to get away from it all. We have been lucky enough to see Tresher sharks and Mantas in a single dive and there is always a lot of makro stuff to spot. I think non-divers will also like the place, you can spend the day at the beach and enjoy the sea or order the cocktail from the beach bar. They even have the draft beer and don’t be surprise two cocktails when you order one at the Happy Hour.
We will comeback for another Holiday.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
It's just what you need if you come to dive. With a great dive center on it. So you just check in and enjoy your diving! The only thing that I would improve: the Wi-Fi doesn't exist in the rooms. The restaurant is really good and you are in front of the beach!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Responded Sep 9, 2017
Hi Ferran,
thank you for staying with us and thank you for the review!
We are already working on improving our Wi-Fi. The island is provided with internet since 5 years, but the options are still limited. :)
Cheers and sunny greetings from Malapascua,
Stefan
thank you for staying with us and thank you for the review!
We are already working on improving our Wi-Fi. The island is provided with internet since 5 years, but the options are still limited. :)
Cheers and sunny greetings from Malapascua,
Stefan
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ok, looks can be deceiving.
When we arrrived in may 2013 after emailing back and forth with Christy the manager and owner we were welcome to stay at Hippocampus for four nights.
The room was ok, bit scruffy but agreeable. The staff was great, the garden was lush and the beachfront restaurant was great and the menu looked great. Christy herself welcomed us with a welcome drink. Perfect life on a bounty beach. However: looks can be deceiving.
After the first night and full day on the island we returned at the resort, a staff member told us that we could just stay one more night.
We told her that we made a reservation for three more nights, and showed her in the booking book. We were suddenly scratched out.
We could pay for two nights and move to the house of the brother of the owner, far from the beach. ( owner's brother????? What?)
We argued and pleaded, and however all staffmembers agreed that we were completely right, case was closed. Owner Christy was called, not around to break the bad news. We packed our bags and left; paying just one night. We ended up in the Legend Resort next door.
Everyday we would pass Hippocampus and Christy, the owner was there almost every time, and never did she apologise, nor explain why and how she screwed up this deal.
Angry and dissappointed, our stay at Hippocampus was one not to be remembered.
Beware: looks can be deceiving.
When we arrrived in may 2013 after emailing back and forth with Christy the manager and owner we were welcome to stay at Hippocampus for four nights.
The room was ok, bit scruffy but agreeable. The staff was great, the garden was lush and the beachfront restaurant was great and the menu looked great. Christy herself welcomed us with a welcome drink. Perfect life on a bounty beach. However: looks can be deceiving.
After the first night and full day on the island we returned at the resort, a staff member told us that we could just stay one more night.
We told her that we made a reservation for three more nights, and showed her in the booking book. We were suddenly scratched out.
We could pay for two nights and move to the house of the brother of the owner, far from the beach. ( owner's brother????? What?)
We argued and pleaded, and however all staffmembers agreed that we were completely right, case was closed. Owner Christy was called, not around to break the bad news. We packed our bags and left; paying just one night. We ended up in the Legend Resort next door.
Everyday we would pass Hippocampus and Christy, the owner was there almost every time, and never did she apologise, nor explain why and how she screwed up this deal.
Angry and dissappointed, our stay at Hippocampus was one not to be remembered.
Beware: looks can be deceiving.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Responded May 10, 2013
This is Cristy, I am not really pleased to be called 'straight out of hell', as you may imagine. No question, this booking did not run very smooth. What happened is this: Clients emailed us on may 29 from southern Cebu, asked for a room and a reservation was made for may 1st. On may 1st we received another mail, saying that they could not make it on this day. We replied and recommended to just show up in the resort the next day and that we would be able to help. The originally booked room was rented out then to another couple for a longer stay, thus avoiding any cancellation fee. At that stage a third couple from a prepaid fan room had finally decided to leave for an aircon room in another resort (2 nights cancellation fee, we expected this as they had already determinedly asked for an upgrade to an ac room, but all our ac rooms were occupied). This vacant fan room was now given to the clients the other day. Everybody would have been happy now, but things turned out different. Unexpectedly the people of the prebooked and prepaid room showed up two days later and wanted to occupy their room again. Now we were in trouble, the booked guest were - argueably -given priority and the couple, so badly reporting now here, was asked to leave. So a complicated situation we tried to resolve elegantly turned out to become bad. Attempts to offer another room further inland and indeed 2 min walk from the beach failed and the guests opted for a more expensive room in another resort. Looking at this from a distance, we tried to find the best solution for everybody, took a too high risk and unfortunately failed. It is a lesson to be paid.
sorry for that
Cristy
sorry for that
Cristy
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hippocampus Beach Resort , one of the best place in Malapascua. We stayed for 3 days at the Deluxe Beachfront room. We love the view of the beach that we can easily see from our window. As me and my wife are photo enthusiasts. We took a lot of great photos in this resort. There are a lot of good spots for picture taking here. We enjoyed a one discover scuba dive at French Kiss diving school. The staff in morning and night shift was good and very friendly. We take our diner while sitting in white sand with sea view. The food from “Magellane Restaurant” was always delicious and to an affordable price. We will come back for sure next year.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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