This post contains several suggestions for places on where to stay in Bohol, specifically in Panglao, an island located at the southern tip of Bohol, and home to some of the region’s best beaches.
First, I’ll talk about the hotel where we stayed, the South Palms, before sharing a few other popular options.
Alona Beach is undoubtedly the most popular area among visitors. If you enjoy staying somewhere lively with plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars nearby, this is probably the best place for you to stay. Unfortunately, we never actually made it to Alona Beach ourselves. We only spent four days in Bohol, and with so much to see and do, Maria Rita was completely exhausted by the end of each day. However, if I ever return to Bohol, visiting Alona Beach will definitely be high on my list.
South Palms
I booked our Lunar New Year holiday for February 2026 at the South Palms shortly after it had opened. It’s a proper full-service resort with everything you could ask for, including a spa, a gym, a kids’ club and daily entertainment programme. From the moment we arrived, we were genuinely impressed (in the best possible way 😉)
The stunning reception area features large open spaces and beautiful design details inspired by traditional Boholano architecture and materials. The resort itself is lovely, as are the rooms. We stayed in an entry-level room, but many of the rooms offer direct access to the pool, and some even have their own private pool.
Photo 1: View from the South Palms reception area (Where to Stay in Bohol – South Palms)
Photo 2: View from our room overlooking the children’s pools (Where to Stay in Bohol – South Palms)
As for the service, there were still a few areas that could be improved, but that’s completely understandable given that the resort had only been open for six months. I’m sure the operation is running much more smoothly by now. The friendliness of the staff was what stood out most. They gave us a very warm welcome throughout our stay.
A few things to know before booking at the South Palms:
🏖️ The beach right in front of the resort isn’t the best place to swim
There are quite a few rocks, and the sand is very muddy in some areas – the kind where your feet sink in! You can still cool off in certain areas if you wear water shoes. However, if you want to swim or snorkel properly, you’ll need to walk around 300 metres along the beach towards the Oceanica Resort. The water there is crystal clear and well worth the short walk.
Photos 3, 4 and 5: Beach in front of South Palms (Where to Stay in Bohol – South Palms)
💸 The resort’s restaurants are quite expensive
There is a restaurant specialising in Filipino cuisine and another serving more international beach-style dishes such as salads, burgers and pasta. The food was good at both restaurants, particularly at the Filipino one, but the prices were similar to those in Singapore, albeit with the added benefit of a beachfront setting.
Photo 6: Grilled fish from UMA restaurant, which serves Filipino cuisine inspired by a farm-to-table concept
Photo 7: Grilled squid from UMA restaurant, which serves Filipino cuisine inspired by a farm-to-table concept
Unfortunately, there aren’t many dining options within walking distance of the resort, but you can always take a tuk-tuk to nearby restaurants.
For restaurant recommendations, have a look at my guide:
Knowing all of the above, I would still happily recommend South Palms. Maria Rita absolutely loved it, especially because she made new friends and there was always something fun for children to do:
🎨🤹 Entertainment during breakfast with the hotel’s mascot, a tarsier, as well as arts and crafts activities organised by the Kids’ Club team.
🐎🏝️ Horse rides along the beach at breakfast time.
💦🛝Children’s pool with splash fountains and a playground.
🧸🎨 Supervised Kids’ Club activities throughout the day.
🧜♀️💦 The daily Sirenna Ritual, a mermaid-themed performance held at sunset. Children can take part in this, including swimming with the mermaid, and they loved it!
Photo 8: The Sirenna performance, which finishes with the mermaid appearing in the pool (Where to Stay in Bohol – South Palms)
Photo 9: Giant tarsier climbing structure in the children’s playground (Where to Stay in Bohol – South Palms)
Final thoughts on South Palms
If you’re travelling with children 👉 I genuinely think South Palms is an excellent choice. There are endless activities for younger guests, while parents can enjoy a few hours of relaxation, knowing their children are happily entertained.
However, if you’re travelling without children, you’ll probably find other equally enjoyable resorts that are more affordable. As South Palms only opened in 2025, its facilities are incredibly modern and hard to beat. The main drawback is that the best swimming area is around 300 metres along the beach.
That said, the sunsets are spectacular, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Amorita Resort Bohol
A Filipino friend recommended this resort to me. It is one of the most popular properties in the area, particularly because of its stunning sea views. Unfortunately, it was fully booked when I made my holiday reservation, which probably says a lot about how popular it is!
Amorita Resort is located near the lively Alona Beach, where you’ll find plenty of cafés, restaurants and spas. Although the resort has access to a small cove, the nearest proper beach is Alona Beach itself, just a short walk away. There is no dedicated beach service.
The resort receives excellent reviews and also offers private villas.
👉 Tip: Another popular option in Alona Beach is Henann Resort Alona Beach.
Modala Beach Resort
Modala Beach Resort is located in a peaceful area around 15 minutes from Alona Beach.
The resort has direct access to a long stretch of sandy beach, as well as the added advantage of being next to a small shopping complex with restaurants and a convenience store.
It’s a great option if you’re looking for peace and quiet without being too far from the restaurants and nightlife of Alona Beach.
Oceanica Resort Panglao
Oceanica Resort Panglao was actually called South Palms a few years ago and is located just a short walk along the beach from the current South Palms Resort.
The beach in front of Oceanica is great for swimming and snorkelling, but it can get busy. This is because the resort operates as a beach club, allowing day visitors to pay for access to the beach and pool. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos that truly capture the stunning shade of turquoise blue of the water here, but trust me, it´s beautiful.
Photo 10: Beachfront at the Oceanica Resort Panglao
Photo 11: Beachfront at the Oceanica Resort Panglao
If you don’t mind a livelier beach atmosphere, I think this is a very good option, particularly for travellers who aren’t looking for large, family-oriented resorts with facilities such as a Kids’ club.
👉 Tip: Another option worth considering is the Bohol Beach Club, located right next door. It has excellent reviews and is situated in a quieter area of the beach.
And these are my recommendations on where to stay in Bohol.
Don’t miss my other guides from our trip:
