Hotel Azul in Panglao Island has a few strong positives worth mentioning first. The staff themselves are very kind and polite, the air conditioning works extremely well (probably one of the best features of the room), and the location is excellent—close enough that taxis or motorcycles can get you to all major spots within 5–10 minutes. The hot shower is also solid, and both the mattress and sheets appear fairly new and are comfortable.
Unfortunately, the negatives significantly outweigh the positives. Management instructs staff to charge more than what is advertised, which puts the front desk employees in an uncomfortable position and leaves guests feeling misled. The biggest issue was the internet being completely unusable for over 48 hours. I specifically book hotels with internet because I work remotely, and had I known this, I would never have booked here. Instead, I was forced to take taxis every few hours and pay for internet elsewhere, adding unnecessary cost and inconvenience.
Another major concern was finding stains on the sheets when I pulled them back. While the bed itself was comfortable, this was very off-putting and unacceptable from a cleanliness standpoint. Breakfast is also nothing to be proud of—overpriced and underwhelming, with far better options available at nearby cafés for less money.
Overall, Hotel Azul has good potential due to its location and room comfort, but management practices, unreliable internet, and cleanliness issues make it hard.
